Finance

6 Best Credit Repair Companies

For better or worse, your our credit history is enormously important. Not only is it used to determine your eligibility for personal loans, mortgages, car loans, student loans, and other types of borrowing, but it’s also sometimes used to determine your eligibility for a job, an apartment rental, a security clearance, and even a date.

Unfortunately, mistakes on credit reports happen way too often. According to a Consumer Reports investigation, one-third of volunteers who participated in the project found mistakes in their reports when they checked. You can attempt to correct inaccuracies in your credit report without hiring a service to assist you – but be forewarned: the process isn’t quick or easy and can seem overwhelming if you’re new to the world of credit reporting.

Fortunately, there are services that can simplify this process for you. And there’s no shame in realizing that you need a professional’s guidance. If you decide to go that route, you might start by reading our list of the best credit repair agencies.

Our Top Picks for Best Credit Repair Companies

Best Credit Repair Reviews

There are many credit repair companies out there, and it can be tough to choose the right one. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best ones based on our own research and online customer reviews. We considered several key factors, including customer service, price, features, and more, that will probably be important to you. And we selected a handful of winners that we believe can provide you with the best credit repair service.



Credit Saint is our top pick for the best overall credit repair company. Here’s why: they have multiple membership packages, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs, and their pricing is clear and straightforward which means no hidden fees or surprises. Not to mention they also offer a 90-day money-back guarantee if no negative items are removed from your credit report.

Credit Saint offers its credit repair services in three tiers: Credit Polish, Credit Remodel, and Clean Slate. The primary difference between these plans is the number of credit disputes the company will file on your behalf each month. This ranges from five disputes with the Credit Polish plan to an unlimited number with the Clean Slate plan — which can be especially helpful if you have a lot of negative items on your report.

Another key factor that sets Credit Saint apart from competitors is the free credit consultation the company offers. During this consultation, you can speak with a credit analyst who’ll help you identify what specific items on your report are causing damage to your credit. And you won’t be billed anything unless you decide to move forward with their service and subscribe to the monthly plans which range from $79.99 to $119.99 a month, excluding the initial setup fee.



Credit PolishCredit RemodelClean Slate
Monthly fee$79.99$99.99$119.99
Initial work fee$99$99$195
Number of disputes5 items/cycle10 items/cycleUnlimited
Three bureau monitoring

Escalated information requests

Pros
  • 90-day money-back guarantee
  • Credit monitoring included in most packages
  • The Clean Slate package offers unlimited disputes
Cons
  • No chat support feature
  • High initial work fees
  • Limited disputes with cheaper plans
  • Not available in certain states


If you prefer to fix your credit yourself without hiring a professional, we believe Credit Versio is the best option for you. Unlike its competitors, this company stands out for its user-friendly platform and easy-to-use app. Whether you’re an experienced credit user or just getting started, Credit Versio makes it simple to access your credit report and fix any errors that may be holding you back.

After you input your personal information, the app starts searching for errors in your credit report. From there, Credit Versio will then prepare a dispute strategy and walk you through it step-by-step, helping you better manage the dispute process on your own. Credit Versio also helps track all of your disputes on all three credit reporting agencies, so you’ll be updated on the progress of your disputes and credit score.

Compared to other credit repair companies, Credit Versio’s pricing is much more affordable since you won’t be getting the help of a professional. Pricing options currently range from $19.95 to $29.99 a month. And though there is no initial setup fee on all of the credit repair plans, there is no money-back guarantee. So be sure to keep that in mind before signing up.



SmartCredit Basic

SmartCredit Premium

Monthly fee

$19.95

$24.95

Initial work fee

n/a

n/a

Number of disputes

Unlimited

Unlimited

Credit monitoring alerts from Transunion

7-day free trial for $1



x

x

Identity theft insurance

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

Pros
  • Low monthly subscription fees
  • Includes video lessons
  • Unlimited disputes with all plans
  • No initial work fee
  • Offers monthly credit report and score tracker
Cons
  • No money-back guarantee
  • No credit repair consultants
  • You have to print and mail dispute letters yourself


If you’re looking for a credit repair company that will help you and your partner improve your credit scores, Sky Blue is a great option. Similar to other companies on the list, Sky Blue’s individual plan is $79 a month. But what makes them stand out from others is that for $40 extra each month, you can add your partner to the program as well which equates to a cost saving of around $20 per person.

