Build Credit That Climbs

These tools report to credit bureaus and help you build positive credit history. Add points while you sleep.

Report to Bureaus

These services actually report your payments to the credit bureaus — that's what builds your score.

Watch Your Score Climb

Consistent on-time payments show up on your report. Over time, your score goes up.

Access Better Options

Higher score = better credit cards, lower interest rates, more financial opportunities.

Rent Reporting Services

Your rent payments don't automatically count toward your credit. These services report them for you — and one year of on-time rent can add 50-100 points if you have a thin file.

RentReporters

Reports your rent payments to TransUnion. One year of on-time rent can add 50-100 points.

TransUnion
Free to $14.95/mo
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LevelCredit

Reports rent, utilities, and insurance payments to all three bureaus.

EquifaxExperianTransUnion
$14.95/mo
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PRBC (Pay Rent to Build Credit)

The original rent reporting service. Free option available.

EquifaxExperian
Free to $9.95/mo
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Credit Builder Cards & Loans

These are designed for people building or rebuilding credit. They report to all three bureaus and don't require good credit to qualify.

Self Financial

Credit-builder loan that reports to all three bureaus. You build credit while saving money.

From $25/mo
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Chime Credit Builder

Secured credit card that reports to all three bureaus. No credit check to apply.

Free
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Current Bank

Credit-builder account that reports to all three bureaus. No minimum credit score needed.

Free
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Experian Boost

Connects your bank account to add utility and streaming payments to your Experian report. Free.

Free
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Tradeline Programs

Tradelines are additional credit accounts added to your report. They can boost your score quickly by leveraging someone else's long, positive credit history.

Authorized User Program

Get added as an authorized user on someone else's old, positive account. Their payment history transfers to your report.

Can add 20-50 points overnight
Note: Only works if the primary cardholder is reliable

Business Tradelines

Become an authorized user on established business accounts to build business credit.

Builds business credit separate from personal
Note: Requires business entity (LLC etc)

The Rules That Actually Work

Keep utilization below 30%
If your limit is $1,000, never charge more than $300. Under 10% is even better.
Never miss a payment
Set up autopay for at least the minimum. One late payment can drop your score 60-100 points.
Don't close old cards
Closing a card reduces your available credit AND your average account age. Keep them open.
Be patient
Credit building takes 3-6 months to see changes, 12-18 months for significant improvement. Don't check your score every day.
Multiple bureau checking is free
Check AnnualCreditReport.com for free reports from all three bureaus once per year.

Ready to Start Climbing?

Use our free dispute letters to remove negatives, then these tools to build positives.