Does Checking Credit Score Lower It in 2025?

Your credit score is a financial passport. It affects whether you get a loan, the interest rates you pay, and even eligibility for credit cards. But one common question continues to confuse people in 2025:
“Does checking your credit score lower it?”

The short answer: No, checking your own credit score does not lower it. However, certain types of checks called hard inquiries can temporarily reduce your score. Let’s break this down in detail.

🔹 Why People Think Checking Lowers Their Score

For years, many people believed that just looking at their credit score could damage it. This myth came from confusion between soft inquiries and hard inquiries.

• Soft inquiries (self-checks, pre-approved offers) are harmless.

• Hard inquiries (loan applications, credit card approvals) may lower your score slightly.

Understanding the difference is essential in 2025, especially when credit awareness is key to financial growth.

🔹 What Happens When You Check Your Credit Score?

When you check your own credit score through a platform like DueFactory, it is recorded as a soft inquiry.

• Soft Inquiry = Only visible to you, doesn’t affect score.

• Hard Inquiry = Visible to lenders, affects score.

This means you can safely check your score as many times as you want without worrying. In fact, regular monitoring is encouraged by experts.

🔹 Soft Inquiries vs. Hard Inquiries

✅ Soft Inquiries (No Impact)

• Checking your own score via DueFactory

• Employer background checks

• Pre-approved credit card/loan offers

• Credit monitoring apps

Effect on Score: None

✅ Hard Inquiries (Can Lower Score)

• Applying for a new credit card

• Applying for a personal loan, home loan, or car loan

• Credit checks by lenders before approving credit

Effect on Score: Small drop (5–10 points), lasts up to 12 months

🔹 How Hard Inquiries Affect Your Credit

Hard inquiries signal to lenders that you are actively seeking new credit. While one or two inquiries won’t hurt much, multiple applications in a short time can make you look risky.

• 1–2 inquiries per year: Minimal effect

• 5+ inquiries within months: Can reduce your score noticeably

The good news is that hard inquiries lose their impact after 12 months and disappear from reports in 24 months.

🔹 Why Regularly Checking Your Score is Important

In 2025, with loans, BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later), and multiple credit cards, it’s essential to stay aware of your credit health.

Benefits of Monitoring Your Score:

1. Spot Errors Quickly – Sometimes, wrong data is reported to credit bureaus. Checking your score ensures you can dispute errors immediately.

2. Track Progress – If you’re working to improve your score, regular checks show if your efforts are paying off.

3. Stay Loan-Ready – Knowing your score helps you apply for the right products and avoid rejections.

4. Avoid Debt Traps – By checking utilization ratios and account activity, you prevent over-borrowing.

Platforms like DueFactory make this easy by giving a 6-month credit insight summary, loan distribution analysis, and account activity view.

🔹 Myths vs. Facts About Checking Credit Scores

• ❌ Myth: Checking your score lowers it.
  ✅ Fact: Self-checks are soft inquiries and have no effect.

• ❌ Myth: You should check only once a year.
  ✅ Fact: You can check as often as needed — monthly or even weekly.

• ❌ Myth: All types of inquiries are harmful.
  ✅ Fact: Only hard inquiries from applications impact your score.

• ❌ Myth: Credit scores improve if you avoid checking them.
  ✅ Fact: Avoiding checks won’t improve your score — but managing utilization, payments, and debt will.

🔹 Smart Ways to Monitor Your Credit Without Damage

1. Use Trusted Platforms – Check your score with DueFactory, which uses soft inquiries only.

2. Schedule Monthly Checks – Make it a habit, like reviewing bank statements.

3. Review Your Credit Report – Beyond the score, check for loan distribution, account status, and utilization.

4. Track Trends – Instead of worrying about small changes, watch your 6-month performance.

5. Stay Loan-Ready – Monitor before applying for credit so you know your approval chances.

🔹 FAQs

Q1. Does checking your credit score lower it in 2025?
No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and does not impact your credit score.

Q2. How often can I check my credit score?
You can check it as often as you like — even weekly. Frequent checks do not hurt your score.

Q3. Do lenders see when I check my own score?
No. Only hard inquiries are visible to lenders. Soft inquiries are private.

Q4. How many hard inquiries are too many?
More than 3–4 hard inquiries in a year may raise red flags for lenders.

Q5. How does DueFactory help in monitoring?
DueFactory provides a complete credit overview, active/inactive account details, loan distribution, settlement support, and score improvement guidance, helping you stay financially ready.

🔹 Final Thoughts

So, does checking your credit score lower it? Absolutely not. Self-checking is safe, smart, and essential in 2025. The only time your score drops is when a lender runs a hard inquiry during an application.

By checking your score regularly through platforms like DueFactory, you can stay updated on your financial health, correct errors, and make smarter borrowing decisions.

Bottom line: Don’t fear checking your credit score — fear ignoring it.