What Is TransUnion Boost?

TransUnion Boost is a free add‑on that lets you report regular monthly payments - such as utility, phone or streaming bills - to your TransUnion credit file via the TransUnion Boost service. It creates a documented payment history that the VantageScore model can consider when calculating your score.

Those reported payments may lift a VantageScore by roughly 10 - 39 points, while most FICO models do not factor them; the entries stay on your file until you manually remove them, and the next section explains exactly which bills qualify for boosting.

TransUnion Boost accepts monthly utility, telecom, streaming, cable, internet, and rent payments.

• Add electricity, gas, water, and trash bills.
• Add cell‑phone, landline, and other telecom plans.
• Add cable, satellite, and streaming subscriptions.
• Add internet service charges.
• Add rent payments from landlords that participate in the Boost platform. TransUnion Boost eligible bill types

TransUnion Boost lets you upload recurring payments directly from your bank, and the process takes just a few clicks.

1. Open the Boost app or log in at the TransUnion Boost portal.
2. Tap 'Add Payments' and follow the prompt to securely link your checking or savings account.
3. Review the auto‑generated list of eligible bills (phone, utility, streaming, etc.) that appear in the 'Supported Bills' section referenced earlier.
4. Select each bill you want to add, then enter the exact account number shown on your statement to ensure a match.
5. Confirm the selection; Boost will pull the most recent 12‑month payment history from your bank feed.
6. Wait 24 - 48 hours for the data to process - your VantageScore may lift by 10 - 39 points, as many users experience.

Additions stay on file until you remove them, a topic covered in the next section.

Boost entries remain on your TransUnion file for a limited time - typically up to 24 months after the most recent payment you report, then they automatically fall off, and you can delete them sooner through the app if desired (see the step‑by‑step guide earlier for how to add payments).

Typical TransUnion Boost lifts range from roughly 10 to 39 points, though the exact bump depends on the individual's credit profile and the bills added.

When users add a single utility payment, scores often rise 10 - 15 points. Adding a phone or cable bill can push the increase to 15 - 25 points. Combining two or three recurring bills sometimes yields lifts of 30 points or more. In rare cases - especially for thin files - the boost may add only 5 - 8 points, while some robust histories see little or no change.

• Utility (electric/gas) + $100 monthly → ≈ 12‑point lift
• Cell phone + $70 monthly → ≈ 18‑point lift
• Streaming service + $15 monthly → ≈ 6‑point lift
• Utility + phone + cable (total ≈ $250) → ≈ 32‑point lift
• Thin file with only one bill added → ≈ 5‑point lift

These examples illustrate why Boost tends to show the most noticeable impact on VantageScore, which updates more frequently with recent payment data. For a deeper dive into how the two scoring models treat Boost entries, see the next section. Learn more about TransUnion Boost.

Boost instantly feeds paid‑utility and streaming data to TransUnion, so any VantageScore that draws from that bureau can reflect the addition. In practice, VantageScore 3.0, 4.0 and newer versions often show a 10‑39‑point bump within a month, especially for thin‑file consumers, because they weight alternative‑payment history alongside traditional accounts.

Most FICO versions ignore Boost because they rely on conventional credit lines and do not ingest the same alternative data. Consequently, a typical FICO 8, 9 or 10 score stays flat after you add Boost entries; only the newer FICO 10T models that accept 'alternative data' might register a modest change, and even then the impact is less predictable than with VantageScore. For detailed guidance on which FICO versions consider Boost, see TransUnion Boost overview.

Use these five quick tips to maximize the impact of your TransUnion Boost.

• Choose bills that show regular, on‑time payments and have relatively high monthly amounts; larger, consistent payments typically lift scores 10‑39 points per addition (see the real‑example section).
• Add payments promptly after each due date so the data reflects recent behavior; newer data influences VantageScore more than older entries.
• Keep your Boost entries active by not deleting them unless they're incorrect; as noted earlier, additions stay on file until you remove them manually, allowing the positive history to compound over months.
• Monitor both VantageScore and FICO models; Boost usually improves VantageScore noticeably, while FICO may show a smaller bump, so track both to gauge overall effect.
• Review your credit report quarterly and prune any outdated or erroneous entries; cleaning mistakes prevents potential score drag and ensures future Boost additions have maximum weight.

