$HYSA Compare

Best HYSAs for Emergency Funds

17 accounts · Updated daily · Verified APYs

An emergency fund is the one savings goal where liquidity beats yield. Anything that locks your money up — CDs, T-bills, brokerage settlement — is the wrong tool. The accounts ranked below combine instant ACH access, no withdrawal cap penalties, and competitive APYs.

We exclude accounts that limit you to fewer than 6 free withdrawals per month and any product where the headline rate is contingent on direct deposit or debit usage you might not maintain in a real emergency.

The ranking

  1. 01
    Varo Savings Account
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    5.00%
    Updated 1d ago
  2. 02
    Bask Interest Savings
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    4.65%
    Updated 1d ago
  3. 03
    UFB Secure Savings
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    4.57%
    Updated 1d ago
  4. 04
    CIT Platinum Savings
    FDIC · $100 min · $0.00/mo
    4.55%
    Updated 1d ago
  5. 05
    Wealthfront Cash Account
    FDIC · $1 min · $0.00/mo
    4.50%
    Updated 1d ago
  6. 06
    LendingClub LevelUp Savings
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    4.50%
    Updated 1d ago
  7. 07
    Bread Savings High-Yield Savings
    FDIC · $100 min · $0.00/mo
    4.40%
    Updated 1d ago
  8. 08
    Synchrony High Yield Savings
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    4.35%
    Updated 1d ago
  9. 09
    Barclays Online Savings
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    4.35%
    Updated 1d ago
  10. 10
    Fidelity Cash Management Account
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    4.05%
    Updated 1d ago
  11. 11
    SoFi Checking and Savings
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    4.00%
    Live
  12. 12
    Discover Online Savings Account
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    4.00%
    Updated 1d ago
  13. 13
    Marcus Online Savings Account
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    3.65%
    Live
  14. 14
    Ally Online Savings Account
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    3.20%
    Live
  15. 15
    American Express High Yield Savings
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    3.20%
    Live
  16. 16
    Capital One 360 Performance Savings
    FDIC · $0 min · $0.00/mo
    3.20%
    Live
  17. 17
    Alliant High-Rate Savings
    NCUA · $5 min · $0.00/mo
    3.10%
    Updated 1d ago

Frequently asked

How big should my emergency fund be?

The standard rule of thumb is 3 to 6 months of essential expenses. Households with variable income or single earners often target the higher end of that range.

Is a HYSA better than a money market for an emergency fund?

For most people, yes. HYSAs typically have similar APYs to money market accounts but fewer requirements (no check writing minimum, no debit card requirement). Both are FDIC-insured.

How fast can I access the money?

Standard ACH transfers from a HYSA to your checking account take 1–3 business days. Several banks on this list offer same-day or instant transfers if you also bank with them.