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Learn the key differences between Experian and CIBIL scores and how each affects your credit profile and loan approvals.
Last updated on: Jun 12, 2026
When you apply for a loan or credit card, lenders may refer to your credit score from different credit bureaus, including TransUnion CIBIL and Experian.
Both scores assess your creditworthiness, but they can vary due to differences in data sources and scoring models. Understanding these differences helps you interpret variations in your credit scores.
To better understand the differences between CIBIL vs Experian, it helps to compare their key features side by side.
Here is a table with a clear overview of how these two credit bureaus differ across important parameters:
| Parameter | Experian | CIBIL |
|---|---|---|
Vintage |
Established in 2010 |
Established in 2000 |
Data Sourcing |
From financial institutions, banks and other sources such as credit card companies, stocks, insurance companies etc. |
From banks and other and financial institutions |
Credit Score Range |
300 – 900 |
300 – 900 |
Scoring Models |
Uses a proprietary model based on FICO and VantageScore |
Proprietary model specifically designed for Indian consumers |
Update Frequency |
Once a month |
30-45 days |
Membership fees |
Free once a year with paid subscriptions starting at ₹399 a year |
Free once a year with paid subscriptions starting from ₹550 per month |
Your CIBIL score is a three-digit number generated by TransUnion CIBIL Limited, based on its proprietary scoring model. It ranges from 300 to 900 and reflects your creditworthiness.
TransUnion CIBIL is one of the oldest credit bureaus in India and is widely used by lenders. Many banks and financial institutions rely on CIBIL scores while evaluating loan and credit card applications, which makes it an important benchmark.
While both Experian and CIBIL assess your credit profile, they differ in how they collect data and calculate scores. This is why your scores across bureaus may not always match.
Here are the CIBIL score ranges and their meanings:
| Score Range | Meaning |
|---|---|
750 - 900 |
Excellent |
700 - 749 |
Good |
650 - 699 |
Average |
550 - 649 |
Poor |
300 - 549 |
Bad |
Below 300 |
No History (NH) |
In most cases, a score of 750 or above improves your chances of approval and helps you access better terms.
To further understand your credit profile, here is a simplified view of how score ranges reflect your credit health:
| Score Range | Credit Health |
|---|---|
701 - 900 |
Healthy |
601 - 700 |
Moderate |
300 - 600 |
Weak |
Your Experian credit score is a three-digit number generated by Experian Credit Information Company of India Pvt. Ltd. It reflects your creditworthiness based on your credit history and repayment behaviour.
Experian is registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005. It uses a globally recognised scoring approach, often aligned with FICO-based models, with scores ranging from 300 to 850.
While both bureaus serve a similar purpose, the comparison of CIBIL vs Experian highlights key differences in scoring models, data sources, and global presence. These differences can lead to variations in your scores across bureaus.
Here are the Experian credit score ranges and their meaning:
| Score Range | Meaning |
|---|---|
800 – 850 |
Exceptional |
740 – 799 |
Very Good |
670 – 739 |
Good |
580 – 669 |
Fair |
300 – 579 |
Poor |
Unlike TransUnion CIBIL, which primarily operates in India, Experian has a global presence. Both bureaus are authorised to collect and analyse credit data in India.
Disclaimer: These membership fees are subject to the credit bureau's policies and may change at any time. Please check the latest charges and membership fees on the official website.
You can check your CIBIL score on Bajaj Markets without any charges by following these steps:
Click on ‘CHECK SCORE NOW’ on this page
Enter your details, including name, date of birth, email address, mobile number, PAN, etc
Select your employment type from the given options
Agree to the terms and conditions to get the OTP
Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number
Click on the ‘GET REPORT’ button to access your credit score
You can also check your free CIBIL score once a year on the official TransUnion CIBIL website. Click on ‘GET FREE CIBIL SCORE & REPORT’ and enter your details to create an account. Thereafter, you must pay a monthly membership fee of ₹550 to check your updated credit score. The annual membership will cost you ₹17,700 (including GST).
To check your credit score from Experian, visit the official Experian India website and follow these steps:
Click on the 'Free Credit Report' in the top-right corner.
Click on ‘Register Now!’.
Enter your mobile number and click on ‘Send OTP’.
Verify your number with an OTP.
Select the ‘Free Plan’.
Enter your details to create an account and click on ‘Get Report’.
Lenders can check your creditworthiness from any of the four credit bureaus in India. However, TransUnion CIBIL is the oldest and one of the most popular credit bureaus in India. So, financial institutions also opt for Experian credit scores to check your credit history and credit management ability.
The other two trusted credit bureaus in India are CRIF High Mark and Equifax, which also score your creditworthiness between 300 and 900. All these bureaus gather credit information from existing issuers and lenders. Thus, having good repayment and debt management habits helps you maintain a good score across CICs.
Lenders across India widely accept credit scores from both Experian and CIBIL. These are well-established and recognised Credit Information Companies (CICs) operating within the Indian financial ecosystem.
Both entities receive identical credit data from lenders, as mandated by the Reserve Bank of India, ensuring a consistent foundation of information. CIBIL score is more popular in the Indian market, often being the primary reference point for many lending institutions.
Your credit scores across bureaus are based on similar financial behaviour, but they may not always be identical. This is because each credit bureau follows its own processes and data sources.
Here are the key reasons why your Experian and CIBIL scores may differ:
Not all banks and NBFCs report to every credit bureau. Some may share data with only one or a few bureaus. This can lead to differences in your credit records.
Each bureau uses its own scoring model and assigns different weightage to factors like repayment history and credit utilisation. This can result in score variations even with the same data.
One bureau may have more updated or detailed information about your credit activity than another. This can influence your overall score.
Credit bureaus update your data at different intervals, based on when lenders report new information. Your score may change depending on when you check it.
The difference between Experian and CIBIL is due to the different scoring models and the difference in the weightage given to each factor.
Yes, you can generate a credit report from any of the credit bureaus in India at the same time.
Yes, your latest CIBIL score impacts your ability to get approval on any application for credit.
TransUnion CIBIL is the most trusted and widely used credit bureau in India.
Yes. TransUnion CIBIL powers credit report available on Bajaj Markets to make it a completely safe option to get a free credit score and report.
Many banks and NBFCs opt for Experian scoring to check your creditworthiness during the approval process. Generally, the lender will mention it in their terms and conditions. You can verify this to check your score before applying.
Yes, Experian is one of the top credit bureaus in India, along with TransUnion CIBIL, Equifax, and CRIF High Mark.
All bureaus calculate credit scores based on different parameters. Due to the difference in the weightage of these parameters, you may see a difference in your CIBIL vs Experian score.
No, both credit information companies use their own proprietary models to analyse your creditworthiness.
The main difference lies in the score range used by each bureau. The CIBIL score range is 300 to 900, while the Experian score range is 300 to 850.
Both scores measure your creditworthiness, but they use different scoring models and evaluation methods. As a result, your scores may vary slightly across the two bureaus even with similar credit behaviour.
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