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myFICO Review

8.5

myFICO Review: A Detailed Look at Fair Isaac Corporation's Credit Monitoring Service

The Fair Isaac Corporation is an industry leader in the world of data analytics and credit scores. Going by the name of FICO, the publicly traded company created what's known as FICO scoring, which is used by over 90% of lenders to determine borrowers' creditworthiness.

In fact, your myFICO credit score directly reflects your FICO numbers. myFICO.com is the consumer branch of the FICO company that focuses on credit monitoring. Our myFICO review explains the details.

About myFICO

myFICO credit monitoring started in 2001 under the Fair Isaac Corporation's supervision. The company excels in providing consumers with up-to-date and accurate snapshots of their myFICO score through the myFICO app in exchange for a monthly subscription fee.

myFICO monitors one or all three major credit bureaus and uses its own FICO scoring models instead of the VantageScore model that most credit monitoring companies provide.

No free plans are available through myFICO, and a trial period doesn't exist. However, the service is one of the very few companies that offer FICO score reporting, which can differ substantially from other scoring methods.

myFICO Reviews, Ratings and Complaints

  • myFICO reviews generally range from good to excellent, and the company sports an A+ rating at the BBB.

  • At ConsumerAffairs, myFICO has 26 customer reviews with an average rating of 3 out of 5 stars.

  • At the Apple Store, the myFICO app has an average customer rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, based on over 26,000 reviews.

  • At the BBB, there are 50 or more total complaints reported against myFICO from within the last 3 years. (see details below)

We chose myFICO as the best credit monitoring service for rebuilding credit on our annual overview ranking for several reasons, including the use of FICO scores over VantageScore, three-bureau monitoring in the company's top-tier plans, and its educational website that teaches consumers how to repair and maintain their credit scores.

While the company does provide some level of protection from identity theft, credit monitoring is its main focus.

Pros


  • Uses the FICO scoring platform that most lenders also use
  • $1 million identity theft insurance is offered in all plans
  • The company's website is geared toward ways to improve your credit scores
  • 24/7 identity restoration aid is available in all plans

Cons


  • The Premier plan only adds more frequent credit score updates
  • The Advanced plan reduces score updating to quarterly only
  • The most expensive plan may not be worth the extra cost
  • Plans are generally more costly than some competitors

myFICO Features and Benefits

myFICO offers three plans with monthly subscriptions. The plans feature basic benefits through the lowest-cost program with increasing benefits through each of the top two plan offerings. The company's Basic plan is the only one that provides score reporting from just one bureau—Experian. myFICO plans generally include the following customer benefits.

  • One or three-bureau credit score monitoring, depending on your plan

  • Variable FICO model scoring for home, auto, or other personal loans and credit cards

  • $1 million identity theft insurance

  • Credit score monitoring and alerts

  • Identity monitoring in the top plans

  • 24/7 help with identity restoration.

myFICO Editorial Rating

Trusted Company Reviews Rating Score for myFICO: 6.5

Criteria

Points

Better Business Bureau Grade

9

Trustpilot Review Rating

0

Free Credit Monitoring Available

0

Three-Bureau Reporting Available8

9

Best Plan Monthly Cost

3

Identity Theft Features

7

Credit Score Update Frequency in Lowest-Cost Plan

2

Credit Score Update Frequency in Highest-Cost Plan

2

Family Plan Available

5

Additional Features

10

Expert Opinion Score

18

myFICO Plans and Prices

myFICO offers three paid subscription packages, including a Basic plan for simply keeping an eye on your general credit score to its Premier plan that features the company's best benefits.

Basic

Advanced

Premier

Monthly Price

$19.95

$29.95

$39.95

Features

Monthly Experian score updates using the FICO scoring model, credit monitoring and alerts, access to Experian credit report, educational website materials, multiple FICO score model reporting, $1 million identity theft insurance, and identity restoration services.

Same features as the Basic plan with the addition of three-bureau monitoring, alerts, and reporting, as well as identity monitoring and lost wallet assistance. Credit score updates are available quarterly.

Includes all lower plan features plus monthly updates from all three credit bureaus.

