Canadians now have several ways to check their credit score for free, including apps like Borrowell, Credit Karma, KOHO and ClearScore. But not all credit score apps are the same.

Some use Equifax, while others use TransUnion. Some update weekly, while others only refresh monthly. And some apps focus more on budgeting than actual credit monitoring.

In this guide, we compare the best free credit score apps in Canada based on:

• credit bureau used

• update frequency

• free credit report access

• monitoring alerts

• ease of use

• whether the features are actually free

What is a credit score and why is it important?

Your credit score is a three-digit number that ranges from 300 to 900. 

Your credit score is important because it shows lenders how well you manage your credit. A low score signals risk to lenders, while a high score indicates you’re likely to repay your debt. 

Whether you want to purchase a car, rent an apartment or take on a personal loan, your credit score is involved in almost all important financial decisions. 

Checking your credit score and report regularly can help you understand how you’re managing your credit and if you need to make changes to improve it. It also allows you to identify any errors and or fraudulent activity. 

How to check your credit score

Credit monitoring is extremely important to staying on top of your financial health. There are several ways you can check your credit score, including: 

• Free credit score app. With a free credit score app,  you can quickly access your credit score information when you need it. Many credit score apps (like Borrowell) will alert you if there is a change in your credit score and also provide useful financial resources, such as personalized tips on improving your score.  

• Credit bureaus.  You can also access your credit report online for free through the main credit bureaus in Canada – Equifax and TransUnion. The credit bureaus update your credit score once per month, whereas apps like Borrowell give you an updated score every week.

• Bank. Many banks allow you to view your credit score through their online platform or mobile app.  

The best free credit score apps in Canada

If supporting Canadian fintech companies matters to you, both Borrowell and KOHO are Canadian-founded companies headquartered in Toronto.

If you want to start tracking your credit score, check out this list of the best free credit score apps in Canada:

Borrowell - Best Overall Credit Score App in Canada

With over 3 million members, Borrowell is one of the most popular free credit score platforms in Canada, and for good reason.

Borrowell gives Canadians free weekly access to their Equifax credit score and credit report, along with personalized insights and credit monitoring alerts.

Unlike some platforms that only refresh your score monthly, Borrowell updates your Equifax score every week, making it easier to track changes quickly and spot potential issues sooner.

Borrowell was also the first company in Canada to offer free credit scores to Canadians, helping make credit monitoring more accessible nationwide.

Key Features

• Free Equifax credit score

• Weekly credit score updates

• Full credit report access

• Credit monitoring alerts

• Personalized financial recommendations

• Soft credit checks only

• Available on desktop and mobile

• Option to build credit with your rent payments

Best For

Canadians who want detailed credit monitoring and frequent updates without paying subscription fees.

Potential Drawbacks

• Uses Equifax only, so no access to your TransUnion score

Credit Karma - Best for TransUnion Monitoring

Credit Karma Canada is one of the best-known credit score apps in Canada and is particularly useful because it uses TransUnion instead of Equifax.

That matters because your credit score can vary slightly between Canada’s two major credit bureaus, depending on what information lenders report.

Credit Karma also includes budgeting tools, spending insights and product recommendations within its platform.

Key Features

• Free TransUnion credit score

• Weekly score updates

• Free credit report access

• Financial product marketplace

• Spending and budgeting tools

Best For

Canadians who want visibility into their TransUnion credit profile.

Potential Drawbacks

• Uses TransUnion only, so doesn't provide access to your Equifax score

• Less focused on detailed credit monitoring than some competitors

• Financial product offers are heavily integrated into the experience

KOHO - Best for Budgeting Features

KOHO combines free credit score access (although it updates less frequently than Borrowell and Credit Karma) with budgeting tools, cashback rewards and prepaid spending products.

Rather than focusing primarily on credit monitoring, KOHO positions itself as an all-in-one financial management app.

Users can access their Equifax credit score through the app, alongside features like spending insights, roundups and savings tools.

Key Features

• Free Equifax credit score

• Budgeting and spending tools

• Cashback rewards

• Savings features

• Credit-building products available

Best For

People who want budgeting and everyday money management tools alongside basic credit monitoring.

Potential Drawbacks

• Credit score updates are less frequent than some competitors

• Some features require paid plans

• Stronger focus on banking and spending than detailed credit analysis

ClearScore - Best for Simple Credit Monitoring

ClearScore offers Canadians free access to their Equifax credit score and report through a clean, easy-to-use dashboard.

The platform focuses heavily on simplicity and accessibility, making it a good option for users who want quick visibility into their credit without a lot of extra financial tools.

Key Features

• Free Equifax credit score

• Free credit report

• Simple interface

• Credit monitoring tools

Best For

Users who want a straightforward way to check their credit score occasionally.

Potential Drawbacks

• Fewer educational tools and insights

• Less comprehensive monitoring experience than some competitors

• Monthly rather than weekly updates

Equifax Canada - Best for Direct Bureau Access

Equifax Canada allows Canadians to access their credit information directly from one of the country’s major credit bureaus.

This can be useful if you want information straight from the source.

