VantageScore 4.0 vs VantageScore 3.0: what changed, and why it matters for your mortgage
Most free credit apps show a VantageScore 3.0. Mortgage lenders working with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can now use VantageScore 4.0. They share the same 300–850 range, but they are different models and can give you different numbers.
If you are planning to buy or refinance, it helps to know which one you are looking at. The score in your app may not be the one a lender sees.
VantageScore 4.0 vs 3.0 side by side
A plain-English comparison of the differences most likely to affect a homebuyer.
| Feature | VantageScore 3.0 | VantageScore 4.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2017 |
| Score range | 300–850 | 300–850 |
| Trended credit data | No, mostly a current snapshot | Yes, looks at how balances and payments move over time |
| Medical collections | Treated like other collections | Weighted less than other collections |
| Thin or new credit files | Can score many thin files | Uses machine learning to score more thin-file consumers |
| Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac mortgages | Not approved | Approved |
| Where consumers usually see it | Many free credit apps and websites | Fewer places. See where to find it |
Model details are summarized for education. Lender use depends on the loan program, investor rules, automated underwriting, and each lender's implementation.
The biggest change: trended credit data
VantageScore 3.0 mostly asks, "What do your balances look like today?" VantageScore 4.0 also asks, "Which direction have they been moving?"
Take two borrowers who each carry a $5,000 card balance today. One has paid that balance down from $12,000 over the past year. The other has run it up from $1,000. A snapshot model sees roughly the same person. A trended model can tell them apart.
That is why paying balances down steadily in the months before a mortgage application can matter more under VantageScore 4.0 than paying them down once, right before a credit pull.
Mortgage takeaway
If you are six to twelve months from applying, the direction of your balances counts, not just the number on application day.
Avoid opening new accounts or running balances up while you prepare.
Why your credit app probably shows VantageScore 3.0
Many popular free credit apps have displayed VantageScore 3.0 for years. It works well for tracking trends, but it is not the model a mortgage lender would use.
Check the label
Look in the app's score details or disclosures for the exact model name. "VantageScore" alone does not tell you the version.
Expect a gap
Your 3.0, your 4.0, and your FICO scores can all differ. None of them is "wrong." They are different models reading the same reports.
Ask your lender
Before you decide you do or don't qualify, ask which scores the lender will pull for your specific loan program.
Simple rule
Unless a score clearly says VantageScore 4.0, don't assume it is the one a mortgage lender will see.
Common questions
Is VantageScore 3.0 or 4.0 used for mortgages?
For loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the approved VantageScore model is 4.0. VantageScore 3.0 is not approved for those loans. Lenders may also use FICO scores depending on the program.
Will my VantageScore 4.0 be higher than my 3.0?
Not necessarily. If your balances have been falling, trended data may help you. If they have been rising, it may not. The only way to know is to check a verified VantageScore 4.0.
Where can I see my VantageScore 4.0 for free?
It is harder to find than 3.0. Some Synchrony-issued card portals show it, and a free Equifax VantageScore 4.0 snapshot is available.
Does VantageScore 4.0 replace FICO for mortgages?
No. It is an additional option for lenders. See VantageScore 4.0 vs FICO mortgage scores.
Related guides
Not sure which score a lender will use for you?
Schedule a short consultation. We'll look at which scores apply to your loan program and what you can do before you apply.