Chase Credit Journey – How to Check Your Credit Score for Free

One of the most important things to know before opening a credit card or applying for a loan is your credit score.

You can check your credit score for free each year from all 3 credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax), but it’s good to know your number outside of those times.

If your score is good, then you’re all set. If it’s lower than you would like, then you can work to improve your credit score before you take out a new line of credit.

In this article, here is another way to keep tabs on your score: Chase Credit Journey.

What Is Chase Credit Journey?

Chase Credit Journey is a free tool offered by Chase that allows you to keep track of your credit score and credit report activity.

The score you see on Chase Credit Journey is the VantageScore 3.0 by TransUnion. This is different than a FICO score, but it’s just as valid. There are different providers, so your score can sometimes vary between the 3 different credit bureaus — that’s totally normal and nothing to worry about.

Hot Tip: To view your full detailed credit report, go to annualcreditreport.com. You can view your report for free once a year from all 3 credit bureaus. It’s a good idea to check your full report each year even if you are using Chase Credit Journey.

How Do I Use Chase Credit Journey?

To access Chase Credit Journey, you’ll need to log in to your Chase online account. Then scroll down until you see Your credit score on the left side. Click on Free score, updated weekly to access Chase Credit Journey.

Your Chase Credit Journey home page will prominently display your credit score; the page view defaults to your current credit score. However, if you would like to see the history of your score, click on Over Time to see a graph of the previous 6 months’ activity.

Hot Tip: Using Chase Credit Journey will not affect your credit score.

How Your Credit Score Works

Your Chase Credit Journey credit score is based on 6 main criteria:

1. Late payments (or payment history): Late payments are usually reported if they are more than 30 days past due, and will be visible on your credit report for 7-10 years.
2. Age of oldest account: It’s good to show that you have been responsible with credit for a long time, so your oldest account’s age is important. If you close your oldest account, your score could be negatively impacted.
3. Credit usage (or credit utilization ratio): This is the percent of your current credit limit that you are using. You want a low number here — it shows creditors that you don’t max out your available credit. Generally, a ratio under 30% is considered good.
4. Hard inquiries: This is the number of requests that have been made to see your credit history in the previous 2 years. These are often called “hard pulls,” and they happen when you open a new credit card or apply for a loan. An inquiry number of 6 or more is considered poor, but this factor doesn’t have a huge impact on your score.
5. Total balance: This is the current amount owed over all lines of credit. While it’s good to keep this number low, keep in mind this includes things like mortgages, so it can be high without having a negative effect on your credit score.
6. Available credit: This is the current amount of unused credit you have over all of your accounts. The number itself isn’t as important as the utilization ratio. You may have a lot of available credit, but as long as you aren’t using it all, it’s OK for this number to be big.

These 6 factors all combine to determine your credit score, which will range between 300-850.

If you look under your credit score, you will see these 6 factors listed for your account. If you want to see anything in more detail, click on Explore factor details.

From here you will be able to see the details relating to your credit score. Choose a different aspect of your score to view by using the menu at the left.

Score Simulator

The Chase Credit Journey score simulator is a fun tool to help you understand how different factors affect your credit score. To use this tool, just scroll down the main page and click on Try our Score Simulator.

You will see your current score along with your simulated score. To adjust the simulated score, use the factors listed below the scores. Adjust the factors to see how your credit will be affected by things like opening a new credit card, making a late payment, or taking out a mortgage.

How to Access Chase Credit Journey Through the Mobile App

You can sign on to Chase Credit Journey through the Chase mobile app if you have a personal account. Those who only have business accounts won’t be able to access Credit Journey through the Chase mobile app.

First, log on to your Chase account through the mobile app. Then scroll down and click on Credit score. From here you will be able to see your credit score and all of the other features of Chase Credit Journey.

Hot Tip: You can use Chase Credit Journey even if you aren’t a current Chase customer. If you don’t have a Chase account, use this link to access and sign up for Chase Credit Journey.

The Benefits of a Good Credit Score

Having a good credit score comes with lots of benefits. A good or excellent score is generally considered to be 700 or above.

• 750 or higher – Excellent
• 700 to 749 – Good
• 650 to 699 – Fair
• 600 to 649 – Poor
• Below 600 – Extremely Poor

A good or excellent credit score will help you get the best terms and lowest interest rates on loans, plus it allows you to apply for premium credit cards with outstanding benefits.

Hot Tip: If your credit score isn’t great, you might want to look at credit card options for people with bad credit. Using one of these cards wisely is a great way to help build your credit history and raise your score.

The Best Credit Cards for Good or Excellent Credit Scores

Having great credit allows you to apply for some awesome credit cards with premium benefits. Here are some of our favorites:

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck^® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck^® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Bottom Line: Having a great credit score opens the door to premium credit cards with excellent benefits. Check out our guide to credit cards for good to excellent credit scores for more options.

Final Thoughts

Good credit is important to have if you are going to open a credit card or apply for a loan. The first step in having good credit is knowing what your credit score is.

Chase Credit Journey is a free tool you can access through your Chase account that allows you to check your credit score at any time. You’ll be able to get a quick overview of your credit health and see ways to make improvements.

The great thing about Chase Credit Journey is that it doesn’t make a hard pull on your credit, so you can check it often without affecting your score.