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There are currently three major players in the free credit monitoring space: Quizzle, Credit Sesame & Credit Karma. Today we’re going to compare the three of them and decide which is the best and worst credit monitoring site. For every category the winner was given 3 points, second place was given 2 points and last place was given 1 point.
Contents
Credit Bureau Used
- Quizzle uses Equifax
- Credit Karma uses TransUnion
- Credit Sesame uses Experian
This was ranked by which credit bureau is most often used by credit card issuers. Mortgage lenders look at all three credit reports (and credit scores) and there isn’t any information for auto loans as to which credit bureau was used.
Credit Score Used
- Credit Karma offers multiple scores: VantageScore V3 and industry specific scores
- Quizzle offers VantageScore V3
- Credit Sesame offers the Experian National Equivalency Score
Credit Sesame was given last place because the ENES is not used by lenders at all, Credit Karma beat out Quizzle for the #1 spot because it offers three (TransRisk Score, TransUnion Auto Insurance Risk Score & TransUnion Home Insurance Risk Score) aditional scores alongside the VantageScore.
Credit Report Provided
- Quizzle provides a full credit report twice per year
- Credit Sesame & Credit Karma both only provide partial reports
Credit Tools Offered
- Credit Karma
- Quizzle
- Credit Sesame
Credit Karma has the best suite of the credit tools by far out of the three bureaus. Credit Sesame was ranked last as most of the “tools” are actually a convenient way for them to upsell full credit reports and new credit.
Final Rankings
| Credit Karma | Credit Sesame | Quizzle | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Bureau | TransUnion | Experian | Equifax | Quizzle |
| Credit Score | VantageScore V3 + industry specific scores | ENES | VantageScore V3 | Credit Karma |
| Credit Report | Partial | Partial | Full | Quizzle |
| Credit Tools | Wide range of tools | Mostly used to monetize | Good selection of tools | Credit Karma |
- Quizzle & Credit Karma: 10 points each
- Credit Sesame: 5 points
As you can see, it was a tie for first place. Quizzle’s decision to change from Experian to Equifax has now put them on equal footing with the goliath that is Credit Karma. Credit Sesame was unfortunately last by a long way, they really need to improve the credit score they offer and the tools to be less monetization-in-your-face and more helpful.
At the end of the day, all three sites are free and now track all three of the major credit bureaus. So there is no harm in signing up for them all and seeing which one you find most useful – just make sure you let us know which one is your favorite and why in the comments!
Thank and Chuck and William
So this was the first article ever? Great reading the old stuffs during quarantine.
^I thought I would be the only one lol
Back to where it all began!
back at it again.
speaking of Goliath, I’ve used KK for years, reluctatly — Lately have been intensely turned off by their constant “advice” to use their tax service, to use their links to get this or that lame credit card. Re. the latter, we know how “that” works….
But who in their right mind would seriously fork over their tax information (easily misread, manipulated, abused) to the very same Goliath that potentially could share the same data with the banks? Nowhere in their sales pitches to use their tax service do they mention privacy concerns, or what they will or won’t do with your tax data. (and that’s before we talk about the ever minimized risk of data breaches) That too me is “real harm.”
And yet I never see any honest blogger out there dare to point that gee, by golly, using creditkarma for your taxes might not be such a swell idea….
Hey Doc, what about the actual Experian app? This was recently upgraded and now gives you an actual FICO 8 score for free.
Not sure on the update frequency but for free and a real score who am I to complain? It’s worth a mention now at least.
Credit Sesame actually takes TransUnion’s score.
I rent and have 4 credit cards that give me credit availability of 40,000.00 . None has a balance. I have never been late on a payment and i do not have a car loan.
Credit Karma gives me 2 scores. They say one is from Trans Union of 765
They say one is from Equifax of 824
Credit Sesame says my score is 819
Quizzle says my score is 826
I think it stinks that there is a 61 point difference between my highest and lowest scores.
I wouldn’t worry, your scores are all extremely high so you’d get the best rate regardless.
How many car loans or mortgages r u planning on getting? Dave Ramsey say focus on wealth building. Not scores of credit.
Credit Karma now provides full credit report every week! It seems that Quizzle only provide a full credit report twice per year. I think CK is the winner.
I have consistently used credit karma and quizzle. They match up with cap one credit score. It appears credit and credit sesame are related to experian and my score dropped using these two sites by a landslide. I just paid off my car and a bit of debt and it was too low. Also, credit sesame had very lttle data except for offers to get more credit cards which is STUPID if your credit can be dinged for inquiries!
Delete
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