Credit Score vs Credit Report: What's the Difference?
Your credit report is the detailed record of your borrowing history. Your credit score is a three-digit number calculated from that report.
| Credit score | Credit report | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A number, usually 300–850 (FICO, VantageScore) | A file listing accounts, balances, payments, inquiries |
| Who makes it | Scoring models applied to report data | Credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) |
| Free access (U.S.) | Often via banks and card issuers | Weekly at AnnualCreditReport.com |
| What to check | Trend over time | Errors, unknown accounts, late payments |
Bottom line
Check your report for errors — fixing one can raise your score. The score just summarizes what the report says.
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