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When you apply for a loan or check your credit, a credit inquiry is recorded on your report. But not all inquiries are treated equally.
Here’s what to know about soft vs. hard inquiries, how they show up on your credit report, and which ones can actually impact your score.
🟢 What Is a Soft Inquiry?
A soft inquiry (or soft pull) is a credit check that doesn’t affect your score.
These typically happen when:
- You check your own credit report
- You get a pre-approved credit offer in the mail
- An employer runs a background check
- A landlord does a light credit screening
Soft inquiries don’t signal to credit bureaus that you're actively seeking credit. They’re often done behind the scenes, and they’re only visible to you, not lenders.
🔴 What Is a Hard Inquiry?
A hard inquiry (or hard pull) happens when a lender checks your credit to make a lending decision.
This includes:
- Applying for a credit card
- Getting an auto loan or mortgage
- Taking out a personal loan
- Requesting a credit line increase in some cases
Hard pulls can impact your credit score, usually by a few points. One or two isn’t a big deal, but multiple hard pulls in a short time may raise red flags and suggest you’re in financial distress.
Hard inquiries stay on your report for up to 2 years, but their impact usually fades after 12 months.
💡 Quick Recap:
🛠 Want to Check Your Own Credit?
You can check your own report without hurting your score:
You can also use services like Credit Karma or Experian to monitor soft pulls and track score changes over time.
✅ Bottom Line
- Don’t worry about soft pulls—they won’t affect your credit
- Try to space out hard pulls if you're shopping for loans or cards
- Always know which type of inquiry a lender will perform before applying
If you’re looking for debt relief, Relief’s app does a soft check and lets you know what accounts are eligible for savings opportunities.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Relief does not provide financial advice. The information in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional financial guidance. Please consult a certified financial planner or advisor for personalized support.
Links to external websites are provided for convenience and informational purposes only. Relief is not affiliated with these third-party sites and does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of their content.
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