Free tool
Credit Score Simulator
Curious how a money move would affect your credit score? This free simulator shows the honest, directional impact of common actions — whether each one helps, hurts, or cuts both ways, and roughly how much — based on FICO's published factor weights. No login, no credit pull, and it runs entirely in your browser.
An honest simulator: no fake '+N points' promises. No one can truthfully predict an exact point change, so instead this shows you which actions help or hurt, which FICO factor each one moves, and roughly how big a lever it is.
Select the moves you're considering
Tap any actions below to see the honest, directional impact of each — direction, which FICO factor it moves, and a rough magnitude. No point predictions.
Select one or more actions above to see their directional impact.
Directional and educational, based on FICO's published factor weights — NOT a prediction of your points or future score. Real results depend on your full profile and decisions by lenders and bureaus.
The 5 FICO factors (and their weights)
Payment history — 35%
Whether you pay on time, plus any late payments, collections, or defaults. It is the single biggest factor, which is why one missed payment hurts and a long on-time record matters most.
Credit utilization — 30%
How much of your available credit you are using — your reported balances divided by your limits. The fastest lever you control: pay balances down and it moves quickly.
Length of credit history — 15%
The average age of your accounts. Older is better, which is why keeping your oldest card open helps and closing it can hurt.
New credit — 10%
Recent applications and hard inquiries. Several in a short span can ding you temporarily, though a single inquiry usually fades within about a year.
Credit mix — 10%
Having both revolving accounts (cards) and installment loans helps a little — but never take on debt just for the mix.
How each action moves your score
Pay cards down to under ~10% utilization
FICO factor: Credit utilization (30%)
Utilization is about 30% of your FICO score and the fastest lever you control; a lower reported balance helps right away.
Miss a payment (30+ days late)
FICO factor: Payment history (35%)
Payment history is the single biggest factor; one payment 30 or more days late hurts, and the record lingers for years.
Open a new credit card
FICO factor: New credit + length of history (10% and 15%)
A new card adds a hard inquiry and lowers your average account age in the short term, but more total limit and a longer record can help later on.
Close your oldest card
FICO factor: Credit utilization + length of history (30% and 15%)
Closing your oldest card removes its limit (raising utilization now) and eventually shortens your average account age.
Become an authorized user (clean, old, low-balance card)
FICO factor: Payment history + length of history (35% and 15%)
A clean, old, low-balance account can add age and payment history to your file — how much varies, and no one can promise an amount.
Let an old late payment age
FICO factor: Payment history (35%)
An old late payment counts less as it ages; the drag fades over time and the mark falls off at about 7 years.
Pay off a collection
FICO factor: How collections are scored (varies by model)
Newer FICO and VantageScore models weigh paid (and medical) collections less, so resolving one can help under those models.
Magnitude (minor / moderate / major) is the relative impact based on the factor's weight and the size of the change — general, not a personal prediction. This tool shows direction and rough size only, never a point change or a predicted score.
Frequently asked questions
Does this predict my exact credit score?
No. It is directional only — it shows whether an action tends to help or hurt and which FICO factor it moves, based on FICO's published factor weights. It does not predict a number or your future score, because that depends on your full profile and the scoring model a lender uses.
Why doesn't it show point numbers?
Because no one can honestly promise a specific point change. The same action moves different people's scores by very different amounts, depending on the rest of their file and the scoring model a lender uses. Any tool quoting a precise gain is guessing.
What are the numbers it does show?
Only FICO's published factor weights — payment history 35%, credit utilization 30%, length of history 15%, new credit 10%, and credit mix 10% — plus general timeframes, like the roughly 7 years a late payment can stay on your report. Those are facts, not predictions about your score.
Does this affect my credit or store my data?
No. It is educational and runs entirely in your browser — no login, no credit pull, and nothing is sent anywhere. It does nothing to your credit and saves none of your selections.
What is the most powerful action here?
For most people, paying balances down (credit utilization, about 30% of your score) is the fastest positive lever, while a missed payment (payment history, about 35%) is the most damaging. Those two factors together drive roughly two-thirds of a FICO score.