Our editorial team was among the first to thoroughly research, evaluate and pick the best credit repair companies in the market. Since 2016, we’ve spent thousands of hours investigating the industry and vetting around two dozen national providers.
We’ve compared credit repair companies on 15+ data points, including fees, plans, customer feedback and industry reputation. Based on this extensive research, we picked the top credit repair companies in the market, including Credit Saint, Sky Blue Credit and the Credit Pros.
Money’s Main Takeaways
- Credit repair involves reviewing your credit report for inaccuracies and disputing them with the reporting agencies.
- You can repair your credit history yourself, but hiring a credit repair service can be helpful if your report has multiple mistakes.
- Credit repair companies evaluate your credit report and dispute any errors on your behalf with the credit bureaus and your lenders.
- Some companies also offer ongoing credit consultations and additional financial tools, like credit and identity theft monitoring.
- The process can be time-consuming, often lasting up to a year.
Why Trust Us?
Our editorial staff has more than a decade of experience with the credit and credit repair services industry. We review credit repair companies independently, ensuring our content is accurate and guided by editorial integrity. Read our full methodology to learn more.
- 22 companies reviewed
- 10+ data points used, including pricing, services and customer support
- 100+ sources reviewed
Our Top Picks for Best Credit Repair Companies
- Credit Saint – Best Overall
- Credit Versio – Best for DIY Credit Repair
- The Credit People – Best for Low Setup Fees
- Sky Blue Credit – Best Value
- The Credit Pros – Best Bonus Features
Best Credit Repair Reviews
Pros
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Clear pricing policies
- Online sign-up available
- Online chat available weekdays from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Cons
- Service not available in South Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Maine and Washington, D.C.
- First work fee of up to $195
HIGHLIGHTS
- Monthly fee:
- $79.99 – $139.99
- Set-up fee:
- $99 – $195
- Money-back guarantee:
- 90 days
Why we chose this company: Credit Saint is our pick for Best Overall because of its clear pricing policies and comprehensive package options.
The company offers three credit repair packages: Credit Polish, Credit Remodel and Clean Slate. The packages — which range from $79.99 to $139.99 per month — differ in how many claims they’ll dispute a month, from five claims with the basic “Credit Polish” plan to an unlimited amount with the premium “Clean Slate” plan.
Each package also features a different suite of financial tools. The basic plan, for instance, includes a credit score tracker, while the highest tier plan adds credit reports and scores from all three reporting bureaus.
Credit Saint offers a free consultation to evaluate your particular situation and identify the next steps you should take. Once you sign up with them, the company assigns an advisory team to your case and schedules calls to keep you informed.
Credit Saint also provides a credit score analysis and educational content to help customers better understand their credit. Some plans also include a personalized guide to building credit. Additionally, the company offers a 90-day, money-back guarantee if you don’t see any changes in your credit history after three months.
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Credit Polish $79.99 p/m |
Credit Remodel $99.99 p/m |
Clean Slate $139.99 p/m |
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Pros
- AI software analyzes your credit reports to identify negative items
- Automatically generates dispute letters based on your credit situation
- Keeps track of your credit score and disputes with an easy-to-read dashboard
- Monthly plans include identity theft insurance
Cons
- You must mail the dispute letters yourself
- No credit experts to assist you
- No money-back guarantee
- No credit consultations
HIGHLIGHTS
- Monthly fee:
- $24.95 – 29.95
- Set-up fees:
- None
- Money-back guarantee:
- None
Why we chose this company: Credit Versio is our pick for Best for DIY Credit Repair because it’s a low-cost alternative to traditional credit repair services and simplifies the often complicated credit repair process.
Even though you can dispute credit inaccuracies yourself at no cost, the process can be time-consuming and stressful. Credit repair software Credit Versio can help streamline this process.
The company’s software uses artificial intelligence to scan your credit reports for negative items that may be lowering your credit score. It then organizes them by credit bureau.
If you find a mistake, the software can generate tailored dispute letters based on your credit information and why you believe that item is inaccurate. All you have to do is print out the letter and mail it to the credit bureau.
Credit Versio offers two plans that provide unlimited dispute letters, monthly credit reports and scores, along with access to SmartCredit’s credit monitoring platform.
