Credit Lock vs. Credit Freeze: What’s the Difference?

Credit Lock vs. Freeze: How They Compare and When to Use Them

Credit freezes and credit locks both block unauthorized access to your credit reports. Freezes are free and may afford more legal protections.

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Edited by other Updated May 23, 2025 How to Unfreeze Your Credit With Equifax, Experian and TransUnion Is My Credit Frozen? What to Do If You’re Not Sure Child Identity Theft: How to Freeze and Protect Your Child’s Credit How to Prevent Identity Theft: Warning Signs, Protection Services and More A credit lock and a credit freeze are two ways to protect your credit reports from being used by scammers to open new accounts. You may see the terms “credit freeze” and “credit lock” used interchangeably, and they do offer similar protections. The three major credit reporting bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — sometimes promote their credit lock services. However, the two services are not the same.

Credit lock vs. credit freeze: What's the difference?

The main difference between a credit lock and a credit freeze is that credit locks can carry a monthly fee, while credit freeze options are free. Another difference is that unlocking your credit can be faster than “thawing” a credit freeze, but a freeze may afford legal protections that a lock doesn't.

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What is a credit freeze?

When you freeze your credit at the credit bureaus, you restrict access to your credit report so most lenders can’t see your information until you unfreeze it. Since a creditor is unlikely to open a new account in your name without checking your credit, that protects you from fraudulent accounts. Unfreezing your credit report can be done online, by phone or by mail. Requesting a freeze online or over the phone typically takes just a few minutes, but it could take longer for the freeze to go into effect.

What is a credit lock?

Similarly, when you lock your credit, you restrict most lenders’ access. But you can unlock your credit report immediately at any time, on your computer or mobile device, when you do want to allow access. With a lock, you’ll also usually receive alerts if your credit report changes or someone tries to access your report.

Credit lock vs. freeze: How they compare

Credit freeze Credit lock Cost Free at each bureau. TransUnion: $29.95 per month as part of TransUnion’s Credit Monitoring services. TransUnion: Equifax: Free. Equifax: Experian: First seven days free, then $24.99 per month for a service that includes credit lock; no stand-alone lock available. Experian: How long it takes to go into effect Within one business day when done online or by phone, but often instantly. Within three business days after a request is received by mail. Usually instantly. How long it lasts Until you thaw it. As long as you use the service. How long it takes to remove No longer than an hour after an online or phone request is received. Within three business days after a request is received by mail. Usually instantly. When to use it When you believe your credit report and personal data have been exposed. If you want to block access to your child’s credit report. NerdWallet recommends freezes for most consumers, because the risk of exposure is high. As a preventive measure to guard your credit report and personal data.

When to use a credit freeze

A credit freeze helps protect your credit report. It’s a smart option if you’re a victim of identity theft or believe your information has been compromised. NerdWallet recommends freezes for most consumers as a preventive measure. Freezing your credit report at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) is vital to fully protecting your information. Federal law requires credit bureaus to offer free credit freezes and unfreezes. You can also freeze your child's credit for free. Freezing your credit won’t hurt your score, and you can still access your credit records and scores when your credit is frozen. Thaw your credit report with each of the credit bureaus through a password-protected online account, a phone call or sending a request along with verifying information by mail. Protect Protect Early access Early access

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When to use a credit lock

You can use a credit lock as a preventive measure to protect your information or when your information has been compromised. Its convenience lets you quickly allow lenders access to your report and then immediately lock it again — if you’re shopping for a home or car, for instance. Unlike a freeze, locks are not governed by federal law. Service agreements for each bureau make it clear that the companies don’t guarantee error-free operation or uninterrupted service. Credit lock services also aren’t always available to people under age 18. As with a credit freeze, a credit lock is most effective if in place at all three bureaus.

What to know about Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit locks

You can sign up for a credit lock at each bureau’s website and also access the respective app to lock or unlock your credit report. Each one offers a slightly different version of the credit lock, so read carefully to see exactly what you’re signing up for. Equifax’s free credit lock product is called Lock & Alert. The company says it will be free for life. The terms of service do not include an arbitration clause or class action lawsuit waiver, which means you don't sign away your option to sue or join a lawsuit. Equifax notes that you cannot have a lock and a freeze on your Equifax report at the same time. Experian's CreditLock is bundled with an Experian IdentityWorks Premium membership for $24.99 a month. The subscription includes a credit lock, identity theft insurance and alerts when information changes on your report at all three bureaus. Its terms of service include an arbitration clause and class action waiver. TransUnion’s Credit Monitoring service, at $29.95 per month, offers the lock/unlock option for TransUnion and Equifax credit reports. The terms of service do not include an arbitration clause or class action waiver. » Dive deeper: How to protect your social security number » Dive deeper: Explore more on About the authors Schwahn Lauren Schwahn is a writer at NerdWallet who covers credit scoring, debt, budgeting and money-saving strategies. She contributed to the "Millennial Money" column for The Associated Press and managed a team of writers producing content for the series. Her work has also been featured by USA Today, MSN, The Washington Post and more. Lauren has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is based in San Francisco. Published in Mulka Lisa Mulka is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance content. With more than 15 years of writing experience, Lisa most recently authored a book on personal financial literacy and served as lead writer on the FDIC’s Money Smart for Young People program. She holds a bachelor’s in creative writing, and master’s degrees in written communication and in educational technology. Lisa lives with her husband and two children in Michigan, where she spends her free time teaching the next generation of writers at Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. How to Freeze and Unfreeze Your Credit: Video and Guide By Amanda Barroso, Bev O'Shea How to Prevent Identity Theft: Warning Signs, Protection Services and More By Amanda Barroso, Bev O'Shea Fraud Alert vs. Credit Freeze: What’s the Difference? By Bev O'Shea, Amanda Barroso How to Stay Safe From Financial Scams By Kimberly Palmer, Lisa Mulka Free Identity Theft Protection You May Already Have By Amanda Barroso, Lisa Mulka, Bev O'Shea