Experian is one of the UK's three official credit reference agencies, alongside Equifax and TransUnion, and it has been operating in Britain since 1996. It holds credit data on virtually every adult in the country, and its free account gives you a monthly-updated credit score out of 999, your full credit report, and alerts whenever something changes. Over 15 million UK users currently track their score through Experian's free service.
Customers
15m
UK accounts
Founded
1996
30 years old
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Worth £9
Experian Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (reference number 738097).
Experian is the UK credit bureau most lenders pull when you apply for anything. The free app gives you a monthly score, file alerts, and ways to lift your rating through Boost. Quidsy has a free cash offer for new signups. Worth a sign-up before any big credit application. The paid tier is optional.
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Value
£9
Experian is one of the UK's three official credit reference agencies, alongside Equifax and TransUnion, and it has been operating in Britain since 1996. It holds credit data on virtually every adult in the country, and its free account gives you a monthly-updated credit score out of 999, your full credit report, and alerts whenever something changes. Over 15 million UK users currently track their score through Experian's free service.
It's worth setting up if you're applying for a mortgage, credit card, or loan in the next year or two. Knowing your score before you apply saves wasted searches and lets you fix any errors before lenders see them.
It's also handy if you're working through Quidsy offers, since some signups involve credit checks, and being able to see your file means nothing catches you out. People who don't borrow, don't plan to, and don't care about their score can probably skip it, though most people change their mind on this eventually.
Yes, Experian is safe. Experian Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer credit activities (FRN 738097), and Experian plc is a FTSE 100 company that has been holding UK credit data since 1996. They are also registered with the Information Commissioner's Office, which is the UK regulator for how personal data is handled.
In 2020 the ICO challenged Experian's separate offline direct marketing business over data practices. Experian appealed, and the case was resolved in their favour at the Upper Tribunal in 2024. The free credit score service we link to here was not part of that enforcement action.
The bit people worry about is sharing their details, which is fair. To set up a free account, Experian needs your name, date of birth, address history, and answers to a few identity questions linked to your existing credit file. This is standard for any credit reference agency and how they match you to your data. They do not share your account details or login credentials with third parties.
The honest caveat is the upsell. The free account is genuinely free, but Experian will regularly prompt you to upgrade to their paid CreditExpert subscription, which costs £14.99 a month after a 30-day free trial. You do not need it for the credit score, and the £9 free cash via Quidsy only applies to the free signup, so stick with that.
Check your Experian credit score out of 999, updated monthly. No payment needed, no trial period to forget about.
See the accounts, payment history, and searches behind your score, with plain-English explanations for anything unusual.
Get notified when something changes on your credit file, so you can spot fraud, errors, or new searches early.
Link your current account so regular payments like subscriptions and council tax can lift your Experian credit score.
Honestly, Experian is one of those services everyone should have but most people never bother setting up. The free account gives you your credit score and full report, which is genuinely useful whether you're applying for a mortgage, getting a phone contract, or just wanting to know where you stand.
If you're working through Quidsy offers, it is worth having Experian running in the background. Some signups involve credit checks, and being able to see your file means you are never caught off guard. You can also spot any errors or signs of fraud months before they become a real problem, which on its own is worth the ten minutes it takes to set up.
The upsell to paid CreditExpert is the only thing I would flag. You do not need it for the credit score and report, so just dismiss the prompts and stick with the free version. Plus you get £9 free cash via TopCashback just for signing up, so there is really no reason not to. Quick win, properly free, and the kind of thing you will be glad you set up when you next apply for credit.
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£9 Free Cash is the strongest live Experian route we have listed right now.
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