Credit Karma review

Credit Karma is the easiest way to get credit alerts without paying. It watches your TransUnion and Equifax credit reports and sends a notification when something important changes, which includes the signs of fraud most people care about: a hard inquiry you did not authorize or an account you did not open. You can read both reports and scores in the app, and if you spot an error on your TransUnion file you can dispute it directly through Credit Karma's Direct Dispute tool; Equifax disputes are routed to Equifax. The app also flags when your details show up in a public data breach and shows whether your credit is locked at each of the two bureaus. What you do not get is Experian monitoring, identity theft insurance or a restoration specialist, so if fraud happens you handle the cleanup yourself. Credit Karma says it is paid by third-party advertisers, so expect card and loan suggestions alongside your alerts.

Who it is for

People who want free alerts from two bureaus and are fine with an app that earns money from card and loan offers.

Price

Free; no paid plan.

We track your credit for free, so you can track what matters.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Monitoring of your TransUnion and Equifax credit reports
• Notifications for new hard inquiries and new accounts
• Free credit reports and scores from both bureaus
• Direct Dispute tool for TransUnion report errors
• Data breach alerts and a view of your credit lock status at both bureaus

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Costs nothing
• Strength: Two bureaus watched, not one
• Strength: Dispute TransUnion errors inside the app
• Weakness: Experian is not monitored
• Weakness: No identity theft insurance or restoration service
• Weakness: The app is funded by credit card and loan offers

Key facts

• Price: Free
• Bureaus monitored: TransUnion and Equifax
• Disputes: Direct Dispute for TransUnion
• Breach alerts: Yes
• Insurance: Not offered

Where it ranks

Credit Karma is No. 3 in our Best Credit Monitoring Services verdict.