Experian Boost is a free service that allows you to add eligible, on-time payments to utility companies, streaming services, phone providers, and online residential rent payments to your credit report, potentially increasing your credit score. The average users who have seen a boost have seen a 13-point increase in their FICO Score 8 provided by Experian.
Experian Boost™
Quickly raise your credit score
It’s a better alternative than credit repair companies that charge consumers several hundred or thousands of dollars to dispute credit reporting errors. The reality is you can file disputes to fix inaccuracies on your own for free.
Plus, you won’t find a tool this innovative compared to other online platforms, like Credit Karma, Credit Sesame, and Credit.com, that are designed to help you stay on top of your credit health. Similar offerings are also not available through the other major credit bureaus – Equifax and TransUnion.
When you sign up for Experian Boost, you’ll also get your Experian credit report, FICO score based on Experian data, FICO score alerts and FICO score tracking. That way, you’ll know any time activity occurs in your Experian credit file, whether it’s a new credit inquiry, new credit card or other new credit accounts, balance change, increase or decrease in credit utilization or if an account is dormant.
You can sign up for this free feature on Experian’s website or by downloading the Experian app.
How Does Experian Boost Work?
In general, your credit report includes information that other companies send to the credit bureaus and that credit bureaus collect from public records. Experian Boost changes the dynamic by letting you pick and choose which data you want to add to your credit reports.
Experian Boost uses a secure connection and read-only access to your bank statement data to search the connected checking account for eligible bill payments. (You can also link online bank accounts with Experian Boost). These include payments to cell phones, utility bills, internet, and select streaming service providers, like Disney +, HBO, Hulu, and Netflix.
You can also get credit for timely rent payments made from your bank account or credit card. Since you pay your rent every month, one of the most significant bills, it will take you a step further on your credit journey if you add this to your credit report. Experian Boost helps you with this as long as you meet these requirements:
- Your payments are higher than the qualifying amount.
- You pay online to eligible landlords or property managers or through a rent payment platform.
- You have made at least three residential rent payments within six months, one of them in the past three months.
Once you have connected your bank account or credit card you use to pay for your rent, you can verify that Experian Boost finds your rent payments, and they will be automatically added to help you build or improve your score.
As with your rent, if the unique algorithm finds positive, on-time payments from your linked accounts, you can add them to your Experian credit file, too.
Here are a few other key benefits Experian Boost offers:
- You’re in control. You get to choose which bank accounts to connect and which bills to add to your credit reports. You can also disconnect your bank account and remove the accounts from your credit history at any time.
- It likely won’t hurt your credit. Experian Boost only looks for and adds on-time payments to your credit reports. Missed or late payments won’t show up on your credit report.
- It could instantly raise your credit score. Adding new tradelines with a history of on-time payments is one of the few ways to boost your credit score quickly. You might see your score drop in certain situations, but you can disconnect your bank account, and the tradelines will be removed and no longer factor into the scoring equation.
Who Can Benefit the Most from Experian Boost?
Experian Boost is most beneficial for the following consumers:
- New to credit or have a thin credit file: If you have a short credit history or a “thin file” (only a couple of tradelines), adding new tradelines with positive payment histories could benefit your credit score.
- Low credit scores and rebuilding credit: Adding positive payment information plays a significant role in the process of building credit and helps diminish the impact of the negative information in your credit file.
If you have an established credit history and a good credit score or excellent credit rating, it doesn’t hurt to sign up for Experian Boost. You could benefit from the service, and if your credit score does stay the same or drops, you can unenroll.
How Can Experian Boost Help You?
Experian Boost has helped millions of Americans raise their credit scores. However, the impact it will have on your score depends on your credit history and what’s in your credit profile.
For example, if you already have 20 tradelines in your credit report with extensive on-time payment history, adding one new utility account likely won’t make a big difference. But if you have a thin file, adding several new tradelines and their payment histories could quickly improve your scores.
The impact Experian Boost has on your credit health also depends on your current credit score. For example, if you have an 800 credit score, increasing your score by a few points won’t necessarily help you because you could already qualify for the best rates and terms. However, if Experian Boost moves you from a fair score of 660 to a good score of 680, you’re moving into a higher-scoring band and may now be eligible for better offers.
Finally, it’s important to remember that Experian Boost will only help you if a creditor uses your Experian credit report and a score that considers the newly added tradelines to make a lending decision.
How Much Does Experian Boost Cost?
Experian Boost is entirely free – you don’t need to put a credit card on file to sign up. This service is a part of the Experian CreditWorks℠ Basic membership. This free Experian account also includes a monthly Experian credit report and free FICO score 8 updates (based on Experian data), Experian credit monitoring, score tracking, and real-time alerts when changes are made to your credit profile.
Experian may promote paid programs within your account, such as one of its more robust credit or identity theft monitoring and protection plans. Experian also partners with financial services providers, such as credit card issuers and lenders, and may receive a commission if you sign up for a new product through its website.
