Is Equifax or TransUnion more accurate in Canada?

Neither bureau is more accurate—they simply collect data from different sources. Some lenders report to Equifax only, others to TransUnion only, and many report to both. Check both bureaus for a complete picture of your credit.

Do Canadian banks check Equifax or TransUnion?

It varies by bank and product. RBC, TD, and Scotiabank primarily use TransUnion. CIBC and BMO primarily use Equifax. Some lenders check both bureaus depending on the product and province.

Is a 700 credit score the same at Equifax and TransUnion?

Yes and no. Both bureaus use the same 300-900 scale, but your actual score number often differs between bureaus due to different data and scoring models. A 700 at one bureau might be 720 or 680 at the other.

Should I check both credit bureaus?

Yes. Since lenders may check either bureau, and data can differ, monitoring both gives you a complete picture. Use Borrowell for Equifax and Credit Karma for TransUnion—both are free.

Equifax vs TransUnion Canada: Which Credit Bureau Matters? (2026)

Canada has two credit bureaus: Equifax and TransUnion. They serve the same purpose—tracking your credit history and calculating your credit score—but they’re separate companies with different data. Here’s what you need to know about how they differ.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Equifax	TransUnion
Headquarters	Montreal, QC	Chicago, US (Canadian operations in Burlington, ON)
Founded	1899	1968
Score range	300-900	300-900
Score model	Equifax Risk Score	CreditVision
Free score access	Borrowell, CIBC, BMO	Credit Karma, RBC, TD, Scotiabank
Free report	equifax.ca	transunion.ca

Why You Have Two Different Scores

Your Equifax and TransUnion scores are calculated separately based on:

Factor	How It Causes Differences
Different data	Not all lenders report to both bureaus
Update timing	Reports may refresh on different days
Scoring models	Slightly different calculation methods
Account history	One bureau may have older records
Errors	Mistakes may appear on one report only

Typical score difference: 10-50 points is normal. Larger gaps usually indicate missing accounts or errors.

Example of Score Differences

Person	Equifax Score	TransUnion Score	Difference
Person A	745	732	13 points
Person B	680	715	35 points
Person C	702	698	4 points

If your scores differ by more than 50-75 points, investigate for errors or missing accounts.

Which Lenders Check Which Bureau?

Different financial institutions prefer different bureaus:

Bank Preferences (Primary Bureau)

Lender	Primary Bureau	Notes
RBC	TransUnion	May check Equifax for some products
TD	TransUnion	Consistent TransUnion use
Scotiabank	TransUnion	Primary for most products
CIBC	Equifax	Primary for credit cards and loans
BMO	Equifax	Consistent Equifax use
National Bank	TransUnion	May vary by product
Desjardins	Both	May check both

Credit Card Companies

Issuer	Primary Bureau
American Express	Both (may check either)
Capital One	Equifax
MBNA	TransUnion
Tangerine	Both
Rogers Bank	TransUnion
Canadian Tire	Equifax
PC Financial	TransUnion

Other Lenders

Lender Type	Common Bureau
Auto lenders	Typically both
Mortgage lenders	Usually both
Private lenders	Varies
Landlords	Varies (often Equifax)

Important: Policies can change, and lenders may check both bureaus for large credit decisions like mortgages.

Bureau-Specific Features

Equifax Canada

Feature	Details
Credit score model	Equifax Risk Score
Score factors	5 main factors (payment history, utilization, etc.)
Free score	Through Borrowell, CIBC, BMO
Paid service	Equifax Complete ($19.95/month)
Credit lock	Available (paid service)
Fraud alerts	Free fraud flags
Credit freeze	Available

Equifax-specific products:

Equifax Complete Premier (monitoring + insurance)
Credit Score Power Up (new, alternative data)
Business credit reports

TransUnion Canada

Feature	Details
Credit score model	CreditVision
Score factors	Based on CreditVision algorithm
Free score	Through Credit Karma, RBC, TD, Scotiabank
Paid service	TransUnion Direct ($19.95/month)
Credit lock	TrueVision Credit Lock (paid)
Fraud alerts	Free fraud flags
Credit freeze	Available

TransUnion-specific features:

CreditVision alternative scoring
Score simulator (through Credit Karma)
Secure Message Centre

How to Check Both Bureaus Free

For Equifax score:

Service	What You Get
Borrowell	Free score + report (weekly updates)
CIBC Mobile Banking	Free score (monthly, customers only)
BMO Online Banking	Free score (monthly, customers only)
equifax.ca	Free full report (no score)

For TransUnion score:

Service	What You Get
Credit Karma	Free score + report (weekly updates)
RBC Online Banking	Free score (monthly, customers only)
TD MySpend	Free score (monthly, customers only)
Scotiabank Online	Free score (monthly, customers only)
transunion.ca	Free full report (no score)

Recommended approach: Sign up for both Borrowell (Equifax) and Credit Karma (TransUnion) to monitor both bureaus for free.

