High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

BMO Alto vs. Upgrade

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

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated December 10, 2025

Upgrade

Premier Savings

3.05%
APY
Dec 10, 2025
FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
Show Fine Print & Trends
Min. Deposit$0
Min. Balance$1,000
Maintenance Fee$0
Compound FreqDaily
Direct DepositNot required
Deposit InsuranceFDIC Insured(Cert: 58410)
EligibilityUnited States
Mobile Ratings
BBB Rating

Rate Stability

Rate Adjusted
-0.97%
Since 90 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

BMO Alto vs. Upgrade Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Savings Account and Premier Savings
$
$

BMO Alto earns $125.9 more than Upgrade.

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%

Upgrade

Premier Savings

3.05% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$1,829.60(9.2%)
  • Total Contributions
    $13,000
  • Initial Deposit
    $5,000

Projected Balance

$19,829.60

Effective APY
3.05%

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

Comparison Analysis

Comparing BMO Alto vs. Upgrade

Updated: Dec 10, 2025

Why BMO Alto?

  • Higher potential APY (3.25% vs 3.05%) on all balances

Why Upgrade?

  • Higher rated iOS app (4.9 vs 0.0)
  • Higher rated Android app (4.5 vs 0.0)

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
BMO Alto

BMO Alto's Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $325 vs $305/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
BMO Alto

BMO Alto's Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $813 vs $763/yr).

Best for Simplicity
BMO Alto

BMO Alto's Savings Account offers 3.25% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Upgrade

Upgrade offers an iOS app rated 4.9 (vs. 0.0) and Android app rated 4.5 (vs. 0.0)

Shared Benefits

Both offer monthly maintenance-free account options Both banks have options with $0 opening deposit Available Nationwide Available to New & Existing Customers
The Bottom Line on APY (Interest Only)

Over a 1-year period, BMO Alto's Savings Account pays $20 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.

UpgradeBMO Alto
Automated Data Audit

Executive Summary

BMO Alto offers a competitive Savings Account with an APY of 3.25%, making it the winner in this comparison. This account requires no minimum deposit or balance, and there are no maintenance fees, providing a straightforward savings option. In contrast, Upgrade's Premier Savings account offers a slightly lower APY of 3.05% and requires a minimum balance of $1,000. Both accounts are online-only and do not require direct deposit. While Upgrade excels in mobile app experience, BMO Alto stands out for its higher yield and simplicity.

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.

Stop Losing Interest

See who beats both BMO Alto and Upgrade.

Compare All High-Yield Savings Accounts
Pibank
Pibank Savings
FDIC InsuredNo Minimums
4.60% APY
+1.35% vs BMO Alto
Better Rate
Axos Bank
Axos ONE
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App
4.31% APY
+1.06% vs BMO Alto
Better Rate
TIMBR
Premium Savings Account
FDIC InsuredLow Minimums
4.40% APY
+1.15% vs BMO Alto
Better Rate
FeatureBMO AltoUpgrade
APY
3.25%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.25%90d Change
3.05%
Verified: 12/10/2025
↘︎ 0.97%90d Change
Product NameSavings AccountPremier Savings
Minimum Deposit$0$0
Min. Balance for APY$0$1,000
Monthly Fee$0$0
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS-
Android-
iOS4.9
Android4.5
BBB RatingA+A+
Next Steps

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 11 Months Analysis
MetricBMO AltoUpgrade
Savings AccountPremier Savings
Current APY
3.25%3.05%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-7.1-10.3
Days Since Change
8340
11-Month High
4.10%4.14%
11-Month Low
3.25%3.05%
Adjustments / Mo
0.460.28
Volatility Score
0.0680.105
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 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 Betterment3.50%$10
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 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
Compare Upgrade's APY of 3.05% with other banks
Bank PairCompetitor APYMin Deposit
Upgrade vs Affirm3.60%$0
Upgrade vs Ally Bank3.30%$0
Upgrade vs American Express3.40%$0
Upgrade vs Axos Bank4.31%$0
Upgrade vs Bank of America0.01%$100
Upgrade vs Barclays4.00%$0
Upgrade vs Bask Bank3.90%$0
Upgrade vs Betterment3.50%$10
Upgrade vs Bread Savings4.10%$100
Upgrade vs BrioDirect4.00%$5,000
Upgrade vs Capital One3.40%$0
Upgrade vs Charles Schwab Bank0.15%$0
Upgrade vs Chase Bank0.01%$0
Upgrade vs Chime3.50%$0
Upgrade vs CIT Bank3.75%$100
Upgrade vs Citibank3.30%$0
Upgrade vs Citizens Access™3.15%$0.01
Upgrade vs Climate First Bank4.21%$50
Upgrade vs Discover Bank3.40%$0
Upgrade vs E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley3.75%$0
Upgrade vs Elevault4.08%$0
Upgrade vs EverBank4.05%$0
Upgrade vs Fitness Bank4.75%$100
Upgrade vs FNBO Direct3.00%$1
Upgrade vs Forbright Bank4.00%$0
Upgrade vs FVCbank3.85%$500
Upgrade vs GO2bank4.50%$0
Upgrade vs Ivy Bank4.25%$2,500
Upgrade vs LendingClub4.20%$0
Upgrade vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs3.65%$0
Upgrade vs Neighbors Bank4.30%$0
Upgrade vs Newtek Bank4.35%$0.01
Upgrade vs Openbank4.20%$500
Upgrade vs Peak Bank4.20%$100
Upgrade vs Pibank4.60%$0
Upgrade vs PNC3.53%$0
Upgrade vs Presidential Bank4.00%$5,000
Upgrade vs Quontic Bank3.75%$100
Upgrade vs Salem Five Direct3.71%$10
Upgrade vs Sallie Mae Bank3.90%$0
Upgrade vs Santander Bank0.01%$25
Upgrade vs SoFi Bank4.30%$0
Upgrade vs Synchrony Bank3.65%$0
Upgrade vs TD Bank2.75%$0
Upgrade vs TIMBR4.40%$1,000
Upgrade vs UFB Direct3.71%$5000
Upgrade vs Valley Direct4.10%$1,000
Upgrade vs Varo Bank5.00%$0
Upgrade vs Vio Bank4.16%$100
Upgrade vs Wealthfront4.15%$0
Upgrade vs Wells Fargo0.05%$25
Upgrade vs Zynlo Bank4.05%$10