Debt & Credit Help Credit Score & Repair

Best Credit Repair Companies November 2024: 5 Legit Options

Credit repair companies can’t work magic, but they can dispute inaccurate or fraudulent information on your behalf.

Updated Oct. 23, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Credit repair companies get a bad rap, but there are some good ones out there that may help improve your credit if you have fraudulent or inaccurate credit information posted. Because the credit repair industry sees a lot of scammers, it’s important to know which are the best credit repair companies. I’ve compared companies based on their offerings, pricing, and reputation to help you get started. Some, like Credit Saint, offer several packages to choose from, while others, like Safeport Law, only have one package, but you work with licensed attorneys.

Because you’ll likely end up with a monthly subscription, it’s important to know what each company offers including the number of disputes they’ll handle, how they’ll contact creditors (if at all), and how you can track their progress. A company that isn’t transparent with their pricing or the services they offer could be a scam and I suggest you look for services elsewhere.

How we evaluate products

Best credit repair companies of November 2024

  1. Credit Saint
  2. Safeport Law
  3. The Credit Pros
  4. Credit Glory
  5. Sky Blue Credit Repair
    Best for Monthly cost
    Credit Saint Straightforward packages $79.99 to $195
    Safeport Law Professional, legal support $129.99
    The Credit Pros Building credit $69 - $149
    Credit Glory Consumers with many disputes $99
    Sky Blue Credit Repair Fast disputes $79 - $199

    Credit Saint

    Best for: Straightforward packages

    Startup fee: $99 - $195

    Monthly fee: $79.99 - $139.99

    Credit Saint offers simple packages and straightforward results. They have an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau, and minimal complaints within the last three years, which I take into high consideration, especially when dealing with something as important as credit repair.

    What sets them apart from other credit repair companies are the straightforward options they provide. For example, CreditRepair.com does not share their pricing or details on the services included in each package.They only give examples of who might want each of their packages. But with Credit Saint, you know upfront what you’ll get with each package, and they offer a 90-day money-back guarantee.

    Tip
    Like any guarantee you must meet strict requirements to qualify, such as still having an active account, not having caused any new derogatory credit, and you’ve made all your payments to Credit Saint. Because they stand behind their work, they ask for an additional 30 days from the refund request date to try to make things right.

    If you’re looking for an established credit repair company with good reviews, Credit Saint offers it with 19 years in business and 200,000 happy customers, according to their records. While this is important, the most important factor is choosing the right plan, which in my opinion, the basic Credit Polish plan is enough unless you have a large number of disputes and don’t have access to your credit reports and scores elsewhere.

    All three plans include:

    • Score analysis
    • Creditor intervention letters
    • Score tracker
    • Educational content
    • Online chat

    That about sums up the basic package, Credit Polish. If you want something more, you may consider the two premium plans, of which the largest difference is the number of disputes you get. The Clean Slate plan includes an unlimited number of disputes, whereas the Credit Remodel plan doesn’t, but they aren’t transparent in the number of disputes included.

    The Clean Slate plan also includes other features, but at a much higher initial work fee and monthly price. The most important features include:

    • Acqualify Loan Readiness Program enrollment
    • Rent-to-Own program
    • Access to three-bureau reports and scores
    Clean Slate Credit Remodel Credit Polish
    $139.99 per month $109.99 per month $79.99 per month
    $195.00 initial work fee plus applicable sales tax $99.00 initial work fee plus applicable sales tax $99.00 initial work fee plus applicable sales tax

    Pros
    • A- rating from the BBB
    • Minimal CFPB complaints
    • 90-day guarantee
    Cons
    • Limited details on packages
    • Not available in South Carolina

    Visit Credit Saint | Read our Credit Saint review

    Credit Saint

    Learn More

    Safeport Law

    Best for: Professional, legal support

    Startup fee: $129

    Monthly fee: $129.99

    If you’re looking for credit repair from trained professionals, Safeport Law pairs you with attorneys at a law firm who dispute errors on your credit report and negotiate with creditors.1 While there are other credit repair companies run by attorneys, Safeport Law has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and no customer complaints.

