If you've checked your credit on Credit Karma and then looked at your Experian score, you may have noticed they're different — sometimes by a lot. This causes a lot of confusion: which one is right? Which one should you trust?
The answer is: they're both accurate, but they're measuring slightly different things. Here's what you need to know.
What Score Does Credit Karma Show?
Credit Karma displays your VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion and Equifax. VantageScore is a credit scoring model created jointly by the three major credit bureaus as an alternative to FICO.
VantageScore uses the same 300–850 scale as FICO, and it weighs similar factors (payment history, utilization, age of accounts, etc.) — but it weights them differently and uses a different algorithm.
Credit Karma's score is free and updated frequently, which is why it's popular. But it's a VantageScore, not a FICO score.
What Score Does Experian Show?
Experian is one of the three major credit bureaus. When you access your score through Experian directly (via Experian.com or the Experian app), you'll typically see your FICO Score 8 — calculated using data from Experian's credit file on you.
Experian also shows a free credit report, which is separate from your score.
For the paid FICO score access, Experian pulls from its own bureau data. This may differ from FICO scores pulled by Equifax or TransUnion because each bureau may have slightly different information on file.
Why the Numbers Are Different
There are two reasons your Credit Karma and Experian scores can differ significantly:
1. Different scoring models (VantageScore vs. FICO) VantageScore 3.0 and FICO 8 use the same underlying data but calculate scores differently. For example:
- VantageScore 3.0 can generate a score with as little as 1 month of history; FICO requires 6 months.
- VantageScore 3.0 ignores paid collections entirely; older FICO versions still count them.
- The two models weight factors differently, so the same credit file can produce scores that differ by 20–50+ points.
2. Different bureaus have different data Credit Karma pulls TransUnion and Equifax data. Experian pulls Experian data. Some creditors only report to one or two bureaus, so the information in your files can differ. If a late payment is only in your Experian file, your Experian-based FICO will be lower than your TransUnion-based VantageScore.
Which Score Should You Trust?
For loan applications: Trust your FICO score. More than 90% of top U.S. lenders — for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards — use FICO scores. Your VantageScore from Credit Karma may be higher or lower than what your lender will see.
Before a major loan application, consider purchasing your FICO score from MyFICO.com or checking if your bank or credit card offers free FICO access.
For everyday monitoring: Credit Karma is perfectly useful. Even though it shows VantageScore, the trends — is your score going up or down? — are a reliable indicator of how your credit is performing. If your VantageScore is improving, your FICO is almost certainly improving too.
For spotting errors: Both are useful for this. Pull your full credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com (free, once per week from each bureau) and scan for accounts you don't recognize or incorrect information.
How Big Is the Difference Typically?
For most people, the gap between VantageScore 3.0 and FICO 8 is 20 to 40 points. In some cases it's larger — especially if you have paid collections (VantageScore ignores these; FICO 8 doesn't), limited credit history (VantageScore can score you earlier), or recent hard inquiries.
Learn more about how FICO and VantageScore compare and what each means for your borrowing power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Credit Karma score higher than my Experian score? VantageScore 3.0 (Credit Karma) treats paid collections more favorably than FICO 8 (Experian), which can make VantageScore appear higher.
Which score do mortgage lenders use? Most mortgage lenders use FICO scores — specifically older versions like FICO 2, 4, and 5 from each of the three bureaus.
Is Credit Karma's score accurate? Yes — it's an accurate VantageScore 3.0. It's just not the same model most lenders use.
How can I see my FICO score for free? Many credit cards (Discover, American Express, Citibank) offer free FICO access. You can also pay at MyFICO.com.
The Bottom Line
Neither Credit Karma nor Experian is "wrong." They show different scores based on different models and different bureau data. For monitoring your overall credit health, Credit Karma is convenient and free. For preparing for a loan or major credit decision, check your actual FICO score — that's what most lenders will use.
