When people check their credit scores, whether it's through Credit Karma or their Credit Card statement, they usually think that they have just one official credit score. Like knowing their age or weight, they think they know their credit score—but credit scores are actually a lot more complicated.

Unlike age, which stays the same no matter what, credit scores can change a lot depending on which scoring model or credit report you look at. Let's break down why you might see different scores on different websites.

The Difference Between a Credit Report and a Credit Score

There are three main credit bureaus that collect information on people in the U.S.: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. These companies gather details about your credit history, like your open accounts, how much you spend, loans you have, and if you pay your bills on time.

Credit scoring companies, like FICO, use this data and apply a scoring model to give you a credit score. So, your credit score comes from two things: the information collected by the credit bureaus and the scoring model that calculates your score.

How Many Scoring Models Are Used?

FICO has five main versions of its scoring model, and each version is customized for each of the three credit bureaus. There are also different models for different types of loans, like credit cards or mortgages, and even special versions for different banks.

In total, there are over one hundred different FICO scoring models. And that’s just FICO—other companies, like VantageScore, also have different scoring models. The point is, no one has just one credit score; everyone has many.

Differences in Data Collected

Another reason scores are different is because each credit bureau might have slightly different information. One credit report might not have the same details as another, either because it hasn’t been updated yet or because of errors. That’s why it’s important to check all three of your credit reports to make sure they are correct.

Why Are My Scores Different?

Your scores are different because:

1. Different Scoring Models: The FICO model used for a credit card application isn’t the same as the one used for a mortgage. Each model can give a slightly different score.
2. Different Credit Reports: If the information in the credit reports doesn’t match, the scores won’t match either. FICO also customizes scoring models for each credit bureau, which adds more differences.

Keeping Your Credit Score High Across All Models

Even though the scoring models are different, they all look at the same five factors:

• On-Time Payments
• Credit Utilization (how much of your credit limit you are using)
• Credit History (the older, the better)
• Credit Mix (the types of loans you have)
• New Credit (new credit cards or loans you recently opened)

If you keep good habits in these areas, your credit score should be good no matter which model is used.