Credit monitoring after moving to the U.S.: free and paid options
A credit-monitoring service does not create a credit history by itself. It helps you see information that has already reached a credit bureau, spot changes, and notice possible identity problems. Newcomers should first confirm which bureau or bureaus a service covers and whether a U.S. credit file exists yet.
Free monitoring versus paid monitoring
Free services can be enough for routine score and report alerts. Paid plans may add three-bureau reports, more frequent updates, identity monitoring, restoration help, or insurance. Compare the recurring price, trial conversion date, cancellation process, bureau coverage, score model, and the limits of any insurance benefit.
Use official reports too
The federally authorized source for free credit reports is AnnualCreditReport.com. A commercial dashboard can be useful, but it should not replace checking the underlying reports or disputing inaccurate information through the proper bureau process.