How Often to Check Your Credit Score

If you’re working on building or improving your credit, there’s one question you’ve likely found yourself asking: How often should you check your credit score?

If you’re checking too rarely, you may not notice when changes happen. However, constantly looking up your score can cause undue stress, especially if it's not moving like you would expect it to. 

There aren’t any right or wrong intervals for credit checks, so you’ll want to choose a frequency that suits your goals. For instance, people who are actively working on building their credit may want to check their scores more often.

Learn more about how often to check credit scores and get practical tips for boosting yours. 

How often should you check your credit score?

For most people, checking their credit score once a month is practical. That way, you won’t be constantly hovering over your score or stressing about why it's not budging. Moreover, waiting about 30 days between check-ins will give any positive changes you’ve made time to take effect. 

The monthly approach is ideal if you’re actively building credit or trying to bounce back after a rough patch. You’ll be able to see how on-time payments and lower balances affect your score over time. 

If your credit is stable and you’re not applying for new accounts, quarterly check-ins may suffice. Consider this route if you have a long, established history. You may also want to check your score before applying for any major financing, such as a mortgage or auto loan. 

Finally, it’s a good idea to review your score after opening a new account or paying off a loan. Decreasing your loan balance can positively impact your score, but closing out an old account may actually lower it.

It’s a common myth that all credit checks lower your score. Checking your own score is considered a soft inquiry, meaning it won’t impact your score. 

How credit scores are calculated

Your credit score is based on several different financial factors, including:

• Payment history
• Credit utilization rate
• Length of credit history
• Credit mix
• New credit activity 

Because your score is based on reported activity, changes don’t always show up immediately. That’s another reason why checking in monthly is a great choice for most consumers — this interval aligns better with lenders’ reporting cycles. 

Why monitoring your credit score matters

Keeping tabs on your score will help you understand how your money habits and spending patterns affect your overall financial health. It’s also a good way to protect yourself from problems that can derail your progress. 

Regular credit monitoring allows you to:

• Track progress over time
• Catch reporting errors
• Detect identity theft or fraud
• Make informed financial decisions 

Monitoring can also reveal how even small actions can have a big impact on your score. Tools that report consistent, on-time payment activity can make progress more visible month over month.

Best apps for monitoring your credit score

There are plenty of apps out there that let you check your credit score for free, but not all of them offer the same level of insight or usefulness. When comparing options, look for transparent solutions. Tools that provide education can be a great resource as you seek to regain control over your financial future.

Platforms like Kikoff offer credit monitoring alongside tools designed to help you build positive credit activity over time. You can report positive behavior, such as on-time rent payments, and you don’t have to rely on interest or traditional loans to get started. 

Conclusion

Still deliberating about how often to check credit scores? For the majority of consumers, once a month makes the most sense. You can stay informed without driving yourself up the wall. The key is consistency.

Want to start developing stronger financial habits through monitoring and on-time payment reporting? Take a step toward stronger credit habits with Kikoff.