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📊 FICO Score

Credit Score Simulator

A credit score simulator lets you preview how financial actions — paying off a credit card, missing a payment, opening a new card, requesting a credit limit increase — will affect your credit score BEFORE you do them. Your credit score (300-900 in Canada, 300-850 in the US) determines your mortgage rate, car loan rate, credit card approvals, and sometimes even rental applications and job offers.

This free simulator uses 2026 scoring models from Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada to project score changes. Pick from common scenarios or build a custom one. The math is based on the same 5 factors the bureaus use: payment history (35%), credit utilization (30%), length of history (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit (10%).

📊 Your Credit Profile

📌 5 Credit Score Tips

Disclaimer: This simulator uses simplified FICO score factors (payment history 35%, utilization 30%, length of history 15%, credit mix 10%, new credit 10%). Actual FICO scores depend on your specific credit history, scoring model (FICO 8 vs 9), and bureau (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). For personalized advice, consult a credit counselor.

Related Tools

Once you've seen how each action moves your score, these five tools help you execute the move — from paying down balances to picking the right payoff strategy for your debt mix.

📚 Resources to Build Your Score

📖 Credit Repair Handbook
Step-by-step guides to disputing errors, negotiating pay-for-deletes, and rebuilding a 700+ score from any starting point.
💳 Secured Credit Cards
The fastest way to rebuild from a thin or damaged file — deposit-backed cards report to all 3 bureaus and graduate to unsecured in 6-12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good credit score in Canada 2026?

In Canada, scores range from 300-900. 760+ is excellent (best rates, premium cards). 725-759 is very good. 660-724 is good (most approvals). 560-659 is poor. Below 560 is very poor (most applications denied).

How long does it take to improve a credit score?

Small improvements (a few points) can show up in 1-2 billing cycles after paying down a balance. Major changes (clearing a collection, removing a bankruptcy) can take 6-24 months to fully reflect.

Does checking my own credit score hurt it?

No — checking your own credit score is a 'soft inquiry' and has no impact. Only 'hard inquiries' from lenders (when you apply for credit) affect your score, and only by 5-10 points each.

What hurts your credit score the most?

Missing a payment (single 30-day late can drop your score 60-110 points), high credit utilization (over 30% of your limit), and a bankruptcy or consumer proposal (drops 100-200+ points, stays on report 6-7 years).

How often is my credit score updated?

Most lenders report to the bureaus monthly. Your score updates whenever new information is reported — typically within 1-2 billing cycles after a payment or balance change.