Credit Sesame premium vs free - what you actually need
Credit Sesame Premium ($9.99/month) adds daily credit score updates from all three bureaus, full credit report access, and expanded identity protection features. For most users, the free tier's monthly TransUnion score is sufficient for basic monitoring. If you want more comprehensive identity protection, the services below offer stronger coverage at comparable pricing.
Better alternatives for credit monitoring and identity protection
- Empower (formerly Personal Capital) AFFILIATE - Free. Covers net worth, investment tracking, and retirement planning - far more than credit monitoring alone.
- Aura AFFILIATE - All-in-one identity protection including credit monitoring, VPN, password manager, and antivirus. More comprehensive than Credit Sesame Premium.
- LifeLock AFFILIATE - Up to $1 million in stolen funds reimbursement and $1 million in personal expense coverage. More robust protection than Credit Sesame for high-risk individuals.
- Experian Free - Free FICO score monitoring (the score lenders use) directly from one of the three major bureaus.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between Credit Sesame free and premium?
- Free includes monthly TransUnion score and basic monitoring. Premium adds daily updates from all three bureaus, full credit reports, and expanded identity protection.
- Does Credit Sesame give refunds when you cancel premium?
- Credit Sesame does not offer prorated refunds on premium subscriptions. Contact support for billing disputes.
- Is Credit Sesame safe?
- Credit Sesame is a legitimate service. The free tier uses bank-level encryption. The company has operated since 2010.