Betterment vs. Capital One
Betterment's Cash Reserve pays 4.00% APY while Capital One's 360 Performance Savings pays 3.00% APY.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? Betterment pays $44 more than Capital One annually ($344 vs $300).
Choose Betterment if getting the best rate matters most. Choose Capital One if you value in-person banking, or you want Zelle for quick transfers.
| Metric | BettermentCash Reserve Sep 7, 2026 | Capital OneBusiness Savings Account Sep 5, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.25% - 4.00% | 3.50% |
Earns in a year | $5,000+$172 $10,000+$344 $25,000+$859 | $5,000+$175 $10,000+$350 $25,000+$875 |
Min. Deposit | $0 | $0 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppIn-Person AccessZelle® Supported |
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Betterment vs. Capital One
Executive Summary
Betterment offers a competitive Cash Reserve savings account with a promotional APY of 4.00%, making it an attractive choice for savers seeking simplicity, as there are no direct deposit requirements or maintenance fees. In contrast, Capital One's highest-yield product, the Business Savings Account, provides a lower APY of 3.50%. While Capital One also offers a 360 Performance Savings account with a steady APY of 3.00%, Betterment's higher rate positions it as the preferred option for those looking to maximize their savings. Both accounts are online-only and have no minimum balance requirements.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Betterment?
- Higher potential APY (4.00% vs 2.50%-3.50%) for a duration of 3 months
Why Capital One?
- Physical branch access (Over 200 branches in Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.)
- Offers 3 different high-yield savings options
- Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $2,500 a day)
Key Feature Differences
Better for Simplicity
BettermentBetterment's Cash Reserve offers 4.00% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, Capital One's Business Savings Account pays $6 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Betterment's Cash Reserve.
*This comparison accounts for Betterment's introductory promotional rate, yet Capital One's standard rate still yields a higher 1-year return.
Non-sponsored link to official site
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
Betterment vs. Capital One Savings Calculator
You earn $4.9 more with Capital One than Betterment 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.
Betterment
Cash Reserve
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$345.10(3.3%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,345.10
Capital One
Business Savings Account
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$350.00(3.4%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,350.00
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 $339 a year in interest.
Both Betterment and Capital One advertise far more than that typical branch-bank rate.
| Feature | Betterment | Capital One |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.00% Range: 3.25% - 4.00% Observed: 9/7/2026 Stable over 90 days | 3.50% Observed: 9/5/2026 Stable over 90 days |
| Product Name | Cash Reserve | Business Savings Account |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | N/A |
| Compound Frequency | N/A | Monthly |
| In-Branch Access | No | Yes |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online & Branches |
| Physical Branches | Not reported | 252 (CT, DC, DE, LA, MD, NJ, NY, TX (+1 more)) |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC or NCUA Insured | Yes | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Not Supported | Available Limit: $2,500/dayAvailable for 360 Checking accounts. |
| BBB Rating | A | A+ |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Betterment Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Capital One Non-sponsored link to official site |
Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Betterment | Capital One | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Reserve | 360 Performance Savings | Business Savings Account | |
Current APY | 4.00% | 3.00% | 3.50% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Speed of change | 0.02 | -0.03 | 0.00 |
Days Since Change | 132 | 97 | 167 |
7-Month High | 4.00% | 3.20% | 3.50% |
7-Month Low | 3.90% | 3.00% | 3.50% |
Changes per month | 0.14 | 0.27 | 0.00 |
Steadiness | 0.013 | 0.026 | 0.000 |
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 219-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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More Comparisons
Compare Betterment's APY of 4.00% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Betterment vs Ally Bank | 3.00% | $0 |
| Betterment vs American Express | 3.00% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Barclays | 3.65% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Chime | 3.75% | $0 |
| Betterment vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| Betterment vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.40% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $100 |
| Betterment vs Openbank | 3.80% | $500 |
| Betterment vs Pibank | 4.10% | $0 |
| Betterment vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Synchrony Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Varo Bank | 3.75% | $0 |
| Betterment vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |