Check my credit score > This is what a Credit Karma score of 576 means

This is what a Credit Karma score of 576 means

Wollit Team4 minutes read · Updated 24th April 2025

Credit Karma is a website that offers a free service that lets you check your credit scores and reports. In the UK, Credit Karma uses TransUnion’s scoring system, which ranges from 0 to 710. TransUnion’s range is different from other credit agencies like Experian and Equifax, which have their own scoring systems.

This means that your 576 score means something different on Credit Karma than on ClearScore or Experian.

If your score is 576 on Credit Karma, then you fall in the “Fair“ category on TransUnion. This is the middle credit score band and it can somewhat limit your chances of getting good deals on loans, credit cards, or mortgages.

Why is my credit score 576 on Credit Karma?

A mid-range credit score can be due to many reasons, but usually if you’re in the “Fair” category then it’s down to three things:

• You might have recently missed paying a few bills, or maybe even defaulted on a loan a long time ago. Nothing extremely concerning to lenders but still a bad mark in your file.
• You might have recently moved to the UK and only have a basic credit agreement or bills in your name – for example you only have a mobile phone contract. Basically, your credit file is a bit thin.
• Or you might simply be new to credit for other reasons, like being a student and only having a mobile phone contract or another basic credit agreement in your name. Another thin credit file situation.

Is having a 576 credit score on Credit Karma good or bad?

TransUnion (where Credit Karma gets your score from) is the UK’s third largest credit reference agency. Still, plenty of banks and lenders rely on it when reviewing your credit application.

If your TransUnion credit score is 576, it’s in the “Fair” band. Now, you might be thinking that this is a good thing. After all, it’s not “poor”.

However, being in this credit score band can still put you in a tricky situation: you’ll pass most credit checks, but the deals you’ll be offered won’t be the ones you might have been hoping for.

Here’s what to expect:

• Most lenders will still ask you to bring in supporting documents for your credit application, for example additional payslips or bank statements. You may also be asked to bring in a guarantor.
• And even if approved, it will be by specialised lenders who will charge very high interest rates and fees, and offer low credit amounts, low credit limits, or cards with no rewards or cashback.
• You will likely pass more credit checks but still be asked to pay higher interest rates, increasing the total cost of your loans.
• Finally, you might also be offered lower credit card limits. This can make it difficult to rely on a credit card to get through to payday. It can also put you at risk for accidentally hurting your credit score – credit reference agencies like TransUnion recommend you don’t use more than 25% of your credit limit. Otherwise, it seems like you’re “living on credit”.

How can I improve my 576 Credit Karma score?

The “Fair” credit score band on TransUnion isn’t the best place to be in. If your credit score is 576, then your main goal should be to advance to the “Good” credit score band as soon as possible.

First, having a “Fair” credit score on TransUnion doesn’t mean that you’ll have one on Equifax or Experian. Each agency gets slightly different data and calculates your score differently. So check those scores as well to see where you stand.

Second, it’s also possible to simply have errors in one credit file – if your Credit Karma score is much lower than what you see on ClearScore or Experian, check your TransUnion credit report and correct anything that might seem off.

Finally, if your not-so-great credit score is the result of some mistakes in the past or a thin credit file, then building a strong recent credit history could improve your credit score fairly quickly.

This is what lenders want to see, and this is where an app like Wollit can help.

Wollit helps improve your credit by reporting your monthly subscription as loan repayments to all three major credit agencies, including TransUnion, which Credit Karma uses. This improves your credit history, the key factor affecting your score.

Additionally, Wollit can report your rent payments to your credit file. While this won’t appear in your Credit Karma account (as Wollit reports rent to Experian for now), it can still make a difference. It will show lenders that, despite past mistakes or short credit history, you consistently pay your bills on time.

Eventually, taking these steps should help you improve your approval chances for the financial products that you need.