A soft pull, or soft inquiry, happens when someone you authorize checks your credit report. A hard pull, on the other hand, is when you apply for a loan or credit card. It does impact your credit score.
Credit Inquiry Basics
Here’s everything you should know about soft and hard pulls and who can do them.
Soft Inquiries
A soft inquiry occurs when someone, or a company, checks your credit report. These pulls aren’t anything to worry about. Here are some of the most common examples of soft inquiries:
- A credit card company pre-approves you for a card
- You check your credit score
- A landlord checks your credit score
Hard Inquiries
A hard pull occurs when you apply for one of the following:
- Loans
- Credit cards
- Mortgage
Downsides of Hard Pulls
Hard Pulls or Inquiries:
- Can stay on your credit report for up to two years
- Can lower your credit score
However, as long as you don’t apply for multiple loans and credit for months straight, the impact of hard pulls is usually not that bad.
Monitor Your Credit Report
You can see soft and hard inquiries on your credit report. To check what inquiries have been made, you’ll need to check your reports from all three credit bureaus. Remember: Checking your reports should be a habit. It’s free to do so and will help prevent identity theft. You can also keep your credit score high by catching and reporting incorrect information.
Do One Thing: Check your credit reports at all three bureaus regularly.
Chris O'Shea/SavvyMoney 2025