Editorial note:This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, lending, or legal advice. Lender rates, fees, and eligibility change frequently — confirm details on the lender's own site before applying. Information is believed accurate as of publication but may not reflect the latest lender disclosures.
Soft Pull vs Hard Pull: What Each Does to Your Credit
How prequalification soft inquiries and hard credit checks impact your credit score—and when each happens
You're shopping for a personal loan, auto loan, or HELOC and see "check your rate without affecting your credit score." Meanwhile, you've heard that applying for credit can ding your score. Both statements are true—because lenders use two different types of credit inquiries. This guide breaks down soft pull vs hard pull credit checks, when each happens, and exactly how they impact your credit.
Key takeaways
- Soft pulls (soft inquiries) do not affect your credit score and include prequalification checks, background checks, and your own credit monitoring.
- Hard pulls (hard inquiries) occur when you formally apply for credit and can lower your score by 5–10 points for 12 months.
- Prequalification tools from SoFi, LightStream, Upstart, Marcus, and most online lenders use soft pulls to show estimated rates.
- Multiple hard inquiries for the same loan type (auto, mortgage, student) within 14–45 days typically count as one inquiry.
- You can check your own credit report as often as you want—it's always a soft pull.
What is a soft pull?
A soft pull (or soft inquiry) is a credit check that does not impact your credit score. Lenders, employers, or you yourself can view your credit report without leaving a mark that affects creditworthiness.
Common soft pull scenarios
- Prequalification or rate check: SoFi, Upstart, LendingClub, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Discover Personal Loans, and most online lenders use soft pulls to show you personalized rates before you formally apply.
- Credit monitoring services: Checking your own credit via Credit Karma, Experian, or your bank's free score tool.
- Background checks: Employers reviewing your credit as part of a job application.
- Promotional pre-approvals: Credit card offers in the mail ("You're pre-approved!").
- Account reviews: Your current credit-card issuer checking your account periodically.
Soft inquiries appear on your credit report when you pull your own file, but they are not visible to lenders reviewing your application. They do not factor into FICO or VantageScore calculations.
What is a hard pull?
A hard pull (or hard inquiry) occurs when you submit a formal credit application and authorize a lender to review your full credit file for underwriting. Hard inquiries are recorded on your credit report and can lower your score.
When hard pulls happen
- Submitting a loan application: After prequalification, you choose an offer and complete the full application. The lender performs a hard pull to verify income, employment, and creditworthiness.
- Credit card applications: Applying for a new card triggers a hard inquiry.
- Auto financing: Dealer or direct lender pulls your credit when you apply for a car loan.
- Mortgage or HELOC applications: Each lender you apply with may perform a hard pull, though rate-shopping protections apply (see below).
- Apartment or utility applications: Some landlords and utility providers pull hard credit, though many use soft inquiries.
Hard inquiries remain on your report for 24 months but only affect your score for the first 12 months. Each hard pull typically drops your FICO score by 5–10 points, though the impact fades over time.
How much does a hard inquiry hurt your credit?
The damage depends on your credit profile.
| Credit tier | Typical score drop | Duration of impact |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent (740+) | 5–7 points | 6–12 months |
| Good (670–739) | 7–10 points | 9–12 months |
| Fair (580–669) | 10–15 points | 12 months |
| Poor (<580) | Minimal (already low) | 12 months |
Example: You have a 720 FICO score and apply for a $15,000 personal loan at 11.49% APR over 60 months with LendingClub. The hard pull drops your score to 713. Over six months, as you make on-time payments, your score recovers to 725 because payment history (35% of FICO) outweighs the inquiry penalty (10% of FICO).
Hard inquiries matter most when:
- You have a thin credit file (fewer than five accounts).
- You're applying for multiple new credit lines in a short window.
- You're borderline between credit tiers (e.g., 679 vs. 680 for "good" pricing).
They matter less if you have a long, clean payment history and low utilization.
Rate-shopping protections: the 14–45 day window
FICO and VantageScore recognize that borrowers need to compare offers. If you apply for the same type of loan—auto, mortgage, or student—within a 14- to 45-day window, the credit bureaus count all hard pulls as one inquiry.
- FICO 8 and earlier: 14-day window.
- FICO 9 and FICO 10: 45-day window.
- VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0: 14-day window.
Most lenders use FICO 8 or FICO 9 for personal loans, FICO Auto Score for car loans, and FICO 2/4/5 for mortgages.
Important: This protection applies to mortgages, auto loans, and student loans. It does not apply to personal loans or credit cards. Applying to SoFi, Marcus, and Best Egg on the same day will generate three separate hard inquiries that each ding your score.
Prequalify first, apply once
Because personal-loan hard pulls aren't batched, the smartest strategy is:
- Prequalify with 3–5 lenders using soft pulls (SoFi, LightStream, Upstart, Marcus, Discover).
- Compare APRs, fees, and terms.
- Submit one formal application to your top choice.
This limits you to a single hard inquiry instead of three to five.
