Compare high-yield savings accounts, CDs & money markets: 13 top picks for 2026
Your savings shouldn't earn 0.38% — that's the national average, and every account below beats it by roughly 10x. Compare 13 FDIC-insured accounts: high-yield savings for flexibility, 1-year CDs for locked rates, and money market accounts for yield plus check-writing. Every APY verified November 1, 2026.
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High-yield savings accounts
| Account | Happen Bank LevelUp Savings | Marcus Online Savings Account | Ally Online Savings Account | Capital One 360 Performance Savings | American Express High Yield Savings | Barclays Online Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.20%* | 3.50%* | 3.20%* | 3.20%* | 3.20%* | 3.20% |
| Minimum to open | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Minimum to earn APY | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0.01 |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| FDIC insured | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
* Happen Bank LevelUp Savings: LevelUp rate with $250+ in total deposits per statement cycle; 3.00% standard rate otherwise. Rates accurate as of 11/01/2026 per happen.com. Recently rebranded from LendingClub Bank.
* Marcus Online Savings Account: Annual percentage yield as of November 01, 2026 per Marcus.
* Ally Online Savings Account: Same 3.20% across all balance tiers, per Ally's own rates page (APYs accurate as of 10/30/2026).
* Capital One 360 Performance Savings: Variable APY; Bankrate and Capital One list 3.20%, rates effective November 1, 2026.
* American Express High Yield Savings: Amex terms state "APY accurate as of 11/1/2026"; 3.20% confirmed by Fool and Banksparency (observed 10/30/2026).
Barclays also markets Tiered Savings (3.50% under $250k, 3.65% on $250k+ as of Oct 2026 per Fool reviews) — confirm which product you're opening before applying.
Rates verified November 2026. Banks change APYs without notice — confirm the current rate on the provider's site before opening an account.
Happen Bank LevelUp Savings
The 2026 award winner in our set: a 4.20% APY — the highest savings yield in our comparison — but only if you deposit $250 or more in total each statement cycle. Miss it and it drops to the 3.00% standard rate, still about 8x the national average.
Marcus Online Savings Account
Goldman Sachs' consumer bank pays 3.50% — the highest no-hoops rate among the big bank brands here — with $0 to open, no monthly fees, and no minimum balance to earn the rate.
Ally Online Savings Account
Ally pays 3.20% on every balance tier and pairs it with the best savings tools in the business — buckets for goals, Round Ups, Surprise Savings — plus real humans available 24/7.
Capital One 360 Performance Savings
3.20% variable with no fees or minimums — plus something no other account here offers: 450+ branches and 50 Capital One Cafes for in-person help, and a top-rated app with AutoSave.
American Express High Yield Savings
American Express National Bank pays 3.20% with no minimums and no fees — a natural fit if you already live in the Amex app, since your savings sits alongside your cards.
Barclays Online Savings
Barclays pays 3.20% on its Online Savings account with just $0.01 needed to earn interest and no monthly fees — a touch above the 3.00% cluster, from a bank with years in US online banking.
Certificates of deposit (1-year)
| Account | Ally High Yield CD | Marcus High-Yield CD | Capital One 360 CD | Synchrony High Yield CD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year APY | 4.50%* | 4.40%* | 4.00%* | 4.30%* |
| Minimum to open | $0 | $500 | $0 | $0 |
| Early-withdrawal penalty | 60 days' interest (3–24 month terms) | 90 days' interest on early principal withdrawal (Sep 2026 review) | Up to 6 months' interest (even on 5-year terms) | 90 days' simple interest (terms of 12 months or less) |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
* Ally High Yield CD: 12-month term. Also 4.25% on 3-year and 4.50% on 5-year terms (Ally rates page, APYs accurate as of 10/30/2026).
* Marcus High-Yield CD: 12-month term. Also 18-mo and 2–6 yr at 4.40% (Marcus CD Explorer, APY as of November 01, 2026).
* Capital One 360 CD: 12-month term. Also 3.50% on 3-year and 3.60% on 5-year (NerdWallet, Sep 2026).
* Synchrony High Yield CD: 12-month term. 4.30% per Bankrate and BankTruth (11/1/2026); Synchrony's own rates page states APYs accurate as of 11/01/2026.
Limited-time: Capital One is also running an 11-month CD at 4.50% (rates checked November 1, 2026).
Rates verified November 2026. Banks change APYs without notice — confirm the current rate on the provider's site before opening an account.
Ally High Yield CD
Ally's 1-year CD pays 4.50% — now the highest 1-year CD rate in this set — with no minimum deposit and a Ten Day Best Rate Guarantee — if the rate rises within 10 days of opening, you automatically get the higher rate.
Marcus High-Yield CD
Marcus pays 4.40% on its 12-month CD — among the highest 1-year rates in this set (Ally now pays 4.50%) — but unlike most picks here, it requires $500 to open and to earn the rate.
Capital One 360 CD
Capital One's 1-year CD pays 4.00% — a top-tier 1-year rate — with $0 to open and nine term lengths (6 months to 5 years) that make laddering easy.
Synchrony High Yield CD
Synchrony's 1-year CD pays 4.30% — a top-tier 1-year rate — with no minimum balance and daily compounding.
Money market accounts
| Account | Ally Money Market Account | Sallie Mae Money Market Account | Quontic Money Market Account |
|---|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20%* | 3.60%* | 3.90%* |
| Minimum to open | $0 | $0 | $100 |
| Minimum to earn APY | $0 | $0 | $0.01 |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Checks / debit | Debit card + checks | Checks (no debit card) | Debit card + checks |
* Ally Money Market Account: Per Ally's own rates page: APYs accurate as of 10/30/2026; no minimum balance required to earn APY.
* Sallie Mae Money Market Account: Bankrate, as of 10/1/2026.
* Quontic Money Market Account: Bankrate, APY as of 9/15/2026; Quontic's own disclosures confirm 3.90% across all balance tiers (info as of 9/1/2026).
Rates verified November 2026. Banks change APYs without notice — confirm the current rate on the provider's site before opening an account.
Ally Money Market Account
Ally's money market account pays 3.20% with no minimum balance to earn it — plus a debit card and checks, so your emergency fund stays spendable while it earns.
Sallie Mae Money Market Account
Sallie Mae pays 3.60% with no minimum to open, no monthly fee, and check-writing — the highest no-minimum money market yield in our set.
Quontic Money Market Account
Quontic's money market account pays 3.90% — the highest MMA rate in our comparison — with a debit card, check-writing, and no monthly fees, for a $100 opening deposit.
Savings growth calculator
Savings growth calculator
See what your money could grow to with monthly compounding. Try one of the APYs from the tables above.
Common questions
Are online savings accounts safe?
Yes — every account compared here is FDIC-insured, which protects your deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. An online bank with FDIC insurance is as safe as a branch bank for deposits under the limit.
What's the difference between a high-yield savings account and a CD?
A high-yield savings account keeps your money flexible: the rate is variable and you can withdraw anytime. A CD locks your money for a fixed term (like 12 months) at a fixed rate — pull out early and you pay a penalty, typically 60 to 180 days of interest. If you might need the cash, choose savings; if you won't touch it, a CD locks in today's rate.
What happens to my savings rate if the Fed cuts interest rates?
Savings and money market APYs are variable — they usually drift down after Fed rate cuts. That's why the national average savings rate is just 0.38% while top online accounts pay 3–4%. CD rates are fixed when you open, so a CD locks in today's yield for the full term.
How is a money market account different from a savings account?
Yields are similar and both are FDIC-insured. The difference is access: money market accounts typically come with checks and a debit card (Ally and Quontic include both; Sallie Mae offers checks), while savings accounts are transfer-only. Money market accounts may also limit certain withdrawals per statement cycle.
Why isn't Discover listed here?
Capital One's acquisition of Discover closed in May 2025 — Capital One's own disclosures note that Discover Bank accounts opened on or after May 18, 2025 count together with your other Capital One deposit accounts for FDIC insurance purposes. We list those accounts under Capital One.
How current are these rates?
Every APY on this page was verified on November 1, 2026. Banks change rates without notice, so confirm the current APY on the provider's site before opening an account. We re-verify these rates monthly.
Is this financial advice?
No. These are educational comparisons to help you research — not personalized recommendations. Talk to a qualified financial professional about your own situation.