Credit Report Guide
Soft Pull vs Hard Pull: The Complete Breakdown
Everything you need to know about soft credit pulls vs hard credit pulls. Same data, no credit impact, no SSN required.
Side-By-Side
Complete Comparison
| Feature | Hard Pull | Soft Pull (iSoftpull) |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer information required | Full SSN + DOB + Address | Name + Address only |
| Credit score impact | -5 to -10 points per inquiry | Zero impact |
| Visible to other lenders | Yes (stays 2 years) | No |
| Visible to consumer | Yes | Only on consumer's own report |
| Full credit report | Yes | Yes |
| FICO Score | Yes | Yes |
| VantageScore | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeline detail | Yes | Yes |
| Public records | Yes | Yes |
| Speed of return | Minutes to days | <5 seconds |
| Consumer friction | High (SSN barrier) | Low (no SSN) |
| Application drop-off | 40-60% | <5% |
| Permissible purpose required | Yes (FCRA) | Yes (FCRA) |
| Consumer consent required | Yes | Yes |
Deep Dive
Understanding the Details
What Is a Soft Pull?
A soft pull (also called a soft inquiry or soft credit check) is a credit report request that does not affect the consumer's credit score. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), soft inquiries are not visible to other creditors and are only shown on the consumer's own credit report.
What Data Do You Get?
A soft pull through iSoftpull returns the same data as a traditional hard pull:
- Full credit report with all tradelines, balances, and payment history
- FICO Score (the score used by 90% of lenders)
- VantageScore (alternative scoring model)
- Public records (bankruptcies, liens, judgments)
- Collections and derogatory marks
- Credit utilization ratios
- Account types and ages
Legal Framework
Soft pulls are governed by Section 604 of the FCRA, which defines permissible purposes for accessing consumer credit data. Common permissible purposes include:
- Firm offer of credit or insurance (pre-screening)
- Account review of existing customers
- Consumer-initiated transactions
- Employment screening (with consumer consent)
- Legitimate business needs with written consumer consent
Why Lenders Are Switching
The shift from hard pulls to soft pulls is driven by three factors:
- Consumer experience: Borrowers refuse to share their SSN early in the process. Removing this barrier increases applications by 2-3x.
- Speed: Soft pulls return in under 5 seconds, enabling real-time pre-qualification during the sales conversation.
- Cost efficiency: By screening applicants before investing in full underwriting, lenders save significant time and resources on unqualified leads.
90%
of lenders use FICO for decisions
2yrs
hard inquiries stay on reports
-10pts
typical hard pull score impact
$0
soft pull impact to score