Hard vs Soft Credit Inquiries Explained
Not all credit checks are equal. Learn the difference between hard and soft inquiries and how they affect your score. Step-by-step guide from Credit Booste
Hard vs Soft Inquiries
Hard Inquiries
Occur when you apply for credit. Each hard inquiry can lower your score by 5-10 points. They remain on your report for 2 years but only affect your score for 12 months.Common hard inquiries:
Soft Inquiries
Don't affect your score at all. Only you can see them on your report.Common soft inquiries:
Rate Shopping Protection
If you're shopping for a mortgage, auto loan, or student loan, multiple inquiries within a 14-45 day window count as a single inquiry.
Can You Remove Hard Inquiries?
Yes, if:
CreditBooster identifies unauthorized hard inquiries during our initial $1 scan and includes them in our dispute strategy.
Written by
Alexander Katsman
Founder, Credit Booster & Credit Booster AI
Alexander Katsman has spent more than 15 years in credit and finance, helping thousands of people and small business owners dispute inaccurate reporting, rebuild their scores, and get approved for funding they were once denied. His latest project, Credit Booster AI, puts that entire toolkit in everyone's hands, using AI to make fixing, building, and funding your credit accessible to all.
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