Experian Boost Reviews
Experian Boost reviews are mixed. So, it’s ideal to look beyond the simple star ratings to analyze the feedback received from past and current subscribers.
Positive reviews focus on how the program is easy to sign up for and use, is free, and how quickly improves their credit scores. Consequently, many recommend Experian Boost because it’s one of the few ways to quickly improve your credit scores for free.
Some other reviews highlight consumers’ reservations about providing banking information or technical issues with connecting their bank accounts to use the service. However, these reviews fail to address the functionality and possible benefits of the service itself.
Other consumers pointed out their disappointment with the service because their credit scores didn’t increase drastically. To illustrate, someone might give Experian Boost a low rating because they didn’t get a significant credit score increase. However, Experian doesn’t determine your credit score. Other companies (such as FICO and VantageScore) create credit scoring models that analyze your Experian credit report to determine a score.
Overall, many customers say Experian Boost helped raise their credit scores. The credit score boost allowed them to save money through lower auto payments and mortgage refinancing, among other ways.
Customer Success Stories
Before you sign up for Experian Boost, take a look at these customer reviews to help you make an informed decision:
- Ana: Bankrate’s reporter Ana tried Experian Boost three times, each with positive outcomes. Suffering from bad credit decisions she made in her 20s, Ana ultimately boosted her credit score by 13 points.
- Jennifer: A writer for CNN, Jennifer tried Experian Boost as part of a review for an article. During the review process, she was impressed by how easy the system was to use and how easy it was to raise your credit score in a matter of minutes.
- CreditCards.com Writer: A writer for CreditCards.com reviewed Experian Boost because they had a lower credit score. In 10 minutes, their credit score went up by 44 points.
Experian also offers other credit solutions such as:
- Experian CreditWorksSM: Access free credit reports and scores and monitor your credit score to avoid fraud with automated alerts.
- Experian CreditMatch™: Get matched with loans and credit cards based on your financial situation and credit scores.
- One-time Credit Report and Scores: Access either Experian credit report and FICO Score or all three bureaus’ credit report and FICO scores.
- Experian IdentityWorks: Prevent identity theft, and get up to $1M insurance in case your identity is stolen.
- Experian CreditLock: Protect your credit data from fraudsters.
- Experian For Business: Discover how they can help you with all your credit business affairs.
Drawbacks of Experian Boost
Experian Boost can be an attractive option for those looking to improve their credit score. Still, it’s essential to be aware of its limitations.
For starters, Experian Boost only affects your credit score provided by Experian. This means that even if you see a significant improvement in your Experian report, your credit score with the other two major bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion, might not change. Lenders might use scores from any or all three agencies when assessing your creditworthiness, so it’s essential to maintain good credit habits across the board.
The program also requires you to pay your bills online. For some individuals, this might not be an issue. However, for others who prefer traditional payment methods, it could pose a challenge. You must connect your bank account to the Experian Boost platform for it to track your bill payments, potentially raising security concerns for those worried about sharing such sensitive information. However, Experian Boost is safe to use as there are multiple layers of protection in place.
Furthermore, Experian Boost is not suitable for everyone. The program is designed for those who already have a credit file. So, if you’re starting from scratch or have a very limited credit history, this service might not provide the boost you’re looking for.
How Does Experian Boost Compare?
Are you torn between Experian Boost and credit repair or other credit-boosting apps? Here’s a look at how this free tool stacks up to the competition to help you make an informed decision.
vs. Other Credit Repair Companies
Credit repair companies focus on removing inaccurate information from your credit report., and you’ll generally pay steep fees to have errors disputed. However, as previously stated, Experian Boost is accessible free of charge. It lets you add eligible bill payments to your credit profile to help boost your credit score in real time.
vs. Other Credit Boosting Apps
Various apps are designed to boost your credit score, each with different methods and features. Experian Boost stands out by directly affecting your FICO score almost instantaneously or from the moment the alternative payment data is added to your Experian credit profile.
Other apps might also offer educational tools, credit monitoring or real-time alerts but may not impact your score as directly or quickly. Some require more personal data to get started or assess steep fees for credit-related services.
Experian Boost: Impact on Credit Scores
Predicting how much Experian Boost will increase your credit score is impossible. That said, here’s an idea of what to expect in the short term and over time should you decide to leverage the free resource as a part of your credit improvement plan.
Experian Boost™
Quickly raise your credit score
Short-term Benefits
Experian Boost can quickly improve your credit score. Again, Experian claims that users often experience an increase of up to 13 points to their FICO score. This can be particularly beneficial to those with a “thin” credit profile or who have credit scores on the lower side.
Remember, Experian Boost only impacts your Experian credit report, not TransUnion or Equifax. So, lenders and creditors using reports from those credit bureaus likely won’t see the same credit score.
