---
title: What is the difference between a Background Check and a Credit Check?
description: Learn the difference between a Background Check and a Credit Check. Landlords use both to review Tenant history, finances, and reliability.
---

[Skip to content](https://help.frontlobby.com/difference-between-a-background-check-and-a-credit-check#main-content)

[Contact Us](https://help.frontlobby.com/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en)

[![FrontLobby](https://help.frontlobby.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FrontLobby%20Primary%20Logo.png?width=284&height=72&name=FrontLobby%20Primary%20Logo.png)](https://frontlobby.com/)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Contact Us](https://help.frontlobby.com/kb-tickets/new)
- [Free Sign Up](https://app.frontlobby.com/signup/landlord)

[Free Sign Up](https://app.frontlobby.com/signup/landlord)

 How Can We Help?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Help Center](https://help.frontlobby.com/?hsLang=en)
2. [Tenant Screening](https://help.frontlobby.com/tenant-screening?hsLang=en)
3. [Credit Check](https://help.frontlobby.com/tenant-screening?hsLang=en#credit-check)

# What is the difference between a Background Check and a Credit Check?

## A Background Check and Credit Check are both valuable tools for screening purposes and will provide the Landlord with different information.

Both Credit Checks and Background Checks are valuable Tenant Screening tools, but they serve different purposes: 

**Background Check:**

- Searches 110,000+ databases across 240+ countries
- Provides information on: 
    - Employment history
    - Historical addresses
    - Education
    - Criminal records
    - Court decisions
    - Public press mentions
    - Useful for assessing a tenant’s personal history and trustworthiness

**Credit Check:** 

- Focuses on financial health
- Draws directly from Credit Bureau data (e.g., Equifax, TransUnion, Experian)
- Includes: 
    - Payment history (cell phone, credit cards, mortgages, auto loans)
    - Collections
    - Credit inquiries
    - Credit score (300–900) - Higher scores = lower risk.

    
Together, Background Checks and Credit Checks provide Landlords with the best available screening information at an affordable price.

---

Landlords or Property Managers: Free Sign up [HERE](https://app.frontlobby.com/signup/landlord)

- [About FrontLobby](https://help.frontlobby.com/about-frontlobby?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [FrontLobby](https://help.frontlobby.com/about-frontlobby?hsLang=en#frontlobby)
    - [Security and Disputes](https://help.frontlobby.com/about-frontlobby?hsLang=en#security-and-disputes)
    - [Billing & Subscriptions](https://help.frontlobby.com/about-frontlobby?hsLang=en#billing-subscriptions)
    - [Contact Us](https://help.frontlobby.com/about-frontlobby?hsLang=en#contact-us)
- [Landlord FAQs](https://help.frontlobby.com/landlord-faqs?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Account Settings](https://help.frontlobby.com/landlord-faqs?hsLang=en#account-settings)
    - [Sign-in Help](https://help.frontlobby.com/landlord-faqs?hsLang=en#sign-in-help)
    - [Email Notifications](https://help.frontlobby.com/landlord-faqs?hsLang=en#email-notifications)
    - [Lease Records](https://help.frontlobby.com/landlord-faqs?hsLang=en#lease-records)
- [Tenant FAQs](https://help.frontlobby.com/tenant-faqs?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Build Credit](https://help.frontlobby.com/tenant-faqs?hsLang=en#build-credit)
    - [Quick Start Guide](https://help.frontlobby.com/tenant-faqs?hsLang=en#quick-start-guide)
    - [Lease Record](https://help.frontlobby.com/tenant-faqs?hsLang=en#lease-record)
- [Tenant Screening](https://help.frontlobby.com/tenant-screening?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Credit Check](https://help.frontlobby.com/tenant-screening?hsLang=en#credit-check)
- [Rent Reporting](https://help.frontlobby.com/rent-reporting?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Credit Bureau Rent Reporting](https://help.frontlobby.com/rent-reporting?hsLang=en#credit-bureau-rent-reporting)
- [Debt Reporting](https://help.frontlobby.com/debt-reporting?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Former Tenants](https://help.frontlobby.com/debt-reporting?hsLang=en#former-tenants)
- [Billing & Subscription](https://help.frontlobby.com/billing-subscription?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [LCB Memberships](https://help.frontlobby.com/billing-subscription?hsLang=en#lcb-memberships)

Copyright © 2025, FrontLobby