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smartcredit BASIC |
smartcredit PREMIUM |
|---|---|
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Pros
- Simple pricing structure
- Customer service available through phone, chat or email
- Low one-time first work fee ($19)
- Unlimited challenges with all three bureaus
Cons
- No credit monitoring
- No financial management tools
HIGHLIGHTS
- Monthly fee:
- $99, $119 or $599 six-month flat rate
- Set-up fee:
- $19 (No setup fees with six-month plan)
- Money-back guarantee:
- Cancel at any time and you won’t be charged for that month of service. If you choose the flat-fee plan, you have a full six-month satisfaction guarantee
Why we chose this company: We chose The Credit People as the best option for low startup fees because the company only charges $19. This sets it apart from competitors, which usually charge around $79 or more to set up your account and pull your credit report.
Additionally, The Credit People offers an excellent money-back guarantee. The company lets you cancel your subscription whenever you want and refunds both the last and previous month’s payment. Most credit repair companies, on the other hand, have a 90-day money-back guarantee or only refund you for the last month of service.
The Credit People’s interface is also a plus — you can monitor updates to your credit report or score from all three credit bureaus from its easy-to-use online dashboard. It also lets you track open disputes and connect to customer service if you have any questions.
The three memberships offered by The Credit People include the following credit repair services:
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Standard Plan |
Premium Plan |
Flat-rate Plan |
|---|---|---|
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Pros
- 50% discount for couples
- Repair up to 15 items every 35 days
- Online sign-up available
- Pause your subscription whenever you like
Cons
- No financial tools, such as credit score tracker
- Credit disputes limited to five per bureau every 35 days
HIGHLIGHTS
- Monthly fee:
- $79, $99 or $119 for individuals ($119, $149 or $179 for couples)
- Set-up fee:
- $79, $99 or $119, depending on plan
- Money-back guarantee:
- 90 days
Why we chose this company: Sky Blue Credit Repair is our pick for best value because it offers low-cost credit-repair packages that include just about everything you need to clean up your credit report quickly.
For $79 a month, Sky Blue provides a basic package that includes credit bureau disputes, three-bureau reports and scores, one-on-one consultations, an online client portal and a credit score tracker.
The company also offers a full service and a premium package for $99 and $119 a month, respectively. These include everything in the basic one as well as creditor interventions, debt validation letters, cease and desist letters, personal information correction letters, credit-building tools and more.
The company can also help you organize a strategy to improve your credit score, and you can schedule consultations if you have questions about anything credit-related, like credit card offers or loan applications.
It’s also worth noting that Sky Blue Credit Repair offers one of the most flexible subscriptions on the market. If you want to skip a month of service without canceling your subscription, you can request a pause through your online account.
You won’t be charged while your account is paused, and you can resume the subscription when needed. This could save you money on startup fees, which most credit repair firms charge whenever you start using their services.
Its credit repair plans include:
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Basic |
Full Service |
Premium $119 p/m ($179 for couples) |
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Pros
- Financial management tools and credit monitoring included with every plan
- Live chat available
- Certified FICO professionals
- No setup fee
Cons
- Basic credit repair package only includes one credit dispute
- 24/7 phone support isn’t available
HIGHLIGHTS
- Monthly fee:
- $69, $129 or $149
- Set-up fee:
- $119, $129 or $149
- Money-back guarantee:
- 60 days
Why we chose this company: Many credit repair companies offer extra perks only with their most expensive plan. We chose The Credit Pros as Best for Bonus Features since it offers useful financial management tools at all price tiers.
The plans include tools like bill reminders and a budgeting system that syncs to your accounts in real time. They also feature TransUnion alerts to track credit score changes and dark web monitoring to check if your personal information (like your Social Security number or address) was leaked.
The most comprehensive plan, the Repair + Build Credit plan, also lets you access reports and scores from the three credit bureaus and a credit builder loan that can help improve your credit history if you make timely payments.
All plans include access to The Credit Pros’ mobile app, which lets you review disputes, receive real-time updates and monitor your credit score and report.
The company’s free consultation is available in English and Spanish, something not common in the credit repair industry. However, note that its initial work fee is higher than many other competitors’ — $119 for its lowest-tier plan, $129 for its middle-tier plan and $149 for its premium plan.
