Credit Freeze vs Credit Lock vs Fraud Alert: Which to Use When (Including a Child's Freeze)
Three tools promise to stop identity thieves from opening credit in your name. One is free and backed by federal law, one runs on a company contract, and one just asks lenders to double-check. Here is which to use, and when.
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📐 Figures verified Sep 28, 2026 against the FTC's guidance on credit freezes and fraud alerts, the credit freeze and fraud alert provisions of Public Law 115-174 (section 301, in effect since September 21, 2018) and the CFPB on free credit reports. How we check numbers →
For most people, a credit freeze at all three bureaus is the strongest protection, and it's free by law: it blocks new credit in your name until you lift it. A fraud alert is weaker but easier, making lenders verify it's you for a year. A lock works like a freeze but runs on the bureau's contract, not the law. Freeze kids' credit too.
Numbers That Matter
| Figure | Amount | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit freeze cost | Free at all three bureaus, for adults and children | FTC | Sep 28, 2026 |
| How fast | Placed within 1 business day and lifted within 1 hour when requested online or by phone | FTC | Sep 28, 2026 |
| A child's freeze | Parents and guardians can freeze credit for children under 16 | FTC | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Initial fraud alert | Lasts 1 year; the bureau you contact tells the other two | FTC | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Extended fraud alert | Lasts 7 years for identity theft victims | FTC | Sep 28, 2026 |
| The law behind free freezes | Free freezes and one-year fraud alerts since Sept. 21, 2018 | P.L. 115-174, section 301 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Watching for fraud | Free credit reports from each bureau, every week | CFPB | Sep 28, 2026 |
Freeze vs Lock vs Fraud Alert
| Credit freeze | Credit lock | Fraud alert | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Blocks lenders from pulling your report for new credit | Same effect, turned on and off in the bureau's app | Tells lenders to verify your identity before approving credit |
| Cost | Free by law | Varies; some are free, some come with paid subscriptions | Free |
| Governed by | Federal law | Your agreement with the bureau | Federal law |
| Bureaus covered | One at a time; place all three | One at a time | Contact one; it tells the other two |
| How long | Until you lift it | Until you unlock | 1 year (7 years extended) |
| Best for | Most people, most of the time | Frequent credit applicants who like an app toggle | Quick protection after a scare, or while applying for credit |
How a Freeze Works
A freeze stops the three nationwide credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, from releasing your report to new lenders, so most new-account fraud fails at the application. It doesn't affect your credit score, and it doesn't stop your existing lenders, collectors or some government agencies from seeing your report. When you want to apply for credit, lift it temporarily, or only at the bureau the lender uses, then refreeze. Keep your PINs or account logins somewhere safe.
A freeze doesn't stop pre-approved credit offers; you can opt out of those separately. And some specialty bureaus, such as those used for bank accounts and phone or utility service, offer their own freezes if you want to go further.
A Child's Freeze
Children are attractive targets because nobody checks their credit for years. Parents and guardians can freeze the credit of a child under 16 at each bureau; if the child has no file, the bureau creates one just to freeze it. You'll send proof of your identity and the child's, such as a birth certificate and Social Security card. Guardians and people with a power of attorney can freeze credit for an adult they represent, too.
Fraud Alerts: Initial, Extended and Active Duty
- Initial fraud alert: free, lasts a year and can be renewed. Contact any one bureau; it notifies the other two.
- Extended fraud alert: for identity theft victims, lasts seven years and requires an identity theft report, which you can create at IdentityTheft.gov.
- Active-duty alert: for service members deployed away from their usual duty station, lasting a year.
Freezing at All Three Bureaus
- Go to each bureau's official freeze page (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), reached from their main websites, or call them.
- Verify your identity and create the account or PIN you'll use to lift the freeze.
- Repeat for each child under 16, by mail or online as each bureau allows.
- Save the confirmations and logins in a password manager or safe place.
- Before applying for credit, ask which bureau the lender uses and lift only that one, for a set period.
Worked Example: Three Households, One Stolen Number
- Frozen at all three bureaus: a thief with your Social Security number applies for a $5,000 card and a $12,000 auto loan. Neither lender can pull your report, so both applications fail.
- Fraud alert only: the lenders must take reasonable steps to confirm it's really you. A careful lender calls you and the fraud stops; a careless one may not.
- No protection: both accounts may open, and you could be disputing $17,000 of fraudulent debt, filing reports and repairing your credit.
- A child's number: without a freeze, a thief could build up $8,000 of debt under a 10-year-old's number that nobody notices until the child applies for a first card at 18.
Amounts are illustrative. A freeze doesn't stop fraud on accounts you already have; watch statements and free weekly reports too.
Decision Rules
If this, then that
- If you're not applying for credit in the next few months → freeze all three bureaus.
- If you're applying soon → freeze anyway and lift only the lender's bureau when it's time.
- If your data was just exposed → place a fraud alert today and a freeze as soon as you can.
- If your identity was stolen → file at IdentityTheft.gov, add an extended fraud alert and keep freezes on.
- If you have children under 16 → freeze their credit at all three bureaus.
- If a lock comes with a monthly fee → remember the freeze is free and backed by law.
Mistakes to avoid
- Freezing one bureau and forgetting the other two.
- Losing the PIN or login you need to lift a freeze.
- Paying for a lock when you wanted a freeze.
- Assuming a freeze protects cards you already have.
- Never checking a child's credit until they turn 18.
Related: the first 24 hours after a scam is the checklist if something already happened; protecting a parent from scams covers freezes for older relatives; how to read your credit report shows what to check each week; and debt relief scams covers the fee rules that protect you.