In terms of numbers, there’s no difference between the main consumer-facing FICO and VantageScore credit score ranges—both go from 300 to 850. (FICO does provide some alternative credit scores that feature different scales, such as industry-specific auto credit scores for car loan lenders, but this isn’t something you need to worry about as a consumer.)
Although FICO and VantageScore use the same scale, they divide up their ranges differently and use different language to describe their score classifications.
The table below shows the credit ranges for FICO and VantageScore, and the language they use to describe them:
In addition to those cosmetic differences, the way in which FICO and VantageScore calculate your credit score is different, because they’re two different companies with two different credit-scoring models. However, even those differences are fairly minor.
The reality is that if you have a high VantageScore credit score, you’ll likely also have a high FICO score. But if you’re planning on making a big purchase like a car or a house, it’s better to know what your FICO score is, because most lenders use your FICO score to make decisions.