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Build Credit |
Repair Credit |
Build + Repair Credit |
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Credit Repair Guide
Credit report mistakes are much more common than you might think. And, while you can remove inaccurate information from your credit report yourself, the process is often frustrating and time–consuming.
A credit repair agency can make this process easier by doing the heavy lifting for you: obtaining your reports, finding inaccuracies and disputing any mistakes on your behalf directly with lenders and credit bureaus. However, many companies make false claims and lure customers into paying for services that won’t deliver any results.
Table of Contents
- What is credit repair?
- How does credit repair work?
- How do credit repair companies work?
- What you should know before hiring a credit repair company
- How to choose the right credit repair company
- Warning signs of a credit repair scam
- Credit Repair FAQ
What is credit repair?
Credit repair is the process of improving one’s credit history and score. It often involves reviewing your credit history for inaccuracies and disputing them with the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
While you can repair your credit report yourself for free, you also have the option of hiring a credit repair company, which reviews your reports for mistakes and disputes them by contacting the credit bureaus on your behalf.
Taking the time to repair your credit can raise your credit score, which can improve your likelihood of getting approved for the best credit cards and loans, and help you qualify for more favorable interest rates.
How does credit repair work?
Whether you do it yourself or hire a company, credit repair usually involves:
- Requesting your credit reports from the three credit bureaus
- Reviewing them for inaccurate information
- Filing a dispute with the credit bureau that generated the report that has errors
Per the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FRCA), you have the right to dispute any information you believe is inaccurate. The credit reporting agencies must investigate within 30 days and delete the item from your report if found to be erroneous. They are also required to send you the results of their investigation within five business days of completing it.
Note that you (and credit repair companies) can only remove inaccurate information from your credit report. If your report doesn’t have errors, you should focus on paying your bills on time, keeping a low credit utilization ratio and reducing your total debt.
How do credit repair companies work?
Credit repair companies start the process by reviewing your credit reports for errors and outdated information, like accounts that don’t belong to your or collections that are older than seven years.
If you want to move on with the process, a representative will have you sign a limited power of attorney contract. This document gives the company the legal right to act on your behalf. Once you sign the contract, the company will start disputing inaccurate items with your creditors and the major credit bureaus.
The best credit repair companies will also track your disputes’ progress and update you frequently on the status of each disputed item. They will usually send progress reports along with an updated copy of your credit report so you can review the changes.
How long does it take to repair your credit?
“The amount of time it takes varies greatly depending upon each person’s unique circumstances and other actions they take to improve their credit,” says Thomas Nitzsche, vice president of public relations for credit counseling agency Money Management International.
Nitzsche says you may see a credit score increase around one to three months after errors are disputed and removed from your report. On the other hand, accurate negative items, like late credit card payments, stay on your file for seven years.
How long do negative items affect your credit score?
The impact of negative information lessens as time goes on. “It is difficult to say how much of an impact different negative items on a report will have, but the older an account is, the less impact it has on a score,” explains Becky House, director of strategic initiatives for credit counseling agency American Financial Solutions.
Nitzsche says how much a negative item lowers your score depends on your individual credit profile. For example, the effect should be less drastic if you have other credit lines in good standing. “This is why it’s important to take proactive steps to get trade lines back into good standing or to create new ones reporting positively,” Nitzsche says.
House says lenders can have different guidelines on which negative items they’re willing to accept when evaluating a borrower’s credit history. “For instance, one lender may be OK funding a loan for someone who had a negative credit mark three years ago. Another lender may have a risk policy that denies loans if someone has that information on their credit report.”
What you should know before hiring a credit repair company
There are some things to keep in mind when you’re trying to rebuild your credit history:
Not all negative items can be removed
It’s a red flag if a credit repair company guarantees it can remove all negative items from your report. Late payments, hard inquiries, charge-offs, repossessions and debt collections can only be removed if the information is inaccurate or outdated. If a negative item is correct, it generally stays on your report for seven years — and up to 10 years for Chapter 7 bankruptcies.
For more information on other potential red flags, check out Warning signs of a credit repair scam.