Apart from the couples’ discount, Sky Blue also provides benefits such as a 90-day money-back -guarantee and the option to pause and resume membership whenever you need a break. This flexibility allows you to try out the service without having to commit if you don’t want to.

But it’s also important to mention that Sky Blue has a maximum limit on the number of monthly disputes they can send five per credit bureau every 35 days. This can be quite limiting if you need to dispute a lot of inaccuracies in your report. However, if both you and your partner only occasionally need to submit a dispute and want to enjoy a couple’s discount, then Sky Blue can be well worth the investment.



SkyBlue Credit Repair Services
Monthly fee$79 ($119 for couples)
Initial work fee$79
Number of disputes15 items every 35 days (5 per credit bureau)
Goodwill and cease to desist letters

Debt settlement and debt validation

Credit monitoringx
Satisfaction guarantee

Pros
  • Generous couple’s discount
  • 90-day money-back guarantee
  • Pause and resume membership anytime
Cons
  • No service for identity theft protection
  • No credit monitoring
  • Only handles a maximum of 15 creditor interventions per dispute cycle (35 days)


When it comes to finding a credit repair company that provides a flexible cancellation and satisfaction policy, The Credit People is definitely the top choice. With their satisfaction guarantee, you can always cancel your subscription if you aren’t getting the results you want or need. And better yet, unlike their competitors, The Credit People claims to refund you for not just a particular month’s service, but for the month before that as well.

Apart from their money-back guarantee, another attractive selling point of The Credit People’s service is the low setup cost. While other credit repair companies usually charge a one-time setup fee of over $70, The Credit People only charges a $19 fee for its Standard $79 monthly plan. If you’re on a tight budget and don’t want to break your bank just to repair your credit, this company could be a viable credit repair option. Also, since you can cancel anytime if you aren’t satisfied with the service, you don’t have to worry about making financial commitments to anything that isn’t the right fit for you.

With the Premium Monthly plan, The Credit People will work with your creditors, and not just credit bureaus, to have negative items removed from your credit report. Sometimes, the company’s first efforts on your behalf won’t succeed; with the Premium Monthly plan, the Credit People will escalate your disputes and keep trying. Again, the plan comes with a low $19 set up fee.

The Credit People also offer a six-month flat-rate membership that costs $499. Though it may seem like a lot at first glance, if you have serious credit problems, it may be your best bet. The Premium Flat Rate comes with no initial work fee. Plus, you can still take advantage of the company’s satisfaction guarantee for the duration of your membership. If you cancel your six-month flat rate plan, the company will return your money on a prorated basis.



Standard Monthly

Premium Monthly

Premium Flat Rate

Credit repair fee

$79/month + $19 initial work fee

$99 + $19 initial work fee

$499 (6 months of service)

Number of disputes

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Credit counseling

Satisfaction guarantee



Cancel anytime

Cancel anytime

For the duration of the 6-month membership

Credit monitoring

x

x

x

Pros
  • Low initial work fee of $19
  • Unlimited disputes
  • Offers a six-month flat-rate subscription at $499 with no initial work fee
  • Satisfaction guarantee
Cons
  • No web chat or mobile app
  • Limited customer support hours


Unlike other credit repair services that typically only offer one or two discount options, Ovation offers five different choices. We’re all for saving money – and the various discounts Ovation offers will help many people do just that.

Ovation’s couple’s discount gives you 20% off when you sign up with a friend or partner, while the military discount offers 10% off for active duty service members or retired veterans. Seniors aged 65 and over can also enjoy 10% off their subscription costs. Plus, even if none of these categories apply to you, Ovation’s referral program earns you a $30 credit ($50 for couples) when your friends sign up. And customers who started the credit repair process with another company but then switch to Ovation will receive a $50 credit.

Currently, the two membership plans that Ovation offers Essential and Essential Plus cost $79 and $109 a month, respectively, with a setup fee of $89. But if you’re able to take advantage of the generous discount opportunities mentioned above, you can save quite a bit of money in the long run.



