Best Savings Accounts in the UK Right Now (2026)
Interest rates are the highest they've been in years. Here's exactly where to put your money to make the most of it — without any jargon.
If your money is sitting in a high street bank earning 0.1% interest, you're losing money to inflation every single day. The good news? Savings rates in the UK are the best they've been in over a decade — and switching takes about 10 minutes.
Here's exactly where to put your money right now.
The Best Easy-Access Savings Accounts
Easy-access accounts let you take your money out whenever you need it. Perfect if you're building an emergency fund or saving for something in the next 12 months.
| Provider | Rate (AER) | Min Deposit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | 5.1% | £1 | App-based, instant access |
| Plum | 4.92% | £1 | Auto-saves for you |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 4.75% | £1 | FSCS protected, reliable |
| Monzo Savings Pot | 4.60% | £1 | Built into your Monzo app |
Chip currently offers one of the highest easy-access rates in the UK. Takes 10 minutes to open and your money is FSCS protected up to £85,000. Open your Chip account →
The Best Cash ISAs (Tax-Free Savings)
A Cash ISA works exactly like a regular savings account — except the interest you earn is completely tax-free. Every adult in the UK gets an annual ISA allowance of £20,000. If you're not using it, you're paying tax on interest you don't need to.
If you earn more than £500/year in interest (roughly £10,000 in savings at 5%), you'll start paying tax on the excess. A Cash ISA means you never pay tax on any of it — ever.
Best Cash ISAs Right Now
| Provider | Rate (AER) | Type | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading 212 | 5.2% | Easy Access ISA | £1 |
| Plum | 5.17% | Easy Access ISA | £1 |
| Principality BS | 5.05% | Easy Access ISA | £1 |
| Virgin Money | 4.85% | Fixed 1-Year ISA | £1 |
Fixed-Rate Bonds: If You Won't Need the Money
If you have money you definitely won't need for 1–2 years, a fixed-rate bond locks it away in exchange for a higher rate. Think of it like a guaranteed return on your money.
- 1-year fixed bonds: Currently 5.1–5.3% AER
- 2-year fixed bonds: Currently 4.8–5.0% AER
- Best providers: Close Brothers Savings, Raisin UK, Oaknorth Bank
How Much Could You Actually Earn?
Let's make this real. If you put £3,000 into a 5.1% easy-access account:
- After 1 month: £12.75 in interest
- After 6 months: £76.50
- After 1 year: £153.00
That's £153 for doing nothing but moving your money. Compare that to a typical high street bank paying 0.5% — that same £3,000 would earn just £15 in a year.
The One Thing to Do Today
Check what rate your current savings account pays. Open your banking app right now and look. If it's under 4%, move your money. It takes 10 minutes and costs you nothing. The longer you wait, the more interest you're handing back to the bank.
FSCS protection note: All accounts listed above are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which protects your money up to £85,000 per institution if the bank ever failed.