FICO and VantageScore are the two competing credit scoring models in the United States. They both use your credit report data to generate a score, but they calculate it differently—and lenders don’t treat them equally.
FICO vs. VantageScore at a Glance
Feature
FICO
VantageScore
Score range
300-850
300-850
Creator
Fair Isaac Corporation
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion (joint)
First introduced
1989
2006
Current version
FICO Score 10, 10T
VantageScore 4.0
Used by lenders
~90% of lending decisions
~10-15% of lending decisions
Minimum history needed
6 months, 1 account active in last 6 months
1 month, 1 account reported ever
Used for mortgages
Yes (FICO 2, 4, 5 currently; transitioning to FICO 10T)
No
Free access
Discover, some banks
Credit Karma, Credit Sesame
How Each Score Is Calculated
FICO Score Factors
Factor
Weight
What It Measures
Payment history
35%
On-time vs. late payments
Amounts owed (utilization)
30%
How much of your available credit you’re using
Length of credit history
15%
Average age of accounts, oldest account
Credit mix
10%
Variety of account types (cards, loans, mortgage)
New credit
10%
Recent hard inquiries and new accounts
VantageScore 4.0 Factors
Factor
Influence
What It Measures
Payment history
Most influential (41%)
On-time vs. late payments
Depth of credit
Highly influential (20%)
Age of accounts, types of accounts
Credit utilization
Highly influential (20%)
Balances relative to limits
Recent credit
Moderately influential (11%)
New accounts and inquiries
Balances
Less influential (6%)
Current total balances
Available credit
Less influential (2%)
Total available credit across accounts
Key Calculation Differences
Scenario
FICO Treatment
VantageScore Treatment
Medical collections
Weighted same as other collections (FICO 8); lower weight (FICO 9+)
Significantly less negative
Paid collections
Still counts negative (FICO 8); ignored (FICO 9+)
Ignored once paid
Authorized user accounts
Included in score
Included in score
Rent/utility payments
Not included (standard)
Included if reported
Hard inquiry shopping window
14-45 days depending on version
14 days for all credit types
Trended data
FICO 10T uses 24-month trends
VantageScore 4.0 uses trended data
Which Score Do Lenders Use?
By Loan Type
Loan Type
Score Model Used
Specific Version
Conventional mortgage
FICO
FICO 2 (Experian), 4 (TransUnion), 5 (Equifax)*
FHA mortgage
FICO
Same as conventional*
VA mortgage
FICO
Same as conventional*
Auto loan
FICO
FICO Auto Score 8 or 9
Credit card
FICO
FICO Bankcard Score 8 or 9
Personal loan
FICO or VantageScore
Varies by lender
Fintech/online lender
Often VantageScore
VantageScore 3.0 or 4.0
*Mortgage industry is transitioning to FICO 10T and VantageScore 4.0 by late 2025-2026.
Where You See Each Score
Where
Score Provided
Why
Credit Karma
VantageScore 3.0
Free, partnership with bureaus
Credit Sesame
VantageScore 3.0
Free monitoring service
Most credit card apps
FICO Score 8
Partnership with FICO
Discover Credit Scorecard
FICO Score 8
Free for anyone (no account needed)
Experian.com
FICO Score 8
Direct from bureau
myFICO.com
Multiple FICO versions
Paid subscription ($20-$40/month)
Mortgage lender
FICO 2, 4, 5
Industry standard
Score Ranges Compared
FICO Score Ranges
Range
Rating
Percentage of Consumers
800-850
Exceptional
21%
740-799
Very Good
25%
670-739
Good
21%
580-669
Fair
17%
300-579
Poor
16%
VantageScore Ranges
Range
Rating
Percentage of Consumers
781-850
Excellent
23%
661-780
Good
30%
601-660
Fair
17%
500-600
Poor
16%
300-499
Very Poor
14%
Why Your Scores Are Different
It’s normal for your FICO and VantageScore to differ by 20-50 points. Here’s why:
Reason
Explanation
Different weighting
Payment history is 35% in FICO vs. 41% in VantageScore
Different versions
You might see FICO 8 vs. VantageScore 3.0
Different bureau data
One score may pull from Equifax, the other from TransUnion
Trended data
FICO 10T and VS 4.0 look at trends; older versions don’t
Collection handling
VS ignores paid collections; FICO 8 does not
Inquiry windows
Different shopping windows for rate comparison
Example: Same Person, Different Scores
Score Source
Score
Version
Bureau Used
Credit Karma
738
VantageScore 3.0
TransUnion
Chase app
721
FICO Score 8
Experian
Mortgage lender
715
FICO Score 5
Equifax
Discover Scorecard
725
FICO Score 8
TransUnion
A 23-point spread across sources is completely normal and doesn’t indicate a problem.
Which Score Should You Care About?
Situation
Focus On
Why
Applying for a mortgage
FICO 2, 4, 5 (transitioning to FICO 10T)
Mortgage lenders only use FICO
Applying for a credit card
FICO Bankcard Score 8
Most card issuers use FICO
Applying for an auto loan
FICO Auto Score 8
Most auto lenders use FICO
General monitoring
Either—focus on trends
Both reflect the same underlying credit behavior
Applying to a fintech lender
VantageScore
Many online lenders use VantageScore
How to Improve Both Scores
These actions improve your score regardless of the scoring model:
Action
Impact on FICO
Impact on VantageScore
Pay on time every month
Major (35% weight)
Major (41% weight)
Lower credit utilization below 30%
Major (30% weight)
Major (20% weight)
Don’t close old accounts
Moderate (15% weight)
Moderate (20% weight)
Limit hard inquiries
Minor (10% weight)
Moderate (11% weight)
Diversify credit types
Minor (10% weight)
Minor (included in depth)
Report rent/utility payments
No impact (standard FICO)
Positive impact
Pay off collections
Positive (FICO 9+); neutral (FICO 8)
Positive (ignored once paid)
Understanding which score model matters is explained in the credit score hub. See how scores vary by age in average credit score by age, and understand the underlying data with the credit report guide.
WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.
The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy
