Our best savings accounts are the highest interest rates available for each type of account we specify. To get the latest rates, we use Defaqto data, which covers nearly the full market of savings products and is checked and updated daily. We don’t include accounts from private banks.
All the accounts in our list have savings protection – for most, this is the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Other schemes include that of NS&I, which is 100% backed by HM Treasury, and the Gibraltar Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
Some top-rate accounts can come with strings attached (like “existing customers only” or “additional account necessary”), but this one is more or less open to all. The LemFi Clearbank - Instant Access Savings Account offers 5% AER. You can open the account with as little as £1.
The Santander Edge saver (Issue 3) offers 6% AER on balances up to £4,000 ...but 0% AER thereafter. You can open the account with as little as £1. Please note that you'll need to be an existing customer to apply.
If you want an account that allows you to withdraw your money whenever you need to, you'll need to look for an easy access savings account. In fact, experts recommend that everyone has some form of easy access savings that they can get hold of in an emergency as part of an emergency fund. These accounts can also be a good option if you're just starting to save.
Many accounts can be opened with as little as £1, and you can top up funds as and when you're able to. However, interest rates won't be as competitive as some savings accounts and the rate is usually variable so it can change at any point.
The Prosper Castle Trust Bank - 1 Yr Fixed Term Deposit (new) offers 5.2% AER. You’ll need to open the account with a minimum of £10,000.
The Lloyds Bank Upfront Interest 1 Year Online Fixed Bond offers 4% AER. You’ll need to open the account with a minimum of £500.
Existing Lloyds Bank customers could top that and earn 4.2% AER upfront with the Lloyds Bank Upfront Interest 1 Year Online Fixed Bond (existing Premier customers).
The Afin Bank 5 Year Fixed Term Account Issue 15 offers 5.4% AER. You’ll need to open the account with a minimum of £1,000.
With a fixed rate savings account, you agree to lock your money away for a term of anywhere between 6 months and 5 years in return for a more competitive, fixed interest rate. The longer you're prepared to lock your funds away, the higher your interest rate will be – but keep in mind that if external rates rise, you won't see any benefit.
Fixed rate accounts can be a good option if you have a lump sum of cash that you want to earn interest on and you won't need to access for a while – you won't usually be able to top up your money during the term or withdraw it without paying a penalty.
"Upfront interest" products pay out the interest (based on a fixed rate over a fixed term) at the start of the term. These accounts are quite rare. They won't have the very best rates on the market, but on the other hand, you get the interest upfront and can do whatever you like with it (such as reinvest it).
The Stafford Building Society Notice 365 Account offers 4.75% AER. You’ll need to open the account with a minimum of £25,000.
Notice savings accounts are half way between an easy access account and a fixed rate account. They can be a good option if you don't want to tie up your funds for long, but also don't need to access them immediately.
Notice accounts often offer better rates than easy access accounts, but require you to give notice before you can access your funds. How much notice you need to give will depend on the account – for example, you might need to give 30 days' notice, 60 days, 90 days or 180 days. Usually, the more notice you need to give, the better the interest rate you'll get. Interest rates are typically variable.
Some top-rate accounts can come with strings attached (like “existing customers only” or “additional account necessary”), but not this one. The Shawbrook Bank 5 Year Fixed Rate Plus Cash ISA Issue 1 offers 5.27% AER. You’ll need to open the account with a minimum of £10,000.
The Leek Building Society 5 Year Fixed Rate Fixed Term Cash ISA offers 5.3% AER. You’ll need to open the account with a minimum of £1,000. Please note that you'll need to be an existing customer to apply.
Thanks to the personal savings allowance, which allows basic rate taxpayers to earn up to £1,000 in savings interest without paying tax (£500 for high rate taxpayers), the tax-free wrapper offered by cash ISAs is no longer so important.
However, if you can find a particularly competitive option, cash ISAs are still worth considering. You can pay up to £20,000 into any combination of ISAs each tax year, but you can only pay money into one cash ISA. As with other savings accounts, you can choose from easy access and fixed rate options. If you have money to move from an existing ISA, look for one that allows transfers in.
The Tembo Lloyds Bank - Regular Saver (new customers only) offers 8% AER. You can open the account with as little as £10.
Regular savings accounts can be a good option if you're just starting to get into the savings habit or if you have a particular savings goal in mind. These accounts require you to pay in a set amount each month – say between £25 and £300 – for 12 months, and you'll earn a fixed amount of interest on that money.
You won't usually be able to access your funds during the 12-month period and once it's up, your account will close and your savings will usually be moved to an easy access account. Note that with some regular savings accounts, you'll need to open a current account with that particular bank or hold another financial product with it to qualify.
The Moneybox Cash Lifetime ISA offers 5% AER. You can open the account with as little as £1.
If you're aged between 18 and 39, you can open a Lifetime ISA. This is a longer-term tax-free savings account that gives you a government bonus of 25% of the money you put in, up to a maximum of £1,000 a year.
You'll be able to save up to £4,000 a year, which forms part of your overall annual ISA limit, and you can continue to pay into your ISA until you reach the age of 50. However, you can only withdraw your money after 12 months if you use it to help pay for your first property or after you turn 60 if you intend to use it for your retirement. If you withdraw the money for any other purpose (unless you're terminally ill), you'll face a 25% penalty.
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Believe it or not, some current accounts pay higher rates of interest compared to some savings accounts. What’s more, because it’s a current account you’ll be able to access your money whenever you need to. However, the downside is that the amount of money you can earn interest on will be limited and in some cases, the rate drops after a year. Banks also offer fantastic signup offers when you close down your current account and switch to a new one.
