Barclays vs. Upgrade
Comparing Barclays and Upgrade for high-yield savings: Barclays's Tiered Savings pays 4.00% 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? Barclays pays $80 more than Upgrade annually ($385 vs $305).
Choose Barclays if getting the best rate matters most.
| Metric | BarclaysTiered Savings Feb 6, 2026 | UpgradePremier Savings Feb 6, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.85% - 4.00% | 3.05% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$193 $10,000+$385 $25,000+$963 | $5,000+$153 $10,000+$305 $25,000+$763 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | The 4.00% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.85%. | - |
| Features | FDIC InsuredHigh MinimumGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily 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.
Executive Summary
Barclays offers a competitive Tiered Savings account with a 4.00% APY for balances over $250,000, making it the clear winner compared to Upgrade's Premier Savings account, which has a lower APY of 3.05%. For those with lower balances, Barclays also provides an Online Savings account with a 3.60% APY, which is beneficial for simplicity as it has no direct deposit requirement or maintenance fees. In contrast, Upgrade's Premier Savings requires a minimum balance of $1,000 but does not necessitate direct deposit either. Both banks operate online only, ensuring convenient access to their savings products.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Barclays?
- ✓Higher potential APY (3.60%-4.00% vs 3.05%) on all balances
- ✓Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
Why Upgrade?
No distinct advantages found vs Barclays.
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
BarclaysBarclays's Tiered Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $385 vs $305/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
BarclaysBarclays's Tiered Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $963 vs $763/yr).
Best for Simplicity
BarclaysBarclays's Online Savings offers 3.60% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Barclays's Tiered Savings pays $80 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
Barclays vs. Upgrade Savings Calculator
You earn $80 more with Barclays 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.
Barclays
Tiered Savings
Higher APY requires $250,000
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$385.00(3.7%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,385.00
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 Barclays and Upgrade dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Barclays | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.00% Range: 3.85% - 4.00% Verified: 2/6/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change | 3.05% Verified: 2/6/2026 Stable (90d) |
| Product Name | Tiered Savings | Premier Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $250,000 | $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 | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| Important Notes | The 4.00% APY is only available for balances over $250,000. For lower balances, the APY is 3.85%. | - |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Barclays Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Upgrade Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Barclays | Upgrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Savings | Tiered Savings | Premier Savings | |
Current APY | 3.60% | 4.00% | 3.05% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -2.6 | -3.8 | -11.6 |
Days Since Change | 72 | 79 | 97 |
12-Month High | 3.90% | 4.50% | 4.14% |
12-Month Low | 3.60% | 4.00% | 3.05% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.41 | 0.58 | 0.25 |
Volatility Score | 0.027 | 0.035 | 0.128 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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More Comparisons
Compare Barclays' APY of 4.00% 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 American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| 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 |