Last updated: July 2026
Short answer: Yes, a credit freeze is completely free in the United States. No exceptions, no asterisks, no "free trial" that flips into a monthly charge. The freeze itself is always free to place and lift, though it does not block credit checks made for employment background checks, tenant screening, or insurance underwriting.
But there's a reason so many people aren't sure, understanding the difference puts you in full control. The same companies legally required to give you a free freeze also sell paid products that look almost identical to a freeze. The reason most people don't bother is that the bureaus make it genuinely confusing to find the free option, so let's fix that.
What Is the Law Behind Free Credit Freezes?
A security freeze (also called a credit freeze) restricts lenders from accessing your credit report. Since most creditors need to check your report before opening a new account, a freeze effectively prevents identity thieves from opening credit in your name, even if they already have your Social Security number.
According to the FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024, identity theft accounted for 1.1 million reports in 2024, making it one of the most-reported consumer complaint categories — with new account fraud being one of the most common types. A credit freeze directly prevents that.
Under federal law, all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, are required to let you place, temporarily lift, and permanently remove a credit freeze completely free of charge. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-174) eliminated all fees for placing, lifting, or removing credit freezes — closing the era when bureaus could charge up to $10 per bureau depending on state law (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1). The FTC and the CFPB both confirm this right clearly on their official websites.
All of the following are covered at no cost:
- Placing a freeze: Free
- Temporarily lifting a freeze: Free (usually within an hour online or by phone)
- Permanently removing a freeze: Free
- Freezing a child's credit (under 16): Free
- Refreezing after lifting: Free
There is no circumstance under which a bureau should charge you to exercise these rights. If you're being asked to pay to place a freeze, back out and look for the plain security freeze link — it's there, just not always front and center.
What Are the Top Reasons to Freeze Your Credit?
The top reasons to freeze your credit are to prevent new account fraud, protect your identity after a data breach, and maintain control over who can access your credit, all at no cost.
- Prevents new account fraud even if your SSN is already stolen: A freeze blocks lenders from accessing your report entirely, so thieves can't open new accounts in your name even with your personal information.
- Completely free by federal law: No subscription, no ongoing cost, no trial period that converts to a charge.
- No effect on your credit score or existing accounts: A freeze only restricts new access to your report; your current accounts, score, and history are untouched.
- Can be temporarily lifted within one hour online: When you need to apply for credit, you can lift and refreeze at any bureau's website in minutes.
- Protects a child's credit (under 16) for free: The same federal law covers minors, whose clean credit files are a frequent target for identity thieves.
- More powerful than monitoring: Monitoring alerts you after something goes wrong; a freeze stops the threat before it happens.
Stop Believing These Credit Freeze Myths
The biggest myth is the simplest one: people think a freeze costs money. It doesn't, and hasn't since 2018. But that's not the only thing people get wrong.
People often assume a freeze must cost something, partly because the bureaus display paid products so prominently during sign-up. It doesn't. Federal law settled this in 2018, and the CFPB confirms it explicitly. The free option is always there, it's just not always front and center.
Here's the one that trips up even financially savvy people: a credit lock sounds identical to a freeze, but it's legally a completely different animal, governed by terms of service, not federal law.
People also worry that freezing will ding their score. It won't, a freeze only restricts who can pull your report, not what's inside it. The CFPB and FTC both confirm this explicitly.
- Myth: Freezing one bureau covers you everywhere.
Fact: You must freeze all three bureaus separately. A freeze at Equifax does nothing to your TransUnion or Experian reports. Lenders may check any of the three. - Myth: You can't get new credit while your report is frozen.
Fact: You can temporarily lift a freeze — usually within an hour online — apply for credit, then refreeze. It's a minor step, not a permanent barrier.
The Upsell Trap: What the Bureaus Charge For (and What They Can't)
The bureaus are legally required to provide free security freezes, but they're also businesses that offer additional services. Each bureau's sign-up flow includes paid products alongside the free freeze option, but once you know what to skip, the process is direct.
Credit Locks vs. Credit Freezes
A "credit lock" works similarly to a freeze (it restricts access to your report), but it's a product, not a legal right. Credit locks are often marketed as an alternative to a freeze, Equifax offers a free standalone lock (Lock & Alert); Experian bundles its CreditLock into a paid subscription ~$24.99/month; TransUnion updated its standalone lock offerings in 2025, so opting for the free credit freeze remains the most direct route. Unlike a freeze, a lock is governed by terms of service, not federal law.
Credit Monitoring Subscriptions
These are paid services that watch your credit report for changes and alert you. They're separate from a freeze. You do not need to buy monitoring to place a freeze.
Premium Account Upgrades
Some bureaus prompt you to create an account before you can manage your freeze. During that process, you may see prominent offers for "premium" memberships that include score tracking, dark web monitoring, insurance, and other features. These are optional, ignore them.
Score Access Add-Ons
Your credit score is different from your credit report. You're entitled to free credit reports, but credit scores from the bureaus themselves often sit behind a paywall or are included with paid subscriptions. If your report has errors on it, you have the right to dispute them for free, another consumer protection that costs nothing to use.
The bottom line: A credit freeze requires zero purchases. Everything else being advertised alongside it is optional.
What Are the Top Mistakes to Avoid When Freezing Your Credit?
Most freeze mistakes happen during the sign-up flow, where paid products are displayed prominently. Here are the five most common ones:
- Mistake 1: Signing up for a paid credit lock instead of a free freeze. Locks are marketed prominently and often appear before the free freeze option. If you see a price tag, keep scrolling.
- Mistake 2: Only freezing one bureau. A freeze at Equifax doesn't protect your TransUnion or Experian reports. Lenders can pull from any of the three. You need to complete the process at all three separately.
- Mistake 3: Entering payment information. A credit freeze should never ask for a card number. If you've reached a checkout screen, you've taken a wrong turn, go back a step and find the no-cost freeze option.
- Mistake 4: Clicking through pre-checked opt-ins. Some bureau sign-up flows include pre-selected boxes for marketing emails, premium trials, or add-on services. Read every screen before hitting "continue."
- Mistake 5: Forgetting to refreeze after lifting. If you temporarily lift your freeze to apply for credit and then forget to refreeze, your report stays accessible. Set a reminder to refreeze once your application is processed.
How Do You Avoid Being Upsold When You Freeze?
The sign-up process can be layered with optional offers — knowing what to look for makes it straightforward.
- Go directly to the official freeze page for each bureau
Skip the homepages and go straight to the freeze portals:- Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze
- Experian: https://experian.com/help/credit-freeze
- TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze
- Look for the words "security freeze", not "lock"
If you see "lock your credit" as the main option, keep looking. The free security freeze is a separate function, often less prominently displayed. - You may need to create a free account, that's okay
Some bureaus require you to create an account before managing your freeze. Creating a free account is fine. Just don't enter payment information at any point. A freeze should never ask for a card. - Skip past everything that has a price
If you see a subscription offer, a premium plan, or anything with a dollar sign, scroll past it. Look for a plain link or button that says "security freeze," "place a freeze," or "add freeze." - Watch for pre-checked boxes
Some sign-up flows include pre-selected add-ons or marketing opt-ins. Read carefully before clicking "continue." - Do all three bureaus
A freeze at one bureau doesn't carry over to the others. You need to freeze at all three separately. Plan for about 15 minutes per bureau, roughly 30–45 minutes to complete all three in one sitting. (Fraud alerts work differently, the FTC notes that placing a fraud alert at one bureau legally requires that bureau to notify the others.)
You can complete this entire process for free, without purchasing anything. If you reach a checkout screen, simply navigate back to the free security freeze option.
What's the Bottom Line on Credit Freezes?
A credit freeze is one of the most effective, zero-cost tools available to protect yourself from identity theft. Federal law guarantees it, and both the FTC and the CFPB have resources walking you through your rights if you want to dig deeper. It doesn't affect your credit score. It doesn't touch your existing accounts. And when you need to apply for credit, you can temporarily lift it, usually within an hour, for free.
The fact that the bureaus profit by selling paid products that resemble freezes explains why the process sometimes feels more layered than it needs to be. Go in knowing what you're looking for, a security freeze, and the process is straightforward.
Your Quick-Start Credit Freeze Checklist
- [ ] Freeze at Equifax
- [ ] Freeze at Experian
- [ ] Freeze at TransUnion
- [ ] Save your account credentials for each bureau somewhere secure
- [ ] Set a calendar reminder to refreeze if you lift for a credit application
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