Credit Karma Alternative Canada 2026 - Best Free Credit Score Apps
Credit Karma shut down in Canada in 2018, leaving millions searching for free credit monitoring. Here are the best Canadian alternatives that actually work better.
TL;DR - Credit Karma is Gone. Here's What to Use Instead
Best Overall: Borrowell - Free Equifax scores, weekly updates, credit building tools
Best for Financial Products: Mogo - Credit score + loans + prepaid card
Best for Banking Customers: Scotiabank Credit View or RBC Credit Score (free for customers)
Best with Budgeting: Use Borrowell + Waypoint Budget for complete financial tracking
The Credit Karma Alternative Landscape in Canada
Shut Down 2018
Not Available
Borrowell
Best Overall
Free Equifax
Mogo
+ Products
Free Equifax
💡 Pro tip: Use Borrowell (Equifax) + Your bank's score (TransUnion) for complete monitoring
Why Doesn't Credit Karma Work in Canada?
If you're Googling "Credit Karma Canada" and getting nowhere, here's why: Credit Karma shut down all Canadian operations in 2018. The company decided to focus exclusively on its U.S. market and pulled out of Canada completely.
This was frustrating for millions of Canadians who relied on Credit Karma for free credit monitoring. But here's the good news: the alternatives are actually better than Credit Karma ever was for Canadians.
What Happened to Credit Karma Canada?
- •2014: Credit Karma launched in Canada
- •2018: Shut down Canadian operations with little warning
- •2024-2026: Still doesn't exist in Canada (and won't come back)
The Best Credit Karma Alternatives for Canadians in 2026
Unlike the U.S., Canada has two main credit bureaus - Equifax and TransUnion. Your score can differ between them, so ideally you want to monitor both. Here are the best free options:
1. Borrowell (Best Overall Credit Karma Replacement)
Why It's Better Than Credit Karma:
- Actually designed for Canadians
- Free Equifax credit score (updates weekly)
- Credit monitoring alerts (new accounts, credit checks, etc.)
- Credit building tools (Rent Advantage, Credit Builder)
- Personalized financial product recommendations
- Clean, modern interface (better than Credit Karma's was)
What's Different:
- Only shows Equifax score (not TransUnion)
- No tax filing features (Credit Karma had this in U.S.)
- More Canadian-focused financial products
Borrowell provides free weekly Equifax credit scores with detailed breakdowns
Real talk: Borrowell is what Credit Karma should have been for Canadians. It's Canadian-owned, understands Canadian credit systems (Equifax and TransUnion), and offers tools specifically designed for building credit in Canada - like Rent Advantage (which reports your rent payments to build credit).
Best for: Anyone who wants free, reliable credit monitoring with a Canadian focus. Perfect for former Credit Karma users who want something similar (but better).
2. Mogo (Best for Financial Products + Credit Score)
What You Get:
- Free Equifax credit score (monthly updates)
- Credit monitoring and identity fraud protection
- MogoCard (prepaid Visa with cash back)
- Personal loans and mortgages (if you need them)
- Bitcoin buying/selling (if you're into crypto)
Downsides:
- Less frequent updates (monthly vs Borrowell's weekly)
- More "upsell" focused (they want you to use their loans)
- Interface can feel cluttered
Best for: People who want credit monitoring and might need financial products like loans or a prepaid card. Good if you're shopping for a mortgage or personal loan and want to check your eligibility.
3. Scotiabank Credit View (Best for Scotiabank Customers)
Pros:
- Free for Scotiabank customers
- TransUnion score (complements Borrowell's Equifax)
- Integrated into Scotiabank mobile banking
- No separate app needed
Cons:
- Only for Scotiabank customers
- Fewer features than Borrowell/Mogo
- No credit building tools
Best for: Scotiabank customers who want convenient credit monitoring without a separate app. Also good if you want to monitor both Equifax (Borrowell) and TransUnion (Scotiabank) together.
Note: RBC Credit Score, TD MySpend (via TD MyAdvantage), and CIBC Credit Score Tracker offer similar features for their respective customers.
How to Monitor Both Credit Bureaus (Equifax + TransUnion)
In Canada, lenders can check either Equifax or TransUnion (or both). Your scores can differ by 50+ points between them. Here's how to monitor both for free:
Free Monitoring Strategy:
Equifax:
Sign up for Borrowell (free, weekly updates) or Mogo (free, monthly updates)
TransUnion:
Use your bank's credit score feature (Scotiabank, RBC, TD, CIBC all offer free TransUnion scores)
Result:
Complete free credit monitoring from both bureaus, better than Credit Karma ever offered!
