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High-Yield Savings Account Comparison

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.

Analysis by Aviel Fahl
Updated August 21, 2026

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.

Comparison of Betterment vs Capital One savings accounts
Metric

Betterment

Cash Reserve

Aug 21, 2026

Capital One

Business Savings Account

Aug 20, 2026
APY3.25% - 4.00%3.50%
Est. Earnings
$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

Updated: Invalid Date

Executive Summary

A detailed summary for this comparison is being prepared. Check back soon.

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

Best for Simplicity
Betterment

Betterment's Cash Reserve offers 4.00% APY with no bundling, direct deposit requirement or caps.

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, 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.

BettermentCapital One
Verify At
Betterment

Non-sponsored link to official site

Verify At
Capital One

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Top Market Contenders

Betterment vs. Capital One Savings Calculator

Calculations based on current APY for Cash Reserve and Business Savings Account
$
$

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

4.00% APY
Promo Rate: 4.00% for 3 months, then 3.25%.

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$345.10(3.3%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,345.10

Effective APY
3.45%

Capital One

Business Savings Account

3.50% APY

Savings Breakdown

  • Interest Earned
    +$350.00(3.4%)
  • Total Contributions
    $0
  • Initial Deposit
    $10,000

Projected Balance

$10,350.00

Effective APY
3.50%

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 $343 per year in interest.

Both Betterment and Capital One dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.

Big banks currently pay 0.01% APY on savings vs 3.50%+ here
See Top Rates
FeatureBettermentCapital One
APY
4.00%
Range: 3.25% - 4.00%
Verified: 8/21/2026
-
3.50%
Verified: 8/20/2026
-
Product NameCash ReserveBusiness Savings Account
Minimum Deposit$0$0
Min. Balance for APY$0$0
Monthly Fee$0N/A
Compound FrequencyN/AMonthly
In-Branch AccessNoYes
Account Type
Online Only
Online & Branches
Physical BranchesNoneOver 200 branches in Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Direct Deposit Req.NoneNone
Checking BundleNoNo
Mobile Apps
iOS4.8
Android4.7
iOS4.8
Android4.5
FDIC or NCUA Insured
Yes
Zelle® Support
Not Supported
Available
Limit: $2,500/dayAvailable for 360 Checking accounts.
BBB RatingA-A+
Next Steps
Visit Site

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📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time

Historical Performance

Last 7 Months Analysis
MetricBettermentCapital One
Cash Reserve360 Performance SavingsBusiness Savings Account
Current APY
4.00%3.00%3.50%
Trend
Stable Stable Stable
Velocity (bps/mo)
1.8-3.50.0
Days Since Change
11580149
7-Month High
4.00%3.20%3.50%
7-Month Low
3.90%3.00%3.50%
Adjustments / Mo
0.150.300.00
Volatility Score
0.0130.0260.000
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 202-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 Betterment's APY of 4.00% with other banks
Compare Capital One's APY of 3.50% with other banks