High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Barclays vs. Betterment

Compare rates, requirements, and features side-by-side to find the best option for you.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

Barclays

Tiered Savings

Up to
4.00%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredHigh MinimumGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Range: 3.85% 4.00%
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$250,000
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 57203)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Important Note

The 4.00% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.85%.

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.10%
Since 30 days ago

Market Reality Check

Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.25% APY.

See Top Rates

Barclays vs. Betterment Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Tiered Savings and Cash Reserve
$
$

Barclays earns $223.9 more than Betterment.

Barclays

Tiered Savings

4.00% APY
Higher APY requires $250,000

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,338.00(11.5%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,338.00

Effective APY
3.85%

Betterment

Cash Reserve

3.50% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$2,114.10(10.5%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$20,114.10

Effective APY
3.50%

The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Barclays vs. Betterment

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why Barclays?

  • Higher potential APY (3.60%-4.00% vs 3.50%)
  • Offers 2 different high-yield savings options

Why Betterment?

No distinct advantages found vs Barclays.

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Betterment

Betterment's Cash Reserve earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $350 vs $0/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Betterment

Betterment's Cash Reserve pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $875 vs $0/yr).

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, Barclays's Tiered Savings pays $35 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Betterment's Cash Reserve.

*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.

BettermentBarclays
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Barclays offers a Tiered Savings account with a competitive APY of 4.00% for balances over $250,000, while lower balances earn 3.85%. Alternatively, their Online Savings account provides a 3.60% APY for any amount. In contrast, Betterment's Cash Reserve account offers an APY of 3.50% with a minimum deposit of $10 and no minimum balance requirement. Both banks operate online only, and neither requires direct deposit. While Barclays has a higher yield for larger balances, Betterment's account is more accessible for smaller deposits.

Analysis generated based on current Banksparency database records

* AI-generated content provided for informational purposes only. Accuracy is not guaranteed; always verify details with the provider.

Top Market Contenders

See who beats both Barclays and Betterment.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+0.60% vs Barclays
Better Rate
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.31% vs Barclays
Better Rate
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+0.40% vs Barclays
Better Rate
FeatureBarclaysBetterment
APY
4.00%
Range: 3.85% - 4.00%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.10%90d Change
3.50%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.50%90d Change
Product NameTiered SavingsCash Reserve
Minimum Deposit$0$10
Min. Balance for APY$250,000$0
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.9
Android4.7
iOS4.8
Android4.7
BBB RatingA+A-
Important NotesThe 4.00% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.85%.-
Next Steps

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 11 Months Analysis
MetricBarclaysBetterment
Online SavingsTiered SavingsCash Reserve
Current APY
3.60%4.00%3.50%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-2.7-4.4-4.5
Days Since Change
142139
11-Month High
4.00%4.50%4.00%
11-Month Low
3.60%4.00%3.50%
Adjustments / Mo
0.560.650.19
Volatility Score
0.0250.0360.049
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)

Trends & Velocity

  • Trend: The general direction of the rate over the analyzed period. Useful for spotting if a bank is currently aggressive or pulling back.
  • Velocity (bps/mo): Speed of change. A high positive number means they raise rates quickly. 10 bps = 0.10%.
  • Adjustments/Mo: "Twitchiness." High frequency means the rate changes constantly; low frequency means it's stable.

Risk & Range

  • High/Low: The absolute ceiling and floor of the rate during the 323-day window.
  • Volatility Score: Lower is better for predictability. It indicates how wildly the rate swings relative to its average.
  • Days Since Change: If this number is high (e.g., >90), the rate is very sticky. If low, it changed recently.

More Comparisons

Compare Barclays' APY of 4.00% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Barclays vs Affirm3.60%$0
Barclays vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Barclays vs American Express3.40%$0
Barclays vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Barclays vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Barclays vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Barclays vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Barclays vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Barclays vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Barclays vs Capital One3.40%$0
Barclays vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Barclays vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Barclays vs Chime3.50%$0
Barclays vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Barclays vs Citibank3.30%$0
Barclays vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Barclays vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Barclays vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Barclays vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Barclays vs Elevault4.08%$0
Barclays vs EverBank4.05%$0
Barclays vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Barclays vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Barclays vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Barclays vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Barclays vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Barclays vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Barclays vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Barclays vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Barclays vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Barclays vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Barclays vs Openbank4.20%$500
Barclays vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Barclays vs Pibank4.60%$0
Barclays vs PNC3.53%$0
Barclays vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Barclays vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Barclays vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Barclays vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Barclays vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Barclays vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Barclays vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Barclays vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Barclays vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Barclays vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Barclays vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Barclays vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Barclays vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Barclays vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Barclays vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Barclays vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Barclays vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10
Compare Betterment's APY of 3.50% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Betterment vs Affirm3.60%$0
Betterment vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Betterment vs American Express3.40%$0
Betterment vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Betterment vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Betterment vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Betterment vs BMO Alto3.25%$0
Betterment vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Betterment vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Betterment vs Capital One3.40%$0
Betterment vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Betterment vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Betterment vs Chime3.50%$0
Betterment vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Betterment vs Citibank3.30%$0
Betterment vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Betterment vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Betterment vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Betterment vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Betterment vs Elevault4.08%$0
Betterment vs EverBank4.05%$0
Betterment vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Betterment vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Betterment vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Betterment vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Betterment vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Betterment vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Betterment vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Betterment vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Betterment vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Betterment vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Betterment vs Openbank4.20%$500
Betterment vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Betterment vs Pibank4.60%$0
Betterment vs PNC3.53%$0
Betterment vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Betterment vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Betterment vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Betterment vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Betterment vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Betterment vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Betterment vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Betterment vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Betterment vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Betterment vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Betterment vs Upgrade3.05%$0
Betterment vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Betterment vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Betterment vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Betterment vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Betterment vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Betterment vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10