VantageScore
VantageScore is a credit scoring model jointly developed by the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) as an alternative to FICO. Like FICO, most VantageScore models run from 300 to 850, but the two weigh the underlying factors a little differently.
Why it matters
Free apps such as Credit Karma usually show a VantageScore, which can differ from the FICO score a lender actually sees. VantageScore can also score a thin file after about one month of history, where FICO needs an account open at least six months.
Example
Your Credit Karma VantageScore might read 700 while a lender pulls a FICO of 665 — a gap of 35 points from the same underlying data, so it's best used to track the trend, not the exact number.
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Educational only — not financial advice. No guarantees.