High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Betterment vs. BMO Alto

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

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

Betterment

Cash Reserve

3.50%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$10
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqN/A
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
iOS:4.8Android:4.7
BBB Rating
A-(BBB Accredited)

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.50%
Since 90 days ago
Read Bank Overview

BMO Alto

Savings Account

3.25%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$0
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 16571)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating
A+(BBB Accredited)

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.25%
Since 90 days ago
Read Bank Overview

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

Betterment vs. BMO Alto Savings Calculator

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

Betterment earns $158.6 more than BMO Alto.

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%
View Details

BMO Alto

Savings Account

3.25% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$1,955.50(9.8%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$19,955.50

Effective APY
3.25%
View Details

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

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Betterment vs. BMO Alto

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why Betterment?

  • ✓Higher potential APY (3.50% vs 3.25%) on all balances
  • ✓Higher rated iOS app (4.8 vs 0.0)
  • ✓Higher rated Android app (4.7 vs 0.0)

Why BMO Alto?

No distinct advantages found vs Betterment.

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Betterment

Betterment's Cash Reserve earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $350 vs $325/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Betterment

Betterment's Cash Reserve pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $875 vs $813/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Betterment

Betterment's Cash Reserve offers 3.50% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Betterment

Betterment offers an iOS app rated 4.8 (vs. 0.0) and Android app rated 4.7 (vs. 0.0)

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, Betterment's Cash Reserve pays $25 more interest on a $10,000 balance than BMO Alto's Savings Account.

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

BMO AltoBetterment
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

Betterment offers a competitive Cash Reserve savings account with an APY of 3.50%, making it the higher-yield option compared to BMO Alto's Savings Account, which provides an APY of 3.25%. Both accounts have no minimum balance requirements, no maintenance fees, and are online-only, ensuring easy access. Betterment's account stands out for its simplicity, as it does not require direct deposit or bundling. In contrast, the BMO Alto account also has no direct deposit requirement but offers a slightly lower return. Overall, Betterment is the winner based on the provided APY data.

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.

ExploreBettermentExploreBMO Alto

Stop Losing Interest

See who beats both Betterment and BMO Alto.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+1.10% vs Betterment
Better Rate
Pibank vs BettermentPibank vs BMO Alto
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+0.81% vs Betterment
Better Rate
Axos Bank vs BettermentAxos Bank vs BMO Alto
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+0.90% vs Betterment
Better Rate
TIMBR vs BettermentTIMBR vs BMO Alto
FeatureBettermentBMO Alto
APY
3.50%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.50%90d Change
3.25%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.25%90d Change
Product NameCash ReserveSavings Account
Minimum Deposit$10$0
Min. Balance for APY$0$0
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.7
iOS-
Android-
BBB RatingA-A+
Next Steps
- View Details
- View Details

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 11 Months Analysis
MetricBettermentBMO Alto
Cash ReserveSavings Account
Current APY
3.50%3.25%
Trend
 Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-4.6-7.0
Days Since Change
3982
11-Month High
4.00%4.10%
11-Month Low
3.50%3.25%
Adjustments / Mo
0.190.47
Volatility Score
0.0490.068
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 322-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.

Compare Similar High-Yield Accounts

Compare Betterment vs...

Comparing against Standard Savings

vs Betterment
PibankNo Bundle Req
4.60%
APY
vs Betterment
TIMBRNo Bundle Req
4.40%
APY
vs Betterment
Newtek BankNo Bundle Req
4.35%
APY

Compare BMO Alto vs...

Comparing against Standard Savings

vs BMO Alto
PibankNo Bundle Req
4.60%
APY
vs BMO Alto
TIMBRNo Bundle Req
4.40%
APY
vs BMO Alto
Newtek BankNo Bundle Req
4.35%
APY

Higher Rates (With Checking)

Looking for something different? Check out these top-rated alternatives.

Checking Bundle
Axos Bank View Details
4.31%
APY
Checking Bundle
SoFi Bank View Details
4.30%
APY
Checking Bundle
Presidential Bank View Details
4.00%
APY

More Comparisons

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 Barclays4.00%$0
Betterment vs Bask Bank3.90%$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
Compare BMO Alto's APY of 3.25% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
BMO Alto vs Affirm3.60%$0
BMO Alto vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
BMO Alto vs American Express3.40%$0
BMO Alto vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
BMO Alto vs Bank of America0.01%$100
BMO Alto vs Barclays4.00%$0
BMO Alto vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
BMO Alto vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
BMO Alto vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
BMO Alto vs Capital One3.40%$0
BMO Alto vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
BMO Alto vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
BMO Alto vs Chime3.50%$0
BMO Alto vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
BMO Alto vs Citibank3.30%$0
BMO Alto vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
BMO Alto vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
BMO Alto vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
BMO Alto vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
BMO Alto vs Elevault4.08%$0
BMO Alto vs EverBank4.05%$0
BMO Alto vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
BMO Alto vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
BMO Alto vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
BMO Alto vs FVCbank3.85%$500
BMO Alto vs GO2bank4.50%$0
BMO Alto vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
BMO Alto vs LendingClub4.20%$0
BMO Alto vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
BMO Alto vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
BMO Alto vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
BMO Alto vs Openbank4.20%$500
BMO Alto vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
BMO Alto vs Pibank4.60%$0
BMO Alto vs PNC3.53%$0
BMO Alto vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
BMO Alto vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
BMO Alto vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
BMO Alto vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
BMO Alto vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
BMO Alto vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
BMO Alto vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
BMO Alto vs TD Bank2.75%$0
BMO Alto vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
BMO Alto vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
BMO Alto vs Upgrade3.05%$0
BMO Alto vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
BMO Alto vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
BMO Alto vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
BMO Alto vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
BMO Alto vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
BMO Alto vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10