Soft pull vs hard pull: side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Soft pull | Hard pull |
|---|---|---|
| Affects credit score? | No | Yes (5–10 points) |
| Requires your consent? | Not always | Always |
| Visible to lenders? | No | Yes |
| Stays on report | 2 years (you only) | 2 years (all lenders see it for scoring for 12 months) |
| Typical use cases | Prequalification, credit monitoring, background checks | Loan applications, credit card applications |
| Examples | SoFi rate check, Credit Karma, employment screening | LendingClub final approval, Chase Sapphire application, Tesla auto loan |
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing prequalification with approval
Prequalification uses a soft pull to show estimated rates. Final approval requires income verification, a hard pull, and underwriting. You can be prequalified at 9.99% APR and receive a final offer at 13.49% if your debt-to-income ratio is higher than expected.
Applying to multiple personal-loan lenders on the same day
Unlike mortgages and auto loans, personal-loan inquiries are not batched. Submitting five applications in one day means five hard pulls and a potential 25–50 point score drop.
Ignoring the rate-shopping window for mortgages and auto loans
If you're buying a car, apply to your bank, credit union, and the dealer within 14 days. All three inquiries will count as one on FICO 9.
Skipping prequalification altogether
Many borrowers go straight to a formal application without shopping. Use soft-pull tools at SoFi, Marcus, Upstart, Discover, and LendingClub to see offers side by side before committing to a hard inquiry.
Checking your credit through a third party that does a hard pull
Always verify that a credit-check service uses a soft inquiry. Legitimate free services—Credit Karma, Experian, AnnualCreditReport.com, and most bank apps—never do hard pulls. If a site asks you to "apply" for credit monitoring, walk away.
How to check which inquiries are on your report
- Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to pull your Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion reports for free (once every 12 months, or weekly through 2026).
- Look for the "Inquiries" section.
- Soft inquiries appear on your personal copy but are labeled as "not shared with lenders."
- Hard inquiries list the lender name and date.
If you see an inquiry you didn't authorize, dispute it with the bureau. Fraudulent hard pulls can signal identity theft.
Real-world example: refinancing a $20,000 personal loan
You have a $20,000 personal loan at 18.99% APR (60 months, $508/month). Your credit score is 690. You want to refinance.
Step 1: You prequalify with SoFi, LightStream, and Marcus using soft pulls.
- SoFi shows 11.99% APR, $445/month, $6,700 total interest.
- LightStream shows 10.49% APR, $431/month, $5,860 total interest.
- Marcus shows 12.49% APR, $450/month, $7,000 total interest.
Step 2: You apply to LightStream. They perform a hard pull. Your score drops from 690 to 683.
Step 3: LightStream approves you at 10.49% APR. You refinance, saving $77/month and $7,340 in interest over the life of the loan.
Step 4: Over the next six months, on-time payments boost your score to 705, more than offsetting the inquiry.
Net result: One 7-point temporary dip, $7,340 saved, and a higher score six months later.
Prequalification is your best friend
Soft-pull prequalification tools let you shop aggressively without penalty. Most major lenders offer them:
- SoFi: Personal loans, student-loan refinance.
- LightStream: Personal loans (excellent credit required).
- Upstart: Personal loans (AI underwriting, accepts thin credit files).
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs: Personal loans, no fees.
- Discover Personal Loans: Loans up to $40,000, rate check in minutes.
- LendingClub: Personal loans, patient debt consolidation.
- Best Egg: Personal loans, fast funding.
- Figure: HELOCs with soft-pull preapproval.
Each soft pull is a free look at what you qualify for. Use them.
Conclusion
Soft pulls let you shop rates and monitor your credit without harm. Hard pulls are the price of final approval—but you control when and how many you trigger. Prequalify with multiple lenders, compare offers side by side, and submit one application to your top choice. Start by checking your credit for free at AnnualCreditReport.com, then run soft-pull prequalifications at SoFi, Marcus, and LightStream to see real rates before committing to a hard inquiry.
People also ask
Does prequalifying for a loan hurt my credit?
No. Prequalification uses a soft pull, which does not affect your credit score. Lenders like SoFi, Marcus, Upstart, and LightStream all use soft inquiries for rate checks.
How many points does a hard inquiry drop my credit score?
Typically 5–10 points for borrowers with good to excellent credit. The impact fades over 6–12 months and disappears entirely after 12 months, though the inquiry stays on your report for 24 months.
Can I apply to multiple lenders without multiple hard pulls?
For mortgages, auto loans, and student loans, yes—if you apply within 14–45 days (depending on the FICO version), inquiries count as one. For personal loans and credit cards, each application is a separate hard pull.
How long does a hard inquiry stay on my credit report?
Two years. However, it only affects your credit score for the first 12 months. FICO and VantageScore stop counting it after one year.
Will checking my own credit score hurt it?
No. Checking your own credit via AnnualCreditReport.com, Credit Karma, Experian, or your bank's app is always a soft pull and has zero impact on your score.
Related Articles
Fixed vs Variable Rate Loans: Which Is Right for You?
Fixed-rate loans lock your APR for the entire term. Variable-rate loans fluctuate with market benchmarks. Learn which fits your budget and risk tolerance.
Origination Fees: Why They Matter More Than the Rate
Origination fees can add hundreds or thousands to your loan cost. Learn how to compare APR vs. interest rate, decode fee structures, and avoid overpaying.
First Loan Checklist: What You Need Before You Apply
First-time borrowers often stumble on missing documents or bad timing. This checklist covers everything you need—from income proof to credit scores—before applying.
Weekly newsletter
One borrowing tip and current rate watch, every Monday.