Axos Bank vs. Upgrade
Axos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pays 4.21% APY while Upgrade's Premier Savings pays 3.05% APY.
Note: Axos Bank's Axos ONE Savings also needs a checking account.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Axos Bank pays $116 more than Upgrade annually ($421 vs $305).
Choose Axos Bank if getting the best rate matters most. Choose Upgrade if you want a no-strings-attached account.
Important Considerations
Axos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pays its top rate only if you also open a checking account with Axos Bank, while Upgrade's Premier Savings stands alone.
| Metric | Axos BankAxos ONE Savings Sep 4, 2026 | UpgradePremier Savings Sep 2, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.50% - 4.21% | 3.05% |
Earns in a year | $5,000+$211 $10,000+$421 $25,000+$1,053 | $5,000+$153 $10,000+$305 $25,000+$763 |
Min. Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | The APY is available with the Axos ONE savings and checking bundle. The checking account also earns interest. To qualify, you must either set up a direct deposit of $1,500 and maintain an average daily balance of more than $1,500 in your ONE Checking account, or receive at least $5,000 in total monthly qualifying deposits and maintain an average daily balance of more than $5,000. | - |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppChecking BundleDaily CompoundingStable Rate | FDIC InsuredLow MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often |
Prefer In-Person Banking?
Both of these institutions are online-only. If you need in-branch access, check out our list of savings accounts with brick-and-mortar locations.
Executive Summary
Axos Bank offers a competitive APY of 4.21% on its Axos ONE Savings account, which is available with a checking account bundle and requires either a direct deposit of $1,500 or total monthly qualifying deposits of at least $5,000. This account is ideal for customers looking for higher returns on their savings. In contrast, Upgrade's Premier Savings account provides a lower APY of 3.05%, with no direct deposit requirements but a minimum balance of $100,000. For those seeking simplicity without the need for a checking account, Axos Bank's Summit Savings at 3.75% APY is a viable alternative.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Axos Bank?
- Access to 95,000 fee-free ATMs
- Higher potential APY (3.50%-4.21% vs 3.05%) on all balances
- Offers 3 different high-yield savings options
Why Upgrade?
No distinct advantages found vs Axos Bank.
Key Feature Differences
Better Returns at $10,000
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE Savings earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $421 vs $305/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $1053 vs $763/yr).
Better for Simplicity
Axos BankAxos Bank's Summit Savings offers 3.75% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Better for All-in-One Banking
Axos BankAxos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pays a superior APY for customers who also open a checking account.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Axos Bank's Axos ONE Savings pays $116 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.
* Secure link to our partner
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
Axos Bank vs. Upgrade Savings Calculator
You earn $116 more with Axos Bank 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.
Axos Bank
Axos ONE Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$421.00(4.0%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,421.00
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 at a large branch bank?
A typical branch-bank savings rate is 0.05% APY. On a $10,000 balance, the gap to these two banks is at least $300 a year in interest.
Both Axos Bank and Upgrade advertise far more than that typical branch-bank rate.
| Feature | Axos Bank | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.21% Range: 3.50% - 4.21% Observed: 9/4/2026 Stable over 90 days | 3.05% Observed: 9/2/2026 Stable over 90 days |
| Product Name | Axos ONE Savings | Premier Savings |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $1,000 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| In-Branch Access | No | No |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | 3 (CA, NV, UT) | Not reported |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | Yes | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC or NCUA Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| Important Notes | The APY is available with the Axos ONE savings and checking bundle. The checking account also earns interest. To qualify, you must either set up a direct deposit of $1,500 and maintain an average daily balance of more than $1,500 in your ONE Checking account, or receive at least $5,000 in total monthly qualifying deposits and maintain an average daily balance of more than $5,000. | - |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteGo to Axos Bank * Secure link to our partner | Visit SiteVerify at Upgrade Non-sponsored link to official site |
Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Axos Bank | Upgrade | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axos ONE Savings | Summit Savings | High Yield Savings | Premier Savings | |
Current APY | 4.21% | 3.75% | 0.61% | 3.05% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Speed of change | -0.04 | -0.06 | -0.00 | -0.13 |
Days Since Change | 214 | 267 | 361 | 307 |
12-Month High | 4.51% | 4.00% | 0.61% | 4.02% |
12-Month Low | 4.21% | 3.75% | 0.61% | 3.05% |
Changes per month | 0.25 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 0.16 |
Steadiness | 0.023 | 0.030 | 0.000 | 0.088 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
Trends and speed
- Trend: The general direction of the rate over the analyzed period. Useful for seeing whether a bank is raising its rate or letting it slip.
- Speed of change: How fast the rate moves. A high positive number means they raise rates quickly. A reading of 0.10 is a tenth of a percentage point each month.
- Changes per month: How often the rate moves. A high number means it changes constantly; a low number means it holds.
Risk & Range
- High/Low: The absolute ceiling and floor of the rate during the 364-day window.
- Steadiness: How far the rate swings around its average. A lower score means a steadier, more predictable rate.
- Days Since Change: A high number, for example above 90, means the rate rarely moves. A low number means it changed recently.
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Compare Axos Bank's APY of 4.21% with other banks
Compare Upgrade's APY of 3.05% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade vs Ally Bank | 3.00% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs American Express | 3.00% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Barclays | 3.65% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Capital One | 3.50% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Chime | 3.75% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Upgrade vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.40% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $100 |
| Upgrade vs Openbank | 3.80% | $500 |
| Upgrade vs Pibank | 4.10% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Synchrony Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Varo Bank | 3.75% | $0 |
| Upgrade vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |