Best Online Banks of 2026

We analyzed 47 online banks to find the highest APYs, lowest fees, and best digital experiences. See which banks made our top 5 list for 2026.

JW

James Whitfield

Senior Banking Analyst

Updated Feb 14, 2026
Editor's Rating:
4.8

2026 Best Online Banks at a Glance

Side-by-side comparison of the top-rated online banks based on APY, fees, and features.

1

Revolut Ultra

Editor's Choice
4.8

Best overall for everyday banking with premium travel perks

APY

4.50%

Fee

$0

Min.

$0

2

SoFi Checking & Savings

4.7

Best high-yield savings with no account minimums

APY

4.20%

Fee

$0

Min.

$0

3

Wealthfront Cash Account

4.5

Best for automated investing integration

APY

4.00%

Fee

$0

Min.

$1

4

Ally Bank Online Savings

4.4

Best established online bank with full-service features

APY

3.85%

Fee

$0

Min.

$0

5

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

4.2

Best for savers seeking a trusted name in finance

APY

3.90%

Fee

$0

Min.

$0

In-Depth Reviews

Detailed analysis of each bank, including features, fees, and our expert assessment.

1

Revolut Ultra

Editor's Choice
4.8
FinanceDesk Rating

APY

4.50%

Monthly Fee

$0

Bottom line: Revolut Ultra delivers the best combination of high-yield savings, fee-free international transfers, and a polished mobile experience we've seen in 2026.

Revolut has transformed from a travel money card into a full-service digital bank. The Ultra tier offers an industry-leading 4.50% APY on savings with no minimum deposit requirement. You get fee-free international transfers in 30+ currencies, real-time spending notifications, and a metal card with 1% cashback on all purchases. Their budgeting tools and subscription management features are among the most sophisticated we've tested. The mobile app consistently ranked highest in our UX evaluation across all 47 banks reviewed.

Pros

  • Industry-leading 4.50% APY with no minimum balance
  • Fee-free international transfers in 30+ currencies
  • Best-in-class mobile app with advanced budgeting tools
  • 1% cashback on all purchases with the metal card
  • Instant spending notifications and card freeze controls

Cons

  • No physical branch locations for in-person support
  • FDIC insurance through partner bank, not directly held
  • Crypto and stock trading features may feel overwhelming
2

SoFi Checking & Savings

4.7
FinanceDesk Rating

APY

4.20%

Monthly Fee

$0

Bottom line: SoFi offers the strongest all-in-one financial ecosystem with high APY and no fees whatsoever, ideal for users who want banking, investing, and lending under one roof.

SoFi continues to impress with its completely fee-free checking and savings account that delivers a competitive 4.20% APY. Direct deposit unlocks the full rate with no minimum balance requirement. The integrated ecosystem lets you manage student loans, personal loans, investing, and everyday banking from a single app. SoFi Relay, their free credit monitoring tool, adds genuine value. Their customer support has improved significantly, with average wait times under 3 minutes in our testing.

Pros

  • 4.20% APY with direct deposit, no minimum balance required
  • Absolutely zero account fees of any kind
  • Integrated investing, lending, and credit monitoring
  • Vaults feature for organizing savings goals
  • 2% cashback on credit card purchases (SoFi members)

Cons

  • Full APY requires direct deposit activation
  • No joint account option currently available
  • Limited ATM network compared to traditional banks
3

Wealthfront Cash Account

4.5
FinanceDesk Rating

APY

4.00%

Monthly Fee

$0

Bottom line: Wealthfront is the ideal pick for savers who want automated investing alongside a competitive cash account, with seamless transfers between savings and portfolios.

Wealthfront's Cash Account delivers a solid 4.00% APY backed by FDIC insurance up to $8 million through their partner bank network. The real differentiator is the seamless integration with Wealthfront's robo-advisor. Excess cash above your target balance is automatically invested according to your risk profile. The Self-Driving Money feature intelligently routes your paycheck between bills, savings, and investments. Minimalist interface, but deliberately so — Wealthfront is built for set-it-and-forget-it savers.

Pros

  • FDIC insured up to $8 million through partner banks
  • Self-Driving Money automates paycheck allocation
  • Seamless integration with automated investing portfolio
  • Clean, minimalist interface focused on long-term goals

Cons

  • No checking account or debit card functionality
  • $1 minimum deposit required to open the account
  • Customer support limited to email and chat only
4

Ally Bank Online Savings

4.4
FinanceDesk Rating

APY

3.85%

Monthly Fee

$0

Bottom line: Ally Bank remains the most reliable, full-featured online bank for customers who want checking, savings, CDs, and investing with proven 24/7 customer support.

Ally Bank pioneered online banking and remains one of the most trusted names in the space. Their 3.85% APY is slightly below newer competitors, but the breadth of products is unmatched: checking, savings, money market, CDs, IRA accounts, and a full brokerage. Ally's Buckets feature lets you organize savings goals within a single account. Their 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, and email consistently receives high satisfaction ratings. For customers who want a complete banking relationship with a single institution, Ally is hard to beat.

Pros

  • Full-service bank: checking, savings, CDs, investing, mortgages
  • Award-winning 24/7 customer support across all channels
  • Buckets feature for goal-based savings organization
  • No minimum deposits on any account type

Cons

  • APY slightly below newer fintech competitors
  • No physical branch locations nationwide
  • Mobile check deposit limits are relatively low
5

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

4.2
FinanceDesk Rating

APY

3.90%

Monthly Fee

$0

Bottom line: Marcus brings Goldman Sachs institutional credibility to retail banking with a straightforward savings account, competitive CD rates, and no-fee personal loans.

Marcus leverages Goldman Sachs' 150+ year reputation to deliver a no-frills, high-trust savings experience. The 3.90% APY is competitive, and their CD rates are among the best available for 12-month and 18-month terms. Marcus doesn't offer checking accounts or a debit card — it's purely a savings and CD product. Their no-fee personal loans remain a standout offering with rates starting at 6.99% APR. The interface is intentionally simple, making it ideal for savers who don't need bells and whistles.

Pros

  • Goldman Sachs brand trust and institutional stability
  • Competitive CD rates across all term lengths
  • No-fee personal loans with competitive APR
  • Simple, focused interface with no distracting features

Cons

  • No checking account or debit card available
  • No budgeting tools or financial management features
  • Mobile app is functional but lacks modern design polish

Our Review Methodology

Every bank in our comparison is evaluated using the FinanceDesk 5-Point Rating System, developed in collaboration with CFA-certified financial analysts. Our methodology assigns weighted scores across five core categories:

  1. Interest Rates & Yield (25%) — We track APY rates weekly and calculate the effective annual yield including any promotional rate periods or tiered structures.
  2. Fees & Transparency (25%) — We analyze all fee schedules including maintenance fees, overdraft charges, wire transfer costs, and ATM surcharges.
  3. Digital Experience (20%) — We evaluate product breadth, integration capabilities, security features, and unique value-adds.
  4. Customer Support (15%) — We evaluate product breadth, integration capabilities, security features, and unique value-adds.
  5. Account Features (15%) — We evaluate product breadth, integration capabilities, security features, and unique value-adds.