Some ‘Free’ Credit Report Sites Aren’t. The Real One Is Weekly.

People in the United States can get a free credit report from each of the three big credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, once a week at AnnualCreditReport.com. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lays out how in a guide last reviewed on Oct. 15, 2026.¹

The weekly option is not new. It started in 2020 as a temporary pandemic measure, got extended twice, and in October 2023 the bureaus made it permanent, according to the Federal Trade Commission.²

It matters because mistakes on a credit report can come from businesses that send bad information to the bureaus, and they can also be a sign of identity theft.² Looking costs nothing.

The legal floor is still lower than the weekly offer. Federal law guarantees one free report from each bureau every 12 months. TransUnion describes weekly access as something the bureaus offer on top of that.¹³ Here is how to use both.

Six steps you can take this week

1. Go to the one official source. Request your reports online at AnnualCreditReport.com, by phone at (877) 322-8228, or by mailing the Annual Credit Report Request form to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.¹

2. Skip the look-alikes. The CFPB warns that some websites promising free reports only hand them over if you buy something else, or bill you for services you have to cancel. For the report the law authorizes, it points people to AnnualCreditReport.com or the phone number above.¹

3. Pick how many bureaus to check. Online, you can view reports from one, two or all three companies. The CFPB says that choice gives you more ability to keep an eye on changes in your credit.¹

4. Read it for things that aren’t yours. Look for details you don’t recognize. The FTC notes that errors can come from businesses that report to the bureaus and can also point to identity theft.² Keep in mind that a credit report is not a credit score. The CFPB covers free scores in a separate question.¹

5. Dispute mistakes, also for free. TransUnion says errors can be disputed at no cost with each bureau.³

6. Know when you’re owed an extra report. According to the CFPB, you can get additional free reports in several situations:¹

• You were denied credit, insurance or a job, or faced another adverse action, because of a credit report, and you ask within 60 days of the notice.
• You believe your file is wrong because of fraud, or you are placing a fraud alert.
• You are unemployed and plan to apply for work within 60 days.
• You receive public welfare assistance.
• Your state’s law provides one.

If none of those apply and you want yet another report, a bureau may charge you. The CFPB says the law caps that fee at $16, and the limit may change.¹

The weekly reports are free, and you can pull another one next week.