It’s common for your Equifax and Experian credit scores to differ from each other. There are a few key reasons why this happens:
The scoring models are different
Equifax and Experian use different scoring models to calculate your credit score. Equifax uses the Equifax Credit Score model while Experian uses the Experian/FICO Score model. While both are based on information in your credit report, the way that information is weighted can be different. This means the resulting scores may not be the same.
Not all information is shared between bureaus
While Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion (the third major credit bureau) collect mostly the same information on your credit history, they don’t share all of it with each other. For example, if you have an account that’s only being reported to Equifax but not Experian, that could impact your Equifax score more than your Experian score.
Timing of updates may differ
When a lender reports an update on your credit account, they may report it to one bureau sooner than another. If a credit card company reports a late payment to Equifax today but doesn’t report it to Experian until next week, that could temporarily impact your Equifax score more than your Experian score.
Hard credit inquiries aren’t shared
When you apply for new credit, the lender does a hard inquiry on your credit report. Hard inquiries can lower your scores a little. Those inquiries are only seen by the bureau the lender checked. For example, if you apply for a credit card that checks Equifax but not Experian, only your Equifax score will take the hit for that inquiry.
How much do scores really differ?
While it’s common for your Equifax and Experian scores to be slightly different, scores from the major credit bureaus don’t usually vary that significantly. A difference of more than 20-30 points may indicate something unusual is going on with your credit information.
Here are some statistics on typical score differences:
| Credit Score Difference | Percentage of Consumers |
|---|---|
| 0-10 points | 37% |
| 11-25 points | 29% |
| 26-50 points | 18% |
| 51-100 points | 11% |
| 100+ points | 5% |
As you can see, over 60% of consumers have credit scores from Equifax and Experian that differ by 25 points or less. Significant variations over 50 points only occur for around 15% of people.
Tips for minimizing score differences
While some differences between your Equifax and Experian scores are inevitable, here are some tips that can help minimize the gap:
- Review reports from both bureaus – Catch any errors or discrepancies that may be bringing one score down. Dispute any inaccurate information.
- Pay all bills on time – Payment history has a major impact on your scores. Consistently paying on time helps align your scores.
- Lower credit utilization – Keep balances low compared to limits on credit cards and other revolving credit.
- Limit new credit applications – Each application can ding your scores a little, so only apply for what you need.
- Monitor your credit – Check your credit reports regularly so you can stay on top of what each bureau is reporting.
Factors that influence your credit scores
Understanding what goes into your credit scores can also help explain discrepancies between your Equifax and Experian scores. Here are some of the main factors that impact your scores and how much they matter:
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Payment history | 35% |
| Credit utilization | 30% |
| Credit history length | 15% |
| New credit applications | 10% |
| Credit mix | 10% |
As you can see, payment history and credit utilization together make up 65% of your credit score. If those factors are being reported differently by Equifax and Experian, it can really sway your scores in opposite directions. On the other hand, minor differences in things like your credit history length probably won’t move the scores that much.
Payment history differences
If one bureau shows a late payment that the other doesn’t, that can seriously tank your score with the bureau reporting the delinquency. For example, if Equifax shows a 60 day late payment but Experian doesn’t, your Equifax score will likely be much lower than your Experian score.
Utilization differences
The second biggest factor is credit utilization – how much of your total credit limit you’re using. Even a small reporting discrepancy here can affect your scores. For example, say you have a credit card with a $1,000 limit. If Equifax shows you’re using $500 of that limit but Experian shows you’re using $700, your utilization rate would be 50% with Equifax and 70% with Experian – resulting in very different scores.
Credit history discrepancies
If one credit bureau has more complete information about your past credit accounts, that can increase your length of credit history and improve your score with them. For instance, an old credit card you eventually closed may still show up on one report but not the other.
New credit applications
As mentioned earlier, hard credit inquiries made when you apply for new credit only impact the bureau that the creditor checked. So if you’ve recently applied for a few credit cards that checked Equifax but not Experian, your Equifax score would be a little lower than your Experian score.
How to check your credit reports
Comparing your actual credit reports from Equifax and Experian is the best way to identify any differences that could be impacting your scores. Here are some options for accessing your reports:
Get your free annual credit reports
The best way is to use your free annual credit reports that you’re entitled to under federal law. You can get these reports once per year from each of the three major bureaus via the official AnnualCreditReport.com website. Comparing the Equifax and Experian reports will show you exactly what each bureau is reporting.
Try a credit monitoring service
Signing up for a credit monitoring service is another way to access your Equifax and Experian credit reports. Many services like Credit Karma provide unlimited access to your reports and updated credit scores. They make it easy to monitor your credit from both bureaus.
Purchase your credit reports
You can also purchase your credit reports directly from Equifax and Experian. Expect to pay around $10-15 for each single bureau report. While not free, this lets you buy reports more frequently than once per year if needed.
Next steps if you see discrepancies
If you get your credit reports and find major inconsistencies in the information Equifax and Experian have on file, here are some next steps to consider:
- Dispute inaccurate information – If one bureau is showing incorrect account information, balances, etc. you can file a dispute to have it corrected.
- Add missing credit history – If good credit history isn’t showing up with one bureau, you can request they add the missing accounts.
- Investigate data breaches – If you suspect identity theft, check the bureaus for any accounts opened fraudulently and take appropriate action.
- Wait it out – Sometimes reporting discrepancies naturally resolve over time. Check again in a few months.
With a little time and effort, you can get your Equifax and Experian credit reports aligned and maximize your credit scores with both bureaus.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Equifax score higher than Experian?
There are a few potential reasons why your Equifax score may be higher than your Experian score:
- Equifax isn’t factoring in a late payment that Experian is reporting
- Equifax has your overall credit utilization listed lower than Experian does
- Equifax is showing more total credit accounts or length of credit history
- Experian took a hard inquiry hit from a new credit application that Equifax didn’t
Comparing your Equifax and Experian credit reports should reveal any data differences like these affecting your scores.
Is a 50 point difference between Equifax and Experian bad?
It’s generally not too concerning if your Equifax and Experian scores are within 50 points of each other. A difference of this size could easily be caused by small reporting discrepancies between the two bureaus. Differences of more than 50 points affect less than 15% of people, indicating something unusual.
Should I worry about different credit bureau scores?
As long as your scores from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are in a similar ballpark, there’s usually no need to worry. Having 100+ point differences would be more troubling. Small variations are normal. Focus on steadily building your credit history with all three bureaus.
How can I align my Equifax and Experian scores?
Here are some tips to help align your Equifax and Experian credit scores:
- Review both credit reports and dispute any errors
- Pay all bills on time going forward
- Lower credit utilization percentage
- Hold off applying for new credit temporarily
- Wait for differences to resolve over time
With consistent credit habits, your Equifax and Experian scores should eventually converge.
The bottom line
It’s very common for your credit scores from Equifax and Experian to differ by a small amount. This is typically caused by normal reporting variations between the two credit bureaus. Differences of more than 20-30 points are more unusual but can happen. If you see a major discrepancy, examining your full credit reports from both bureaus can reveal the causes.
While a scoring models are calculated differently, staying diligent about building your credit – paying on time, keeping balances low, etc. – will help drive your Equifax and Experian scores in the same positive direction over time.