Two reports can tell different stories about the same business. Here is how to understand the difference before you spend money on monitoring or apply for financing.
The short answer: Dun & Bradstreet and Experian maintain separate business credit files. D&B’s PAYDEX focuses on reported payment history. Experian’s Intelliscore Plus models assess credit risk using a broader set of inputs. But PAYDEX is only one of D&B’s scores, and Intelliscore comes in different versions. Neither bureau is automatically the right choice for every business.
Start with the decision you are preparing for. Ask the lender or supplier which report it uses, then check that file for accuracy. A strong score on a report nobody is reviewing will not answer their questions.
PAYDEX vs. Intelliscore Plus: check the score name first
Seeing an 80 on one report and a 76 on another can make it tempting to pick a winner. Resist that shortcut. The two numbers can measure different things, even when their scales look alike.
D&B describes PAYDEX as a dollar-weighted measure of past payment performance based on reported trade experiences. That means the size of a payment matters, as well as when it was made. It is not simply the percentage of bills you paid on time.
Similar-looking numbers, different questions
D&B PAYDEX
Looks back: How has the business paid its reported bills?
A score of 80 reflects payment on terms. Above 80 reflects earlier payment.
Intelliscore Plus
1-to-100 model
Looks ahead: How likely is serious delinquency within the next 12 months?
It is a risk model, not a payment-timing score.
Intelliscore Plus V3
Looks further ahead: Uses a 24-month prediction window.
Available models can use commercial data alone or blend it with owner or guarantor data.
There is no direct conversion between these scores. Read the model name, scale and explanation on the actual report.
D&B also offers delinquency, failure and supplier-risk measures. Comparing an entire D&B report with one Experian score would leave out part of the picture. Its scores and ratings overview explains those differences.
A useful habit: write down the bureau, score model and report date together. “My score is 80” tells you much less than “My D&B PAYDEX was 80 on this report date.”
What is a good business credit score?
A useful benchmark depends on the score model. A PAYDEX score of 80 reflects payment on agreed terms; higher scores reflect earlier payment. For Experian’s Intelliscore Plus V2, the published risk classes below describe the 1-to-100 model. They do not apply to Intelliscore Plus V3’s 300-to-850 scale.
| Score range | Risk class |
|---|---|
| 76–100 | Low |
| 51–75 | Low–medium |
| 26–50 | Medium |
| 11–25 | Medium–high |
| 1–10 | High |
Source: Experian’s Intelliscore Plus V2 product sheet. Risk classes are not universal approval thresholds. Check the exact model and explanation on your report; each lender or supplier sets its own requirements.
For practical next steps, see our guide to improving your business credit score.
Why your D&B and Experian files can differ
Your business has one payment history, but each bureau only sees the information available to it. A supplier may report an account to one bureau and not the other. A recently corrected address may appear in one file before the other catches up.
Experian lists payment habits, balances, credit utilization, public records and business characteristics among the inputs to its business credit scoring. Its business credit FAQ also explains why a supplier may be missing from a report.
One business, two separate information paths
- STEP 1
Your business operates
You buy supplies, use credit and make payments. Business information can also appear in public records.
- STEP 2
Information reaches a bureau
Reporting relationships and available records determine what each bureau receives.
- STEP 3
Each file is assembled
D&B and Experian maintain their own records. The accounts and dates may differ.
- STEP 4
A model evaluates the file
The score depends on the information and model used. Different results are possible.
An account missing from one report is a reason to investigate, not proof that the other report is wrong.
For example, imagine your packaging supplier reports to D&B while another credit provider reports to Experian. Even if you pay both on time, the files may contain different account histories. This is an illustration, not a claim about a particular supplier’s reporting policy. Ask each provider which bureaus it reports to.
If you want help understanding the account entries themselves, use our guide to reading a business credit report.
D&B vs. Experian: Business Credit Reports, Monitoring and Costs
Before buying anything, decide what you need to do. Finding your business, correcting an address, buying a report and monitoring changes are different tasks. A subscription may make sense for ongoing checks, but it is not automatically necessary for a one-time review.
Match the tool to the job
| Your task | Dun & Bradstreet | Experian Business |
|---|---|---|
| Find your business | Use the D-U-N-S lookup to find your business identifier. | Free company search returns matching businesses and their Experian Business Identification Number, or BIN. |
| Review and correct details | D-U-N-S Profile Manager allows verified representatives to request updates and dispute payment information. | Use the report’s data-dispute function or the official business-information update process. |
| Monitor your own file | D&B Credit Insights Free provides risk-range indicators and summary information. Paid options provide actual scores and additional detail; included features vary by plan. | Business Credit Advantage provides monitoring for one business, report refreshes and alerts. |
| Buy a report | Credit Insights lists Business Information Reports as an additional purchase option. | CreditScore and ProfilePlus are pay-per-report options. Compare the included information before choosing. |
Check the included scores, refresh rules, cancellation terms and renewal price before paying.