Is myFICO Right for You?

myFICO may be a good fit for those looking to improve their credit scores for general reasons or to reach a goal, such as a home or automobile purchase. While the company's website is full of advice for improving your credit scores, perhaps more important is the fact that the company reports your score using the FICO model, so you can see what your potential lenders are seeing.

However, myFICO offers no free monitoring or reporting options, while some competitors offer a cost-free plan. If you're okay with putting up with heavy third-party advertising and are confident you can use the VantageScore 3.0 model as guidance, you can likely work to improve your scores for less money each month.

If you decide to go with myFICO, take some time to carefully look over the plan options and balance their monthly payments against what you're trying to achieve with your credit score monitoring and identity protection. While the plans generally offer solid benefits, their differences can make or break your experience with myFICO.

myFICO Vs. Experian

myFICO and Experian both use the FICO credit scoring model for their credit monitoring services. Each company also provides some level of identity theft protection. However, most of the similarities end there. Where myFICO provides more plan choices and service options, Experian offers a free monitoring service and member-exclusive features.

myFICO

Experian

Free credit monitoring plan available

No

Yes

Credit score agency

FICO

FICO

3-Bureau credit monitoring

Available

Available with paid subscription

Credit score improvement advice and tools

Yes

Yes

Credit update frequency

Monthly or quarterly

Monthly or daily

Digital banking available

No

No

Mobile app

Yes

Yes

Family plan available

No

No

Identity theft insurance

Yes

Yes, in a paid plan

Lowest monthly cost

$19.95

Free

Highest monthly cost

$39.95

$24.99

Frequently Asked Questions

Is myFICO real?

myFICO is the consumer-focused branch of the Fair Isaac Corporation, or FICO, as it's better known. myFICO provides credit monitoring and reporting using the FICO scoring model along with some identity theft protections.

Is myFICO a legit company?

myFICO and its parent company, FICO, are legitimate companies that developed starting in 1956 and provide lenders and consumers with credit analytical services in exchange for fees.

Is myFICO accurate?

myFICO scores are accurate compared to the three main credit bureaus. However, your myFICO score may vary significantly from your credit score based on VantageScore modeling. Both types of scores are accurate. They are simply measured differently

What's the difference between VantageScore and myFICO score?

VantageScore and FICO scores measure similar metrics related to credit scores—however, the details of what each model measures vary. For example, VantageScore tends to lean more heavily on credit inquiries than the FICO scoring model.

What does FICO 8 credit score mean?

The FICO company has developed several iterations of its FICO scoring method and how scores are determined. FICO 8 is the model most often used by general lending institutions, while mortgage companies and auto lenders may use older versions of FICO scoring.

Can myFICO help me improve my credit?

While myFICO provides helpful information on its website designed to help your credit score increase, it cannot change your credit score. However, you can use the feedback provided by myFICO credit monitoring and reporting to help you increase your scores.

How to cancel myFICO subscription?

According to myFICO.com, to cancel or pause your subscription, you have two options: you can either visit the "My Subscriptions" page or call 1-800-319-4433.

When is myFICO worth it?

If you're looking to improve and increase your credit score, especially if you're planning to purchase a home or car and want the best interest rate, investing in a service like MyFICO credit monitoring can be highly beneficial. The service offers interactive credit education, providing valuable insights to help you actively build better credit. While you may not require this service indefinitely, it can prove to be a worthwhile investment.

One of the key advantages of MyFICO credit monitoring is the immediate alerts it sends if anything goes wrong, such as a missed bill payment. This allows you to address and rectify issues promptly before they escalate into more significant problems.

Additionally, if you have children, MyFICO credit monitoring services can offer them a valuable credit education and equip them with the necessary tools to establish excellent credit.

Overall, MyFICO credit monitoring is a service that can significantly support your credit improvement journey and financial goals.

About Author

Deane Biermeier

Deane Biermeier

Deane Biermeier is a certified financial educator through the University of Minnesota and a respected authority in financial research, writing, and editing, renowned for his in-depth analyses and expert advice. With a distinguished career that previously spanned home improvement, real estate, and finance topics, Deane's role at Trusted Company Reviews focuses exclusively on finance. Deane has contributed to leading publications such as Forbes Home, US News and World Report, Newsweek Vault, and others. Since joining TrustedCompanyReviews.com in 2023, he has solidified his reputation as a crucial resource for clear, factual financial guidance.