You can freeze your Experian credit report for free online in just a few minutes at Experian’s website. A credit freeze (also called a security freeze) blocks lenders, credit card companies, and other businesses from pulling your credit report, which prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name. It does not affect your credit score, and you can lift it whenever you need to apply for credit.
How to Freeze Online
The fastest way to place a freeze is through Experian’s website. Go to the Experian Security Freeze Center page and either sign in to your existing Experian account or create a new one. You’ll need to provide your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number so Experian can verify your identity. You may also be asked a few knowledge-based verification questions, like confirming a previous address or an account you hold.
Once your identity is verified, you can request the freeze directly from your account dashboard. Experian is required by federal law to place the freeze within one business day when you submit the request online. After the freeze is in place, you’ll receive a confirmation along with a PIN or login credentials you can use to lift the freeze later. Save that PIN somewhere secure.
Freezing by Phone or Mail
If you prefer not to use the website, you can call Experian’s freeze line at 1-888-397-3742. The phone process walks you through the same identity verification steps, and the same one-business-day timeline applies.
You can also send a written request by mail to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013. Include your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, current and previous addresses (for the past two years), and a copy of a government-issued ID along with a utility bill or bank statement showing your current address. Mailed requests take longer: Experian has up to three business days to process them after receiving your letter.
What a Freeze Costs
Nothing. Federal law, under the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act passed in 2018, makes credit freezes free at all three major credit bureaus. Placing, lifting, and re-placing a freeze costs $0 every time, no matter how often you do it. Parents can also freeze the credit of children under 16 for free, and guardians or those with power of attorney can freeze credit for their dependents at no charge.
Freeze All Three Bureaus
Freezing your Experian report alone leaves you partially exposed. Lenders may pull your credit from Equifax or TransUnion instead, so someone could still open an account in your name using one of those reports. To get full protection, place a freeze at all three bureaus separately:
- Experian: experian.com/freeze or 1-888-397-3742
- Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze or 1-800-685-1111
- TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze or 1-888-909-8872
Each bureau operates independently, so freezing one does not affect the others. You’ll need to go through the verification process at each one.
How to Lift the Freeze
When you need to apply for a mortgage, car loan, credit card, or even a new apartment, the lender or landlord will need to pull your credit. You can temporarily lift (or “thaw”) your freeze through the same Experian account you used to place it. Log in, choose to lift the freeze, and select either a specific date range or a permanent removal.
Online and phone requests to lift a freeze follow the same timeline as placing one: Experian must process them within one business day. If you know which bureau a lender plans to use, you only need to lift the freeze at that bureau. When in doubt, ask the lender before you apply so you don’t have to thaw all three.
Credit Freeze vs. Credit Lock
Experian also offers a “CreditLock” feature, but it is not the same as a freeze. A credit lock can be toggled on and off instantly from a mobile app, which is more convenient than a freeze. However, Experian bundles its lock into a paid subscription that costs $24.99 per month after a seven-day free trial. There is no standalone lock option at Experian.
The free freeze provides the same core protection: it blocks new creditors from accessing your report. The legal protections around a freeze are also established in federal law, while a lock is governed by the terms of a private contract with the bureau. For most people, the free freeze is the better choice. If you find yourself frequently toggling access on and off and want instant control from an app, a lock adds convenience, but at a significant monthly cost.
What a Freeze Does Not Do
A freeze stops new accounts from being opened, but it does not prevent misuse of accounts you already have. Your existing credit cards, loans, and bank accounts continue to function normally. Companies you already have a relationship with can still access your report for account reviews or marketing offers.
A freeze also does not monitor your credit for suspicious activity. If you want alerts when something changes on your report, you would need a credit monitoring service, which is a separate product. However, you can place a free one-year fraud alert alongside your freeze. A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening a new account, and placing one at any single bureau automatically applies it to all three.