High Yield Savings Account Calculator
Project your HYSA growth with monthly deposits and compounding — see total interest, monthly earnings, and how your rate compares to a big-bank account paying 0.01%. Instant, private, free.
✓ Monthly Compounding · ✓ Monthly Deposits · ✓ Rate Comparison · ✓ Private💰 HYSA Growth Calculator
🔧 JS ⏳ · Input — · Result — · Engine ⏳
🔀 Rate Comparison — same balance & deposits
Big-bank comparison at 0.01% APY shows what a typical brick-and-mortar savings rate costs you.
📅 Year-by-Year Growth
| Year | Interest earned | Total interest | Balance |
|---|
What Makes an Account "High Yield"?
A high-yield savings account (HYSA) pays roughly 4–5% APY (rates vary with the Fed) versus the 0.01–0.1% a traditional brick-and-mortar savings account typically pays. Same FDIC insurance protection, same deposit rules — 40 to 400 times the interest. The catch? HYSAs are almost always online-only: no branches, transfers take 1–3 business days, and rates are variable (they fall when the Fed cuts).
The comparison row in the calculator shows the real cost of leaving money in a big-bank account: a $10,000 emergency fund earns $450 a year at 4.5% versus $1 at 0.01%. That $449 difference requires exactly one action — moving the money. No risk change, no lock-up, same insurance.
HYSA vs CD vs Money Market — Which Savings Vehicle?
| HYSA | CD | Money Market | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate type | Variable (moves with Fed) | Fixed for the term | Variable, sometimes tiered |
| Access to money | Anytime, no penalty | Penalty for early withdrawal | Anytime, sometimes with limits |
| Best for | Emergency funds, short-term goals | Money you won't touch until maturity | Large balances wanting check-writing |
| Rate now | ~4–5% APY | ~4–5% APY (locked) | ~4–5% APY |
Strategy many savers use: emergency fund in the HYSA (liquidity matters), known-future expenses in CDs (rate lock matters). Model both with our APY Calculator and CIT Calculator for CD and savings scenarios.
Why Use This HYSA Calculator?
Monthly Mechanics
Monthly deposits and monthly compounding — the way HYSAs actually credit interest.
Rate Comparison Row
4.0%, 4.5%, 5.0% side by side — plus the 0.01% big-bank reality check.
Monthly Interest
See your average monthly interest income — passive income in real dollars.
Year-by-Year Table
Watch interest accelerate as compounding stacks year over year.
100% Private
Balances never leave your browser — no signup, no email gate, no storage.
Instant & Offline
Pure browser math on every keystroke — unlimited scenarios, free forever.
Popular Use Cases
- 🚨 Project emergency fund growth with monthly contributions
- 🏡 Save toward a house down payment with a target date
- 💵 See monthly passive interest income from your cash reserves
- 📊 Compare HYSA APYs from different online banks before moving money
- 🎓 Teach compounding with real deposit scenarios
- 🚗 Save for a car or big purchase with a date target
Pro Tips for High Yield Savings
- HYSA rates float with the Fed: the 4.5% you model today may be 3.5% next year if rates fall. Model a rate 1% lower as your pessimistic case before counting on the income.
- The 0.01% reality check: big-bank savings accounts routinely pay near zero. If your balance is sitting at one, the comparison row above is your migration business case.
- FDIC insurance covers $250,000 per depositor, per bank: above that, split across banks. HYSAs at FDIC-member online banks carry identical protection to branches.
- Interest is taxable: HYSA interest arrives as a 1099-INT and is taxed at your marginal rate. For high brackets, Treasury bills and munis can net more after tax.
- Rate-chasing has small costs: moving for an extra 0.25% on $20,000 earns $50/year — worth a one-time transfer, but not monthly account-hopping. Optimize once, then leave it.
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