Key Features

• Direct access to Equifax data

• Free credit report options

• Fraud and identity monitoring tools available

Best For

Users who prefer accessing their information directly from the credit bureau itself.

Potential Drawbacks

• Less user-friendly than fintech apps

• Some monitoring tools require paid subscriptions

• Updates may be less frequent than free fintech platforms

Can You Check Your Credit Score Through Your Bank?

Yes. Some Canadian banks and financial institutions also offer free credit score access to customers through online banking apps.

These typically include partnerships with either Equifax or TransUnion.

Examples may include:

• RBC

• Scotiabank

• CIBC

• BMO

However, bank-based credit score tools are often more limited than dedicated credit monitoring apps. Some only update monthly and may not include detailed monitoring alerts or full credit report insights.

Dedicated platforms like Borrowell and Credit Karma are typically designed specifically for ongoing credit monitoring and education.

What is a good credit score in Canada?

Credit scores in Canada range from 300 to 900.  A very good credit score falls in the range of 725 to 759. An excellent score ranges from 760 to 900. 

And why does it matter if you have a good credit score? A good credit score can help you secure a lower interest rate on your mortgage, get a higher credit limit, and increase your chances of getting approved for a credit card or loan. 

If you’re wondering what category of credit score you fit into, here’s an overview:  

• Poor: 300 to 559

• Fair: 560 to 659

• Good: 660 to 724

• Very Good: 725 to 759

• Excellent: 760 to 900

Equifax vs TransUnion: Why Your Credit Scores May Differ Between Apps

Canada has two major credit bureaus: Equifax and TransUnion.

Lenders may report information to one bureau, both bureaus or neither, which means your credit reports can contain slightly different information.

That’s why your score may differ between apps.

For example:

• Borrowell primarily shows Equifax data

• Credit Karma primarily shows TransUnion data

Different bureaus may also use slightly different scoring models.

Neither score is necessarily “wrong.” They simply reflect different snapshots of your credit profile.

Many Canadians choose to monitor both bureaus to get a fuller picture of their credit health.

Does Checking Your Credit Score Hurt It?

No. Checking your own credit score does not lower your credit score.

Apps like Borrowell, Credit Karma and KOHO use soft credit checks, also known as soft inquiries. These do not affect your credit score.

A hard inquiry only happens when a lender checks your credit as part of a lending application, such as:

• applying for a credit card

• applying for a mortgage

• financing a vehicle

• taking out a loan

Regularly checking your score can actually help you:

• spot fraud early

• monitor progress

• understand how financial decisions affect your credit

How to improve your credit score

If you want to improve your credit score, it’s totally possible, but it won’t happen overnight. With some effort and patience, you can make it happen. Check out the following tips to boost your credit:  

• Pay your bills on time. Your payment history is the most important factor in calculating your credit score. Focus on paying your bills on time, every time. 

• Aim to keep credit utilization low. Your credit utilization is a measure of how much of your total credit is in use. Lenders like to see a credit utilization ratio under 30%. For instance, if you have $3,000 in available credit, and you’re using $1,500 you have a credit utilization ratio of 50%. ($1,500 / $3,000) x 100 = 50%

• Accept pre-approved offers to increase your credit limit. You can lower your credit utilization by increasing your credit limit. Let’s say, you get preapproved for an extra $1,000, so your credit limit is now $5,000. This lowers your credit utilization ratio from 50% to 20%. ($1,500/$5,000) x 100 = 20% 

• Don’t apply for too many credit products at once. Every time you apply for new credit, a hard credit inquiry is performed.  Each inquiry can lower your score by a few points. Applying for multiple products in a short amount of time can cause your score to drop. Aim to only apply for new credit when you really need it. 

• Regularly check your credit report.  Checking your credit score and report regularly, helps you identify if there are any errors or fraudulent activity. With Borowell’s free app, you’ll get weekly credit score updates so you can stay on top of your credit. 

• Consider using your rent to build credit. If you’re making monthly rent payments, consider signing up for Borrowell’s Rent Advantage program, where you can build your credit score just by making your regular rent payments. Plus, you can now add up to 24 months of your past rental payment history to your credit report!

Which Credit Score App Is Actually Best?

The best credit score app depends on what you’re looking for.

Choose Borrowell if:

• You want weekly Equifax updates

• You want detailed credit monitoring

• You want free access to your credit report

• You want insights focused specifically on credit health

Choose Credit Karma if:

• You want TransUnion monitoring

• You want visibility into both major credit bureaus

• You prefer a broader financial dashboard experience

Choose KOHO if:

• You want budgeting and spending tools alongside credit monitoring

• You’re interested in cashback and prepaid banking features

Choose ClearScore if:

• You want a simple, lightweight experience

• You only check your score occasionally

The Bottom Line

Free credit score apps have made it easier than ever for Canadians to understand and monitor their financial health.

While several apps now offer free credit score access, the best option depends on what matters most to you, whether that’s detailed credit monitoring, budgeting tools or visibility into multiple credit bureaus.

For Canadians who want detailed Equifax monitoring with weekly updates and full credit report access, Borrowell remains one of the strongest free options available.