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Top cash ISAs 2024/25
Up to 5.05% easy access or up to 4.46% fixed
A cash ISA is just a savings account where you'll never pay tax on the interest – and in the 2024/25 tax year, you can put up to £20,000 into one or more, if you're 18 or over. This guide helps you decide whether you need an ISA, and shows all the top picks.

Other MSE savings guides...
Top savings accounts: The top-paying normal savings
Regular savings: Up to 7% interest if you can save monthly
Children's savings: Earn 5% on kids' savings
Current accounts: Get up to 5% on smaller sums
What is a cash ISA?

Cash ISAs are just savings accounts you NEVER pay tax on. Everyone in the UK aged 18 or over gets an ISA allowance at the start of each tax year – for 2024/25, which ends on 5 April 2025, it's £20,000.
Just like normal savings, cash ISAs come in different types. There's easy access, where you withdraw whenever you want, and fixed rate, where you get a guaranteed rate but are supposed to lock cash in for a set time.
Who are ISAs best for?
Since 2016, the personal savings allowance (PSA) means you get a tax-free amount of interest, earnable in any savings...
- Basic 20% rate taxpayers can earn up to £1,000/year tax-free interest
- Higher (40%) rate taxpayers can earn £500/year tax-free
- Top (45%) rate taxpayers don't get a PSA
Remember, that's the interest you can earn, so you need a lot of savings to generate it. And with very low savings interest rates between 2016 and 2022, very few paid tax on savings interest. At one point, you needed around £250,000 in top easy-access savings to generate it.
But, now rates have risen, basic rate taxpayers only need around £20,000 in normal savings to pay tax on it, and higher-rate around £10,000...
Unusually, easy-access ISAs are currently offering higher rates than normal savings, making this the perfect time to maximise your tax-free ISA allowance.
You should consider opening (or keeping) a cash ISA if you:
- Already pay tax on savings interest. Here opening a cash ISA rather than saving in normal savings is a no brainer.
- Are near the limit where you'll earn enough interest to pay tax on interest. If that's the case, money in cash ISAs now could protect you from future tax.
- Are happy to lock cash away but may just need to access it. Fixed cash ISAs must let you withdraw money (for a big interest penalty). Normal savings accounts lock your money away with no access.
Might I still be better off in normal savings even if I pay tax?
Currently, the answer is no. However, if you did want to check here's a simple method to help you compare. Take the rate on the ISA you're looking at and multiply it by:
- 1.25 if you're a basic-rate taxpayer
- 1.66 if you're higher-rate taxpayer
- 1.82 if you're a top-rate taxpayer
The result of that sum is the rate you need to get on normal savings for it to be the winner. If normal savings don't pay more than that, then you're better off in the cash ISA.
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Cash ISA need-to-knows
To help you work out if opening a cash ISA is right for you, it's worth getting your head around the following need-to-knows...
Top easy-access cash ISAs
Easy-access cash ISAs let you take out your money when you want, without penalty – so are a good option if you know you'll be dipping into your savings, or you're not sure. There are some important things to note about ISAs which differ from standard savings accounts...
- Only some cash ISAs are flexible – meaning you can replace cash withdrawn from them in the same tax year into the same cash ISA without it using up your year's ISA limit. If a cash ISA isn't flexible, all deposits count towards your ISA allowance, irrespective of any withdrawals. We make it clear which cash ISAs are and aren't flexible in our table below.
- Rates on these accounts are variable, which means they can go up or down. You'll be notified of any change, but you should regularly check the table below for the current top payer. If your account is lagging behind, you may be able to transfer to a new cash ISA, though it works differently to switching a standard savings account...
If you want to transfer, don't withdraw your cash and transfer it manually. You'll lose all tax benefits if you do. Instead, speak to the new provider and fill in an ISA transfer form. Your new provider will then move the money over for you – keeping your ISA cash permanently tax-free. We make it clear which providers don't allow transfers in our table below.
With easy-access cash ISAs, interest is usually paid into the account either monthly or annually. If you choose an account which pays interest annually, you won't be able to use the interest until the year's up – so there's a long wait. If you'd prefer to use it sooner, for example if you want a monthly income stream from your interest, choose an account which offers a monthly option.
If you'd rather a guaranteed interest rate, you may need to sacrifice this flexibility and lock cash away in a fixed cash ISA.
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Easy-access cash ISAs – what we'd go for
Top easy-access cash ISAs currently pay more than top easy-access savings – so they're winners even if you don't need the tax benefits.
We’ve two top picks, depending on whether or not you want unlimited penalty-free withdrawals. The interest rates on both accounts are for newbies only and include bonuses for 12 months, meaning the rates will drop after a year – so if you go for either, diarise to check for a better rate when the year’s up.