You can delete a mistaken Boost entry directly in the TransUnion Boost portal. Removing the entry stops the extra positive data from influencing your VantageScore, and the change appears after the next monthly score refresh.

1. Sign in at TransUnion Boost with your username and password.
2. Click My Boost (or Manage Boost) in the top navigation.
3. Locate the payment or bill you added incorrectly; entries are listed chronologically with the amount and date.
4. Hover over the row and select the trash‑can icon or Delete button.
5. Confirm the deletion in the pop‑up window; the system records the removal instantly.
6. Wait for the next VantageScore update (usually within 30 days) for the score impact to disappear.

If the entry remains after a month, contact Boost support via the in‑app chat or email and reference the removal request. Removing the entry will also revert any temporary lift you saw in the 'real examples showing typical score lift amounts' section.

Boost won't help - and can even hurt - when the factors it improves are already outweighed by larger negatives in your file. If you're already scoring in the high 700s, the typical 10‑39 point lift from adding utility or telecom payments (see the 'real examples' section) may be invisible; if recent late payments, collections, or a hard inquiry dominate the calculation, a new on‑time payment adds little to the VantageScore or FICO.

Likewise, duplicating a bill that's already reported elsewhere creates no extra data, and leaving low‑value entries in Boost for months can make the model treat the file as 'stale,' reducing overall impact. Finally, removing a Boost entry after an error (as covered earlier) may cause a temporary dip, and a very thin file may simply ignore the addition because the algorithm needs more tradelines to generate a meaningful score shift.

• High existing score → lift is negligible
• Recent major derogatory events → new positive data is outweighed
• Duplicate or already‑reported bills → no additional benefit
• Stale, low‑value Boost entries → possible score soft‑drop
• Post‑removal correction → temporary dip in score
• Extremely thin file → Boost may be ignored by the model

VantageScore 3.0 can mislead you when a thin or brand‑new credit file receives a surprisingly high number because the model supplements missing data with rent, utility or cell‑phone payments, so the score looks solid even though there's little traditional credit history (see the earlier '5 factors that build your VantageScore 3.0' section).

It can also mislead lenders because recent on‑time activity carries extra weight; a single month of timely payments can boost the score while older delinquencies or collections linger in the background, making the number look healthier than the underlying report.

Finally, lenders who apply FICO cut‑offs to VantageScore 3.0 may make wrong decisions, since a 720 VantageScore does not carry the same risk profile as a 720 FICO; the same score can lead to denied credit for borrowers who actually qualify or approved credit for those who remain risky. This nuance will matter when we discuss how identity theft and disputes hit your VantageScore 3.0 later. (TransUnion explains VantageScore 3.0 scoring)

TransUnion Boost mirrors Experian Boost in letting you add positive payment history, but it differs in accepted data, impacted score models, and how alternatives work.

• Accepted data - Boost pulls utility, phone, streaming and rent payments to TransUnion; Experian Boost pulls the same plus bank‑account transactions; UltraFICO relies on full‑service banking data, while Credit Karma's tools use only soft‑pull information.
• Score models affected - Boost updates VantageScore 3.0/4.0 from TransUnion; Experian Boost updates FICO 8 and VantageScore 3.0 for Experian; other services usually affect only monitor scores, not the scores lenders see.
• Typical lift - Both Boosts usually add 10‑39 points; UltraFICO can lift 20‑65 points for qualified users; Credit Karma's 'Score Boost' often shows 5‑15 points but doesn't change lender‑viewed scores.
• Persistence - Additions remain until you manually delete them (see 'how long your boost additions stay on file'). UltraFICO and some alternative programs may require ongoing activity to keep the boost active.
• Cost and access - TransUnion and Experian Boost are free; UltraFICO may need a subscription; Credit Karma's tools are free but limited to its own ecosystem.

If you already use TransUnion Boost, consider which bureau dominates your credit file and whether lenders you target rely on FICO or VantageScore before adding a second boost product.