Deleted items can reappear on your credit report
Deleted items can reappear on your report if the bank, credit card company or debt collector reports them to the bureaus again. House says this usually happens if the reporting company believes the disputed item is valid.
You (or the credit repair company) can file a new dispute. However, House says it should be reframed or updated to better explain why the information on your report is wrong. You can do so by providing additional documentation to support your claim.
You might have to do some of the legwork
You may have to provide credit repair agencies with documentation to support disputes of negative information on your credit report.
Most companies have setup fees
Most credit repair companies charge an initial fee (also called setup or first work fee) that can range anywhere between $15 to $200. This fee is used to set up your account, which may involve gathering your personal and financial information and creating a strategy plan for your particular credit situation.
Companies can’t charge you in advance for their services
Once you pay the setup fee (if required), companies can’t make any additional charges unless they prove that the services offered to you in their contract are being fulfilled.
You have three business days to cancel a contract without incurring any penalties
The Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) states that you have the right to back out of a contract within three business days of signing it without any charges or cancellation fees.
How to choose the right credit repair company
These are some factors to keep in mind to avoid credit repair scams:
1. Look out for false promises
Legitimate credit repair companies will never guarantee they can remove accurate information from your report or promise you a new credit identity, for example.
For steps on how to deal with negative items that cannot be disputed, read our guide on how to repair bad credit.
2. Check for Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) compliance
Make sure the company you choose follows CROA guidelines, which establishes clear directives that legitimate credit repair agencies should follow. According to the CROA, credit repair companies must:
- Provide a written contract explaining their services in detail, including service costs, guarantees and an estimate of how long the process will take
- Give you a copy of the “Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law,” a document that states your right to order credit reports and dispute inaccurate information yourself free of charge
3. Read customer reviews
You can check sources like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Yelp to gauge customer experience. If you read multiple reviews alleging similar types of issues, you can consider it a red flag. However, keep in mind that people are more likely to post reviews when they’re unhappy with a service than when they’re satisfied.
4. Check the regulatory agencies
When searching for the right credit repair company for you, it’s a good idea to check the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database and check how many complaints — if any — have been filed against that particular provider.
5. Compare fees and prices
Reputable credit repair companies will list their prices and services clearly, so consumers can select the right package for their needs.
6. Look for personal finance tools
Besides their standard credit repair services, some credit repair agencies offer personal finance tools like bill reminders, budgeting software and credit monitoring. Additionally, they may offer free credit consultations, satisfaction guarantees and identity theft protection services.
When to consider a credit counseling service
If you have bad credit, Nitzsche recommends contacting a credit counseling service as soon as possible. He emphasized that consumers shouldn’t wait until they need to raise their scores (such as before buying a house or car) to get help. “Building a good credit score takes time and should be started as soon as someone is aware they have bad credit,” he says.
A credit counseling service can help you improve your financial situation overall, not just dispute credit report mistakes. “They work with people to address their entire financial picture as well as the person’s goals. The goal is to have a sustainable budget, repayment structure for debts and build or rebuild a positive credit history,” House says.
Keep in mind that a credit counseling service won’t dispute errors on your behalf. However, Nitzsche says they can offer advice on how to do it yourself and how to build your credit moving forward.
Additionally, credit counselors offer resources and workshops on budgeting, debt consolidation, debt management plans (DMP), bankruptcy, housing and more.
Note that credit counseling services are usually nonprofit, but some of their services do carry a small fee of up to around $50. If you’re interested in consulting a credit counselor, you can find a certified one through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
Warning signs of a credit repair scam
The credit repair industry has its share of controversies and scams. With this in mind, it’s important to recognize red flags that indicate a company might be engaging in questionable practices.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a credit repair company might be deceiving you if it:
- Asks for upfront fees before it provides any services
- Claims it can remove all negative information from your report, even if it’s accurate and up-to-date
- Advises you to dispute correct information in your credit report
- Says you shouldn’t contact the credit bureaus yourself
- Doesn’t inform you of your rights, including the ability to cancel your contract with the company within three business days after signing it
- Doesn’t provide a written contract outlining details such as service costs and guarantees
- Asks you to waive any of your rights under the CROA
- Offers you a “new” credit identity or profile
You should be particularly wary of companies that guarantee they can remove accurate collections from your credit report, as House warns that this action could land you in legal hot water.
