FICO® Scores vs. Other Credit Scores – What’s the Difference?

A FICO Score is a type of credit score. But what about FICO Score’s origins? FICO Scores were first developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation, which now goes by FICO for short. These scores have been in use for over three decades, and as mentioned, FICO is the most commonly used credit score model.

FICO Scores operate on a range from 300 to 850, with 300 being the lowest score possible and 850 being the highest score you can earn. Your scores are based on the information reported to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

If you’ve ever seen a copy of your credit report, you’ve seen what FICO uses to generate your scores.

But how does the FICO Score formula work? It’s broken down like this:

• Payment history: 35% of your score
• Credit utilization: 30% of your score
• Credit age: 15% of your score
• Credit mix: 10% of your score
• Credit inquiries: 10% of your score

FICO only uses these criteria to calculate your credit score. Other factors, like your age, income, or where you work, don’t come into play.

FICO Scores aren’t all the same. There’s a significant difference between having an 800 FICO Score and a 600 FICO Score when applying for loans or lines of credit.

Your score matters for two reasons. First, a higher score can make getting approved for loans or credit lines easier. And second, the better your score, the better your interest rate will likely be, which means saving money.

In terms of what is a good FICO Score, here’s how the different score ranges compare:

• 800-850: Exceptional credit
• 740-799: Very good
• 670-739: Good
• 580-669: Fair
• 300-579: Very poor

Based on this, “good” credit is a FICO Score between 670 and 739. But the higher your score, the more favorable any loan or credit terms you qualify for are likely to be.

After FICO Score, VantageScore is probably the second most well-known credit scoring model. VantageScore was founded in 2006 as a joint effort between Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to provide consumers with a comprehensive credit scoring model.

Like FICO Scores, VantageScore credit scores also operate on a range from 300 to 850, with 850 being considered a perfect score. And like FICO Score, VantageScore credit scores are based on the information from your credit reports. But the main difference lies in what information is used and how it’s weighted.

Here’s how VantageScore calculates scores:

• Extremely influential: Total credit usage, balance, and available credit
• Highly influential: Credit mix and experience
• Moderately influential: Payment history
• Less influential: Age of credit history
• Less influential: New accounts

Right away, you can see that in terms of FICO Scores vs. VantageScore, FICO Scores place more emphasis on payment history, while VantageScore looks more at how much of your credit limit you’re using and what types of credit you have.

Newer versions of FICO Scores and VantageScore also rely on trended data, which is how you manage credit and debt over time.

Wondering if there’s a difference between a good VantageScore and a good FICO Score? Since these are two different credit score models, there is some variation in what VantageScore considers good credit.

• 781-850: Excellent credit
• 661-780: Good
• 601-660: Fair
• 500-600: Poor
• 300-499: Very poor

While there is a range shift between VantageScore credit scores and FICO Score, one detail remains the same. A higher score can work in your favor when it’s time to borrow money.

Aside from FICO Score and VantageScore credit scores, the credit bureaus can also generate their own consumer credit scores. These scores follow a proprietary model unique to the credit bureau issuing the score.

These scores can give you an idea of where you stand credit-wise, but they aren’t the same scores lenders will check when you apply for loans. For that reason, they’re often referred to as educational scores since they’re designed to inform consumers about their credit situation.

FICO Scores are considered the go-to credit scoring model, though VantageScore is gradually gaining popularity among lenders. So when it comes to which is better, FICO Score has an edge regarding how many lenders use it and its overall reputation.

If you’re checking your FICO Scores or your VantageScore, you will likely get two different perspectives on financial health. That’s because of how each scoring model is calculated and what factors weigh the heaviest in those calculations.

Want to learn more about the differences between a credit score vs. a FICO Score? Here’s a side-by-side look at how other credit scores vs. FICO Scores compare:

Bottom line, FICO Scores are considered the industry standard. So if you’re checking your credit scores for the first time, then checking your FICO Score can give you a better idea of how lenders perceive you in terms of risk.

Other credit score models can also offer insight into what you may be doing right when using credit and what you could improve upon. But overall, FICO Scores can carry more weight in credit and lending decisions.

If you’re curious about how your FICO Scores add up, there are a few ways you can check them.

1. You can purchase a FICO Score through an authorized FICO retailer. The three credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – are all authorized to sell FICO scores to consumers.
2. You could get your score through an authorized FICO open-access partner. The FICO open-access program allows banks and other financial institutions to provide FICO Scores to their customers for free. So if you have a rewards credit card, for example, one of your card perks may include free FICO Score access.
3. You can look into services that provide FICO Scores for free. For example, Experian Credit Boost and Chase Credit Journey both offer free access to your FICO Score.
4. Free credit monitoring services can issue updated credit scores to customers monthly for free. But instead of a FICO Score, you may get a VantageScore or a proprietary credit score. So be sure to read the fine print before signing up.
5. You can also check your FICO Score for free in the Chime app.

Having a decent FICO Score matters if you want to qualify for the best interest rates when applying for new loans or refinancing existing ones.

All things considered, developing good financial habits like paying bills on time and keeping your credit card balances low can help you build a stronger credit score!