A soft credit check lets a lender review credit information without lowering your credit score. During some prequalification processes, a lender may use it to gauge whether you appear to meet its initial criteria and, in some cases, show estimated loan amounts, rates, or terms.
That can help you decide whether continuing with that provider makes sense before you complete a full application. The result is still preliminary, but it can give you useful information without the score impact associated with a hard inquiry.
If you choose to continue, the next step may involve more verification and a hard credit check. Knowing what the soft check tells the lender, and what it tells you, can make the next decision easier.
What Is a Soft Credit Check?
A soft credit check, also called a soft inquiry or soft pull, is a review of your credit file that does not affect your credit score. It can be used for prequalification, account reviews, prescreened offers, or checking your own credit.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s guidance on credit inquiries explains that soft inquiries can appear when you review your own credit report, but they are not shown to other companies that purchase your report. In other words, you may see the inquiry even though another lender checking your credit should not see it as a new application for credit.
In lending, “pulling your credit” means accessing your credit report. A “soft pull” leaves your score unchanged, while a “hard pull” tied to a credit application may lower it. The labels describe the inquiry’s effect on your score, not how closely a lender examines your credit history.
Common Reasons for a Soft Inquiry
A soft inquiry can happen for several reasons, including:
- Some prequalification checks. Certain lenders let you check possible eligibility or estimated terms with a soft inquiry before you complete a full application.
- Checking your own credit. Looking at your own credit report or score does not hurt your score.
- Account review. A company you already have an account with may review your credit as part of managing that account.
- Prescreened offers. A creditor may review certain credit information to decide whether to send you a prescreened offer.
One thing to watch for is the word “prequalified.” It does not tell you by itself whether the company will run a soft credit check. Some providers handle this step differently, so check the disclosure before filling out the form. It should tell you what kind of credit inquiry may be used.
Soft vs. Hard Credit Checks: What Changes?
Soft and hard inquiries both involve access to credit information, but they are treated differently.
| Check | Typical Purpose | Effect on Credit Scores | Visibility to Other Lenders |
| Soft inquiry | Checking your own credit, account review, prescreening, or some prequalification steps | Does not affect your credit scores | Generally visible to you, not to companies that later purchase your credit report |
| Hard inquiry | Often used when you apply for new credit and a lender reviews your application | May cause a small, temporary score drop; the effect depends on your credit profile and scoring model | Can be seen by other lenders reviewing your report |
A hard inquiry may happen when you apply for a new loan or credit card because the lender is deciding whether to extend new credit.
There is also no single number of points that every hard inquiry costs. FICO says one additional inquiry is less than five points for most people, and hard inquiries affect FICO Scores for up to 12 months. The actual effect varies with the rest of your credit file.
Rate shopping works differently depending on the type of loan. FICO’s guidance on rate shopping gives qualifying mortgage, auto, and student loan inquiries special treatment when they occur within certain shopping windows. Personal loan inquiries do not receive the same treatment, so applying with several personal loan lenders may result in several hard inquiries.
What Does a Soft Credit Check Show?
There is no single screen or template that every lender receives from a soft credit check. What is available depends on the credit bureau, the product being used, and why the inquiry is being made.
For example, a credit report can show information such as:
- Current and past credit accounts
- Account balances or credit limits
- Payment history
- Collection accounts
- Bankruptcies or other reportable public-record information
- Companies that have accessed the report
A lender may use those details to spot patterns that matter to its own criteria. For example, a report might show a credit card with a $950 balance and a $1,000 limit. That tells the lender most of that credit is already in use. The payment history can also show whether you’ve been paying accounts on time. Those details can affect whether the lender moves forward, even though the soft check itself does not lower your score. A score may also be provided with some credit report products or services.
The soft inquiry itself does not verify everything a lender may need. Income, employment, bank balances, and other information may be requested or verified separately if you decide to continue.
What to Check Before Moving Forward With a Loan
Here is how the soft check stage can help with a real borrowing decision. Say your car needs a $1,000 repair, and you use a provider that offers prequalification with a soft inquiry.
