Credit Score Simulator
Simulate how actions impact your credit score with AI-powered explanations.
Finance tools · Free · AI-powered
About the Credit Score Simulator
The Credit Score Simulator is a quick what-if tool for US FICO-style scores. Enter your current score (300–850), switch on the actions you're considering, and type how many percentage points you plan to cut your credit utilization. It instantly shows a projected score, the net change, and a line-by-line breakdown.
Every number is a fixed rule of thumb, not your real credit report. The simulator applies the same point values to everyone: +25 for paying off a card, −90 for a payment 30+ days late, −8 for a new card, −5 for a hard inquiry, −15 for closing your oldest card, and about 1.5 points for each percentage point of utilization you shave off. The projection is kept within 300–850. Real score changes depend on your whole profile — a late payment usually costs more points on a high score than on a low one — so read the result as direction and rough size, not a prediction.
A worked example. Start from the default 680. Switch on "Pay off a credit card" (+25), set "Lower utilization by" to 20 (+30), and add a hard inquiry for a car loan (−5). The projected score is 730, a net change of +50. Now also switch on "Miss a payment": the −90 wipes out those gains and the projection falls to 640. That is why paying on time comes before everything else.
Who it's for. Anyone preparing to apply for a mortgage, car loan or new card, or deciding whether to close an old account or pay down a balance first. Use it to rank which moves matter most before you act, then check your actual score with your card issuer or a credit bureau afterward.
Click "Explain with AI" for a plain-English walkthrough plus two tips (each explanation uses one AI credit). The simulator models US FICO-style scoring only and is general education, not financial advice — confirm big decisions with a qualified professional.
How to use it
- Enter your current FICO score. Type your score between 300 and 850 in the Current FICO score field.
- Switch on the actions you're considering. Toggle any of pay off a card, miss a payment, open a new card, hard inquiry or close your oldest card.
- Enter a utilization drop. In Lower utilization by (%), type how many percentage points you expect to cut your card utilization.
- Read the projected score. Compare the Current, Projected and Net change cards, then check the Breakdown for each action's points.
- Explain with AI (optional). Click Explain with AI for a plain-English summary of your scenario and two practical tips.
Frequently asked questions
How many points does a missed payment cost in the Credit Score Simulator?
The simulator subtracts a flat 90 points when you switch on "Miss a payment (30+ days)." Real drops vary: a late payment usually hurts a high score more than a low one, and in the US a reported late payment can stay on your credit report for up to seven years.
How does the Credit Score Simulator estimate the effect of lowering credit utilization?
It adds about 1.5 points for every percentage point you enter in "Lower utilization by (%)", rounded to a whole number — so 10 adds 15 points and 20 adds 30. Note that "Pay off a credit card" (+25) is counted separately, so switching both on for the same paydown can overstate the gain.
Why does closing my oldest card lower the score in the Credit Score Simulator?
The simulator applies −15 points because closing a card removes its credit limit, which can push your utilization up, and the account eventually stops helping the age of your credit history. If the card has no annual fee, keeping it open and using it lightly is often the safer choice.
How much does a hard inquiry for a mortgage or car loan change the Credit Score Simulator result?
The "Hard inquiry" toggle subtracts 5 points, representing one inquiry. FICO scoring generally treats several mortgage, auto or student-loan inquiries made within a short rate-shopping window as a single inquiry, so comparing lenders over a few days or weeks usually costs about the same as applying once.
Is the Credit Score Simulator's projected score what my real FICO score will be?
No. The tool doesn't read your credit report — it applies fixed estimates based on FICO 8 weighting to the score you type in. Your real change depends on your full history, and scores differ between the three bureaus and between models such as FICO and VantageScore, so treat the projection as a rough guide for US credit only.
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