Essentials PlanEssentials Plus Plan
Monthly fee$79$109
Initial work fee$89$89
TransUnion credit monitoringx

Personalized dispute options

Personal case advisor

Unlimited dispute and goodwill letters to creditorsx

Pros
  • Includes various discount options
  • Cancel anytime
  • Dedicated case advisor
  • Owned by LendingTree and respected in the credit repair industry
Cons
  • Certain features are only offered in the premium package
  • Online sign up not available


When it comes to credit repair, value is an important factor to consider. After all, you want a company that will give you the most bang for your buck and helps you improve your financial standing as effectively and efficiently as possible. When we considered all the top players in the industry, one clear winner emerged: Credit Pros. This company offers not only unlimited disputes for premium subscribers but also several added perks for all members that really set it apart from the competition.

For example, with even the most basic plan that only costs $69 a month, you can get access to additional features like DarkWeb monitoring ⁠– to check if your personal information is being used illegally – and a budgeting system to help you manage your finances correctly and improve your credit. The Credit Pros is also one of the few credit repair companies that offer a free mobile app along with all of their credit repair packages. This allows you to receive real-time updates on your disputes and monitor your credit score on the go. Not to mention that their staff also offers free consultations in both English and Spanish.

The Credit Pros offers three membership tiers: Money Management, Prosperity Package, and Success Package. The monthly subscription fee is $69, $119, and $149 respectively. Though the prices for the premium plans are quite steep, considering the number of personal finance tools and features available in all of the three packages, Credit Pros is hard to beat when it comes to getting good value for your credit repair needs.



Money ManagementProsperity PackageSuccess Package
Monthly fee$69$119$149
Initial work fee$119$119$149
Number of disputes5 items/cycle10 items/cycleUnlimited
Debt validation and goodwill lettersx

Cease and desist lettersx

Unlimited disputesx

TransUnion credit monitoring

Financial tools (Budget system & Bill reminders)

Pros
  • Includes several attractive features even with the basic plan

  • Offers a free mobile app
  • Bilingual service available
Cons
  • High initial work fees
  • No online chat

Other Credit Repair Companies We Considered

Though the credit repair companies below don’t quite meet the standards we set, we think they could potentially provide value to you nonetheless.

CreditRepair.com

Pros
  • Robust and extensive online education center
  • Can track your credit progress through their mobile app
  • Several service packages to choose from
Cons
  • Consumer complaints in the CFPB database
  • Limited monthly disputes
  • Lacks plan and pricing transparency

AMB Credit Consultants

Pros
  • 6-month money-back guarantee
  • Couple’s discount
  • Offers online dashboard
  • Unlimited disputes included
Cons
  • High one-time enrollment fee of $149 (or $198 for couples)
  • Additional fees required for credit monitoring
  • Few educational resources on the website
  • No free consultation

Pyramid Credit Repair

Pros
  • Three plans to choose from
  • Extended customer service hours

  • 90-day money-back guarantee

Cons
  • High initial work fees

  • Not available in certain states

  • Expensive monthly subscription fees

Pinnacle Credit Repair

Pros
  • Personal credit mentor with the Fast Track Elite option
  • Money-back guarantee that begins after the 60-day enrollment period
Cons
  • No free consultation
  • Limited information on the website
  • Expensive initial work fee

Creditfirm.net

Pros
  • Has years of experience in credit repair (since 1997)
  • Available by phone 24/7

  • No initial work fee
  • Low monthly fee
Cons
  • No credit monitoring
  • Doesn’t offer a satisfaction guarantee

Credit Glory

Pros
  • Great customer support (24/7)
  • Straightforward and transparent pricing
  • 100-day satisfaction guarantee
Cons
  • High initial work fee
  • No credit monitoring
  • Doesn’t pull your credit report for you
  • No additional services such as debt validation

Credit Repair FAQ

What is credit repair?

chevron-down
chevron-up
Credit repair is the process of correcting errors and removing negative items on your credit report where possible. This can be done by disputing those items with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian), or by negotiating with your debt collectors. Though credit bureaus try their best to ensure credit reports are accurate, mistakes can still happen. In fact, a study by the Federal Trade Commission found that 5% of consumers had an error on their credit report that would negatively affect their interest rates for products such as loans and insurance. These errors can be anything from duplicate accounts to inaccurate payment history information. Of course, mistakes like this are unintentional and are typically caused by poor data management systems and software errors, but they can have quite an obstructive effect on consumers’ creditworthiness.

