Soft credit check vs hard pull: what changes when you request a small loan
Guide · Reviewed 2026-11-06
A soft credit check lets a lender look at your file without leaving a mark that other lenders can see, so your score does not move. A hard pull is recorded on your report, can lower your score by a few points, and usually happens only when you accept an offer and complete a full application.
What a soft credit check is
A soft check (also called a soft inquiry) reads your credit file without being treated as an application for new credit. You trigger one every time you look at your own score, and lenders use them to estimate what they might offer before you commit to anything. Soft inquiries appear only on the version of the report you see, not on the version other lenders see, and credit scoring models ignore them.
When you send a request through FindexCo, lenders in the network use this kind of look to decide whether to make an offer. That is why checking your options won't affect your credit score.
What a hard pull is
A hard pull (hard inquiry) is recorded on your credit report as a formal application. It stays visible to other lenders for up to two years and can count toward your score for about twelve months. A single hard inquiry usually costs a few points. Several in a short window matter more, because scoring models read a burst of applications as a sign of strain.
Lenders typically run a hard pull after you accept an offer, when they verify your identity and finalise the loan. The footer of this site carries the credit check authorization that every lender relies on; read it before you proceed with any offer.
Side by side
| Question | Soft check | Hard pull |
|---|---|---|
| Does it change my score? | No | Usually a few points, for about a year |
| Can other lenders see it? | No | Yes, for up to two years |
| When does it happen? | Checking options, prequalification | Accepting an offer, final application |
| Does it need my permission? | Yes, for lending purposes | Yes, always |
Why a small loan request starts with the soft look
Small loan requests are often sent by people who are already watching their score closely. A soft first look lets several lenders weigh the same request without stacking inquiries on your report. You see whether an offer exists, read its terms, and only then decide whether to let one lender run the fuller check.
Two habits protect your score during this process. First, send one request rather than applying separately to many lenders in the same week. Second, read the offer before accepting it; the hard pull belongs to the step you choose, not to the step where you look.
Questions people ask
Does prequalification mean I am approved?
No. Prequalification is an estimate based on a soft check. The lender can still decline, or change the terms, after the hard pull and its own verification.
How many points does a hard pull cost?
Often fewer than five, though it depends on how thick your file is. A thin file moves more than a long one.
Can a lender run a hard pull without asking?
Not for a loan. The authorization you give when you proceed with an offer is what allows it. If you never accept an offer, the lender has no reason to run one.
Will checking my own score hurt it?
No. Looking at your own report is always a soft inquiry.
Where this fits. FindexCo is a loan request service, not a lender. One request for $100 – $5,000 reaches a network of lenders who decide on their own terms. Checking your options won't affect your credit score.
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