Open an account in less than 5 minutes, then track it from your phone. Plus explore a range of features like round-ups, auto-saving, pots, goals and more.
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) guarantees that it will step in to compensate the first £85,000 (£170,000 for a joint account) you have saved with a UK-authorised bank, building society or credit union in the event that the business goes bust.
There are a lot of savings accounts available out there, so to make the comparison a bit easier, you first want to decide which type of account is best for you. This will largely depend on whether you want ready access to your money, or whether you’re comfortable tying up your cash for a length of time.
If you have never signed up to a savings account before and would like to know how, then we have a guide on opening a new savings account.
Chances are that if you’re on this page you know this already, but choosing the right savings account can make a significant difference for your finances. Using a top-paying savings account could leave you much better off than if you left your money in a lacklustre account.
There can be a big difference between top paying accounts and those at the bottom of the league table. The more you build up your savings, the more difference it’ll make. Say you have £2,500 set aside. With 1.5% annual interest, it’ll earn you £37.50 after a year. With 4% interest though, you’ll get £100. The difference between a pub lunch for two at the local Spoons and a nice dinner in a fancy restaurant. Just saying.
The other important thing to keep in mind is that there are different types of savings accounts with different features that fit different saving profiles. Someone who has built up a large pot of savings might be able to afford tying up some of their cash for a year or two, whereas someone with a smaller pot of savings might be better off with an account that gives them immediate access to their money if they need it.
But you don’t have to choose between one or the other because you could split your savings into multiple accounts, each with its own purpose.
So you should compare accounts, rates and features to find the best savings account for you. Learn more about the best places and type of accounts to save money.
Savings accounts aren’t the most complicated products in the personal finance world, so the list of their most relevant features is fairly short:
"It may seem a daunting task to switch savings accounts. But by not doing so, you could be losing out on hundreds – maybe even thousands – of pounds in interest each year.
When inflation is high, the value of your savings becomes less in real terms. Essentially, what you can buy with the money sitting in your savings account now, is less than what you could buy a year ago. That’s why it’s important to earn as much interest as you can to minimise the effect of inflation on your savings.
While there may not be a switching service like there is for current accounts, it’s still easy to switch savings accounts. The first step is to compare the best rates available for your chosen type of savings account.
The next step is to check if the provider is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). This means that your deposits are protected up to £85,000 (£170,000 for joint accounts). So if the provider were to go bust, you could get your savings back. One thing to be aware of though, if you have multiple accounts with one banking group, these all contribute towards the £85,000 limit. You can check whether a provider has FSCS protection by looking for the logo in our comparison tables.
If you’re worried about sending a large amount of money at once, you can start by sending a small amount – say £1 – to check it arrives safely. Then you can transfer across your remaining savings balance. However, make sure to check your new savings account allows multiple deposits – some fixed-rate accounts won’t allow you to make further additions.
Finally, if you’re worried about not being able to access your savings, then it’s probably best to go for an instant access or easy access account. You may get higher rates with a fixed-rate bond, but your money will be locked away for the duration of the term and you won’t be able to access it."
| Savings account types include | Easy access, cash ISAs, fixed-rate bonds, notice accounts, regular savers |
|---|---|
| Number of accounts | 2010 |
| Opening options | Branch, website, mobile app, post, telephone |
| Best easy access rate | 6.89% |
| Best cash ISA rate | 5.32% |
| Fixed cash ISA terms | 1 year - 7 years |
| Best fixed-rate bond rate | 4.7% |
| Fixed bond terms | 1 month - 7 years |
| Best notice account rate | 4.85% |
| Notice account periods available | 7 days - 195 days |
| Best regular saver rate | 7.5% |
If you read personal finance news, you may have previously heard about savings accounts that “beat” inflation.
That’s because if you keep your savings in an account that pays less than the inflation rate, your money will be worth less and less every year. Inflation causes goods to become increasingly more expensive, which means that, with the same amount of money, you can buy less.
If you stash your savings under the mattress long enough, they’ll lose most of their value – just ask your grandmother how much it was for a loaf of bread 50 years ago.
An interest-paying savings account can partially prevent that, but unless the rate beats inflation, you’re still losing purchasing power and, by extension, money, even if it may not look like it.
Avoiding spending is certainly the hardest part of saving, but deciding where to keep the money you’ve industriously put aside isn’t all fun and games either. Here’s some advice on how to approach the problem:
Something to look out for when browsing savings accounts is high interest rates for new customers, often referred to as “introductory bonus rates”. While this is definitely an alluring feature, remember that when the introductory period is up you’re likely to be left with a significantly lower interest rate. Because of this, it may be a good idea to keep your account open while you qualify for the introductory rate, before switching to an account with a better rate once the introductory period is finished.
If you decide to go with an account offering an introductory bonus rate, make sure you’re clear on the terms so you don’t end up losing the rate. For example, if you withdraw money before the end of the introductory period the introductory rate may be withdrawn.
A taxpayer who pays the basic rate of income tax can earn up to a maximum of £1,000 from interest payments on a savings account without paying tax, while a higher rate taxpayer can earn up to £500 before paying tax. This is what’s known as the Personal Savings Allowance. Additional rate taxpayers don’t get an allowance at all.
