Credit Freeze and Credit Lock: What’s the Difference?

What Is a Credit Freeze?

A credit freeze is a free service, guaranteed under federal law, that can protect you from credit fraud by limiting most access to your credit report until you lift it, or "thaw" your report. When your credit report is frozen, any lender who asks to evaluate your report for purposes of issuing a loan or other credit is denied access to the report. A security freeze won't affect your credit scores, but it will prevent lenders evaluating credit applications from obtaining your credit scores.

A security freeze prevents criminals from opening new credit accounts in your name, but it also blocks your legitimate credit applications. So, if you have a credit freeze in place, you'll need to thaw your credit reports before applying for a new loan, credit card or other consumer credit. Then, once your application is processed, you can reinstate the freeze.

As an alternative to manually thawing and refreezing your report when you want to apply for credit, you could use a temporary thaw to lift the freeze for a set window of time, such as one day or one week. After that, the freeze will be reinstated.

Credit freezes must be activated and lifted separately at each of the credit bureaus. Procedures differ somewhat with each bureau, but all three enable requesting and lifting of security freezes online, by phone and via postal mail. There is never a fee for applying or removing a credit freeze.

The law also allows you to establish and freeze credit reports for your minor children to avoid misuse of their personal information.

Learn more: What to Know Before Freezing Your Credit

How to Freeze Your Credit

To place a credit freeze, you must provide details and proof of your identity and address per instructions provided by the respective credit bureau. These typically include:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• All addresses you've used in the past two years
• Social Security number
• One copy of a government-issued identification, such as a driver's license or state ID card
• A recent copy of a utility bill, bank or insurance statement or similar, as proof of address

How to Unfreeze Your Credit

You can remove a credit freeze using the same channels you use to set up a freeze.

When lifting a credit freeze, you have the option of permanently unfreezing your credit or lifting the freeze temporarily by indicating a length of time (one day or one week, for example) you want the freeze to be suspended. Policies vary by bureau, so make sure you understand what your options are before you begin the process.

How Long Will It Take for Your Credit to Unfreeze?

How long it will take for your credit to thaw depends on how you request it.

• Online: If you use a credit bureau website or phone app to turn off a credit freeze, the process is virtually instantaneous.
• By phone: When you request a credit thaw by phone, your freeze will be lifted within one hour.
• By mail: If you mail your request, the freeze will be lifted within three days of the credit bureau receiving your request.

What Is a Credit Lock?

A credit lock lets you restrict and grant access to your credit reports essentially the same way a credit freeze does, but usually with extra features. Credit lock services are provided by certain credit bureaus, including Experian. This service differs from a credit freeze in cost and functionality.

For instance, in addition to enabling you to turn access to your Experian credit report on and off instantly, Experian CreditLock^† also notifies you when anyone requests access to your locked credit report. This can help you spot unauthorized activity in your name.

How to Lock Your Credit

To lock your credit, you'll need to sign up for the service with the relevant credit bureau. Controls differ somewhat at each credit bureau, but each is a virtual on-off toggle that locks and unlocks the applicable credit report.

Locking Your Credit Through Experian

Experian CreditLock is available as part of a premium identity protection subscription for $24.99 per month, which also includes services such as:

• Monthly privacy scans and help getting information removed from covered people search sites
• Alerts to credit activity on your credit reports at all three national credit bureaus
• Quarterly FICO^® Scores^{☉ Θ} based on your credit reports at all three national bureaus
• Daily FICO^® Scores based on your Experian credit report
• Alerts when your personal data appears on the dark web
• Alerts to potential takeovers of your financial accounts
• Alerts when your Social Security number appears online
• Up to $1 million in identity theft insurance coverage
• Dedicated fraud resolution support
• Lost wallet assistance

Note: Each credit bureau requires entering your Social Security number and identity verification as part of its credit lock setup process.

How to Unlock Your Credit

The process for unlocking your credit report at each credit bureau offering the feature is the reverse of the procedure for locking it: Using the credit bureau's app or website, locate the credit lock function and click the virtual switch to toggle from the locked setting to the unlocked.

When to Use a Credit Freeze vs. Credit Lock

If you're concerned your identity may have been stolen, or if you've discovered fraudulent activity on your credit reports, applying a security freeze or credit lock to your credit report will effectively prevent lenders from processing new credit applications filed in your name.

When to Use a Credit Freeze

Because they are free and guaranteed by law, credit freezes may be the better choice for consumers who don't want to pay for the service and don't want any extra features.

Be aware: A credit freeze is also the only option available if you want to restrict access to your minor children's credit information.

When to Use a Credit Lock

Credit lock might be a better option if you're interested in the additional identity theft protection services included in the accompanying subscriptions. These might be particularly helpful in addressing the consequences of identity theft, and helping avoid additional fraud.

Tip: You also have the right to place a fraud alert on your credit report, which instructs lenders to verify your identity before processing a credit application in your name. Placing a fraud alert with any one credit bureau automatically informs the other two credit bureaus. You'll have to remove each separately, however. With a fraud alert, you can still apply for credit without having to remember to thaw or unlock your credit reports.

Learn more: Fraud Alert vs. Credit Freeze: What's the Difference?

The Bottom Line

Credit freezes and credit locks offer valuable protection for your credit reports, as either a precaution or a response to criminal abuse of your credit. When managed online, both freezes and locks are quick and easy to use, and highly effective at blocking credit applications in your name—both fraudulent and legitimate ones. If you decide to apply a credit lock or security freeze, remember to disable it before you apply for a new loan or credit account.

^†Experian CreditLock is a separate service from Security Freeze. Learn more about the differences between Experian CreditLock and Security Freeze.