How to Use the NerdWallet App to Compare Financial Products and Track Your Credit
NerdWallet helps you compare credit cards, loans, and savings accounts, and gives you a free credit score with personalized recommendations — all in one app.
At a Glance
Download the App and Create a Free Account
~37sQuick Tip
Quick Tip: Your NerdWallet credit score is a VantageScore, which uses a slightly different calculation than the FICO score most lenders use. The two scores are usually close but may differ by 10 to 30 points.
Review Your Credit Score and What Affects It
~33sQuick Tip
Quick Tip: Credit utilization — the percentage of your credit limit that you are using — should generally stay below 30% for the best impact on your score. If you have a $10,000 credit limit, try to keep your balance below $3,000.
Compare Credit Cards for Your Situation
~35sWarning
Applying for a new credit card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can temporarily lower your score by a few points. Apply only for cards you genuinely plan to use, and avoid applying for multiple cards in a short period of time.
Compare Savings Accounts and Loan Rates
~30sQuick Tip
Quick Tip: Online banks and credit unions typically offer higher savings account interest rates than traditional brick-and-mortar banks. NerdWallet's comparison tool makes it easy to spot the difference.
Link Accounts to Track Net Worth and Spending
~22sYou Did It!
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NerdWallet is a free financial services comparison platform that helps you find credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, savings accounts, and insurance that are suited to your specific situation. Instead of visiting a dozen different bank websites to compare interest rates and terms, you can use NerdWallet to see your options side by side with plain-language explanations of what each product offers.
The NerdWallet app also provides your free credit score, updated weekly, along with a breakdown of the factors affecting it. This includes your payment history, how much of your available credit you are using, the age of your accounts, and other elements that credit bureaus use to calculate your score. Understanding these factors makes it easier to take steps that improve your score over time.
NerdWallet does not charge you anything. Its business model is built on referral fees — when you click through to a financial product and apply, NerdWallet may receive a payment from that provider. The site discloses this clearly, and it does not affect the rankings or recommendations shown to you; NerdWallet maintains editorial standards that keep product reviews independent.
In addition to comparison tools, the app lets you link your bank and credit card accounts to track your net worth, spending, and cash flow — similar to a basic budgeting app. This gives you a single place to check your credit score and see where your money is going.
NerdWallet's reviews and comparisons are written by financial journalists and cover nearly every financial product category available in the US. For someone who wants to find a better credit card, refinance a loan, or open a high-yield savings account, starting with NerdWallet saves significant research time.
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