What is Soft Inquiry (Soft Pull)?
Credit Card Glossary · Updated April 2026
A credit check that does NOT affect your credit score. Examples include checking your own credit, pre-qualification offers, and employment background checks. Soft inquiries don't appear to lenders reviewing your credit report.
Frequently asked questions
What is Soft Inquiry?⌄
A credit check that does NOT affect your credit score.
What does Soft Inquiry mean on a credit card?⌄
A credit check that does NOT affect your credit score. Examples include checking your own credit, pre-qualification offers, and employment background checks. Soft inquiries don't appear to lenders reviewing your credit report.
What terms are related to Soft Inquiry?⌄
Closely related concepts include Hard Inquiry (Hard Pull), Pre-Qualification (Pre-Approval). Each of these helps clarify different aspects of the same topic.
Where does Soft Inquiry apply?⌄
Soft Inquiry is a credit score concept. It typically appears in the context of credit bureaus, FICO scoring, and credit-building.
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