High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

Ivy Bank vs. Wealthfront

Comparing Ivy Bank and Wealthfront for high-yield savings: Ivy Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays 3.85% APY while Wealthfront's Cash Account pays 4.20% APY (including a 3-month 0.90% promo boost).

See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated April 7, 2026

The Bottom Line

Who pays more interest on $10,000? Ivy Bank pays $33 more than Wealthfront annually ($385 vs $353).

Choose Ivy Bank if getting the best rate matters most, you want a no-strings-attached account, you want to avoid a promo rate with a scheduled drop, or BBB rating matters to you. Choose Wealthfront if you're an Android user.

Important Considerations

The key difference? Wealthfront's 4.20% rate includes a promotional bonus for the first 3 months, after which it reverts to the standard rate (currently 3.30%). Ivy Bank's 3.85% rate has no scheduled drop, though all rates are subject to change.

Comparison of Ivy Bank vs Wealthfront savings accounts
Metric

Ivy Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

Apr 7, 2026

Wealthfront

Cash Account

Apr 7, 2026
APY0.05% - 3.85%3.30% - 4.20%
Est. Earnings
$5,000+$193
$10,000+$385
$25,000+$963
$5,000+$176
$10,000+$353
$25,000+$881
Min Deposit
$2,500$0

Snapshot view. Rates subject to change.

Terms
-Wealthfront is not a bank but a financial services company. It is FDIC-insured through its many partner banks. New customers may earn the top rate of 4.20% for 3 months with direct deposit. See terms at Wealthfront.
Features
FDIC InsuredMod. MinimumGreat iOS AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often
FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often

Prefer In-Person Banking?

Both of these banks are online-only. If you need physical branch access, check out our list of high-yield accounts with brick-and-mortar locations.

Find Branch Access

Comparison Analysis

Comparing Ivy Bank vs. Wealthfront

Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Executive Summary

Wealthfront offers the highest APY with its Cash Account at 4.20%, making it an attractive option for savers seeking simplicity, as it has no minimum deposit or balance requirements and no direct deposit necessary. In contrast, Ivy Bank's High-Yield Savings Account provides a competitive rate of 3.85% but requires a minimum deposit of $2,500 and is limited to residents of California and U.S. Territories. Both accounts are online-only and FDIC-insured, with Wealthfront's account also noted for its superior mobile app experience.

The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records

* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.

Why Ivy Bank?

No distinct advantages found vs Wealthfront.

Why Wealthfront?

  • Higher potential APY (4.20% vs 3.85%) for a duration of 3 months
  • No checking account or direct deposit required
  • Higher rated Android app (4.9 vs 3.4)
  • Available Nationwide

— Key Feature Differences —

Better Returns at $10,000
Ivy Bank

Ivy Bank's High-Yield Savings Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $385 vs $353/yr).

Better Returns at $25,000
Ivy Bank

Ivy Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $963 vs $881/yr).

Best for Simplicity
Wealthfront

Wealthfront's Cash Account offers 4.20% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

Best Mobile App Experience
Wealthfront

Wealthfront offers an iOS app rated 4.8 (vs. 4.6) and Android app rated 4.9 (vs. 3.4)

Shared Benefits

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

Over a 1-year period, Ivy Bank's High-Yield Savings Account pays $33 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Wealthfront's Cash Account.

*This comparison accounts for Wealthfront's introductory promotional rate, yet Ivy Bank's standard rate still yields a higher 1-year return.

WealthfrontIvy Bank
Verify At
Ivy Bank

Non-sponsored link to official site

Verify At
Wealthfront

Non-sponsored link to official site

Top Market Contenders

Discover Bank
3.30% APY
Synchrony Bank
3.50% APY

Ivy Bank vs. Wealthfront Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for High-Yield Savings Account and Cash Account
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You earn $30.8 more with Ivy Bank than Wealthfront 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.

Ivy Bank

High-Yield Savings Account

3.85% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$385.00(3.7%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,385.00

Effective APY
3.85%

Wealthfront

Cash Account

4.20% APY

Promo Rate: 4.20% for 3 months, then 3.30%.

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$354.20(3.4%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,354.20

Effective APY
3.54%

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 $352 per year in interest.

Both Ivy Bank and Wealthfront dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.

Big banks currently pay 0.01% APY on savings vs 3.85%+ here
FeatureIvy BankWealthfront
APY
3.85%
Range: 0.05% - 3.85%
Verified: 4/7/2026
↘︎ 0.25%90d Change
4.20%
Range: 3.30% - 4.20%
Verified: 4/7/2026
↗︎ 0.30%90d Change
Product NameHigh-Yield Savings AccountCash Account
Minimum Deposit$2,500$0
Min. Balance for APY$2,500$0
Monthly Fee$0$0
Compound FrequencyDailyDaily
Branch AccessNoneNone
Account Type
Online Only
Online Only
Physical BranchesNoneNone
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.6
Android3.4
iOS4.8
Android4.9
FDIC Insured
Yes
Zelle® Support
Not Supported
Not Supported
BBB RatingA-F
Important Notes-Wealthfront is not a bank but a financial services company. It is FDIC-insured through its many partner banks. New customers may earn the top rate of 4.20% for 3 months with direct deposit. See terms at Wealthfront.
Next Steps
Visit Site

Non-sponsored link to official site

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Non-sponsored link to official site

📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 5 Months Analysis
MetricIvy BankWealthfront
High-Yield Savings AccountCash Account
Current APY
3.85%4.20%
Trend
Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
-10.41.5
Days Since Change
4833
5-Month High
4.25%4.20%
5-Month Low
3.85%3.90%
Adjustments / Mo
0.620.62
Volatility Score
0.0380.032
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 145-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 Ivy Bank's APY of 3.85% with other banks
Compare Wealthfront's APY of 4.20% with other banks