Key takeaway: There’s no single move that’ll instantly raise your credit scores. But paying your bills on time, keeping your credit card balances low, and making sure your credit reports are accurate are three of the most effective ways to improve your credit over time.
Improving your credit scores is less about quick tricks and more about building consistent habits. Across many scoring models, three areas tend to matter most: paying every bill on time, keeping your credit card balances low compared to your limits, and making sure your credit reports are accurate. Even a single late payment can hurt your scores, and using a large share of your available revolving credit can also work against you.
Regularly checking your credit reports and disputing errors — like accounts that aren’t yours or incorrect late payments — helps ensure they reflect the right information. Over time, a pattern of on-time payments, low balances, and accurate reports can help improve your scores.
Watch this short video to walk through score-improvement steps like checking your credit reports for accuracy, paying bills on time, keeping older accounts open and giving your scores time to improve.
- Ways to improve and build credit
- How can I raise my credit score fast?
- FAQs about improving your credit score
Ways to improve and build credit
You likely have more than one credit score, because there are different scoring models (like FICO® and VantageScore, and different versions of each) and each credit bureau may have slightly different information about your accounts. Even so, the steps that can help improve your scores across models are largely the same.
1. Pay your bills on time
Why it matters: Payment history is typically one of the most influential factors across multiple credit scoring models, including FICO and VantageScore. A long record of on-time payments signals that you’re likely to repay what you borrow, which can help your credit scores over time.
What to do: Even a single late payment can hurt your scores. Setting up autopay for your minimum payment (or more, if possible) and adding reminders for payment due dates can help you avoid missed payments.
2. Keep your credit card utilization low
Why it matters: Your credit utilization — the percentage of your available revolving credit you’re using — is another major factor in many scoring models. High utilization can signal risk to lenders and may drag down your scores.
What to do: Try to keep your credit utilization ratio, both overall and on each card, around or below 30% of your credit limits. If you’re using more than that now, paying down balances can be an effective way to help your scores.
3. Review your credit reports and dispute errors
Why it matters: Errors on your credit reports — like an incorrect late payment or an account that doesn’t belong to you — can hurt your credit scores because many scoring models rely on the information in those reports. Checking your reports regularly can help you catch mistakes or signs of identity theft before they do more damage.
What to do: Review your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus on a regular basis and look for information that doesn’t match your own records. If you find an inaccuracy, you have the right to dispute it with the bureau that’s reporting it. Credit Karma’s Direct Dispute feature lets you dispute certain errors on your TransUnion credit report directly from the Credit Karma app. If a dispute results in an error being corrected or removed, you may see an improvement in your scores over time.
4. Sign up for free credit monitoring
Why it matters: Credit monitoring services can alert you when there are important changes to your credit reports — like a new account, a hard inquiry or a change to your personal information. Catching unexpected changes early can help you spot signs of identity theft and limit potential damage to your credit.
What to do: Enroll in a free credit monitoring service and review alerts as they come in. If something looks unfamiliar, check your credit reports right away. Report any evidence of fraud you find on IdentityTheft.gov to get a recovery plan, and contact each credit bureau to correct or block the fraudulent information so it doesn’t continue to drag down your scores.
5. Pay your credit card bill twice a month
Why it matters: Making smaller payments throughout the month instead of one big payment right before your due date can help keep your balances — and your credit utilization — lower on average. That can be good for your credit scores and may also reduce the interest you pay. Many card issuers report account activity, including balances, around the statement closing date, so paying earlier in the cycle can mean a lower balance is reported to the bureaus.
What to do: If you can afford to, schedule one payment around the time your statement closes and another before it’s due, or line up the two payments with your paychecks each month — as long as the total at least covers your minimum payment by the due date. This can make payments feel more manageable, help you pay down your principal faster, and keep your utilization around or below 30%.
6. Ask for a credit limit increase
Why it matters: A higher credit limit can help lower your credit utilization ratio, as long as your spending stays the same. Just keep in mind that some card issuers may run a hard inquiry when you request an increase, which can cause a temporary dip in your scores.
What to do: Contact your card issuer online or by phone. Have your personal information ready, like your income, employment and housing details. And clearly state how much of an increase you want, explaining why you’re a good candidate — and if they say no, ask why so you know what areas to focus on before trying again.