    Because the credit repair industry is so fraught with scammers, I feel good about working with a company that is composed of a network of attorneys. While the company itself doesn’t have a long-standing history like Credit Saint, the combined history between its attorneys is 15+ years and they have an A rating on the Better Business Bureau with a total of three complaints in the last three years.

    I also like that you don’t have to make decisions; Safeport Law offers one plan, the Credit Cleanse, which costs $129.99/month plus the $129 startup fee. The plan includes:

    • Disputes to all three credit bureaus
    • Analysis of your credit score
    • Interventions on your behalf
    • Credit score tracker

    Like Credit Saint, Safeport Law offers a 90-day money-back guarantee with similar stipulations. You can cancel your plan at any time and you have access to an online portal and a credit score tracker 24/7.

    Pros
    • Money-back guarantee
    • Access to all three credit reports and scores
    • Unlimited disputes
    Cons
    • Only one plan option
    • No extra educational content or support

    Visit Safeport Law | Read our Safeport Law review

    Ask These Expert Attorneys To Help Fix Your Credit

    Learn More

    The Credit Pros

    Best for: Building credit

    Startup fee: $119 - $149

    Monthly fee: $69 - $149

    The Credit Pros are a one-stop shop for credit repair and credit building, which in my opinion go hand-in-hand. You can repair your credit with disputes, but if you don’t do anything to improve your credit moving forward, you’ll be stuck.

    The Credit Pros has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau with 30 complaints in the last 12 months. However, they don’t have a rating on Trustpilot because TP found they had fake or purchased reviews on their site, so keep that in mind when evaluating this service.

    Like Credit Saint, The Credit Pros have three plans, but the following is included in each one:

    • Access to one credit bureau report with score
    • Dark web monitoring
    • TransUnion fraud alerts
    • Bill payment reminders
    • Budgeting and debt payoff system

    The basic plan, Build Credit, only includes disputes with one credit bureau, which can be a downside since there could be inaccurate information on your other two bureau reports. The other two premium plans include:

    • Unlimited disputes with all three bureaus
    • Creditor interventions
    • Cease & desist letters
    • Access to all three credit bureau reports with scores

    If you choose The Credit Pros for their credit building services, you’ll need the highest plan, Repair + Build Credit as it offers a credit-building tradeline.

    Build Credit Repair Credit Repair + Build Credit
    $69 per month $129 per month $149 per month
    $119 first work fee $129 first work fee $149 first work fee

    Pros
    • A+ from BBB
    • Offers credit building services
    • Has many educational opportunities
    Cons
    • Lowest price plan only allows you to challenge one credit bureau
    • Limited details on credit builder loan offering

    Visit The Credit Pros

    Credit Glory

    Best for: Consumers with many disputes

    Startup fee: $299

    Monthly fee: $99

    Credit Glory is an honest and upfront credit repair company. They don’t make empty promises and right on their website states that results are not guaranteed, nor do they promise to fix your credit in a specific timeframe. They have a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot with 8,900 reviews.

    The downside is they aren’t transparent about their pricing. However, the consensus is that they charge a $299 upfront fee and then a $99 monthly fee. The upfront fee is somewhat high, but the monthly fee is lower than most companies.

    They work with all three credit bureaus and the only work they require from you is to identify any tradelines with accurate information as they cannot dispute those. What most people find when they work with Credit Glory is that the representatives take the time to educate them and not just try to sell them on the credit repair package.

    They also offer information on the most common collection agencies and phone numbers that may call you. This, of course, is an attempt to get you to call them for a free consultation, but I appreciate the insight they provide to give you a head start on what to do.

    Pros
    • Offer a free consultation
    • Doesn’t overpromise results
    • Provides education
    Cons
    • Not transparent about their pricing
    • Only one package to consider

    Visit Credit Glory

    Sky Blue Credit Repair

    Best for: Fast disputes

    Startup fee: $119 - $179/month

    Monthly fee: $79 - $199/month

    If your financial situation means you need some flexibility from your credit repair company, then Sky Blue Credit Repair could be the best fit for you. Sky Blue has an A+ rating from the BBB and offers a 90-day satisfaction guarantee that it will refund your money in full if you’re not satisfied with its service.