Auto-savings apps help you squirrel away some of your cash without you noticing. This could be done through working out how much you can afford to save each week and automatically transferring that amount into a separate savings account. Or your purchases might be rounded up to the nearest £1 and the difference moved to a savings pot. This can be a great option if you’re struggling to get into the savings habit or you regularly forget to put money aside.
Premium bonds are a savings product from National Savings and Investments (NS&I) and give you the chance of winning between £25 and £1 million (tax-free) each month instead of earning interest. You will need to invest at least £25 and you can keep buying bonds until you reach a maximum holding level of £50,000.
Islamic savings accounts must follow the rules and laws of Islam or Sharia law and be guided by Islamic economics. Islamic savings accounts do not pay interest, but instead, you’ll be promised a return on the money saved, called an “expected profit rate”.
The money kept in an Islamic bank account must be ring-fenced and cannot be used for non-Sharia approved activities. This means money will not be lent to businesses that provide goods or services such as alcohol, tobacco or gambling.
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 February 2026. You can learn more about the research here.
| Brand | Customers who’d recommend | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lloyds Bank | 97% | Lloyds Bank is described as a reliable and secure provider for savings. Reviewers highlight the ease of setup and the convenience of its internet banking. |
| Nationwide | 97% | Highly regarded for its ethical approach, Nationwide offers a wide range of reliable products. Customers value the secure app and the brand’s professional service. |
| Plum | 97% | Plum is praised for its automatic saving features and user-friendly app. Customers find the platform an effective and straightforward way to manage their money. |
| RCI Bank | 97% | RCI Bank is recommended for its competitive interest rates and clear notifications. Reviewers find the platform simple to use and the service very responsive. |
| Aldermore | 93% | Aldermore is praised for its high, competitive interest rates. Customers also value the straightforward account management and helpful customer service. |
| Yorkshire Building Society | 93% | Yorkshire Building Society is highly regarded for its market-leading interest rates and secure service. Customers value the professional staff and clear communication. |
| Moneybox | 93% | Reviewers highly recommend the Moneybox app for its ease of use and helpful trackers. The platform is noted for providing competitive rates across different products. |
| Ford Money | 93% | Known for competitive rates and secure online banking, Ford Money is highly trusted. Customers often mention its reliable service and efficient account management. |
| Atom Bank | 93% | Customers love Atom Bank for its competitive rates and stress-free, easy-to-use app. The setup process is consistently described as quick and simple. |
| Marcus | 90% | Marcus by Goldman Sachs is frequently commended for its competitive interest rates and reliable app. Users appreciate the simplicity of the account setup and transfers. |
| HSBC | 90% | Customers value HSBC for being a safe and stable place for their savings. Reviews consistently mention the helpful staff and the bank’s reliable service. |
| Starling Bank | 90% | Starling Bank is noted for its organised approach and ease of use. Customers value how simple it is to link savings to their current accounts. |
| Shawbrook | 90% | Consistently praised for competitive interest rates, Shawbrook provides an easy-to-navigate website. Reviewers also appreciate the clear updates and the simple account maturity process. |
| Leeds Building Society | 87% | Leeds Building Society is commended for its competitive interest rates and helpful customer service. Users also find the website straightforward and easy to navigate. |
| Chip | 87% | The Chip app is frequently described as a great tool for saving with competitive interest rates. Users also appreciate the simple setup and secure experience. |
| Zopa | 87% | Zopa earns praise for its competitive interest rates and user-friendly mobile app. Customers appreciate the flexibility to access their funds easily when required. |
| Monument | 87% | Monument is valued for its impressive app and competitive interest rates. Reviewers frequently describe the brand as reliable and its customer service as efficient. |
| Barclays | 83% | Barclays offers a wide variety of easily accessible savings accounts. Savers highlight the brand’s excellent reputation and the quality of its mobile app. |
| NatWest | 83% | NatWest provides a reliable experience with an app that makes managing savings simple. Reviewers appreciate the helpful updates and the brand’s trustworthy reputation. |
| Virgin Money | 83% | Virgin Money is frequently cited as a safe and secure bank with competitive rates. Savers appreciate the instant access and the brand’s straightforward approach. |
| Santander | 80% | Santander is described as a reliable brand with a straightforward, easy-to-use app. Many customers value the helpful service and the variety of savings options. |
| Halifax | 80% | Halifax is valued for its easy-to-use platform and specific savings products for children. Many long-term customers appreciate the brand’s reliability and straightforward transfers. |
| Post Office | 80% | Straightforward and helpful, the Post Office offers easily accessible savings products. Long-term customers appreciate the reliable service and the ability to manage accounts. |
| Chase | 77% | Users find Chase provides excellent instant access rates and helpful customer service. The app makes managing different savings pots simple and efficient. |
| TSB | 77% | TSB is valued for its helpful customer service and easy-to-navigate mobile app. Customers find the brand a reliable and trustworthy choice for their savings. |
An upfront interest savings accounts pays your total amount of interest within the first month rather than waiting until the end of the term. We outline the key benefits and considerations.
Discover who is most suited to this unique product with our review of Lloyds’ Upfront Interest savings account.
Wondering what to do with £50,000 savings? Earn up to 5% with easy access or 5.4% in a fixed-rate bond.
Earn interest on your savings while still being able to withdraw them if you need to with an easy access savings account.
The AER, or Annual Equivalent Rate, is the official rate for savings accounts. It’s designed to allow easy comparisons between accounts.
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 Lloyds bank? Our guide explains the different savings account options, so you can decide which is the best saver for you.
Choosing between ISAs or normal savings accounts is easier than it seems. Pick the one which pays out most! Read our guide for tips on how to get the most out of your savings pot.
A cash ISA is a savings account where you never pay tax on the interest. Use our comparison table to find the best ISA rates – whether you want to lock cash in for a set time or keep it easy access.