How does credit repair work?

chevron-down
chevron-up
To repair poor credit, you must first identify any inaccurate information on your credit report. If you haven’t checked your credit report in a while, make sure to do so by requesting it at AnnualCreditReport.com. Each of the three credit bureaus is required by law to provide you with a free copy of your report every 12 months. And if you notice outdated or inaccurate information on the report, The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to send a dispute letter to the credit bureau and explain what the error was. They’ll generally have up to 30 days to investigate your claims. Once the investigation is finished, the credit bureau will notify you of the results in writing. If your dispute is approved, your creditor must tell the credit bureau to delete or update the disputed item. But if your request is found to be frivolous or irrelevant, the credit bureau will simply stop the investigation. However, if you want to further explain your side of the story, credit bureaus allow you to include a statement of the dispute in your credit file as well as future reports. The process of adding this statement differs at each bureau, so be sure to check each of their websites for specific instructions.

What do credit repair companies do?

chevron-down
chevron-up
So why would you turn to credit repair companies for help when you can just dispute the errors on your credit report for free? Perhaps the most common reason is that these companies may offer you more guidance and support through the process. This can be especially helpful if your credit needs serious work that would simply be too daunting to tackle yourself. Credit repair companies can also save you significant time.


The services offered can vary depending on the credit repair company. But most of them will work with you to identify inaccurate items on your credit reports, and then take steps to address those credit issues. Some credit repair services even offer additional resources such as credit monitoring and bill reminders to help you maintain good credit by cultivating responsible financial habits.


Credit repair can be time-consuming and sometimes intimidating for those who have never done it before. And while there is no guarantee that working with a credit repair company will result in a higher FICO score, it can be a helpful way to get the assistance you need to make progress in repairing your credit. But it’s also important to keep in mind that if the negative information on your credit report is accurate, there is little that you or a professional credit repair company can do to change it.

How long does credit repair take?

chevron-down
chevron-up
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. If there was a mistake on your credit report, you can generally expect your disputes to be resolved within a few months. However, the amount of time it takes to improve and rebuild your credit will depend on factors such as the type of negative mark on your report, and the length of time you’ve had credit. For example, a late payment on your mortgage won’t have as severe an impact on your credit as declaring bankruptcy or going through foreclosures — which can stay on your credit report for 7 to 10 years. And if you’re new to using credit, you can typically improve your credit score rather quickly by using credit cards responsibly — keeping your utilization rate below 30% — and paying it off on time each month.

How much does credit repair cost?

chevron-down
chevron-up
Repairing your credit is free if you decide to do it yourself. However, if you choose to hire a professional, the cost will depend on the company you work with and the severity of the damage to your credit. Most credit repair companies charge an initial work fee and a monthly fee that ranges anywhere from $79 to around $119. And if your credit is severely damaged due to several errors on your credit report, it may take longer to file all of the disputes. That means you might end up paying more in subscription fees.


Ultimately, whether you opt for a DIY approach or enlist professional help, taking steps toward repairing your credit is always worth it in the long run.

How We Found the Best Credit Repair Companies

To select the top performers, we evaluated each credit repair company based on a number of key factors, including:

  • Fees: According to the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), reputable credit repair companies should not request or receive payment until they’ve completed the services they’ve promised. For this reason, we avoided companies that charge unreasonable upfront fees before any credit repair service is performed.
  • Services and benefits: Apart from the cost, we also looked at a credit repair company’s variety of services and features to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. If a company offers additional tools and benefits such as credit monitoring and a satisfaction guarantee, we definitely see that as a plus. Overall, we chose companies that can provide comprehensive support for all of your credit repair-related needs while also offering fair prices that fit within consumers’ budgets.
  • Compliance with the law: Another key factor that we took into consideration is whether the company complies with laws that protect consumers. We used the Consumer Complaint Database of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) to determine whether a company has committed fraudulent or predatory practices in the past. We also steered away from credit repair firms that display misleading information about their service and don’t seem to comply with what the CROA stipulates.

Summary of the Best Credit Repair Companies

Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.

This story was originally published May 11, 2022 at 10:11 AM.

Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
#ReadLocal

Only 44¢ per day

SUBSCRIBE NOW