How to check your credit score for free in Canada

In Canada, you can check your credit score for free, and doing so has no impact on your score. The two credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion, offer free access to your file, and most major banks and several apps display your score at no charge. Checking your own credit is a “soft inquiry” — so you can do it as often as you like.

Checking your score directly with Equifax and TransUnion

The most direct route is through the bureaus themselves. Equifax and TransUnion let Canadians view their credit report online for free after an identity check. Under the consumer protection laws in effect across the provinces, you also have the right to obtain a copy of your file on request, including by mail.

It is worth checking both bureaus: lenders do not always report data to both at the same time, and each uses its own scoring model. A gap of a few points between your two scores is completely normal. To understand what this number measures and how it is calculated, see our guide on your credit score.

Your bank or a free app

Many Canadian financial institutions — most major banks and several credit unions — display your score for free in their app or online banking site. This is often the simplest option: the score updates regularly and there is nothing extra to install.

There are also free credit-monitoring services and apps, generally funded by financial-product referrals. They can be useful for tracking the trend of your score, but keep two things in mind: the score displayed may differ slightly from the one a lender will see (models vary), and these services will pitch you offers. Use them for the information, not as a reason to borrow.

Soft vs. hard inquiries: the difference that matters

Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry: it is visible only to you and never affects your score. By contrast, a hard inquiry happens when a lender reviews your file to assess a credit application — a card, a car loan, a line of credit or a mortgage. Hard inquiries can lower your score slightly, especially if they pile up in a short period.

That is why you can check your score every week without worry, but should space out your actual credit applications. Before shopping for a personal loan, check your score yourself first: you will know what to expect before a lender makes a hard inquiry.

How often to check, and what to look for

A monthly check of your score is a good habit, plus a full review of both your files at least once a year. Also make a point of checking before any major borrowing plan — a few months in advance if possible, so you have time to course-correct.

When reviewing your file, watch for:

• Errors: an account that isn’t yours, an inaccurate balance, a payment marked late when it was made on time. You can request a correction directly from the bureau concerned, at no charge.
• Signs of fraud: hard inquiries you did not authorize or unfamiliar new accounts. If in doubt, contact the bureau to place a fraud alert on your file.
• Your credit utilization: the ratio of your balances to your limits. Staying under roughly 30% is generally viewed favourably.

Credit monitoring: useful, but rarely worth paying for

Equifax and TransUnion sell monitoring subscriptions that alert you to changes in your file. These services can have a place after identity theft, but for most people, the combination of regular free checks + your bank’s alerts covers the essentials at no cost. Some free apps also offer basic alerts.

Be wary of sites that require a credit card for a “free” score: the genuinely free options described above are more than enough.

Next steps

Start today: check your score through your bank or directly with Equifax and TransUnion, and note your starting point. Once you know your score, you are in a much stronger position to shop around: compare several lenders before triggering a hard inquiry, whether for a personal loan or debt consolidation. Knowing your score means negotiating with a clear picture of how lenders see you.