Top cash ISAs 2024/25

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• Only some cash ISAs are flexible – meaning you can replace cash withdrawn from them in the same tax year into the same cash ISA without it using up your year's ISA limit.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, never withdraw money from a cash ISA. 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. 

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.