How to Check Your Credit Score in Australia (Free) — 2026 Guide
You can check your credit score and obtain your credit file for free in Australia. There is no need to pay for credit monitoring services to access your basic score and report. Here is how to do it.
Your Right to a Free Credit Report
Under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Privacy (Credit Reporting) Policy, you are entitled to:
- One free copy of your credit report per year from each credit reporting bureau
- A free report within 90 days of being denied credit
This right applies regardless of whether you use a paid or free service — the bureaus must provide this.
The Three Credit Reporting Bureaus in Australia
| Bureau | Website | Free report available |
|---|---|---|
| Equifax (formerly Veda) | equifax.com.au | Yes — free annual report |
| Experian | experian.com.au | Yes — free annual report |
| illion (formerly Dun & Bradstreet) | illion.com.au | Yes — free annual report |
You have a file at each bureau, and lenders may check one or more. It is worth checking all three — particularly before a major credit application like a home loan.
Free Ways to Check Your Credit Score
1. Equifax Free Score
Visit equifax.com.au — you can request a free credit report and score. Note there is a difference between the free annual report and a free score service (Equifax also offers paid ongoing monitoring).
2. CreditSavvy (Equifax score)
creditsavvy.com.au — provides a free Equifax credit score and basic insights, updated regularly. Powered by Equifax data; no payment required.
3. GetCreditScore (Equifax score)
getcreditscore.com.au — free Equifax credit score, updated monthly.
4. Experian Free Credit Score
experian.com.au — Experian provides a free credit score service in Australia.
5. Credit Simple (illion score)
creditsimple.com.au — free illion credit score, updated weekly.
6. Your Bank’s App
Some Australian banks (CommBank, ANZ) now display your credit score within the banking app using data from a bureau partner. Check your bank app’s features.
Credit Score vs Credit Report — What You Get for Free
| Credit score | Credit report | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A number (e.g., 750 on Equifax’s 0–1,200 scale) | Your full credit file including all listings |
| What it shows | Your creditworthiness at a glance | Every enquiry, default, account, and listing |
| Free? | Yes — via services above | Yes — one per year from each bureau |
| Updated | Varies by service (monthly to real-time) | Point-in-time snapshot |
For home loan preparation, it is worth pulling your full credit report (not just the score) to see exactly what lenders will see — including any errors.
What to Look for When You Get Your Report
When you receive your credit report, check carefully for:
- Errors in personal details (name, address, date of birth) — errors can mix your file with another person’s
- Enquiries you didn’t authorise — potential fraud or identity theft
- Defaults you don’t recognise — may be errors, or debts from old addresses
- Defaults that have been paid but still show as unpaid
- Accounts you don’t recognise — potential identity fraud
- Old listings that should have aged off (defaults older than 5 years)
How to Fix Errors on Your Credit Report
If you find an error on your credit report:
- Contact the credit bureau directly — they have a dispute process
- Contact the credit provider — the company that listed the information (e.g., the telco or bank)
- The bureau must investigate within 30 days (under the Privacy Act)
- If the error is not corrected and you disagree, you can escalate to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) at afca.org.au
- You can also add a note to your file (a “statement of correction”) explaining disputed entries
How Often Should I Check My Credit Score?
- Before a major credit application (home loan, car loan): Check all three bureaus 3–6 months in advance so you have time to address any issues
- Annually: Check your report for errors and identity theft
- After a declined application: Check your report to understand why
Does Checking My Own Score Hurt It?
No — checking your own credit score or report is a soft enquiry and has no impact on your credit score. Only credit applications (by a lender) create hard enquiries that affect your score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a free credit score as accurate as a paid service?
The score data is the same — a free service from CreditSavvy or GetCreditScore uses the same Equifax data as a paid monitoring service. Paid services typically add real-time alerts, more frequent updates, and identity monitoring features.
Why might my score differ between services?
Different services may use data from different bureaus (Equifax, Experian, illion) — and each bureau may have slightly different information on file. The scoring models also differ between bureaus.
I’ve never borrowed money — will I have a credit file?
You will have a file as soon as you apply for any credit product (credit card, phone plan on contract, car loan, home loan). If you have never applied for credit, your file may be minimal or empty — you can check to confirm.
Related Guides
- What Credit Score Do I Need for a Home Loan?
- How to Improve Your Credit Score Before Applying
- Credit File vs Credit Score — What’s the Difference?
- How Your Credit Score Affects Your Mortgage Rate
- Credit and Home Loans Hub
This article provides general information about checking credit scores in Australia. Credit bureau processes and third-party services may change — verify current details at the relevant websites. For advice tailored to your situation, speak with a licensed mortgage broker. Find one through MoneySmart.