Trading 212 currently pays the top rate for easy-access ISAs with unlimited withdrawals at 5.03%, plus has the added benefit of being a flexible ISA. However, from 1 March the rate will fall to 4.63% – so you could be better off with one of our other top picks.
If you know you won't need frequent access to your savings, you can get a smidge more interest with Plum at 5.05%, though here you’re limited to just three penalty-free withdrawals a year.
Prefer a more well-known name? Post Office* pays the top rate at 4.4% and allows unlimited withdrawals.
Top cash ISAs. All have the full £85,000 savings protection. |
|
Top paying accounts(In rate order – see what we'd go for) |
Top well-known name accounts(As many tell us you prefer names you know) |
Only three penalty-free withdrawals per year, new customers only, lower rate on transfers in Plum, 5.05% (click for info) - Min £100 - Open via app - Interest paid: monthly and annually - Is not a flexible ISA
|
Includes a fixed 3.15% bonus for 12 months Post Office*, 4.4% - Min £100 - Open online - Interest paid: annually - Is not a flexible ISA |
New customers only Trading 212, 5.03% (click for info) - Min £1 - Open online or via app - Interest paid: monthly - Is a flexible ISA |
Includes a fixed 3.15% bonus for 12 months Bank of Ireland UK, 4.4% - Min £100 - Open online - Interest paid: annually - Is not a flexible ISA
|
New customers only - Min £1 - Open via app - Interest paid: monthly - Is a flexible ISA
|
Includes a fixed 0.49% bonus for 12 months Marcus (owned by Goldman Sachs)*, 4.3% - Min £1 - Open online - Interest paid: monthly - Is not a flexible ISA
|
Only three penalty-free withdrawals per year, new customers only Moneybox, 5% (click for info) - Rate falls to 4.75% from 3 March - Min £500 - Open via app - Interest paid: annually - Is not a flexible ISA
|
Leeds BS, 4.25% (matures 31 Mar 27) - Min £1,000 - Open online - Interest paid: annually - Is not a flexible ISA
|
Monument, 4.76% - Min £10,000 - Open via app - Interest paid: monthly - Is a flexible ISA |
Only three penalty-free withdrawals per year Virgin Money, 4.06% - Min £1 - Open online - Interest paid: monthly or annually - Is not a flexible ISA |
All rates are AER.
Quick question
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Top fixed-rate cash ISAs
Fixed-rate savings are designed to lock money away for a set period and offer rate security in return. Yet by law, cash ISA providers MUST allow you to access your money. However, some require you to close the account or transfer out to get your cash. And most will levy heavy penalties on withdrawals – anywhere between 60 and 365 days' worth of interest.
If you're opening a fixed cash ISA, you'll usually need to put the amount you're saving in it within two-to-four weeks, though it varies across providers and sometimes they give you longer. So if you want to use up your annual £20,000 ISA allowance each year, you'll need an easy-access ISA or to open additional fixed accounts each tax year.
Already have a fixed-rate ISA? Rates have shot up recently, and, since ISAs let you withdraw early for an interest penalty, it may be better to switch. Use our ISA switching calc to check.
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Fixed-rate cash ISAs – what we'd go for
There's currently little difference in rate between the top shorter and longer fixes – so there's not much incentive to lock in for longer, unless you want absolute certainty of returns over a longer period. And remember, if you don't need the tax benefits of an ISA, normal savings pay higher rates.
The top one-year fix is paid by OakNorth Bank at 4.46% (min £1). If you're looking for something longer, Secure Trust Bank pays the top rates for two-year (4.41%), three-year (4.43%) and five-year fixes (4.26%), which can be opened online with £1,000.
Prefer a more well-known name? Tesco Bank pays the top one-year fixed rate at 4.16%, while Leeds Building Society is top for two years at 4.1%. Skipton BS also pays 4.15% for its 18-month fix – a decent middle ground.
Provider | Rate – AER (min deposit) | Can I transfer in? | Penalty to withdraw? | How to open? | When can I access interest? |
OakNorth Bank | 4.46% (min £1) |
Yes | 90 days' interest | Online/ app | At maturity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Secure Trust Bank | 4.45% (min £1,000) |
Yes, at application | 90 days' interest | Online | On 31 Dec each year and/or at maturity |
Charter Savings Bank | 4.42% (min £5,000) |
Yes | 90 days' interest | Online | Monthly or at maturity |
Top rates from big names. As we know some prefer to save with bigger brands. | |||||
Tesco Bank (1) | 4.16% (min £1) |
Yes | 90 days' interest | Online | At maturity |
Post Office* | 4.15% (min £500) |
Yes | 90 days' interest | Online | At maturity |
Bank of Ireland UK | 4.15% (min £500) |
Yes | 90 days' interest | Online | At maturity |
All have Financial Services Compensation Scheme savings protection of up to £85,000. (1) Tesco Bank now shares FSCS protection with Barclays.
