Why Are Credit Karma and Experian Scores Different?

The VantageScore 3.0 that Credit Karma shows comes from TransUnion, while the Experian figure is a FICO Score 8. Because the two models use different algorithms and assign distinct weights to payment history, credit utilization, and other factors, the numbers rarely line up.

In addition, TransUnion and Experian update their files on separate cycles, so a recent loan or payment may appear in one bureau's data before the other's. Those timing gaps create the score swing you're seeing and set the stage for the next step: identifying which scoring model you're looking at.

• You're seeing either VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion (the Credit Karma view) or FICO Score 8 from Experian (the Experian view).
• Credit Karma's dashboard labels the number as 'VantageScore 3.0 (TransUnion)'; Experian's portal labels it 'FICO Score 8 (Experian)'.
• The app or website you're on tells you the source: the Credit Karma app always pulls TransUnion data, while the Experian portal always pulls Experian data.
• Look for the logo next to the number - VantageScore's orange‑blue icon versus Experian's teal FICO icon - to confirm the model (see TransUnion VantageScore details and Experian FICO Score 8 overview).

The Credit Karma number you see is a VantageScore 3.0 supplied by TransUnion, and the Experian number is a FICO 8 supplied by Experian. To confirm which bureau backs each figure, follow the steps below.

• Open Credit Karma, locate the score card, and note the label 'TransUnion VantageScore 3.0' (see Credit Karma score source).
• Log into Experian's website or app, go to the FICO Score section, and verify the tag 'FICO Score 8 (Experian)' (Experian FICO Score 8 details).
• Retrieve your free annual credit reports; the TransUnion report will list the VantageScore 3.0, the Experian report will list the FICO 8.
• Review any lender‑provided credit summary; the bureau name appears next to the score it generated.

Expect score swings because VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion and FICO Score 8 from Experian are refreshed on different reporting schedules. Most lenders send data to each bureau once per month, but the submission date varies; a new credit‑card balance might appear on TransUnion on the 5th of the month and not reach Experian until the 12th, causing the two scores to diverge for several days. The timing gap alone can shift each score by 10‑20 points even when the underlying credit behavior hasn't changed.

To limit surprise, track the reporting cycle of your biggest accounts and check both scores a few times a week. If you know a major event (e.g., a loan payoff) was reported to TransUnion on a Tuesday, expect the VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion to reflect it immediately, while the FICO Score 8 from Experian may lag until the next batch upload. Monitoring both numbers lets you see the temporary gap and understand that lenders will usually pull the most recent version when you apply for credit. For a deeper dive on how bureaus handle updates, see the credit reporting cycle explained by Experian.

VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion and FICO Score 8 from Experian both score credit events, but they apply different weightings and treatment rules.

VantageScore 3.0 assigns roughly 40 % to payment history, 30 % to credit utilization, 15 % to length of credit history, 10 % to new credit activity, and about 5 % to credit mix. It gives extra leeway to medical collections and treats a 30‑day late payment less harshly than a 60‑day flag, especially if the account later returns to good standing. How VantageScore works

FICO Score 8 from Experian also caps payment history near 35 % and utilization at 30 %, but it boosts the importance of credit mix to roughly 10 % and keeps length of history at 15 %. New credit still accounts for about 10 %. FICO penalizes recent derogatory marks more sharply and counts paid collections as neutral rather than positive. How FICO scores are calculated

Hard inquiries pull your credit file, and both VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion and FICO Score 8 from Experian penalize them, but the timing and grouping rules differ.

• VantageScore 3.0: counts a hard inquiry for up to 12 months; the impact fades after a year.
• FICO Score 8: looks at hard inquiries from the past 24 months, but only the most recent 12 months affect the score.
• Both models treat a single inquiry as a 5% factor, yet multiple inquiries for the same loan type within a short window collapse into one: VantageScore uses a 45‑day window, FICO uses a 14‑ to 45‑day window depending on the loan.
• Soft pulls never change either score.

Thus a recent hard pull may knock the Experian FICO 8 a bit longer than the Credit Karma VantageScore 3.0, contributing to the gaps you'll see later in the 'real scenarios' section.

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• A new credit card appears on TransUnion first, so VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion jumps, while FICO Score 8 from Experian stays flat until its later update.
• A medical collection is recorded only in Experian's file; FICO Score 8 from Experian drops, whereas VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion shows no change.
• A mortgage payment is missed; Experian logs the delinquency after 30 days, pulling FICO Score 8 from Experian down, while TransUnion waits 45 days, keeping VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion higher.
• Rent‑reporting to TransUnion adds positive history, boosting VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion, but Experian receives no rent data, leaving FICO Score 8 from Experian unchanged.
• A hard inquiry reaches Experian within 24 hours, nudging FICO Score 8 from Experian lower, while the same inquiry takes a week to hit TransUnion, delaying any effect on VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion.

Lenders usually pull the FICO Score 8 from Experian for mortgages, auto loans and most personal loans, while many credit‑card issuers rely on the VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion.

• Mortgage applications - most banks and mortgage brokers request Experian's FICO Score 8 because it's the industry standard for underwriting.
• Auto financing - dealers and auto lenders often use Experian's FICO Auto Score 8, which is derived from the same data set as the regular FICO Score 8.
• Credit‑card offers - several major issuers (e.g., Capital One, Discover) pull the VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion to evaluate eligibility.
• Personal‑loan platforms - online lenders may let you choose between Experian's FICO Score 8 or TransUnion's VantageScore 3.0, but default to the former unless you specify otherwise.
• Retail store cards - store‑brand cards typically use the VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion because they partner with that bureau.

Knowing which bureau and model a lender favors lets you anticipate the number they'll see and plan accordingly. Next, follow the seven‑step guide to reconcile any gaps between your VantageScore 3.0 and FICO Score 8.FICO Score 8 used by most lenders

Reconciling your VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion with your FICO Score 8 from Experian takes seven focused actions. Because the two scores arise from different models, data sources, and update timing, you must line up the underlying reports before you can compare the numbers.

1. Download the most recent credit report from TransUnion and the most recent report from Experian.
2. Note each report's 'last updated' date; the scores may reflect activity reported at different times.
3. List every tradeline (credit card, loan, mortgage) on both reports and mark any that appear on one report but not the other.
4. Check personal identifiers - name, Social Security number, address - on both reports; correct any mixed‑file errors that cause a line to belong to the wrong consumer.
5. Review inquiry sections; confirm that both bureaus have recorded the same hard inquiries, since each model weighs them differently.
6. Dispute any inaccurate or outdated items with the bureau that shows the negative entry; request removal or correction.
7. After the next reporting cycle, pull both scores again and compare them; the gap should shrink if the underlying data now matches.

Mixed‑file errors occur when another consumer's information lands in your TransUnion file or Experian file, and a credit freeze blocks lenders from seeing any activity at all. Both problems can push your VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion and your FICO Score 8 from Expericia to an artificially low level because the models receive incomplete or incorrect data.

Fix a mixed file by requesting a file‑dispute with the offending bureau: identify the wrong accounts, supply proof of identity, and demand removal. If a freeze is causing the distortion, lift it temporarily for the next 30 days or grant 'view‑only' access to lenders.

For example, Jane discovered a $5,000 auto loan belonging to a neighbor on her Experian report; she filed an online dispute, the entry vanished, and her FICO Score 8 rose 12 points within two weeks. Mark had a credit freeze on his TransUnion file that prevented his new credit‑card payment from reporting; he logged into his account, selected 'lift freeze for 30 days,' and his VantageScore 3.0 reflected the payment, eliminating a 20‑point dip.