What Is Experian Boost?

Experian Boost can raise your credit score by adding on‑time utility, telecom and bank‑account payments to your Experian file, giving you a faster way to improve borrowing power. It works instantly, costs nothing, and only affects scores that use Experian data, so lenders that rely on other bureaus won't see the change.

For example, a renter who adds $800 of monthly electricity and internet payments might see an average 13‑point increase, while a recent graduate with only a student loan could gain about 10 points by linking a checking account that shows regular rent deposits. Some users with already strong credit see little or no change, highlighting that the boost is most noticeable for thin or mixed credit files. The next section explains who benefits most from Boost.

Young renters, recent graduates, and anyone with a thin or rebounding credit file benefit most from Experian Boost because it can add on‑time utility and telecom payments to their Experian file, potentially yielding an average 13‑point increase for eligible users (we'll examine realistic score jumps in the next section).

• Renters who pay rent through a linked bank account or a supported rent‑pay platform
• Recent graduates with steady utility or cellphone bills but few credit cards
• Freelancers or gig workers whose regular bill payments constitute most of their financial history
• Consumers repairing a score after a missed mortgage, car loan, or credit‑card payment
• Applicants planning a near‑term credit‑card, mortgage, or auto loan who need a quick, modest lift

Your credit score can realistically jump anywhere from a few points up to about 40 points, with most eligible users seeing roughly a 13‑point increase after adding utility, phone or streaming bills through Experian Boost.

The exact boost depends on the accounts you link, how consistently you've paid them, and the scoring model the lender uses; newer or lower‑scored profiles often feel a bigger lift, while already high scores may only move a handful of points. Experian's own data shows the average uplift hovers around 13 points for those who qualify (Experian Boost details).

Signing up for Experian Boost takes three quick actions.

1. Download the free Experian Boost app (iOS or Android) and log into your Experian account or create a new one.
2. Connect a checking, savings, or money‑market account that receives regular utility, phone, or streaming bill payments; the app will scan for eligible transactions.
3. Review the found payments, toggle the ones you want to add, and confirm; the boost updates your credit file within minutes, potentially adding an average of 13 points for eligible users as noted earlier.

Add bank accounts and utility bills to Experian Boost directly through the mobile app, then let the service scan eligible payments.

The app uses a secure connection (via Plaid) to read your transaction history, so only accounts you explicitly link are accessed. After linking, Boost identifies recurring utilities, telecom or streaming charges and adds them to your credit file, potentially raising scores by an average of 13 points for eligible users.

• Open the Experian Boost app and tap Add Accounts.
• Choose a bank that supports online credential login (most major U.S. banks do).
• Sign in with your online banking username and password; the connection is read‑only and encrypted.
• Review the list of detected recurring bills; toggle on utilities, cable, internet, phone, or streaming services you want to include.
• Confirm the selection; Boost will begin scanning those payments each month.
• (Optional) Add a second bank or credit‑union account to capture additional utilities if needed.

Once your accounts are linked, Boost automatically updates your credit file each month. The next section explains exactly which types of payments the service can accept.

Experian Boost can add most recurring monthly payments that you pay directly from a linked bank account.

• Electricity, gas, water, and trash collection bills
• Cable, internet, and satellite TV subscriptions
• Phone and prepaid mobile plans
• Streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, and Hulu
• Gym memberships, insurance premiums, and other subscription services
• Any other regularly scheduled bill that is automatically debited from your checking or savings account

Personal identifiers such as your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and email are required to open an Experian Boost profile, and they are stored in Experian's secure system. When you link a checking or savings account, the service uses a third‑party connector (e.g., Plaid) to pull authorized transaction data for the specific utility, telecom, streaming, or subscription payments you choose to add; no other spending history is transferred.

Only the selected recurring payment records you approve are shared, along with the minimal account credentials needed for the connection. Experian does not collect unrelated bank activity, and you can revoke access at any time via the app or the linked financial institution's portal. For full details, see the official Experian Boost page.

Lenders treat boosted credit scores in different ways. Many lenders pull the full Experian report, which now includes the Boost, and feed the higher number into their automated underwriting models; a typical boost of about 13 points can tip a borderline applicant into an approved range for credit‑cards, small personal loans, or rent‑to‑own programs. These lenders often state that any score increase, even from utility or streaming payments, may improve pricing or credit limits, especially for younger borrowers who lack long credit histories.

Other lenders either ignore or downplay the Boost because they view utility and subscription data as less predictive than traditional revolving or installment accounts; they may rely on the core FICO score or require supplemental documentation, so the added points rarely affect the final decision. This cautious approach is common among mortgage lenders and large banks that prioritize long‑standing credit behavior over recent, non‑debt payments. For more on how Experian Boost integrates with credit reports, see the Experian Boost official overview.

Experian Boost cannot directly lower your credit score because it only adds on‑time utility, telecom or streaming payments to your Experian file.

If you notice a dip after turning Boost on, consider these possible causes:

• recent hard inquiries that weren't present before,
• a rise in credit‑card balances that boosts your overall utilization,
• normal scoring model fluctuations when new data is incorporated,
• a delay in the score refresh that temporarily reflects older information.

Since Boost never reports late or negative payments, there is no 'offending' account to disconnect, and any decrease will usually disappear once the underlying factor changes. For more details see Experian's explanation of how Boost works.

If Experian Boost doesn't move your score, switch to proven credit‑building tools.

You can apply for a secured credit card, open a credit‑builder loan from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, become an authorized user on a trusted family member's account, or enroll in rent‑reporting services that feed on‑time payments to the bureaus; each method can potentially add positive history.

Track progress with a free credit‑monitoring app, keep credit‑utilization below 30%, and consider a credit‑counseling agency if you need a roadmap for long‑term improvement.