The provider reviews available credit information and gives you a preliminary result showing that you may qualify for around the amount you need. That tells you its initial criteria may be a fit without lowering your credit score.
You can then decide whether the result is worth pursuing. If the amount or estimated terms do not fit what you need, you may choose not to continue to a full application.
If you do continue, the lender may ask for more information, verify details, or run a hard credit check before making a final decision. The final annual percentage rate (APR), fees, and repayment terms may not be available until later in the process.
Ask About the Next Step, Not Just the First Check
A soft check can be useful because it gives you information before you decide whether to take the next step. You may not have final pricing yet, but you can still look for the details that are available at each stage.
Before submitting or continuing, check:
- Does this step use a soft inquiry, a hard inquiry, or no credit check?
- Is this a prequalification step or a full application?
- Will my information go to one lender or be shared with multiple third parties?
- If I continue, what step could trigger a hard inquiry?
- If preliminary terms are available, what APR and fees are shown?
- What loan amount, repayment term, or estimated payment is shown?
- What information or documents will I need to provide next?
Read the actual disclosure before submitting the form. Some final terms may only become available after a full application, but the provider should explain the type of inquiry being used and what the current result represents.
Understand Where BuddyLoans Fits
BuddyLoans is not a lender, creditor, or broker, and does not make approval decisions. It offers a free service that may connect consumers with third-party lenders, lending partners, other networks, or marketers. Submitting a request through BuddyLoans is not the same as applying directly with a lender.
BuddyLoans legal disclosures say some third parties may check credit bureaus or other consumer reports when reviewing eligibility. Do not assume every request is soft-only. Review the disclosure before submitting your information and the third party’s terms before continuing.
How to Check Your Own Credit
Checking your own credit is itself a soft inquiry, so it lets you review your report without lowering your score. Doing this before prequalification can also help you spot errors or unfamiliar activity that may affect what a lender sees.
Review Your Reports
You can get free weekly credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Checking them yourself counts as a soft inquiry, so it does not lower your credit scores.
It is worth looking at all three reports instead of assuming they match. Some creditors may report to one bureau but not another, which means the details can vary.
Look for:
- Accounts you do not recognize
- Balances or payment statuses that appear wrong
- Duplicate accounts or collection items
- Inquiries from companies you do not recognize
- Incorrect identifying information
If you find an error, follow the credit bureau’s dispute process and keep copies of documents that support your dispute.
Check a Score Separately
A credit report and a credit score are not the same thing. AnnualCreditReport.com provides reports, not free credit scores. Your bank, card issuer, or another service may provide a score separately, and the score may differ from the one a lender uses.
Know What You’re Agreeing To
A soft credit check can help you review your credit or look at possible options without lowering your score. But the first check does not tell you everything about what may happen next.
Before moving forward, review your credit, find out whether a later step could involve a hard inquiry, and check the total cost and payment schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Soft Credit Check Affect Your Credit Score?
No. A soft credit check does not lower your credit score, even if you have several of them. Your score can still move for other reasons, such as a higher balance or a missed payment. Those changes come from activity on your accounts, not from the soft inquiry.
Does Checking My Own Credit Hurt My Scores?
No, you can check your own credit report or score without hurting your credit. This counts as a soft inquiry. Applying for a new loan or credit card is different because the lender may run a hard inquiry as part of the application process.
Why Would Someone Do a Soft Credit Check?
Soft checks happen for several reasons. You might check your own credit, a company you already borrow from may review your account, or a lender may use one during prequalification. You can often see these inquiries on your own credit report. If a company name looks unfamiliar, check the details or contact the credit bureau for more information.
Can You Fail a Soft Credit Check?
Unfortunately, a soft credit check can result in a lender deciding not to move forward with a prequalification or preliminary offer. The inquiry itself is not something you pass or fail, but the information reviewed may not meet the lender’s criteria. A positive result also does not guarantee final approval or terms.