Best Easy-Access Savings Accounts You Can Open in an App

The best easy access savings account app lets you open an account in a few minutes, move money in and out on the same day, and watch the interest land without ever queuing in a branch. The catch is that the headline rates you see advertised are rarely the rate you keep. Most of the top apps lead with a bonus that expires, then quietly drop you onto something far less generous.

This guide walks through the app-based easy access accounts worth a look in the UK right now, how to read past the marketing rate, and how to make sure every pound stays protected.

What “easy access” actually means

An easy access (sometimes called instant access) account lets you withdraw money whenever you want, with no notice period and no penalty. That flexibility is the whole point: it is where your emergency fund and short-term savings should sit, not money you are happy to lock away.

The trade-off is that easy access rates are variable. A provider can cut the rate at any time, and many do the moment a bonus period ends. That is different from a fixed-rate bond, where the rate is guaranteed for the term. If you want to understand where an emergency fund belongs, our guide on where to keep your emergency fund goes deeper.

App-based accounts worth comparing

Rates move constantly, so treat the figures below as a snapshot rather than a promise, and always check the current rate in the app before you open anything.

Chase offers a Saver linked to its current account. It has paid a boosted rate for the first 12 months, then steps down to a lower ongoing rate once that period ends. Interest is variable and withdrawals are instant into your Chase account.

Chip runs an Easy Access Saver that has featured a promotional boosted rate for a set number of months, dropping to a lower underlying rate afterwards. Chip is an app-first savings provider, so everything happens on your phone.

Monzo pays interest on its Instant Access savings pots, with the exact rate depending on which Monzo plan you are on. Withdrawals are instant and there is no minimum deposit. Our Monzo review covers how the pots fit into everyday banking.

Marcus by Goldman Sachs offers an easy access account that has included a fixed bonus for the first 12 months on top of the underlying rate, with no minimum balance. It is app and web based rather than app-only.

Revolut, Snoop and similar app providers have offered some of the highest headline easy access rates, often including a sizeable bonus for new customers and, in some cases, interest paid daily rather than monthly. Read the bonus terms carefully: they usually apply only up to a balance cap and only for new customers.

The pattern is consistent. The app with the biggest number on the marketing page is frequently the one leaning hardest on a temporary bonus. Compare the rate you will be on in 13 months, not just month one.

How to read past the headline rate

Three things decide what you actually earn:

• Is there a bonus, and when does it end? A rate quoted “including bonus” tells you the number will fall on a known date. Diarise it.
• Is there a balance cap? Some top rates only apply up to a limit such as the first £25,000. Anything above that earns a lower rate.
• How often is interest paid and compounded? Daily interest compounds slightly faster than monthly, though the difference is small at these balances.

A useful habit is to set a reminder for the day a bonus expires, then switch. Moving money between app accounts takes minutes, and chasing the rate once or twice a year is where the real gain is.

Keeping your money protected

Every provider on your shortlist should be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which protects eligible deposits up to £120,000 per person, per banking group (the limit rose from £85,000 in December 2025). The words “per banking group” matter: some apps hold your money with a partner bank, so if you already save with that bank the balances are added together under one limit.

Before you deposit, check who actually holds the cash. App providers that are not banks themselves must tell you which bank your money sits with. You can confirm any firm’s status on the FSCS website. For more on app safety, see are digital banks safe.

Frequently asked questions

Is an easy access savings app safe? Yes, provided the money is held by an FSCS-protected bank. Check which bank holds your deposit and confirm your total with that banking group stays under £120,000 per person.

Why did my savings rate suddenly drop? Almost always because a new-customer bonus ended. Easy access rates are variable, and many apps lead with a bonus that expires after 6 or 12 months, then move you to a lower ongoing rate.

Can I lose money in an easy access account? No. Unlike investing, your balance cannot fall in cash savings. The only risk is the rate not keeping pace with inflation, so it suits short-term money rather than long-term growth.

How often should I switch accounts? Reviewing once or twice a year is usually enough. Set a reminder for any bonus expiry date, then move to a better-paying account, which takes only a few minutes in an app.

Do I pay tax on the interest? You might, once your interest passes your Personal Savings Allowance. Our guide on whether savings interest is taxed explains the allowance and when HMRC gets involved.

The bottom line

The best easy access savings account app for you is the one paying a strong rate after the bonus, holding your money with an FSCS-protected bank, and letting you move funds the same day. Shortlist two or three, note every bonus expiry date, and be ready to switch. The apps make chasing a better rate almost effortless, so there is little reason to leave money sitting in an account that has quietly gone cold.