What Information Each Bureau Tracks

Both bureaus collect similar information:

Information Type	Equifax	TransUnion
Personal information	✅	✅
Credit accounts	✅	✅
Payment history	✅	✅
Credit inquiries	✅	✅
Public records (bankruptcy)	✅	✅
Collections	✅	✅
Account status	✅	✅

Potential Differences in Your Reports

Difference	Why It Happens
Missing account	Creditor only reports to one bureau
Different balance	Reports updated on different days
Payment history varies	Different reporting cycles
Old accounts	One bureau may have older data
Errors	Mistakes only on one report

Disputing Errors: Bureau by Bureau

If you find errors, you must dispute with each bureau separately:

Disputing with Equifax

Method	Details
Online	equifax.ca → Dispute Center
Phone	1-800-465-7166
Mail	Equifax Canada, Box 190, Station Jean-Talon, Montreal, QC H1S 2Z2
Timeline	30 days for investigation

Disputing with TransUnion

Method	Details
Online	transunion.ca → Dispute Center
Phone	1-800-663-9980
Mail	TransUnion Consumer Relations, P.O. Box 338 LCD 1, Hamilton, ON L8L 7W2
Timeline	30 days for investigation

Key point: An error on one report doesn’t automatically appear on the other. If the error shows on both reports, you must dispute with both bureaus.

Credit Freeze vs. Fraud Alert

Both bureaus offer similar protection:

Protection	Equifax	TransUnion
Fraud alert	Free	Free
Credit freeze	Free	Free
Credit lock	Paid ($19.95/month)	Paid ($19.95/month)
Duration (fraud alert)	6 years	6 years
Duration (freeze)	Until you lift it	Until you lift it

Fraud alert: Tells lenders to take extra verification steps. You can still apply for credit.

Credit freeze: Blocks new credit applications entirely until you unfreeze.

Credit lock: Like a freeze, but easier to toggle on/off (paid feature).

Negative Item Duration: Equifax vs TransUnion

Both bureaus keep negative items for similar periods:

Negative Item	Equifax	TransUnion
Late payments	6 years	6 years
Collections	6 years from last activity	6 years from last activity
Consumer proposal	3 years after completion	3 years after completion
First bankruptcy	6 years after discharge	6 years after discharge
Second bankruptcy	14 years after discharge	14 years after discharge
Judgments	6 years	6 years

Note: Timing may vary slightly by province.

Scoring Model Differences

Equifax Risk Score

Factor	Approximate Weight
Payment history	35%
Utilization	30%
Credit history length	15%
Credit mix	10%
New credit	10%

TransUnion CreditVision

Factor	Approximate Weight
Payment behaviour	High impact
Credit utilization	High impact
Account diversity	Medium impact
Credit age	Medium impact
Recent activity	Lower impact

CreditVision may incorporate trended data (how your balances change over time), which can lead to different scores than Equifax.

Which Bureau Should You Focus On?

Focus on both. Here’s why:

Situation	Strategy
Applying for mortgage	Lender will check both—optimize both scores
Applying for specific card	Check which bureau the issuer uses
Building credit	Good habits improve both scores
Finding errors	Check both—errors may only appear on one
Monitoring credit	Use both Borrowell and Credit Karma

Pre-Application Strategy

Before a major credit application:

Check both scores (Borrowell + Credit Karma)
Review both reports for errors
Identify which bureau the lender uses
Focus on the weaker score if applying soon
Apply when both scores are strong for mortgages

Common Myths Debunked

Myth	Reality
“Equifax is more important”	Neither is more important—it depends on the lender
“Checking both hurts your score”	Checking your own score never affects it
“Scores should be identical”	Scores commonly differ by 10-50 points
“Only one report matters”	Errors or issues may only appear on one
“Paid services show different data”	Free services show the same core data

Practical Guide: What to Do

For Routine Monitoring

Frequency	Action
Weekly	Check score on Borrowell OR Credit Karma
Monthly	Check both Borrowell AND Credit Karma
Annually	Request full reports from both bureaus

Before Major Applications

3-6 months out: Check both scores, identify issues
2-3 months out: Dispute any errors
1 month out: Verify corrections, confirm scores
Application day: Know which bureau lender uses

If You Find Discrepancies

Issue	Action
Score difference > 75 points	Check for missing accounts or errors
Account on one report only	May be normal—not all creditors report to both
Error on one report	Dispute with that bureau
Error on both reports	Dispute with both bureaus

Summary

Aspect	What to Know
Both bureaus matter	Canadian lenders use both
Scores will differ	10-50 point differences are normal
Monitor both free	Borrowell (Equifax) + Credit Karma (TransUnion)
Dispute separately	Errors must be disputed with each bureau
Good habits help both	On-time payments improve all scores