Does Preapproval Affect Your Credit Score?
5 Min Read | Published: December 22, 2025
This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.
Does credit card preapproval affect your credit score? Discover how preapprovals work, what a soft credit check entails, and how to shop for credit cards worry-free.
At-A-Glance
- A preapproved credit card offer isn’t a guarantee you’ll qualify for a card, but it means the card issuer has determined you meet some of the criteria.
- Preapprovals for credit cards typically use soft inquiries, which don’t affect your credit score.
- If you decide to formally apply for the card, it’ll likely involve a hard credit check.
Ever see a “You’re preapproved!” offer in your mailbox or inbox and wonder if it’s too good to be true? Cards issuers send preapprovals to potential customers who they’ve determined are good candidates for a given credit card. Preapprovals allow a glimpse into which cards you might qualify for, without the pressure—or the risk—of applying right away. Here’s how it works, and how you can use preapprovals to make smarter credit card choices.
What Preapproval Actually Means
Sometimes, card issuers will tell you that you’ve been preapproved for a new card, even though you haven’t applied for it. This is typically because they’ve made a soft inquiry into your credit,1 which reviews basic aspects of your credit history. Based on the information from the soft inquiry, the card issuer can see that you meet some preliminary requirements for a certain card.
If you learn that you’re preapproved for a credit card, you can feel more confident formally applying for the card. While preapproval doesn’t guarantee that you’ll qualify for the card,2 it can help you feel more confident about your chances if you like the card’s offerings and decide to apply.
Do Preapprovals Hurt Your Credit Score?
Because credit card preapprovals involve soft inquiries, they don’t impact your credit score.3 If you formally apply after being preapproved, the issuer will do a hard inquiry, which will temporarily lower your credit score.4 Because each issuer does a hard credit check when you apply, you may want to avoid applying for multiple credit cards at once.
If you don’t want to wait to receive a preapproved offer, consider exploring prequalification tools. Prequalification tools also use soft credit checks to give you an idea of the cards you’re likely to qualify for (but again, don’t guarantee you’ll be approved). The difference is that you initiate prequalification, while a card issuer initiates preapproval.
Did you know?
You can apply for a U.S. American Express personal Card and now if you’re approved with no impact to your credit score.
A hard credit check only occurs after you’ve accepted the Card, not during the application process itself. If you choose to accept the Card, the information we provide to the credit bureau(s) may impact your score.
How to Use Preapproval to Your Advantage
No one wants to apply for a credit card, not get approved, and have their credit score take a hit with nothing to show for it. When you know you’re preapproved, you may feel better risking a small ding to your credit when you officially apply.
Let’s say you’re house-hunting and looking to apply for a mortgage in the next few months. If you need a new line of credit, you might be worried about several hard inquiries at a time when you want your credit to be at its strongest. What if you don’t qualify for the first card and need to apply for another? If you get a preapproved offer, though, you’ll have more confidence that you could qualify for that card, potentially allowing you to avoid multiple hard inquiries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Zero. Credit card preapprovals use soft inquiries, which don’t show up on your credit report and have no impact on your score.
They’re similar, but preapproval is often a stronger indication you’ll be approved for a credit card if you apply.5 Prequalification is more of an initial check. Neither is a guarantee you’ll be approved formally.
Yes. Preapproval means you meet certain criteria, but final approval depends on a full review, including your income, debt-to-income ratio, and credit report when you apply.6
Improving your payment history, lowering credit utilization, and correcting errors on your credit report can help boost your score. Most improvements take time, so think in terms of months rather than days or weeks.
The Takeaway
Think of preapprovals and prequalification like window-shopping for credit cards: You can look without committing. They don’t affect your credit score, and they give you a smart way to narrow down your options. If you’re ready to explore, check for offers with American Express.
1,2,5 “Prequalified vs. Preapproved: What’s the Difference?,” Experian
3,4 “What Is a Soft Inquiry?,” Experian
6 “Does Getting Preapproved Affect Your Credit?,” Experian
Scott Drueding Hanson is a content writer and copywriter based in Brooklyn. His work focuses primarily on personal finance.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
Related Articles
Does Prequalification Affect Your Credit Score?
Learn how prequalification for loans or credit cards can impact your credit score. See situations where it could make sense to get prequalified.
What Affects Your Credit Score?
There are many factors that can influence your credit score. Find out how late payments, debt, and credit history can impact your score.
What Does It Mean to Prequalify for a Credit Card?
Credit card prequalification is an easy way to help you see how likely you are to be approved for a credit card. Learn how prequalification works.
The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and intended for U.S. residents and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.