    Sky Blue’s true flexibility lies in your ability to pause service, start back up whenever you’re ready, or even change your monthly payment due date.

    Like many of the credit repair companies on this list, they offer a few plans. All three plans include the following:

    • Reports and scores from all three credit bureaus
    • One-on-one consultation
    • Credit bureau disputes
    • Credit score tracking
    • Credit updates (timing depends on the package)

    If you want faster updates (45 days versus 60) or a credit builder tool, consider the Full Service plan and the Premium plan if you want more customization, such as:

    • Monthly inquiry disputes
    • Debt validation or cease and desist letters
    • Letters to correct personal information

    A unique feature they offer is couples pricing which is basically a discount if you both sign up versus one person.

    Basic Full Service Premium
    $79 per month for singles

    $119 per month for couples

    $99 per month for singles

    $149 per month for couples

    $119 per month for singles

    $179 per month for couples

    $79 first work fee $99 first work fee $119 first work fee

    Pros
    • A+ rating from the BBB
    • 90-day money-back guarantee
    • Couples discount
    Cons
    • No credit monitoring

    Visit Sky Blue | Read our Sky Blue Credit Repair review

    How to avoid getting scammed

    It’s important to know what red flags to look for when dealing with credit repair companies. While the law has cracked down on them, there are always those that sneak through.

    Here are some red flags to look out for in a credit repair agency:

    • Demands upfront payment: Under federal law (the CROA), credit repair agencies can’t request or receive payment until they’ve completed work for you.
    • Promise unlikely results: They promise results without knowing the specifics of your situation or your credit file.
    • Doesn’t answer questions: They can’t answer or avoid answering any of your questions about the process, including things like the specifics of their services or the total cost you’ll be paying.
    • Gives misinformation: They withhold or feed you misinformation, especially regarding certain rights afforded to you. This can include your right to obtain a written contract detailing your arrangement, as well as the ability to cancel your contract with any company within three business days.
    • Tell you to create a new identity: They recommend you try to create a “new credit identity” or they tell you to falsify information on an application for new credit or new loans. Scammers often accomplish this through identity theft. For example, they steal the Social Security number from someone else and then sell it to you as a new identity.
    • Act like the government: They try to come off as an official government program.

    How do credit repair companies help?

    Credit repair companies use a variety of strategies on your behalf. They work with the three credit reporting agencies to determine whether or not there are inaccuracies that should be removed from your credit report.

    Some strategies they use include disputing questionable negative items, proving fraudulent information is incorrect, or asking creditors for a goodwill adjustment if you have a solid history minus one mistake or two. So, for example, a company might dispute a late payment if you didn't actually pay late or they may negotiate with a credit card issuer to resolve any charge-offs listed on your credit file. In the end, this could help you improve your credit score.

    Depending on your situation, credit repair companies may be able to assist you in the following ways:

    1. Fix errors and inaccurate information on your credit report
    2. Potentially improve your FICO score
    3. Negotiate with lenders to remove negative items from your credit report
    4. Send goodwill letters to ask creditors to eliminate items like inadvertently missed payments
    5. Stop collection agency calls by sending debt collectors cease-and-desist letters
    6. Challenge debts listed on your credit report by writing and sending debt validation letters

    Credit repair companies cannot have accurate information removed, however, they can argue that the following be removed:

    • Non-action by creditors: The FCRA requires credit bureaus to process legitimate consumer complaints within 30 days, and this means verifying or removing questionable items. This can include things like incorrect dates, misspellings of creditors’ names, and dollar amounts that are slightly off. If creditors respond with the correct information, it’ll stay on your report; if they choose to ignore these inquiries from the credit bureaus, it can result in the total removal of the negative information.
    • Timing of a dispute: While credit bureaus don’t have to investigate every consumer dispute they deem “frivolous or irrelevant,” if a legitimate credit dispute is not verified, it must be removed from your credit report. If you happen to catch a credit bureau at a busy time, it may result in a failure to validate the information within the required 30-day limit. If that happens, you may see the item removed entirely.

