TransUnion vs. Equifax: What You Need to Know
In a Nutshell
TransUnion and Equifax are two of the three major credit bureaus (Experian is the third). Both bureaus collect data on your borrowing history and generate credit reports and scores that lenders use to evaluate applications for loans, credit cards, and other financial products.
Creditvana allows you to check your free TransUnion® and Equifax® credit scores anytime, giving you a clear view of where your credit stands and how to improve it.
Why Are My TransUnion and Equifax Credit Scores Different?
It’s common to see slight — or sometimes significant — differences between your TransUnion and Equifax credit scores. Here’s why:
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Different scoring models
Each bureau may use a different scoring model (such as VantageScore 3.0 or various FICO models). Even when looking at the same financial data, different models weigh factors like payment history or credit utilization differently, which can result in different scores. -
Different information reported
Not all lenders and creditors report to every bureau. Some report to all three, while others report to only one or two. That means TransUnion may have data that Equifax does not, and vice versa. -
Timing of updates
Credit scores are snapshots in time. If one bureau receives new information before the other, your scores may vary. For example, if a credit card balance is updated with Equifax first, your Equifax score could reflect that change before your TransUnion score does.
What Factors Determine My Credit Scores?
Your credit scores are calculated based on several key factors. In VantageScore 3.0, the breakdown looks like this:
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Payment history (40%) – Track record of on-time payments.
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Depth of credit (21%) – Average age of accounts and diversity of credit types.
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Credit utilization (20%) – How much of your available credit you’re using (ideally under 30%).
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Balances (11%) – Outstanding balances across all accounts.
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Recent credit (5%) – New accounts and recent hard inquiries.
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Available credit (3%) – Total unused credit limits on revolving accounts.
Monitoring these categories through Creditvana helps you identify areas for improvement and maintain healthy scores.
Do Lenders Look at TransUnion or Equifax?
Lenders may pull your credit report from any of the three major bureaus. There’s no single “most important” bureau, and which one they use depends on the lender’s partnerships, industry standards, and internal preferences.
If you’re denied for credit, federal law requires the lender to:
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Tell you the main reasons for denial.
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Provide the credit score used in the decision.
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Share the contact information of the bureau that supplied the report.
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Inform you of your right to request a free copy of that report within 60 days.
How to Check Your Credit Scores
You can get a free copy of your credit reports from all three bureaus once per year at annualcreditreport.com.
With Creditvana, you can check your Equifax® and TransUnion® credit scores anytime for free, along with insights to help you improve them. Many banks and credit card companies may also provide free FICO® scores to customers, but with Creditvana you get two bureau reports and scores in one place.
Next Steps
The bottom line: Neither TransUnion nor Equifax is “better” or “more accurate.” Both are widely used by lenders, and keeping an eye on both helps you get the most complete picture of your credit.
By using Creditvana to monitor your scores and reports regularly, you can:
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Catch errors or inaccuracies early.
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Spot potential signs of identity theft.
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Understand how your borrowing behavior affects your scores.
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Identify opportunities to build or strengthen your credit profile.
FAQs About TransUnion vs. Equifax
Is Equifax more important than TransUnion?
No. Lenders may check any of the three major bureaus. Which one they use varies by company and type of loan.
Do lenders prefer TransUnion or Equifax?
Some lenders partner more closely with one bureau, but all three are commonly used.
Do dealerships look at TransUnion or Equifax?
Auto lenders often use specialized FICO® Auto Scores, which can be calculated from either Equifax or TransUnion data. These models may weigh auto-related payment history more heavily than general credit scores.
✅ Check Your Free Equifax® and TransUnion® Scores Now on Creditvana.