“We have seen this trigger lawsuits against consumers that resulted in garnishments. The person owed the debt, was advised to dispute it and did, and the collection agency then filed suit to obtain a garnishment,” she says.
Credit Repair FAQs
How much does credit repair cost?
Credit repair agencies typically charge between $50 to $150 per month, depending on the service plan you choose. They also charge a setup fee (also called initial or first work fee) that’s often a similar price to the monthly subscription.
How can I fix my credit score?
There are steps you can take to fix your credit. However, the right ones for you depend on your particular financial situation. If your credit reports contain errors or outdated information, you should dispute these directly with the credit bureaus or hire a credit repair company to help you. If not, it’s a good idea to focus on paying your bills on time and reducing your overall debt.
How long does it take to repair credit?
The credit repair process does take time, and the amount of time it takes can depend on whether the items that are causing a low score are correct or not. If there are mistakes in your credit that can be corrected by disputing them with the bureaus, the repair process can take a few months. If the factors that are impacting your credit are correct, the process can take a year or more and involves reducing your credit card debt, lowering your credit utilization ratio and more.
Does credit repair work?
Credit repair services can help you remove inaccurate or outdated negative marks from your credit report. However, if your credit report is correct, you’ll have to improve your credit yourself or attend credit counseling. Also, note that you can remove credit reporting mistakes on your own for free by submitting disputes with each credit bureau.
Can I repair my own credit?
Yes, you can do all the steps that credit repair companies do for free. The main credit bureaus have online systems where you can dispute inaccurate or outdated information on your credit report. They will investigate within 30 days and remove the incorrect information if your claim is valid.
How We Chose the Best Credit Repair Companies
Since we first started reviewing credit repair companies in 2016, we’ve spent thousands of hours researching the industry and vetting its major players.
As part of this research, members of our editorial staff have sought out first-hand experience with some of the names included in our list. Additionally, we re-evaluate our top picks every month to provide readers with the most up-to-date information on both these services and credit repair in general.
To choose the best credit repair companies, we evaluated the following factors:
Transparency: We considered whether companies provided clear, upfront information about their prices, fees, services, guarantees, terms and conditions and privacy policies.
Pricing and discounts: We compared companies’ service plans based on cost, favoring providers that offered multiple options at several price points. We also considered their setup fees, also known as first-work fees, and noted any available discounts, such as for couples or service members.
Services: All credit repair services claim to review and dispute inaccurate and/or outdated information that’s affecting your credit history. However, we favored companies that offered a variety of services tailored to different budgets and that also offered additional services, such as free credit consultations, creditor interventions and cease and desist or goodwill letters.
Financial tools: We checked whether companies offered financial tools that might help consumers improve their credit, such as a credit score tracker, monthly credit reports and/or identity theft monitoring.
Client portal: Companies that offered a portal or app for clients to track their dispute status and credit repair progress stood out from the competition.
Money-back guarantee and cancellation policy: We favored companies that offered refunds or guarantees if they couldn’t remove or correct errors from your credit report within 90 days. We also preferred companies that didn’t charge cancellation fees.
Customer Support: We preferred companies that offered several contact options like online chat, support forms and email, which can improve their responsiveness to customer issues or complaints.
User experience: Beyond pricing and services, we also took into account the ease of use of each company website and if the information provided was up–to–date.
Service area: We considered the number of states where the companies operate and prioritized those that are available nationwide.
Company history: Our top picks are reputable credit repair services that have been around for more than 10 years and garner mostly positive customer reviews across different platforms.
Customer satisfaction: We checked reviews across third-party review websites, such as the Better Business Bureau, to gauge customer satisfaction and any patterns of complaints regarding a company’s services.
Regulatory actions: We looked for any history of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) violations and searched the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaints database to check these companies’ history of customer complaints or enforcement actions.
Summary of Money’s Best Credit Repair Companies
- Credit Saint – Best Overall
- Credit Versio – Best for DIY Credit Repair
- The Credit People – Best for Low Setup Fees
- Sky Blue Credit – Best Value
- The Credit Pros – Best Bonus Features