Long-term Effects
Relying solely on Experian Boost may not be enough to maintain a solid credit score over time. While it adds alternative payment data to your credit profile, it doesn’t help build long-term credit habits that will benefit your credit score for years to come.
Keep in mind that failing to keep up with payments on these accounts means those positive entries will disappear from your credit report. Consequently, Experian Boost should not replace basic activities that can help you build a healthy credit profile. This includes paying bills on time, reducing your revolving (i.e., credit cards or lines of credit) debt balances, leaving old credit accounts in good standing open, maintaining a balanced mix of credit and refraining from applying for new credit.
What Other Services are Included in Experian Boost?
When you sign up for Experian Boost, you’ll also get access to these services free of charge:
- Your latest credit report from Experian and daily FICO Score updates to keep tabs on your credit health and identify errors that may need to be disputed (if needed)
- A complimentary identity scan to see if your personal data appears on people finder sites or the dark web
- Personalized credit card and loan offers tailored to your unique credit profile and unique financial needs
- An auto loan comparison tool that lets you shop around and view quotes from top insurers to identify a policy with comparable coverage but more affordable premiums
How to Get Started with Experian Boost
Signing up for Experian Boost is simple. Here’s how to get started:
- Step 1: Create an account. Visit the Experian Boost website and sign up for a free account. You’ll need to provide your personal information, including your name, address and Social Security number.
- Step 2: Verify your identity. You will need to confirm your identity by answering a few questions regarding your credit history. Doing so ensures your information is secure and accurate.
- Step 3: Connect your accounts. After verifying your identity, link your online banking or financial institution accounts to your Experian Boost account. Experian uses read-only access to analyze your transaction history to help protect your data.
- Step 4: Select qualifying payments. Once your accounts are connected, Experian Boost will scan your transaction history for qualifying on-time payments, such as utility bills, cell phone payments, streaming subscriptions or on-time rental payments. You can choose which eligible payments you want to add to your credit report.
- Step 5: Review and confirm. After selecting the payments to include in your Experian Boost, review the final summary of your additions. Confirm the information if it’s accurate, hit submit and watch your credit score from Experian update instantly.
Alternatives to Experian Boost
While Experian Boost offers a way to potentially enhance your credit score, it might not be the best option for everyone. There are other methods to improve your credit standing that don’t rely solely on reporting utility and streaming service payments. Here are three viable alternatives to consider.
Become an Authorized User
You can ask a family member or close friend with a good credit history to add you as an authorized user on their credit card account. As an authorized user, you’ll receive a card linked to the primary cardholder’s account, but you won’t be legally responsible for the balance.
Your credit report will reflect the primary cardholder’s payment history on that account. So, if they have a strong history of on-time payments, it could positively impact your credit score. Just be sure to maintain responsible credit usage and help your primary cardholder avoid excessive debt.
Get a Secured Credit Card
A secured credit card is another effective way to build credit. These cards are backed by a cash deposit you provide, serving as collateral in case you cannot make your payments. Your credit limit is usually equal to the deposit amount, which means it’s easier to maintain a low credit utilization ratio.
Secured credit cards report payments to the three major credit bureaus, helping establish a good credit history as long as you make on-time payments. After demonstrating responsible use, you might be eligible to graduate with an unsecured (traditional) credit card.
Try a Credit-builder Loan
A credit-builder loan can also help you establish or improve your credit score. These loans are designed to help borrowers improve their credit standing by demonstrating a history of on-time repayments. Typically, the loan amount is held in a secured savings account, which you cannot access until the loan is paid in full.
Timely payments are reported to credit bureaus, contributing to a positive credit history. Once the loan term is completed, you’ll have access to the funds and can use them however you see fit.
Can Experian Boost Hurt Your Credit Score?
The good news is that Experian Boost only adds positive payment data to your credit report. This means that if you have a good payment history, this service will enhance your credit report by reflecting consistent and responsible bill payment habits. So, it won’t hurt you to give Experian a test drive to see how it could positively impact your credit score.
Is Experian Boost Safe?
Experian Boost is a tool designed to help you raise your credit score by incorporating the payment history for your phone, utilities, and popular streaming services. But is it safe to use? Rest assured, Experian is one of the three main credit bureaus in the United States and adheres to strict data protection measures.
When you sign up for Experian Boost, you provide access to your bank account to analyze your bill payment history. This may raise concerns about privacy and data breaches. However, Experian uses 256-bit SSL encryption to secure your information, which is the same level of encryption used by financial institutions.
While no system is faultless and hacking risks do exist, your information is protected to the best extent possible in Experian’s hands.
It’s crucial to remember that Experian Boost primarily benefits those who lack an extensive credit history or have a low credit score. If you already have a strong credit history, Experian Boost may not have a significant impact on your score.
Experian Boost™
Quickly raise your credit score
