Credit Score vs CIBIL Score: What’s the Difference & Why It Matters

Credit score is a 3-digit number assigned to credit users by credit bureaus based on their creditworthiness, whereas CIBIL score...

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4.5_/5

15.6L Reviews

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4Bureau Coverage

800+Cities across India

Why Check Credit Score on Paisabazaar ?

Check Credit Score from All 4 Bureaus

Track Credit Score Seamlessly Every Month

Read Credit Report in Multiple Languages

What is a Credit Score?

A three-digit number ranging between 300-900
Assigned to credit users based on their past credit behavior
Used by lenders to assess the creditworthiness of an individual
Issued by 4 major credit bureaus in India, namely TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax, and CRIF High Mark

What is a CIBIL Score?

Credit score issued by TransUnion CIBIL
Based on credit activity reported to CIBIL
Most widely accepted credit score subset by lenders

Is Credit Score and CIBIL Score the Same?

No, they are not the same. CIBIL score is a type of credit score issued by TransUnion CIBIL. All CIBIL scores are credit scores, but not all credit scores are CIBIL scores. This is because credit scores are assigned by four credit bureaus in India, with TransUnion CIBIL being one of them. Let’s understand the difference with a help of a table:

Credit Score vs CIBIL Score – Key Differences

Feature	Credit Score	CIBIL Score
Definition	General term/broader category	Type/ subset of credit score
Issuing Authority	Issued by 4 major credit bureaus	Issued by TransUnion CIBIL (one of the four credit bureaus)
Generation Formula	Different bureaus use different formulas to generate credit scores	Proprietary formula used to generate CIBIL score
How to Check	Official website of any of the credit bureaus	Official website of TransUnion CIBIL

When to Check Your Credit Score?

Individuals should check their credit score on a regular interval. From June 2026, RBI has directed lenders to report credit data of borrowers to the bureaus on a weekly basis. This was earlier done on a fortnightly basis. This will help borrowers stay up-to-date and plan their credit uptake accordingly.