American Express vs. Upgrade
Comparing American Express and Upgrade for high-yield savings: American Express's High Yield Savings Account pays 3.30% APY while Upgrade's Premier Savings pays 3.05% APY.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? American Express pays $25 more than Upgrade annually ($330 vs $305).
Choose American Express if getting the best rate matters most, or you want Zelle for quick transfers. Choose Upgrade if BBB rating matters to you, or you're an Android user.
| Metric | American ExpressHigh Yield Savings Account Feb 6, 2026 | UpgradePremier Savings Feb 6, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.30% | 3.05% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$165 $10,000+$330 $25,000+$825 | $5,000+$153 $10,000+$305 $25,000+$763 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often |
Market Reality Check
Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.15% APY.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing American Express vs. Upgrade
Executive Summary
American Express offers a High Yield Savings Account with a competitive APY of 3.30%, which is higher than Upgrade's Premier Savings account at 3.05%. Both accounts require no maintenance fees and have no direct deposit requirements, making them accessible options for savers. However, American Express stands out for its higher yield and simplicity, as it has no minimum balance requirement, while Upgrade requires a minimum balance of $1,000. Both accounts are online-only, ensuring ease of access for customers.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why American Express?
- ✓Higher potential APY (3.30% vs 3.05%) on all balances
- ✓Fast transfers via Zelle®
Why Upgrade?
- ✓Higher rated Android app (4.5 vs 3.6)
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
American ExpressAmerican Express's High Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $330 vs $305/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
American ExpressAmerican Express's High Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $825 vs $763/yr).
Best for Simplicity
American ExpressAmerican Express's High Yield Savings Account offers 3.30% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, American Express's High Yield Savings Account pays $25 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Upgrade's Premier Savings.
*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.
Non-sponsored link to official site
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
American Express vs. Upgrade Savings Calculator
You earn $25 more with American Express than Upgrade on a $10,000 initial deposit for 1 year*.
*This calculation assumes that APYs remain unchanged for 1 year, and takes into account known promo rate periods, but does not factor in bonuses. You can see how often these banks have changed their rates in the Compare Savings Rates Over Time section below.
American Express
High Yield Savings Account
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$330.00(3.2%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,330.00
Upgrade
Premier Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$305.00(3.0%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,305.00
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Still banking with Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo?
On a $10,000 balance, you're missing out on at least $304 per year in interest.
Both American Express and Upgrade dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | American Express | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.30% Verified: 2/6/2026 ↘︎ 0.20%90d Change | 3.05% Verified: 2/6/2026 Stable (90d) |
| Product Name | High Yield Savings Account | Premier Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $1,000 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Branch Access | None | None |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | None | N/A |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Available Requires Amex Rewards Checking; not available for standalone HYSA. | Not Supported |
| BBB Rating | F | A+ |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at American Express Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Upgrade Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | American Express | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| High Yield Savings Account | Premier Savings | |
Current APY | 3.30% | 3.05% |
Trend | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -3.6 | -11.6 |
Days Since Change | 38 | 97 |
12-Month High | 3.80% | 4.14% |
12-Month Low | 3.30% | 3.05% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.41 | 0.25 |
Volatility Score | 0.038 | 0.128 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
Compare Similar High-Yield Accounts
Compare American Express vs...
Comparing against Standard Savings
Compare Upgrade vs...
Comparing against Standard Savings
High Rates (With Checking Bundle)
Looking for something different? Check out these top-rated alternatives.
More Comparisons
Compare American Express' APY of 3.30% with other banks
Compare Upgrade's APY of 3.05% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade vs Ally Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| Upgrade vs Barclays | 4.00% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Upgrade vs Citibank | 3.20% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| Upgrade vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| Upgrade vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |