Credit Score Simulator
Simulate the impact of financial decisions on your credit score. See how paying off debt, opening new accounts, or closing cards affects your credit. 100% free and private - all calculations happen in your browser.
Your Current Credit Profile
Range: 300-850
Include all credit cards
Years since opening
Multiple Scenarios
Simulate paying debt, opening accounts, or closing cards to see potential impacts.
Utilization Tracking
Real-time credit utilization calculation with color-coded status indicators.
100% Private
All simulations happen in your browser. Your financial data stays with you.
Paying Off Credit Card Debt
If you have $3,000 in debt across $10,000 in total credit limits (30% utilization), paying off $1,500 would drop your utilization to 15%. This could increase your score by 10-30 points.
Best for: Those with high utilization (above 30%)
Opening a New Credit Card
Opening a new card with a $5,000 limit will cause a temporary 5-10 point drop from the hard inquiry, but increases your available credit. Long-term benefit if you keep utilization low.
Best for: Building credit history or reducing overall utilization
Closing an Unused Card
Closing a card with a $2,000 limit reduces your available credit, increasing your utilization ratio. This typically results in a score decrease of 10-30 points depending on your other accounts.
Best avoided unless: The card has high annual fees you can't afford
Frequently Asked Questions
How does credit utilization affect my credit score?
Credit utilization is one of the most important factors in your credit score, accounting for about 30% of your FICO score. Keeping your utilization below 30% is recommended, and below 10% is ideal. Lower utilization shows lenders you can manage credit responsibly without maxing out your accounts.
Will opening a new credit card hurt my score?
Opening a new credit card typically causes a small temporary decrease (5-10 points) due to the hard inquiry. However, it can help your score long-term by increasing your available credit and lowering your overall utilization ratio. The key is to avoid opening too many accounts in a short period.
Should I close old credit cards I don't use?
Generally, it's better to keep old accounts open, even if unused. Closing accounts reduces your available credit, which increases your utilization ratio. It can also reduce the average age of your credit accounts. If the card has no annual fee, keeping it open is usually the better option.
How quickly will my score improve after paying down debt?
Credit card companies typically report to credit bureaus once a month. Once your lower balance is reported, you should see an improvement in your credit score within 30-60 days. The amount of improvement depends on how much you reduce your utilization ratio.
What is the ideal credit utilization ratio?
The ideal credit utilization ratio is below 10% for excellent credit scores. However, keeping it under 30% is generally considered good. Credit utilization is calculated by dividing your total credit card balances by your total credit limits, then multiplying by 100.
Is this credit score simulator accurate?
This simulator provides estimated score changes based on common credit scoring factors. Actual score changes depend on your complete credit profile, including payment history, credit mix, and other factors. Use this as a general guide, not an exact prediction. Results may vary based on the specific credit scoring model used.