7. Become an authorized user on someone else’s credit card
Why it matters: If you don’t have much credit history, being added as an authorized user on the credit card of someone with established credit can help you build your own. When the card issuer reports the account to the credit bureaus, that card’s history may be added to your credit reports as well. This is most likely to help if the main cardholder consistently pays on time and keeps balances low.
What to do: Ask a trusted family member or friend with a strong track record of on-time payments and low balances to add you as an authorized user. Your choice is important, because this move can backfire — if the account has high balances or a record of missed payments, that negative activity could also show up on your credit reports and hurt your scores. You don’t have to use the card for it to help — the primary account holder’s habits are what matter most.
8. Get a secured credit card
Why it matters: Secured credit cards, which typically require a cash deposit, are designed for people who may not qualify for a traditional credit card because they’re building or rebuilding credit. Because they’re often easier to get, a secured card can be a useful tool to help you build credit by giving you a chance to show positive payment history, keep a credit line open over time, and maintain low balances — all of which are important factors in many credit scoring models.
What to do: Shop around for a secured card with clear terms, reasonable fees, and, if possible, preapproval to help limit hard inquiries. Once you’re approved, use the card for small, manageable purchases and make on-time payments every month. When you can, pay the balance in full by the due date instead of just the minimum — that can help keep your credit utilization low so the card has the best chance of helping your scores.
9. Get a credit-builder loan
Why it matters: A credit-builder loan is designed specifically to help people build credit. Instead of getting the loan funds upfront, the lender usually places the loan amount in a locked savings account while you make fixed monthly payments over a set period of time. Those payments are reported to the credit bureaus, which can help you build a record of on-time payments — a key factor in many credit scoring models.
What to do: Shop around for a credit-builder loan from banks, credit unions or other lenders, and make sure you understand the terms, including how long your money will be held. Credit Karma offers Credit Builder, which can help eligible members build credit with on-time payments. Before you sign up for any credit-builder account, make sure the monthly payment fits comfortably into your budget.
10. Diversify your credit mix
Why it matters: Credit mix is another factor in many credit scoring models and refers to the different types of credit you have, like revolving credit (credit cards) and installment loans (such as a mortgage). It usually has a smaller impact on your scores than things like payment history or credit utilization, but over time it can give lenders and scoring models more information about how you use different types of accounts.
What to do: You don’t need to take out a new loan or card just to improve your credit mix — especially if you don’t need it or it would strain your budget. Over time, as you end up with different types of accounts you need, like a student or auto loan, your credit mix should improve and have a modest impact on your credit profile and scores.
11. Report rent and utility payments
Why it matters: Some services allow you to add your history of on-time rent and utility payments to your credit reports. This can be a helpful way to add positive payment information and potentially build credit, especially for people with little or no traditional credit history.
What to do: Start by asking your property manager if they already report rent payments to any of the credit bureaus. If they don’t, look into third-party services that specialize in reporting rent or utility payments. If you decide to sign up, review the terms, which bureaus the service reports to, and whether that information is used by the credit scoring models that matter most for your goals.
12. Set up autopay to help avoid missed payments
Why it matters: Missing a payment can hurt your credit scores, and sometimes it happens simply because you forgot a due date. Setting up automatic payments via autopay or bill-pay can act as a safety net to help you avoid accidental late payments. A late payment can stay on your credit reports for up to seven years, so preventing it in the first place is often easier than trying to recover from it later on.
What to do: You can usually set up recurring payments in one of two ways.
- Autopay: Through your credit card or loan account, log in online or in the issuer’s app and look for an “autopay” or “automatic payments” option.
- Bill-pay: Through your bank or credit union, log in to your checking account and use the bill-pay feature to schedule repeating payments to your card or loan.
If you’re not sure how to set it up, call the number on the back of your card or your bank’s customer service line for help. Whichever method you choose, select at least the minimum payment amount (or more if your budget allows), confirm the payment date and account you’ll use, and set reminders to review your statements and make sure there’s enough money in your account to cover the payments.
13. Negotiate a lower interest rate
Why it matters: A lower interest rate doesn’t directly change your credit scores, but it can make it easier to pay down your balances faster. When you’re paying less in interest, more of each payment goes toward reducing your principal balance. Over time, that can help lower your credit utilization, which can benefit your scores.
