FICO Scores vs Credit Scores

6 Min Read | Last updated: September 13, 2024

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This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.

FICO scores are credit scores but not all credit scores are FICO scores. Learn the difference between credit score types to better understand your creditworthiness.

At-A-Glance

  • FICO is the oldest U.S. credit scoring system, introduced in 1989.
  • VantageScore, a joint project of the three national credit bureaus launched in 2006, is FICO’s main competition.
  • There are some differences in how FICO and VantageScore calculate your scores, but they’re fairly minor.
  • There are also specialized versions of FICO for auto loan and credit card decisions.

Whether you’re a credit expert or just starting out, it’s important to know that all FICO scores are credit scores, but not all credit scores are FICO scores. Understanding the differences between FICO credit scores and other credit scores can help you better navigate the world of loans and credit cards.

 

FICO credit scores have been around since 1989 and are what many lenders and businesses use to help them determine the amount of financial risk associated with any individual.

Differences Between FICO Score and Credit Score

But every credit score needs data from your credit report to make its calculations, and there are three different nationwide credit-reporting agencies, creating at least three different FICO scores.

 

What’s more, FICO has multiple versions used for different purposes, as well as one major competitor in the credit score modeling world. FICO’s multiple versions include:1

  • FICO Score 8, the most widely used version, although FICO Score 9 and 10 are available.
  • Multiple versions of FICO Bankcard Score are typically used when you apply for a credit card.
  • Multiple versions of FICO Auto Score are typically used when you apply for an auto loan.
  • Some versions of FICO’s main scoring model are used in mortgage lending. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two mortgage-backing agencies that are themselves backed by the federal government, use FICO score 10 T (in addition to VantageScore 4.0).2

Considering all these versions, and adding them to the three credit reporting bureaus, gets you to a large number of potentially different credit scores. It’s worth remembering, though, that the differences from score to score are usually small.

FICO Scores vs. VantageScores

FICO’s main competition is the VantageScore system, which was rolled out in 2006.3 The VantageScore system is a joint initiative from the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.4 Because of different models, there are four versions of the VantageScore.5

 

(If you have heard that Equifax also has its own proprietary credit score, that’s true — but it’s considered only “educational.” Lenders don’t check that score when evaluating applications.6)


All credit scores, regardless of who is doing the calculating, are based on information in your file at the credit bureaus. Both FICO and VantageScore use a three-digit scoring system that ranges from 300 to 850.7 For more, see “What Is a Credit Report and Why Is It Important?”


From 30,000 feet, both FICO and VantageScore focus on many of the same key elements to assess whether you’re a good or bad credit risk:

  • On-time bill payment
  • How much you use of your available credit
  • How long you’ve used credit
  • The different types of credit you use
  • New credit applications

But when you take a closer look, there are slight differences in how the two types of scores are generated:

  • The specific formula used to calculate your score can vary. FICO score for each of the three credit bureaus may differ due to differences in their data structures.8 VantageScore uses the same algorithm regardless of which credit bureau’s data it is using, which reduces the likelihood that your VantageScore credit scores will be significantly different between the three bureaus.5,9 However, you may still see differences in your score if there is different information in your credit files.5
  • Specific factors have different weightings. Both scoring systems break your score into the five broad elements bulleted above. FICO explicitly shares how much each slice is weighted.10 VantageScore offers more general explanations, such as “extremely influential” or “less influential.”11 “What Is a Credit Score?” has a deep dive into the specifics.
  • Range cutoffs aren’t uniform. While both systems use the same 300-to-850 scoring scale, they sort the scores into broad buckets a bit differently, as shown in the accompanying table. In addition, while lenders may consult your credit score, they may also use their own customized criteria and variables to determine what a “good” score is.12
  • “Newbies” are treated differently. FICO only calculates its scores once you have a loan or credit card account for six months, and you must have at least one account that has been “active” in the past six months. That means you’ve made a payment. You can get a VantageScore even if you only have one loan or credit account and it’s less than six months old.5 The result is that VantageScore can score about 33 million more people than conventional scoring models.14
  • Different windows for combining hard inquiries. Whenever you apply for a loan, a new credit card, or a credit limit increase, the lender usually makes a “hard inquiry” on your credit report. A single hard inquiry can have a small negative impact on your credit score, typically less than five points for FICO scores. But if you have multiple hard inquiries, those small dings can begin to add up. To help people comparison shop, both FICO and VantageScore combine similar inquiries — say you’re shopping for a car loan — and treat them as one inquiry. The newest versions of the FICO scoring model gives you up to 45 days to do your comparison shopping and be hit with only one hard inquiry.15 VantageScore limits the window to 14 days.16

Credit Score Range Chart 5,17

Rating/Scoring Model Credit Score Range

Exceptional/FICO

Excellent/VantageScore

800-850

781-850

Very Good/FICO

Good/VantageScore

740-799

661-780

Good/FICO

FairVantageScore

670-739

601-660

Fair/FICO

Poor/VantageScore

580-669

500-600

Very Poor/FICO

Very Poor/VantageScore

300-579

300-499

Should You Focus on One Score or Another?

Because FICO and VantageScore have different approaches to how they calculate their scores, it’s not uncommon for their scores to be different. Typically, the differences shouldn’t be much. It’s a good practice to focus on the main factors that influence all credit scores: paying bills on time and using less than 30% of your total available credit.


Keep in mind that when you’re web surfing and see an offer for a free credit score, it often will be a version of VantageScore. But if you apply for a home loan, it’s likely one or more of your FICO scores will be checked.11


Some major banks and credit card issuers, including American Express, offer free FICO scores to their customers. Log in to an account and chances are good you will see a link to get a free FICO credit score.

The Takeaway

While you can take out a loan to pay off credit card debt, it’s not a simple choice. You’ll want to analyze a multitude of options from many financial services companies, because which option works best for you will depend on several factors. Whether you’re considering a secured or unsecured personal loan or transferring your balance to another card, fees and interest rates can come as a surprise. Finally, you’ll likely need a plan in order to succeed.

Headshot of Carla Fried

Carla Fried is a freelance journalist who has spent her entire career specializing in personal finance. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Money, CNBC.com, and Consumer Reports, among many other media outlets.
 
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.

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