No. When you check your own credit report or score, it counts as a soft inquiry, and soft inquiries do not lower your credit score. Requesting your reports from annualcreditreport.com, or viewing a score through your bank or a monitoring app, is generally a soft inquiry. Hard inquiries, which happen when a lender reviews your credit for an application you made, can lower a score slightly.
A soft inquiry happens when your credit is checked for a reason other than a credit application, such as your own review, a background check or a pre-approved offer. A hard inquiry happens when you apply for credit and the lender reviews your report. Hard inquiries can stay on your report for two years but usually affect your score for about one year.
Usually by a small amount, and the effect fades over time. A single inquiry rarely changes a score much, but several new applications in a short period can add up. Apply only for credit you actually need.
Many scoring models treat several inquiries for the same type of loan within a short window as one. The window depends on the model and is commonly 14 to 45 days. Comparing offers within a few weeks keeps the impact small.
Yes. Reviewing your own reports is a good habit for catching errors and possible fraud. The three nationwide bureaus provide free reports every week through annualcreditreport.com, and checking your own report does not lower your score.
Last reviewed October 15, 2026 by Sandra Ruiz, CEO.
Start with a free consultation and a general review of your credit scores from the three bureaus. Individual results vary.