    Credit repair can work, but it’s not an overnight fix, so it’s important to go into the credit repair process with a plan and realistic expectations. It would be great if simply hiring someone to make all of our credit issues go away worked, but this isn’t always the case.

    Troubled credit history doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything a professional can help with. It may just mean you need to brush up on some credit do’s and don’ts and focus on how to manage your money.

    Tip
    Per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you’re allowed to obtain a free credit report from all three credit reporting bureaus once every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com, but as of May 2023, the credit bureaus are offering them weekly. Additionally, if you apply for credit and get turned down, you’re entitled to no-cost reports to identify why you were denied. Lenders must tell you which credit bureau provided the information that led to the rejection, and those credit bureaus have to give you a free report.

    When credit repair makes sense

    I like to DIY as much as I can and with enough time and know-how, you can most likely tackle the credit repair process yourself. Just like a car, you’re free to do your own repairs, but sometimes it just makes more sense to step aside and let a professional take over.

    Here are three reasons you may want to hire a credit repair firm:

    1. If you can save a lot of money

    Having poor credit can cost you a lot of money. Credit card interest rates are usually higher, car insurance premiums can be more expensive, and even utility bills can be pricier if you have not-so-great credit. Paying a professional to help clean up your credit could be the difference between costing or saving tons of cash.

    You’ll have to weigh the cost of hiring a credit repair company and how likely you’ll get results against what you could end up spending as a price for having bad credit.

    2. If you can save a fair amount of time

    The credit repair process is tedious, there’s no way around it. It takes a lot of time — often months — to dispute credit report errors, make phone calls, and mail letters over and over again. Simply put, not everyone has the time to see this process through — some may not even want to bother with it at all.


    Credit repair companies do all of this work for you. While you may possibly miss something that could result in a missed opportunity, they know what they’re doing. They mail the right letters and craft the right responses.

    3. If you can benefit from their expertise and experience

    Credit repair is a credit repair company’s business — all day, every day.
    These companies can spot what is disputable, and with teams of trained professionals, there’s a good chance they’ll catch the things you may have otherwise missed. If you don’t have any experience dealing with creditors, bureaus, and potential legal issues — or don’t want to figure it out on your own — a credit repair company can be a wise option.

    FAQs

    How long will it take to repair my credit history?

    Every credit situation is unique, so there's no simple answer to how long credit repair takes. It’s important to understand that there is no overnight solution to repair your credit.

    Considering how time-consuming the entire process is, you may not see results for months — if you see results at all. Keep this in mind when deciding if it’s the best option for you.

    How much does credit repair cost?

    Prices will vary depending on the company, but for companies that use a subscription-based service, they’re generally between $75 and $150 per month.

    Most credit repair companies will charge an initial review or set-up fee as well, and this is oftentimes the same price as the monthly fee. These are also sometimes referred to as first work fees.

    Is credit restoration the same as credit repair?

    Yes. The terms credit restoration and credit repair are generally used interchangeably, with the ultimate goal of improving your credit score.

    Can a credit repair company really help?

    There are no guarantees that you’ll find paid credit repair to be beneficial, but that doesn’t mean it never works. If you work with a reputable company and there are legitimate issues with your credit that can be remedied, there’s a chance their expertise will prove beneficial.

    Just remember that you too can learn what to look for and if you have the time, discipline, and patience to stay on top of the process, you can do it yourself at no cost.

    How is credit repair different from credit counseling?

    Credit counseling agencies are typically nonprofit organizations. They employ certified credit counselors who can help you with consumer credit, budgeting, and debt. These counselors can help you learn money management. If you need help with debt you can't handle, then they can also get you set up with a debt management plan. Credit counseling is considered an alternative to debt settlement or bankruptcy. You should spend time learning about the best credit counseling companies if you think this route is the right one for you.

    Matt Miczulski also contributed to this piece.

Experian Boost Benefits

  • Get credit for making on-time payments for your qualifying rent, utility bills, and streaming services3
  • 100% free — no credit card required
  • New credit scores take effect immediately
  • FICO® Score refreshed every 30 days upon sign in and one free personal privacy scan