A credit score and a credit report are related but different parts of your financial profile. Read on to learn the difference. 

Credit Report

Your credit report is a detailed record of your credit history. It’s like a full report card showing how you’ve used credit over time.

It typically includes:

• Personal information (name, address, SSN)
• Credit accounts (credit cards, loans, mortgages)
• Payment history (on-time or late payments)
• Credit limits and balances
• Collections or bankruptcies
• Recent credit inquiries

In the U.S., the credit bureaus that compile these reports are:

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

You can check your reports for free through the official site run by the bureaus:
AnnualCreditReport.com.

Credit Score

Your credit score is a single number calculated from the information in your credit report. It summarizes your creditworthiness for lenders.

Common scoring models include:

• FICO Score (most widely used)
• VantageScore

Typical range:

• 300–850
• Higher score = lower risk to lenders

Factors affecting your score:

• Payment history
• Amount of debt
• Length of credit history
• Credit mix
• New credit inquiries

Simple Way to Think About It

• Credit report = the full history and details
• Credit score = the summary number based on that history

Example: A lender might pull your credit report from Experian and then look at your FICO Score to quickly judge your credit risk.

Tip: It’s incredibly important to check your credit report at least once a year to make sure there are no errors that could lower your score.