Quick answer
A hard credit check happens when you apply for credit and can lower your score slightly. A soft check happens when you check your own credit, prequalify, or receive a prescreened offer, and does not affect your score. Only you can see soft inquiries, according to the CFPB.
Every time someone looks at your credit report, it is recorded as an inquiry. Only one kind can affect your score.
Side by side
| Soft inquiry | Hard inquiry | |
|---|---|---|
| Triggered by | Checking your own credit, prequalification, prescreened offers, reviews by lenders you already use, employment checks | Applying for a loan, credit card or other credit |
| Affects your score? | No | Can lower it slightly |
| Who can see it | Only you | Lenders who pull your report |
| How long it shows | Varies | 2 years (FICO counts 12 months) |
The CFPB describes both types and confirms soft inquiries do not affect your scores.
How much a hard check costs you
New credit is about 10% of a FICO score, and myFICO says inquiries usually have a small effect. They matter more if you have a thin file or several recent applications.
Shop for loans with fewer hard pulls
- Prequalify first. Many lenders show estimated rates with a soft pull.
- Apply once you have chosen. Only the final application should need a hard pull.
- Keep rate shopping in a short window. myFICO says FICO scores treat multiple inquiries for certain loan types in a short period as one.
Read more in how long hard inquiries stay and does a personal loan hurt your credit.
If you need to borrow while you work on your credit, use the form on this page to see whether partner lenders may have an offer, or call (800) 236-7761. Compare offers by APR and total cost.
Examples are illustrations, not offers. Approval, APR and terms depend on the lender, your state and your credit profile.
Frequently asked questions about soft vs hard credit check: what each one does to your score
Does prequalification hurt my credit?
Prequalification usually uses a soft inquiry, which does not affect your score. Confirm with the lender before you submit.
Can I tell which type of check a lender will do?
Ask. Lenders usually say whether a step is a soft or hard pull. A full application is normally a hard pull.
Do employers do hard credit checks?
The CFPB lists employment-related checks among soft inquiries, which do not affect your scores.
How long do hard inquiries stay?
Two years on your report. myFICO says FICO scores only consider inquiries from the last 12 months.
Sources
- CFPB: What is a credit inquiry? (accessed 2026-10-09)
- myFICO: How new credit impacts your FICO Score (accessed 2026-10-09)
- CFPB: What is a prescreened credit card offer? (accessed 2026-10-09)
Last updated 2026-10-09. How we research and update pages.