EFX · News & developments
Equifax’s VantageScore uptake is growing on free and $1 pricing
Equifax said nearly 2,000 mortgage lenders and resellers used its offer of free VantageScore 4.0 scores alongside paid legacy scores from April through September 2026. The company reported a 230% increase in mortgage VantageScore 4.0 pulls between April and August 2026, and said more than 165 lenders used the score exclusively at $1 for certain loan types. Equifax will maintain that price through the end of 2028; its stated $1 billion in industry savings is a potential, not a realized result.
Why this matters
The adoption figures show distribution gaining ground, but they do not yet show a stronger revenue stream: much of the access is free, and exclusive use comes at a sharply discounted price. Equifax is effectively paying to make its score easier to test and adopt. That could help preserve its place in mortgage decision-making as lenders gain score choice, while leaving the payoff dependent on whether adoption converts into paid volume or supports other Equifax services. The release provides no revenue or margin data to establish that conversion.
Written with AI from the linked sources and reviewed by a SageNoodle editor. How we work.