Quick Comparison: Credit Karma vs Canadian Alternatives
| Feature | Credit Karma | Borrowell | Mogo | Scotiabank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available in Canada | ||||
| Price | Shut down | Free | Free | Free |
| Credit Bureau | N/A | Equifax | Equifax | TransUnion |
| Update Frequency | N/A | Weekly | Monthly | Monthly |
| Credit Monitoring | N/A | Basic | ||
| Credit Building Tools | N/A | |||
| Financial Products | N/A | Some | Many | Bank products |
| Requirement | N/A | Anyone | Anyone | Bank customer |
Combine Credit Monitoring with Budgeting
Here's something Credit Karma never did well: connecting your credit score to your budget. Your credit score is affected by your spending habits, so monitoring both together makes sense.
How Your Budget Affects Your Credit Score:
- Payment History (35%): Pay bills on time = higher score. Track due dates in your budget.
- Credit Utilization (30%): Keep credit card balances below 30% of limit. Budget helps avoid overspending.
- Length of History (15%): Keep old accounts open. Don't close cards unnecessarily.
Pro tip: Use Waypoint Budget alongside Borrowell. Track your spending, ensure you're paying bills on time, and keep credit utilization low. This combo gives you complete financial visibility - credit score + spending habits in one place.
Track spending and credit together - Waypoint Budget helps you stay on top of payments that affect your score
FAQs: Credit Karma Canada
Why doesn't Credit Karma work in Canada?
Credit Karma Canada shut down in 2018. The company decided to focus on its U.S. market and closed all Canadian operations. If you're in Canada and trying to access Credit Karma, it simply doesn't exist here anymore. You'll need to use a Canadian alternative like Borrowell, Mogo, or Scotiabank Credit View instead.
What is the Canadian version of Credit Karma?
There is no official Canadian version of Credit Karma since it shut down in Canada. However, the closest alternatives are Borrowell (offers free credit scores from Equifax), Mogo (provides free credit scores and financial products), Scotiabank Credit View (for Scotiabank customers), and RBC Credit Score Tracker (for RBC customers). These apps offer similar features - free credit monitoring, credit score tracking, and personalized recommendations.
What is the best free credit score app in Canada?
The best free credit score app in Canada is Borrowell. It offers completely free credit scores from Equifax, credit monitoring alerts, personalized financial product recommendations, and a clean interface. Unlike Credit Karma (which is gone), Borrowell is Canadian-owned, understands Canadian credit bureaus (Equifax and TransUnion), and offers credit building tools specifically designed for Canadians.
Can I track my credit score and budget in one app?
Yes. While most credit apps focus only on credit monitoring, some budgeting apps like Waypoint Budget allow you to track your overall financial health in one place. You can link your Borrowell or Mogo account alongside your budget, or use apps that integrate credit insights with spending tracking. This gives you a complete picture - how your spending habits affect your credit score and overall financial health.
Is Borrowell as good as Credit Karma was?
Yes, Borrowell is actually better than Credit Karma was for Canadians. Borrowell provides free Equifax credit scores (updated weekly), credit monitoring alerts, personalized loan and credit card recommendations, and credit building tools. It's Canadian-owned, designed specifically for Canadian credit bureaus, and has been operating successfully since 2014. Many former Credit Karma users have switched to Borrowell and find it superior.
The Bottom Line
Credit Karma is gone from Canada and it's not coming back. But honestly? The alternatives are better for Canadians anyway.
My Recommendation:
- Sign up for Borrowell (free Equifax score, best overall)
- Check if your bank offers free credit scores (Scotiabank, RBC, TD, CIBC all do - for TransUnion)
- Use Waypoint Budget to track spending and ensure you're paying bills on time (biggest credit score factor)
This combo gives you free monitoring of both credit bureaus, plus budget tracking to improve your financial habits. Way better than Credit Karma ever was. And while you're optimizing your finances, check out our credit card payoff calculator to see how quickly you can eliminate debt and improve your score, or use our debt payoff calculator to create a strategic plan.
Ready to track your finances properly?
Combine credit monitoring with smart budgeting. Free to start, Canadian-focused.
No credit card required • Track spending that affects your credit score
Disclaimer: Waypoint Budget is an independent company. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Borrowell, Mogo, Scotiabank, RBC, Credit Karma, or any other companies mentioned in this article. All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners and are used here solely for informational and editorial purposes.