Provider |
Rate – AER (min deposit) | Can I transfer in? | Penalty to withdraw? | How to open? | When can I access interest? |
Secure Trust Bank | 4.41% (min £1,000) |
Yes, at application | 180 days' interest | Online | On 31 Dec each year and/or at maturity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hodge Bank | 4.41% (min £1,000) |
No | 180 days' interest | Online | Monthly, annually or at maturity |
Hampshire Trust Bank | 4.31% (min £1) |
Yes | 180 days' interest | Online | At maturity |
Top rates from big names. As we know some prefer to save with bigger brands. | |||||
Skipton BS | 4.15% for 18mths (min £5,000) |
Yes | 90 days' interest | Online/ app/ branch/ post/ phone | Monthly, annually or at maturity |
(matures 31 Mar 27) |
4.1% (min £100) |
Yes | 180 days' interest | Online/ post/ branch | Annually or at maturity |
Nationwide | 4% (min £1) |
Yes | 120 days' interest | Online/ app/ branch | Annually or at maturity |
All have Financial Services Compensation Scheme savings protection of up to £85,000.
Provider | Rate – AER (min deposit) | Can I transfer in? | Penalty to withdraw? | How to open? | When can I access interest? |
(matures 27 Mar 28) |
4.43% (min £1,000) |
Yes, at application | 270 days' interest | Online | On 31 Dec each year and/or at maturity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hodge Bank | 4.41% (min £1,000) |
No | 270 days' interest | Online | Monthly, annually or at maturity |
UBL UK | 4.41% (min £2,000) |
Yes | 270 days' interest | Online/ app/ post/ branch | Monthly, quarterly, annually or at maturity |
Top rate from an established name. As we know some prefer to save with bigger brands. | |||||
Skipton BS | 4% (min £500) |
Yes | 240 days' interest | Online/ app/ post/ branch/ phone | Monthly, annually or at maturity |
(matures 3 Apr 28) |
3.9% (min £100) |
Yes | 240 days' interest | Online/ post/ branch | Annually or at maturity |
All have Financial Services Compensation Scheme savings protection of up to £85,000. (1) Penalty depends on the number of days remaining when you withdraw – full details are in the yellow box on page five of the terms and conditions.
Provider | Rate – AER (min deposit) | Can I transfer in? | Penalty to withdraw? | How to open? | When can I access interest? |
(matures 26 Mar 30) |
4.26% (min £1,000) |
Yes, at maturity | 365 days' interest | Online | On 31 Dec each year and/or at maturity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hinckley & Rugby BS | 4.25% (min £500) |
Yes | 365 days' interest | Post/ branch | Annually or at maturity |
UBL UK | 4.23% (min £2,000) |
Yes | 365 days' interest | Online/ app/ post/ branch | Monthly, quarterly, annually or at maturity |
Top rate from an established name. As we know some prefer to save with bigger brands. | |||||
(matures 1 Apr 30) |
3.75% (min £100) |
Yes | 365 days' interest | Online/ post/ branch | Annually or at maturity |
Halifax | 3.7% (min £500) |
Yes | 365 days' interest | Online/ app/ phone/ branch | Monthly, annually or at maturity |
All have Financial Services Compensation Scheme savings protection of up to £85,000. (1) Penalty depends on the number of days remaining when you withdraw – full details are in the yellow box on page five of the terms and conditions.
The ISA Savings Calculator
No matter what you're saving for, this calculator can help you work out how much you'll save by a certain date, based on your account's interest rate, how long it'll take you to set aside your target amount, and what you need to put away each month to hit a certain figure.
When using the calculator, use the AER (annual equivalent rate) for increased accuracy. It should be listed on your statement. As most accounts' interest rates are variable, obviously the answers will change if the rate does, so only use the calculator to get a rough indication of your likely outcome.
The calculator assumes you put money in at the beginning of each month, so if this isn't how you do it, the answers will be ever-so-slightly out. If you don't make regular deposits but put in lump sums, figure out the monthly equivalent for a rough answer. Feel free to play with the results to see how your savings are affected.
Want to complain about your savings provider?
If your savings provider has given you the incorrect interest rate, or you haven't received your interest at all, then you don't have to suffer in silence.
It's always worth trying to call your provider first to see if it can help, but if not, you can use free complaints tool Resolver. The tool helps you manage your complaint, and if the company doesn't play ball, it also helps you escalate your complaint to the free Financial Ombudsman Service.
Cash ISA FAQs
Here are some common ISA-related queries. If you've got a question we've not answered below or in the text above, suggest a question in the MSE Forum.
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We put all new info in the free weekly MSE Money Tips email, so sign up now and join millions of others in saving money.
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