How much do D&B and Experian business credit reports cost?
Prices checked October 22, 2026: D&B lists Credit Insights Free at $0 and Basic at $49 a month or $499 a year. Experian lists Business Credit Advantage at $199 a year, CreditScore at $59.95 per report and ProfilePlus at $69.95 per report. These packages serve different needs; compare their features as well as the price.
D&B’s free plan shows risk-range indicators rather than the actual numeric scores available through paid options. Experian’s free company search helps you locate a business; it is not a free full credit report. Its comparison chart lists corporate financial information and a credit-limit recommendation with ProfilePlus, while CreditScore does not include those items. Confirm the current offer, report contents, renewal price and cancellation terms before paying.
Sources: D&B Credit Insights product terms; D&B plan pricing; Experian report and monitoring comparison.
A D-U-N-S Number and an Experian BIN identify a business in their respective databases. Neither is a credit score, and neither replaces your EIN. If your tax identifier is the piece you are missing, our EIN lookup guide covers that separate task.
Do Lenders Use Dun & Bradstreet or Experian?
Ask the person making the decision. “Which business credit report do you use?” is more useful than guessing based on whether you are speaking to a bank, supplier or online lender.
D&B says its information can be used by suppliers, banks and other businesses. There is no sound reason to treat D&B as a supplier-only bureau or Experian as a universal lending requirement. A lender may also consider information beyond either business credit file.
Start with the decision in front of you
A supplier asks for D&B
Check your D&B identity details, payment history and the specific score or report the supplier requests.
A lender names Experian
Review the Experian business file. Ask which score model is relevant and whether other credit checks apply.
Nobody names a bureau
Ask before buying. Review the files relevant to your upcoming applications, including Equifax if requested.
You spot an error
Dispute it with the bureau showing it. Keep supporting records and check the result after the investigation.
For financing, put the credit review alongside the numbers that explain how you will repay. Our small business loans guide covers funding options, qualification factors and repayment costs. A bureau score is one piece of that preparation.
What to do when the reports do not match
You do not need to make the scores identical. You need to make sure each file describes your business accurately.
- Confirm the business identity. Check the legal name, location and identifier. Make sure you are looking at the right company and location.
- Read the accounts and dates. Look for unfamiliar accounts, wrong balances or payment information that does not match your records. A missing account and an inaccurate account need different follow-up.
- Keep supporting documents. Save invoices, receipts, statements and any correspondence that explains the disputed entry.
- Use the bureau’s correction process. D&B provides D-U-N-S Profile Manager. Experian provides business credit information corrections and a dispute function within reports.
- Recheck after the response. A request is not a confirmed correction. Keep the case number and review the result before relying on it in an application.
If a filing is confusing, first identify what it represents. Our UCC filing guide explains the purpose of a lender’s security-interest filing. Do not assume every filing means a missed payment.
Dun & Bradstreet vs. Experian FAQs
Is Dun & Bradstreet the same as Experian?
No. They are separate companies with separate business databases, identifiers, products and scoring models. Checking one does not show you everything in the other.
Is a PAYDEX score of 80 the same as an Experian score of 80?
No. PAYDEX describes payment performance. An Intelliscore Plus result describes modeled credit risk. Check the score version and its explanation before interpreting the number.
Do I need to pay to correct my business information?
D&B offers profile updates through its free Profile Manager, subject to verification. Experian provides official correction and dispute channels. Start with those processes rather than assuming a paid monitoring plan is required to report an error.
Does a D-U-N-S Number guarantee a credit score?
No. An identifier is not a score. D&B’s sample-report documentation states that a PAYDEX score requires at least three trade experiences reported by at least two different vendors. Those experiences must be usable in the bureau’s file. A D-U-N-S Number alone does not provide that payment history.
Does checking my Experian business credit report lower my score?
No. Experian says checking your own business credit report is a soft inquiry and does not affect your business credit score. This is different from applying for financing, when a lender may perform separate business or personal credit checks.
How long does an Experian business credit dispute take?
Experian says investigations generally finish within 30 days, although complex cases may take longer. Save the case number and supporting documents, then check the outcome before relying on the report in an application. See Experian’s correction and investigation guidance.
Where does Equifax fit?
Equifax is another major business credit bureau. This article compares D&B and Experian, but a lender may request Equifax information too. Our business credit report guide introduces all three.
Put the report in context
Before you apply, know what you need to borrow, how the money will be used and what payment your cash flow can support. Then compare the financing options alongside your credit information.
Sources and review notes
This comparison uses the bureaus’ own documentation. Product features, prices and score versions can change. Check the current product page and the model shown on your report.
