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Key Takeaways
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Today’s top cash options pay up to 5.00%, with a wide range of options offering mid-3% to upper-4% returns.
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Shopping around matters, since the best CDs and savings accounts can pay 5 to 10 times the national average rate.
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With inflation now at 4.2%, a stronger cash return can help limit lost purchasing power on your savings.
Safe Places Where Your Cash Can Still Beat Today’s Inflation
Every week, we track the best-paying cash options across savings accounts, CDs, brokerages, and Treasurys—bringing them together so you can compare your strongest low-risk choices in one place.
That comparison matters more with inflation now running at 4.2%. Beating that rate with cash is harder than it was when inflation was milder, but shopping around can still help your savings earn far more than the average account. The higher the APY of your return, the less you’re losing to inflation’s bite.
Cash returns remain historically high ahead of next week’s Federal Reserve meeting, where rates are overwhelmingly expected to be held steady. The top nationwide CD currently pays 4.50% on a 5-month term, and five more CDs are paying 4.25% or better.
High-yield savings accounts are also worth comparing, though the field has narrowed at the very top. One savings account still offers a 5.00% APY, while the best no-strings-attached option is paying 4.40%.
Brokerage and robo-advisor cash accounts are generally offering returns in the mid-3% range, while U.S. Treasurys remain another low-risk option to consider, with a current top rate of 4.98%. I bonds, meanwhile, got a rate boost on May 1, with new purchases earning 4.26% for their first six months.
Why This Matters
Inflation jumped to 4.2% in May as oil prices surged, making it harder for cash savings to hold their value. Earning more may not fully offset inflation, but it can help slow the loss of purchasing power.
How Much $10K, $25K, or $50K Can Earn at Today’s Rates
Keeping your cash parked doesn’t mean it has to sit idle. The right account can turn even short-term savings into real earnings.
With a lump-sum savings deposit of $10,000, $25,000, or even $50,000, you can earn hundreds of dollars in interest if you choose one of today’s top rates. Whether you opt for a 3.25% cash management account, a top high-yield savings paying 5.00%, or something in between, here’s what different balances could earn over the next six months.
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Six Months of Earnings at Various APYs |
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|---|---|---|---|
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APY |
Earnings on $10K for 6 months |
Earnings on $25K for 6 months |
Earnings on $50K for 6 months |
|
3.25% |
$161 |
$403 |
$806 |
|
3.50% |
$173 |
$434 |
$867 |
|
3.75% |
$186 |
$464 |
$929 |
|
4.00% |
$198 |
$495 |
$990 |
|
4.25% |
$210 |
$526 |
$1,051 |
|
4.50% |
$223 |
$556 |
$1,113 |
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4.75% |
$235 |
$587 |
$1,174 |
|
5.00% |
$247 |
$617 |
$1,235 |
Important
The rate you earn from a savings account, money market account, cash account, or money market fund is variable and will generally drop whenever the Fed cuts rates. In contrast, CDs and Treasurys allow you to lock in your yield for a set period.
