Top Savings Accounts vs. Broker & Robo-Advisor Cash Accounts in 2025: Who Offers the Best Rates?

Analyze APYs from leading platforms like Betterment, Robinhood, and Fidelity against the highest-yield savings accounts available today.

If you use a brokerage or robo-advisor, your uninvested cash is often parked in a cash management account alongside your investments. However, don’t assume these accounts offer the best interest returns. Except for a few exceptions, high-yield savings accounts typically provide significantly better earnings.

Which Brokerage or Robo-Advisor Cash Accounts Offer the Highest Yields in 2025?

Interest rates on brokerage or robo-advisor cash accounts vary dramatically, from under 0.50% APY to base rates as high as 4.80% APY. Some providers offer promotional rates or membership perks pushing yields up to 5.50% APY, but these often come with monthly fees or revert to lower base rates after a limited period.

Brokerage and Robo-Advisor Cash Account Interest Rates

Presented alphabetically for clarity

Investopedia’s 2023 Best Online Brokers Awards highlight top performers in this space.

How Much Can You Earn with a High-Yield Savings Account in 2025?

Thanks to the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate hikes starting in March 2022 to combat historic inflation, high-yield savings account rates have surged. The Fed raised rates cumulatively by 5.25% over 11 increments.

Prior to these hikes, top savings yields hovered around 0.70% APY. Today, leading accounts offer rates soaring to 5.33% APY, with multiple options paying 5.10% APY or higher.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts for May 2025: Featuring Two Offers at 5.00%

Considering Money Market Accounts for Your Cash?

Money market accounts are another compelling choice for uninvested funds. Similar to savings accounts but with check-writing capabilities, money market accounts often compete closely with savings accounts for the highest APYs. Comparing both can help you maximize returns.

Top Money Market Accounts for May 2025: Rates Up to 4.40%

Pro Tip

If you don’t need immediate access to your funds, consider locking in higher fixed rates with certificates of deposit (CDs). Our daily rankings feature CDs offering up to 6.00% APY nationwide. Just ensure you select terms that fit your timeline to avoid early withdrawal penalties.

Unique Benefits of Brokerage and Robo-Advisor Cash Accounts

For balances exceeding $250,000, brokerage and robo-advisor cash accounts often provide enhanced deposit insurance coverage. Unlike bank or credit union accounts capped at $250,000 per depositor per institution, these cash accounts may spread funds across multiple banks, increasing FDIC coverage to $500,000 or even $2 million per account.

This feature is critical if you plan to keep substantial cash reserves and want to safeguard your funds beyond traditional limits.

Effective Cash Management Strategies for Investors

While holding cash within your brokerage or robo-advisor offers convenience, the practical advantage is modest since electronic transfers typically complete within a day.

If you don’t anticipate investing your cash soon, prioritizing a high-yield savings or money market account is a smarter choice to maximize interest earnings.

Many investors adopt a hybrid approach: maintaining a small cash buffer in their investment accounts for quick access, while allocating the majority to high-yield accounts to optimize returns.

Our Rate Collection and Ranking Methodology

Investopedia tracks rates daily from over 200 federally insured banks and credit unions offering savings, money market accounts, and CDs nationwide. To qualify, institutions must be FDIC or NCUA insured, with initial deposits capped at $25,000, and operate in at least 40 states.

We exclude credit unions requiring donations of $40 or more for membership. For detailed criteria on how we select and rank the best rates, please refer to our full methodology.

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