What to do: Contact your credit card issuer and ask if they can reduce your interest rate, especially if your payment history has been strong or your credit profile has improved since you opened the account. They may say no, but it’s worth asking. If you do get a lower rate, keep making the same payment amount as before, if you’re able, to help you pay down your balance more quickly and reduce utilization.
How can I raise my credit score fast?
While there’s no way to instantly raise your credit scores, some actions may lead to quicker changes than others. Paying down high credit card balances to lower your utilization, and successfully disputing errors on your credit reports, can sometimes result in faster score movement. But building a strong credit history is still a long-term process that depends on consistent, positive habits.
Watch out: “Shortcuts” to be cautious about
- Don’t apply for multiple credit cards at once. While more available credit could lower your overall utilization, each application will likely result in a hard inquiry, which can cause a temporary dip in your scores. If you’re considering a new card, see if the issuer offers preapproval or prequalification with only a soft inquiry before you submit a full application.
- Don’t take out a loan just to improve your credit mix. Credit mix is a relatively small factor compared to payment history and credit utilization. Taking out a loan you don’t really need can add interest costs and another monthly payment to your budget, without guaranteeing a meaningful boost to your scores.
- Don’t carry a balance to build credit. You don’t need to carry a balance on your credit card to build credit. Interest is typically charged on the portion you don’t pay off, so carrying a balance can both cost you money and increase your credit utilization, which can hold your scores back. Paying on time and keeping your balances low are what matter most for your credit.
- Don’t close old credit cards. Closing an older account can affect the average age of your credit history and may increase your utilization if you’re reducing your total available credit. Unless there’s a compelling reason — like a high annual fee — it can be helpful to keep older accounts open and in good standing.
Next steps
Improving your credit takes time and patience. The most effective approach is to focus on establishing and maintaining steady financial habits, like making all your payments on time and keeping your balances low.
While you’re working to improve your credit, regularly monitoring your credit reports can help you track your progress, check for errors, and spot any signs of fraudulent activity. Credit Karma offers free credit monitoring that can alert you to key changes on your Equifax and TransUnion credit reports.
Staying informed about your credit health empowers you to make financial decisions that support your long-term goals.
FAQs about improving your credit score
Credit score ranges differ by model. For example, under VantageScore 3.0®, a “Good” score is in the range of 661–780, while FICO® 8 and 9 categorize 670–739 as “Good” and 740–799 as “Very Good.”
While there’s no overnight fix, actions like paying down credit card debt to lower your utilization, becoming an authorized user on someone else’s well-managed account, and disputing errors can help boost your credit more quickly than starting from scratch.
The most effective ways to improve your credit scores are to pay all your bills on time, keep your credit card balances low compared to your limits, and make sure your credit reports are accurate by checking them regularly and disputing any errors you find.
Reviewing your current credit scores and credit reports is a great first step because it helps you understand the factors currently affecting your credit and where to focus next. Payment history is one of the most influential factors across credit scoring models, so making regular on-time payments is typically a strong next step in building your credit.
Rebuilding credit is a gradual process that starts with consistent, on-time payments. Negative marks, such as late payments, generally stay on your credit reports for seven years, while bankruptcies may remain for up to 10 years. As time passes and positive behavior accumulates, your scores naturally improve.
Start building credit with products that report to the credit bureaus, like a secured credit card or a credit-builder loan, or by being added as an authorized user on someone else’s credit card if that’s an option. If you don’t have money to put down, services that report rent or utility payments can also help you begin building a credit history. Whichever route you take, on-time payments matter most for establishing credit over time.
Applying for a new card can temporarily lower your scores due to a hard credit inquiry and shortening your average account age. That said, the impact is typically minimal and fades as your accounts age.
Credit Builder plan requires you to open a line of credit and a Credit Builder savings account, both banking services provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC. Credit Builder savings account is a deposit product, insured up to $250,000. Credit Builder is serviced by Credit Karma Credit Builder. Members with a TransUnion credit score of 619 or below at the time of application may be prompted to apply for Credit Builder. If your score increases over 619, you may no longer see these prompts.