FICO vs VantageScore: Which Score Do Lenders Use?
FICO and VantageScore are the two main companies that build credit scores. Both use a 300–850 scale and read the same credit reports, but they weigh things differently. That's why the free score in your banking app often doesn't match the score a lender pulls. Most lending decisions still use a FICO Score, though VantageScore is now accepted for mortgages too.
Why your scores differ
Several things can make two scores different on the same day:
- Different companies. FICO and VantageScore use different formulas.
- Different versions. There's FICO 8, FICO 9, FICO 10T and older mortgage versions, and VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0. Lenders use different ones.
- Different bureaus. Each score is built from one bureau's report: Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. The three reports rarely match exactly.
- Different dates. Balances change between the days each score is calculated.
A gap of 20–40 points between free scores and a lender's score is normal.
How they differ
| FICO | VantageScore | |
| Scale | 300–850 | 300–850 (3.0 and 4.0) |
| Minimum history to get a score | At least one account open 6 months, with activity in the last 6 months | Can score thinner files, including newer accounts |
| Rate shopping window | 14–45 days, depending on version | 14 days |
| Where you'll see it | Most card issuers, car lenders, mortgages | Many free score apps (Credit Karma uses VantageScore 3.0) |
| Paid collections | Ignored in FICO 9 and 10 | Ignored in 3.0 and 4.0 |
What raises one score raises the other: paying on time, keeping utilization low, keeping old accounts open and limiting new applications.
What changed for mortgages in 2026
For decades, mortgages sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac required an older ("classic") FICO Score. That's changing:
- In April 2026 the FHFA and HUD approved VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T alongside classic FICO.
- From September 9, 2026, any Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac approved lender can use VantageScore 4.0 without separate approval.
- FICO 10T isn't in use yet. Historical data for it was published in July 2026, ahead of its rollout.
Both newer models look at trends in your balances over time, not just a single snapshot. Classic FICO is still allowed, and many lenders still use it. If you're buying a home, ask your lender which score they'll use.
Which score should you watch?
- For a sense of direction, any free score is fine. If it's rising, the others usually are too.
- Before a big application, get the FICO Score version that lender uses. See the cheapest way to get your FICO score.
- Check the reports themselves, not just the score. They're free weekly at AnnualCreditReport.com.
FAQ
Is Credit Karma's score accurate? It's an accurate VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion and Equifax. It's just not usually the score lenders use.
Why don't I have a FICO Score? You need at least one account that's been open six months and reported recently. See what score you need for a first card.
Is one score "better"? No. They measure the same behavior in slightly different ways.
Figures and rules in this article are checked against the official sources below. Where they disagree with us, they win.
- FHFA Credit Scores page (VantageScore 4.0 open to all Enterprise-approved lenders from 2026-09-09
- FICO 10T historical data published 2026-07-01)
- FHFA/HUD announcement 2026-04-22
- myFICO and VantageScore model documentation
