Question: Can you recommend a tool that helps me improve my credit score without hiring a credit repair company?

If you want to raise your credit score without paying a credit repair service, Dispute AI is a good option. It'll import and analyze 3-bureau credit reports, find negative accounts and generate a dispute plan to try to get them removed. It's got features like smart import, AI-driven insights, professional letters and progress tracking. It costs $34.99 a month, with unlimited disputes, monthly 3-bureau reports and scores and $1 million identity fraud insurance.

Another good option is Cushion, a financial management service that can help you keep track of bills and establish a credit history. It securely connects accounts for a unified view of your financial obligations and has features like bill organization, a virtual Cushion card for credit-building and credit score monitoring. It costs $4.99 a month to start, and it's a good way to get a handle on your financial situation and raise your credit score.

If you want a more elaborate financial management system, you might like Parthean, an AI-powered service that can automate and simplify tasks like saving, investing and paying off debt. It offers real-time insights, spending tracking and personalized financial planning, and it's got bank-level encryption for security. Parthean offers a free trial period followed by a $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year subscription.

Last, TransUnion's credit protection suite (/project/transunion) offers daily credit score updates and other tools to monitor and manage your credit health. That includes CreditCompass insights, Credit Lock Plus and free weekly credit reports. It doesn't specifically help you dispute negative items, but it does offer a broader credit monitoring service and $1MM ID theft insurance for $29.95 per month.