Two brands, one scale
Almost every credit score you will see comes from one of two companies. FICO has been around the longest and is the score most lenders use. VantageScore was created by the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and is the score many free credit apps show.
The main versions of both run from 300 to 850, and a higher number means lower risk to a lender. But the two brands draw their lines in different places and use different labels, so the same number can carry a different name.
FICO score ranges
| FICO range | Label | What it often means when you apply |
|---|---|---|
| 800 to 850 | Exceptional | Usually the best terms a lender offers. Going higher rarely changes much. |
| 740 to 799 | Very good | Often qualifies for better rates and higher limits. |
| 670 to 739 | Good | Approved for many mainstream cards and loans, though not always at the lowest rate. |
| 580 to 669 | Fair | Approval is possible but less certain. Expect higher rates, lower limits or a deposit. |
| 300 to 579 | Poor | Many applications are declined. Secured cards and credit-builder loans are the usual path forward. |
The right-hand column is a general pattern, not a rule. Lenders weigh your income, your existing debts and the details of your report, not just the score.
VantageScore ranges
VantageScore's own guide groups its 300 to 850 scores into four tiers:
| VantageScore range | Tier |
|---|---|
| 781 to 850 | Superprime |
| 661 to 780 | Prime |
| 601 to 660 | Near prime |
| 300 to 600 | Subprime |
Some apps and websites still use older labels such as "excellent," "good" and "fair" for VantageScore. The cutoffs they use can differ from the tiers above, so check what scale your app is using before you compare numbers.
Why you have so many scores
If you check your score in three places and get three numbers, nothing is broken. There are several reasons they differ.
Different brands
FICO and VantageScore use different formulas. VantageScore can also score thinner files that FICO cannot score yet, so for people building credit from zero, a VantageScore may be the only number available at first.
Different versions
Each brand has released several versions over the years. You may run into FICO Score 8, 9, 10 and 10T, the older "Classic FICO" versions used for mortgages, and VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0. A newer version can read the same report a little differently.
Industry scores
FICO also makes scores tuned for one kind of lending. FICO Auto Scores and FICO Bankcard Scores use a wider range of 250 to 900, so a number from one of them is not directly comparable to a base FICO score.
Different bureaus
Each score is calculated from one bureau's report. Not every lender reports to all three bureaus, and they report on different days. So your Equifax, Experian and TransUnion reports can hold slightly different information on any given day, and the scores built on them can differ too.
Different dates
A score is a snapshot. A score from two weeks ago may not reflect a card balance that has been reported since.
The practical lesson: watch the direction your scores move over time, rather than worrying about a gap of a few points between two apps.
Which score lenders actually use
- Credit cards. According to Experian, card issuers often use FICO Score 8 or 9, or a FICO Bankcard Score.
- Auto loans. Auto lenders typically use a FICO Auto Score.
- Mortgages. For years, loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac required Classic FICO. That is changing. Freddie Mac says lenders could use VantageScore 4.0 broadly from September 9, 2026, alongside Classic FICO. FICO 10T has been approved but, as of Freddie Mac's latest update, is not yet available for those loans. FHA loans will accept FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 for cases assigned on or after January 1, 2027.
Many lenders do not tell you in advance which score they will pull. If you are preparing for a big application, it helps to keep all your scores healthy rather than chasing one.
What "good" means in practice
Lenders think in tiers
Lenders often group applicants into score bands and price each band the same. Moving up within a band may not change your offer at all, while crossing into the next band can. The bands are set by each lender and are rarely published.
The score is not the whole decision
A good score can still get a "no" if your income is low compared with your debts, if you have very recent late payments, or if your file is very thin. A thin file with a good score is common for people who started recently. Time and more on-time history fix that.
Past a point, it stops mattering
Once you are in the top bands, extra points rarely change the terms you are offered. There is no prize for 850. Spending money or opening accounts just to push an already high score higher is usually wasted effort.
If you are just starting out
Your first goal is simply to get a FICO score, which usually takes about six months after your first account opens. Our guide on how long it takes to build credit explains the minimum rules. Your second goal is to move into the "good" band, and the two habits that matter most are free:
- Pay every bill on time. Payment history is the largest part of a FICO score.
- Keep your card balances low when the statement closes. Our utilization guide shows how.
If you do not have an account yet, start with how to build credit from zero.
How to see your scores
Many card issuers, banks and free apps show you a score at no cost. Check which brand and version it is; it is usually written in small print near the number. Your free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com do not include a score, but they show the information every score is built from. Our guide to reading your credit report explains what to look for.
Checking your own score or report never lowers it. Only applications for new credit can, which our inquiries guide covers.
General information only, not financial or legal advice. Terms change often; confirm the current terms on the provider's own site before you apply. Some links may pay us a commission. Disclosure.