Upgrade vs. Wealthfront
Comparing Upgrade and Wealthfront for high-yield savings: Upgrade's Premier Savings pays 3.05% APY while Wealthfront's Cash Account pays 3.95% APY (including a 3-month 0.65% promo boost).
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Wealthfront pays $41 more than Upgrade annually ($346 vs $305).
Choose Upgrade if 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 getting the best rate matters most.
Important Considerations
The key difference? Wealthfront's 3.95% rate includes a promotional bonus for the first 3 months, after which it reverts to the standard rate (currently 3.30%). Upgrade's 3.05% rate has no scheduled drop, though all rates are subject to change.
| Metric | UpgradePremier Savings Feb 7, 2026 | WealthfrontCash Account Feb 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.05% | 3.30% - 3.95% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$153 $10,000+$305 $25,000+$763 | $5,000+$173 $10,000+$346 $25,000+$866 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $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 clients get an APY of 3.95% for 3 months, after which the 3.30% APY applies. See terms at Wealthfront. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredNo 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.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Upgrade vs. Wealthfront
Executive Summary
Wealthfront offers the superior Cash Account with an APY of 3.95%, significantly higher than Upgrade's Premier Savings account, which has an APY of 3.05%. Wealthfront's account is appealing for its simplicity, requiring no direct deposit or minimum balance, while Upgrade requires a minimum balance of $1,000. Additionally, Wealthfront provides a promotional rate of 3.95% for the first three months, after which the rate adjusts to 3.30%. Both accounts are online-only and FDIC-insured through partner banks, but Wealthfront's higher APY makes it the preferable option for savers.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Upgrade?
No distinct advantages found vs Wealthfront.
Why Wealthfront?
- ✓Higher potential APY (3.95% vs 3.05%) on all balances
- ✓Higher rated Android app (4.9 vs 4.5)
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
WealthfrontWealthfront's Cash Account earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $346 vs $305/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
WealthfrontWealthfront's Cash Account pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $866 vs $763/yr).
Best for Simplicity
WealthfrontWealthfront's Cash Account offers 3.95% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period (factoring in a 3-month promo), Wealthfront's Cash Account pays $41 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Upgrade's Premier Savings.
*Wealthfront's calculation includes their 3-month introductory promotional rate and subsequent standard rate.
Non-sponsored link to official site
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
Upgrade vs. Wealthfront Savings Calculator
You earn $42.5 more with Wealthfront 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.
Upgrade
Premier Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$305.00(3.0%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,305.00
Wealthfront
Cash Account
Promo Rate: 3.95% for 3 months, then 3.30%.
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$347.50(3.4%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,347.50
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 Upgrade and Wealthfront dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Upgrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.05% Verified: 2/7/2026 Stable (90d) | 3.95% Range: 3.30% - 3.95% Verified: 2/7/2026 - |
| Product Name | Premier Savings | Cash Account |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $1,000 | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Branch Access | None | None |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | N/A | None |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC Insured | YesVerify FDIC | Yes |
| Zelle® Support | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| BBB Rating | A+ | F |
| Important Notes | - | Wealthfront is not a bank but a financial services company. It is FDIC-insured through its many partner banks. New clients get an APY of 3.95% for 3 months, after which the 3.30% APY applies. See terms at Wealthfront. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Upgrade Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Wealthfront Non-sponsored link to official site |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Upgrade | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Savings | Cash Account | |
Current APY | 3.05% | 3.95% |
Trend | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | 0.0 | -11.6 |
Days Since Change | 86 | 8 |
3-Month High | 3.05% | 4.15% |
3-Month Low | 3.05% | 3.90% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.00 | 0.70 |
Volatility Score | 0.000 | 0.030 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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More Comparisons
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 Barclays | 4.00% | $0 |
| 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 Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |