What's the difference between a FICO score and the credit report it comes from?

They're related but not the same. Your credit report is the detailed record, maintained by the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), of your accounts, balances, payment history, inquiries, and public records. Your credit score is a three-digit number, most commonly a FICO score, calculated from the information in that report. Think of the report as the raw data and the score as a summary grade derived from it. Because each bureau may hold slightly different data, your score can vary depending on which report a lender pulls. You're entitled to free weekly reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com, the only federally authorized source. Always review the underlying report, not just the number, since errors there are what drag scores down.