The Personal Savings Allowance is in addition to money earned from an ISA account, which is all tax-free.
Short for Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the FSCS protects customers when financial services fail. Look out for its logo on the financial products you’re comparing. If your money is in a bank – an institution that holds a banking licence – then up to £85,000 is protected by the scheme if the bank goes bust. However, if you had more than £85,000 across two banks in the same group – such as HSBC and First Direct – then only £85,000 is protected. Find out more about banking brands that share the same FSCS protection.
Since 2001, the FSCS has helped millions of UK customers, paying out billions of pounds. If a firm has stopped trading or does not have enough assets to pay up, the FSCS will step in.
We asked the account holders of savings providers featured in this table whether they’d recommend it to a friend and we’ve ordered the table by the percentage score. Our independent survey was carried out in January 2025. You can learn more about the research here.
| Brand | Logo | Customers who’d recommend | Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire Building Society |  | 97% | With Yorkshire Building Society, you can choose from a range of savings accounts including regular savers. | |
| Plum |  | 97% | Plum started as a smart money management app but now has a range of competitive savings accounts for customers. | |
| Atom Bank |  | 93% | Atom Bank has a good range of fixed rate savings accounts to choose from, the set up is fairly quick and the rates are competitive. | |
| RCI Bank |  | 93% | With RCI Bank, you can choose from a a broad range of savings accounts with competitive interest rates. | |
| Marcus |  | 90% | Marcus by Goldman Sachs’ customers were impressed with its “ease of use” and competitive rates. | |
| Aldermore |  | 90% | Aldermore offers a range of savings accounts and individual savings accounts (ISAs). | |
| Shawbrook |  | 90% | Shawbrook Bank has a variety of savings options usually with good rates, including easy-access, fixed-rate and ISAs. | |
| Moneybox |  | 90% | Moneybox has different cash ISAs depending on your needs, as well as notice accounts and a simple saver. | |
| Ford Money |  | 90% | Ford Money offers a range of savings products and ISAs that are designed to be easy to open and manage, and that offer competitive rates. | |
| HSBC |  | 87% | HSBC has lots of different savings accounts on its roster. Like other banks, there are accounts that have exclusive rates for its current account customers. | |
| Starling Bank |  | 87% | Starling Bank has branched out into offering savings accounts, including a fixed-rate account and easy access Saving Spaces. | |
| Leeds Building Society |  | 87% | Leeds Building Society‘s savings accounts regularly top the best buy tables with tantalising interest rates. | |
| Virgin Money |  | 87% | Virgin Money has a good variety of savings accounts available to new customers, as well as exclusive accounts linked to its current account. | |
| Lloyds Bank |  | 83% | Lloyds offers a range of savings accounts and other options to help you manage your money. | |
| NatWest |  | 83% | NatWest has savings accounts for every financial need, from regular savers to fixed rate ISAs to children’s savings accounts. | |
| TSB |  | 83% | TSB is one of the oldest and biggest names in British banking and may be a good savings option for those who like to bank in branch. | |
| Nationwide |  | 80% | Nationwide offers its members a range of exclusive savings accounts, some with competitive rates. | |
| Zopa |  | 80% | Zopa is a digital bank which looks to use technology to offer customers more innovative savings options. | |
| Monument |  | 80% | Monument specialises in savings accounts and loans, and it aims to meet the needs of the mass affluent market. | |
| Tesco Bank |  | 77% | The financial arm of the supermarket, Tesco Bank has a range of different savings accounts including a good variety of fixed term savers. | |
| Post Office |  | 77% | Post Office offers both online and brand-based savings products, which makes it popular with customers who like its good customer service. | |
| Barclays |  | 77% | Savings accounts by Barclays are popular due to good customer service and decent interest rates. | |
| Chip |  | 73% | Chip is managed through an app and offers a selection of different savings accounts depending on your requirements. | |
| Halifax |  | 70% | Part of the wider Lloyds Banking Group, Halifax has several savings options, ranging from easy access accounts to fixed term savings. | |
| Santander |  | 67% | High-street bank Santander comes with all the advantages of a big bank and offers a wide range of savings accounts. |
Sign up to receive the latest deals, expert tips, and a chance to win £800! (T&Cs)
Error placeholder Click here to sign in
Compare Zopa’s savings accounts, including interest rates and accessibility.
Find out more about the different types of savings accounts on offer.
See how much money people your age have in savings, and learn how to boost your savings balance if it’s below average.
We look at the definition of compound interest, what it concretely means and how you can use it to grow your savings more quickly.
Raisin UK is a marketplace for savings accounts. Our review looks at how the platform works, as well as its pros and cons.
Thinking about getting a savings account with Virgin Money? We look at the options, from cash ISAs to regular savings accounts, plus pros and cons.
Looking to save with Newcastle Building Society? Our guide walks you through its different savings account options.
The Family Building Society offers a range of savings accounts and junior savings accounts. Find out if one is for you or your family here.
Our guide to the different Shawbrook Bank savings accounts. Whether you’re trying to save small or large amounts of money, Shawbrook Bank has options.
Kickstart your savings plan with a high interest savings account.