Betterment vs. Wealthfront
Betterment edges out Wealthfront slightly at 4.00% vs 3.95% APY. On a $10,000 balance, the difference is just $3 per year, so other factors may matter more.
The Bottom Line
The Betterment and Wealthfront savings accounts are very similar. Choose Betterment if BBB rating matters to you.
| Metric | BettermentCash Reserve Sep 7, 2026 | WealthfrontCash Account Sep 5, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.25% - 4.00% | 3.30% - 3.95% |
Earns in a year | $5,000+$172 $10,000+$344 $25,000+$859 | $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 the stated APY for 3 months, after which a lower APY applies. See terms at Wealthfront. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android App | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDaily Compounding |
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.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Betterment vs. Wealthfront
Executive Summary
Betterment offers a Cash Reserve account with a promotional APY of 4.00% for the first three months, making it the highest-yielding option compared to Wealthfront's Cash Account, which has a promotional APY of 3.95% for new clients for the same duration. Both accounts are online-only and have no minimum deposit or maintenance fees. Wealthfront's account can offer an additional boost of 0.25% through its Direct Deposit Plus Investing Program, but this requires a recurring direct deposit of at least $1,000 per month. Overall, Betterment's Cash Reserve is the winner based on the higher promotional APY.
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?
No distinct advantages found vs Wealthfront.
Why Wealthfront?
No distinct advantages found vs Betterment.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period (factoring in a 3-month promo), Wealthfront's Cash Account pays $3 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Betterment's Cash Reserve.
*Both calculations include their respective introductory promotional rates and subsequent standard rates.
Non-sponsored link to official site
Non-sponsored link to official site
Top Market Contenders
Betterment vs. Wealthfront Savings Calculator
You earn $2.4 more with Wealthfront 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
Wealthfront
Cash Account
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 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 Wealthfront advertise far more than that typical branch-bank rate.
| Feature | Betterment | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 4.00% Range: 3.25% - 4.00% Observed: 9/7/2026 Stable over 90 days | 3.95% Range: 3.30% - 3.95% Observed: 9/5/2026 0.05%90-day change |
| Product Name | Cash Reserve | Cash Account |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | N/A | Daily |
| In-Branch Access | No | No |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | Not reported | Not reported |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | None |
| Checking Bundle | No | No |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC or NCUA Insured | Yes | 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 the stated APY for 3 months, after which a lower APY applies. See terms at Wealthfront. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Betterment Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteVerify at Wealthfront Non-sponsored link to official site |
Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Betterment |
|---|---|
| Cash Reserve | |
Current APY | 4.00% |
Trend | Stable |
Speed of change | 0.02 |
Days Since Change | 132 |
7-Month High | 4.00% |
7-Month Low | 3.90% |
Changes per month | 0.13 |
Steadiness | 0.013 |
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 226-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.
Compare Similar High-Yield Accounts
Compare Betterment vs...
Comparing against Standard Savings
Compare Wealthfront vs...
Comparing against Standard Savings
High Rates (With Checking Bundle)
Looking for something different? Check out these top-rated alternatives.
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 Capital One | 3.50% | $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 |