The very purpose of this Credit Sesame Review is to help you understand why this company is the perfect credit monitoring service provider for you. Furthermore, we are going to share with you the very reason why Credit Sesame has earned its spot in the industry.
Let’s face it, data breaches are inevitable. Sometimes, no matter how trustworthy the security and safety features of a company is, data breach still happens. Enter the massive Equifax breach (you can find the whole story on the Federal Trade Commission) that happened in late 2017. This exposed sensitive information of almost 146 million Americans. Yes, that huge!
Can you just imagine how these people felt when their information was out there!? That’s crazy!
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No wonder why today, consumers are on high alert and are extra cautious when it comes to their credit. People now are, in fact, looking for ways to always keep an eye on their credit than ever before.
The nice thing about monitoring your credit information is that it helps empower you to take action in case something unusual happens. More so, it leads you to take steps to help improve your score, and also, helps you prepare should you need financial services in the future.
All these and more are the very reason why Credit Sesame exists, which refers to themselves as “a fast-growing credit and loan management platform”.
In this Credit Sesame review, we are going to specifically talk about the following:
- What is Credit Sesame?
- How does it work?
- Is it accurate?
- How much does it cost?
- Will it help you save money?
- How does it make money?
- Is it safe?
- What are the other services it offers?
WHAT IS CREDIT SESAME?
Before anything else, like in anything, as a consumer or potential user of this platform, it is important that you get to know the company first. We thought to know what Credit Sesame is all about — in the first place — is vital especially if you are in the process of making a decision whether or not this tool would work for you.
Anyway, Credit Sesame describes itself as “a fast-growing credit and loan management platform”. It offers four primary credit management services. Upon signing up with Credit Sesame, you will automatically have access to the following:
- Your credit score
- Your credit report
- Daily credit monitoring (that comes with an alert system, thus, letting you know when your TransUnion credit score changes)
- Identity theft protection (of up to $50,000)
Founded in 2010 by Adrian Nazari, over the years Credit Sesame has grown as a company. In fact, it currently employs 119 people. Furthermore, it has also grown its users — from zero to millions of people using Credit Sesame to date. Although the company does not disclose the exact numbers, some sites estimate its users to be at around six to twelve million people.
One of the things that make Credit Sesame a standout among the rest is the fact that its basic service is free for everyone — regardless of how long you use it. However, if you wish to receive a higher service level, you have the option to upgrade for a fee. Upgrading your plan gives you access to more features that may be valuable for those who are working to have an improved credit.
Later on, we are going to talk more about the different plans that Credit Sesame offers – apart from the free one.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
This time around in our Credit Sesame review, we are going to talk about how this platform actually works. Again, for any user or potential customer, it is important to know how a tool works before jumping into it. This will give you a thorough idea of what to expect once you start using the platform.
Anyway, so, once you sign up with Credit Sesame, you automatically gain the ability to monitor your credit accounts, as well as your credit score. By the way, signing up with Credit Sesame is easy. You will just need to provide a few pieces of vital information. Do not worry as the platform will not ask for your credit card information — after all, the basic service is given for free. It’s a different story though if you wish to upgrade.
Part of the information you will be asked to provide though is the last four digits of your Social Security number. This allows them to have access to your credit history for personal use only. Furthermore, Credit Sesame will ask you some essential identity verification questions. This is to make sure you get the highest level of security as well as to ensure that your personal information is protected.
Once you are done creating your account, you can now log into your Credit Sesame account either through their website or using its mobile app.
With Credit Sesame, you will see tips on how you can improve your credit based on their analysis. Also, it includes basic credit monitoring. Basically, if something on your credit report changes, they will immediately inform you.
Furthermore, you also get to see a credit score from TransUnion. This one’s updated on a monthly basis. However, please take note that this is not a FICO score, which is the one that a lot of lenders use when making credit decisions. Rather, it is an alternative, which is the VantageScore 3.0. VantageScore 3.0 is used by other lenders and uses a 300 to 850 range — basically like a FICO score.
Meanwhile, if you are interested to know more about Credit Sesame and how it helps increase your credit score, we recommend you check out the below review by Rebecca Brand:
IS IT ACCURATE?
In this Credit Sesame review, we are also going to look into the accuracy of the platform.
Based on what we found, Credit Sesame is as accurate as any other alternative out there. This is because the basis comes from your credit report.
The only thing that we — and perhaps a lot of Credit Sesame reviews, too — found debatable is the company’s use of VantageScore instead of FICO score (which we already talked about a while ago). As mentioned, most lenders use FICO score more than VantageScore in making credit decisions. Needless to say, your FICO score is likely different from your VantageScore, which may be confusing.
However, it is important to note also that any decisions that lead to a higher VantageScore normally benefit your FICO score as well. The only thing that matters really is for users to understand that these two models do not come up with the same results, which means there may be times when your FICO is higher or lower than what you see in your VantageScore.
But you know, if you are someone who doesn’t really mind about the difference between FICO and VantageScore, this should not be a problem. Well, after all, you are using a free tool.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
This Credit Sesame review will not be complete without us tackling costs. Of course, money matters are always vital in making decisions, right?
As mentioned, Credit Sesame has a basic plan, which anyone can use free of charge. If you are someone who finds the basic Credit Sesame membership good enough, then great! You can use it for as long as you want without having to worry about getting charged.
But, as we have earlier said, if you want to take advantage of more features provided by Credit Sesame, you may do so but this time, for a fee. Yes, Credit Sesame also offers paid services, which are offered in the form of three different subscription plans, namely:
- Advanced Credit
- Pro Credit
- Platinum Credit
To give you a glimpse of what to expect from these plans, check the information in below table:
| Advanced Credit | Pro Credit | Platinum Credit |
| Subscription Cost: $9.95 per month What It Provides: Daily credit score updates from TransUnion Full credit reports each month from all three credit bureaus Monthly credit score updates from all three major credit bureaus | Subscription Cost: $15.95 per month What It Provides: All that Advance Credit offers Full identity protection Credit monitoring with alerts for all three credit bureaus 24/7 access to live experts to help solve credit report inaccuracies | Subscription Cost: $19.95 per month What It Provides: All that Advance Credit and Pro Credit offer 24/7 access to live experts for stolen/lost wallet protection Black market website monitoring Public records monitoring Social Security Number monitoring |
As you can see, each subscription plan comes with their respective offerings. As expected, the price differs depending on the features it provides.
WILL IT HELP YOU SAVE MONEY?
The answer to this question is a resounding YES. Yes, Credit Sesame can help you save money. However, it is important to understand that this does not happen automatically by simply using the service.
There are actually a few ways you can proceed with saving money by using Credit Sesame. Here are some of them:
– By using the tools to improve your credit, you get to secure lower interest rates on products such as credit cards, and/or loans
– Credit Sesame may also recommend a product that some users do not usually find on their own
What is good about Credit Sesame is that it shows alternative financing options that will help you with your finances. This includes products and ways to help reduce your interest rates.
HOW DOES IT MAKE MONEY?
Perhaps you are wondering how Credit Sesame makes money given the fact that it offers basic service for free. Well, as mentioned, the company also offers paid services to customers. By offering subscription plans that come with more advanced features as well as monitoring options, the company gets to earn.
Apart from that, Credit Sesame also displays loan products and credit cards that customers may be interested in depending on their profile. It is typically an example of an affiliate program. What does that mean? Well, should you or any customer choose to apply to those advertised loan products or credit cards, Credit Sesame gets to receive a commission.
Though Credit Sesame receives different amounts of compensation, this does not mean that the advice they give is not reliable. One thing you must be confident about as a user or consumer is that Credit Sesame stays in business because they live up to their core mission, which is to help consumers. Furthermore, you are assured that the company’s suggestions are all based on analyzing the customer’s situation, as well as finding options that will benefit the customer. Making money on their end is just secondary.
In addition, Credit Sesame also makes money through its paid advertising partners like the banner ads on any webpage out there.
IS IT SAFE?
Credit Sesame is obviously an online tool — thus, as user/consumer, one of the things that we always look into is the safety of the platform.
Based on our assessment, we have not found anything that will indicate Credit Sesame as unsafe. First thing, we like the fact that it does not require you to input your credit card information. More so, we also like the fact that it only asks you to enter the last four digits of your Social Security number to be able to establish an account.
As of this writing, we have not found any data breaches or other loss of private user information associated with Credit Sesame.
Overall, I got to say that signing up with Credit Sesame is not worrisome at all.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER SERVICES IT OFFER?
As part of our Credit Sesame review, we also thought of sharing with you some of the other services offered by the company.
Apart from credit scores and reports, Credit Sesame also offers the following products:
– Credit Monitoring
Using your free Credit Sesame account, you get to take advantage of the credit monitoring service for your TransUnion credit report. You will receive alerts should there be new activities on your TransUnion report. If you, however, wish to receive credit monitoring as well as alerts for all three of your credit reports — TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax — you will need to upgrade to a Pro plan subscription, which amounts to $15.95 per month.
– Credit Card Recommendations
Depending on your likelihood of approval, Credit Sesame will recommend credit cards to you. Furthermore, these offers will also show how much credit you are likely to gain access should you get approved.
In addition, you can also check if you pre-qualify for any personal loans plus you can also look for mortgage lenders.
– Identity Theft Insurance
Perhaps this is where Credit Sesame really stands out from the rest. While most credit score sites do not give you free access to identity theft insurance, Credit Sesame does otherwise. In fact, you will get $50,000 in insurance coverage should you become a victim of identity theft, fraud, and other financial crimes.
Imagine getting insured without having to pay for it! Meanwhile, if you want more coverage, you may opt to sign up for a Pro Credit subscription that entitles you to get $1 million identity insurance.
And that does not end there, you will also get some identity restoration tools, which come in the form of documents that show you how to report fraud to government agencies, as well as letters to credit bureaus, and more.
HOW IS ITS CUSTOMER SERVICE?
Credit Sesame has a support center on its website, which is where they prefer customers to contact them. You basically have to submit your request through an online form. The form allows you to add attachments to help them understand better your issues and concerns.
Apart from the support center, Credit Sesame may also be reached through its social media accounts particularly via Twitter and Facebook. Based on customers’ feedbacks, Credit Sesame seems to provide timely responses on either of the two social media platforms.
Meanwhile, for feedback and media relations, Credit Sesame may be reached through the following email addresses:
- For help: help@creditsesame.com
- For feedback: feedback@creditsesame.com
For those who prefer phone calls, unfortunately, Credit Sesame does not seem to have a functioning phone number intended for customer care.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON CREDIT SESAME REVIEW
To be honest, there’s so much to like and love about Credit Sesame. It is probably safe to say that the company offers an amazing free credit as well as monitoring service. Needless to say, it adds extra protection against identity theft, which is a very common concern among customers or users. In addition to that, Credit Sesame also provides personalized financial offers.
We also like the fact that it provides accurate information according to your TransUnion credit report, which helps you stay informed of your credit activity, as well as review your own credit history.
Overall, we find the service to be safe, secure, and very easy to use. More so, it provides detailed financial information on the full website, as well as a simple mobile app. That said, Credit Sesame should be a great choice for those who want to track their credit.
No worries as Credit Sesame is not a scam at all. It is legit!
To sum it up, we find Credit Sesame ideal for those who:
- Wants to know their TransUnion credit score without spending a penny
- Wants free credit monitoring
- Wants free identity theft insurance (cost is at $50,000)
- Are willing to pay for a higher credit management platform or service
Having said all that, how do you find Credit Sesame? Are you convinced of how helpful and amazing the platform is?