Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Betterment Cash Reserve vs Qonto
Qonto
Betterment Cash Reserve
Higher score in this comparison
Betterment Cash Reserve vs Qonto: the differences
| Compare | Betterment Cash ReserveReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | QontoReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.5%Higher | 1.5% |
| Minimum deposit | $10 | €0 |
| Deposit protection | FDIC up to USD 250,000 | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Access terms | Cash Reserve: no minimum balance ($10 minimum deposit), unlimited withdrawals, sweep cash held at FDIC-insured program banks up to $8M (joint) | Instant access to the money, no notice period; remuneration activated in the app, calculated daily on the total balance and paid on the 2nd of each month; requires at least 5 eligible payment transactions of at least 1 EUR per month |
| Monthly fee | $0 | €9 |
Same on both: Rate type (Variable), Account kind (Cash management).
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Key differences
- Betterment Cash Reserve scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.6.
- Founded is lower at Betterment Cash Reserve: 2008 vs 2017.
- Qonto is available in 7 more countries.
- Headline rate is higher at Betterment Cash Reserve: 3.5% vs 1.5%.
- Pricing model: only Betterment Cash Reserve offers No monthly fee.
- Pricing model: only Qonto offers No annual fee.
Our verdict on each
Betterment Cash Reserve
Betterment Cash Reserve holds a cash management balance with no minimum, so it suits US savers who park spending money inside a wider investing platform rather than chasing a term deal. Entry starts at $10 and withdrawals are unlimited, but the variable rate means the headline figure can move with the market.
Qonto
Qonto suits businesses that want a low-cost Mastercard debit card with included card insurance and account remuneration. It is less suitable for frequent cash withdrawals or overseas spending, because free ATM withdrawals are €0 and currency conversion costs 2%.
Score breakdown
| Area | Betterment Cash Reserve | Qonto |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9HigherThe monthly fee is $0 on a no monthly fee model, and the minimum deposit is $10. | 8.4Qonto charges a monthly fee of €9, currency conversion costs 2%, and the card has an annual fee of €0. |
| Offer | 9.5HigherThe 3.5% variable rate beats 3.29% at Wise and 3.01% at bunq. | 9.4 |
| Trust | 8.8Higher | 8.4 |
How they place
| Ranking | Betterment Cash Reserve | Qonto |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 416 of 1492 | 11 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 278 of 658 | 8 of 658 |
| Cash management accounts | 13 of 46 | 3 of 46 |
What we checked
Betterment Cash Reserve
- betterment.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Qonto
- qonto.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Betterment Cash Reserve | Qonto |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No annual fee |
| Legal entity | MTG LLC | QONTO |
| Headquarters | United States | France |
| Founded | 2008Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Email, Chat | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centre |
Credit cards
| Fact | Betterment Cash Reserve | Qonto |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| APR | Not confirmed | 17.5% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 2% |
| Rewards type | Not confirmed | None |
| Features | Not confirmed | Multi currency, Virtual card, Travel |
| Perks | Not confirmed | Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost, Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans), Apple Pay and Google Pay compatible, 24/7 support in France, 7 days a week elsewhere |
| Card kind | Not confirmed | Credit |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Betterment Cash Reserve | Qonto | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.5%above the median | 1.5%lowest quarter | 3.3% |
Median across 710 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Betterment Cash Reserve
Pros
- A deposit of $10 is the only entry barrier: no minimum balance and unlimited withdrawals once you are in.
- Cash is swept across a network of FDIC-insured program banks, with FDIC up to USD 250,000 behind the deposits.
- Licences cover the group: SEC (investment adviser), FINRA (broker-dealer, Betterment Securities) and SIPC member 51906.
Cons
- A variable rate, so the income on 3.5% can fall when the market softens.
- Built on US deposit protection, FDIC up to USD 250,000, so readers outside US gain less from it.
- Finteres advertises a wider spread at 0% to 36%, which pulls headline shoppers elsewhere.
Qonto
Pros
- The Mastercard debit card has an annual fee of €0.
- Card insurance for travel, business purchases and fraud is included through Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost and Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans).
- Eligible Smart and Premium plans can receive account remuneration under the terms in Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost and Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans).
Cons
- Qonto charges a monthly fee of €9, while bunq lists a monthly fee of €0.
- Free ATM withdrawals are €0, which may be costly for a business that regularly uses cash machines.
- The currency conversion fee of 2% is above the site median of 1%.
Who each suits
Betterment Cash Reserve
Who it suits
- Readers who already hold investments with Betterment, since the adviser and brokerage licences sit in the same group.
- Anyone moving money in and out often, because the access terms allow unlimited withdrawals and no minimum balance.
- Savers who want the headline rate near the top of the cash-management field, where the median is 3.46%.
Who should look elsewhere
- Savers chasing the widest advertised range: Finteres lists 0% to 36%.
- Readers hoping to beat 3.5% elsewhere: bunq pays 3.01% and Wise 3.29%, so neither improves on it.
Qonto
Who it suits
- Businesses that regularly use a Mastercard debit card for travel or business purchases.
- Smart and Premium plan customers who meet the remuneration terms in Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost and Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans).
- Users who want chat, phone, email and help-centre support through chat, phone and email.
Who should look elsewhere
- Businesses focused on low cost that may prefer bunq, whose monthly fee is €0.
- Frequent overseas spenders who prefer Wise and want to compare its fee with Qonto's 2%.
- Cash-heavy businesses that want free ATM withdrawals, because Qonto offers €0.
Current offers
Betterment Cash Reserve
Current offer
Bonus
New customer offer: 0.75% APY boost on Cash Reserve (4.25% variable APY): 0.75% boost on balances up to $1M (3.50% base + boost = 4.25%)
New clients with a qualifying deposit; earn more on savings up to $1M through February 15, 2027; $10 min deposit for base APY; base APY change moves boosted APY
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Earn up to $2,000 investing offer: up to $2,000
Open any individual investing account and make a deposit; terms apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Rate partnership: discounted mortgage rate: up to 0.75% off
Through Betterment's partnership with Rate
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Qonto
Current offer
Free trial
1-month free trial on all Qonto plans: 1 month free
Shown on Basic, Smart, Premium, Essential, Business and Enterprise plan cards on the pricing page.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
Remunerated account: 5% AER for 2 months, then 1.5% AER: 5% AER for 2 months, then 1.5% AER
Smart and Premium plans; requires at least 5 eligible transactions per month; remunerated balance cap EUR 50,000 (Smart) or EUR 100,000 (Premium).
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Betterment Cash Reserve | Qonto |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
| Portugal | No | Yes |
| Spain | No | Yes |
8 of 9 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Betterment Cash Reserve
What rate does Betterment Cash Reserve pay?+
Cash Reserve pays a variable rate of 3.5%, so the figure follows the market instead of being locked in. Cash is swept to a network of FDIC-insured program banks rather than held by Betterment, and the rate is set by what those banks pass on. Wise at 3.29% gives a second reading.
What does it cost to keep money in Cash Reserve?+
There is no monthly charge: the fee is $0 and the pricing model is no monthly fee. Opening the account takes a deposit of $10. The group also holds an investment adviser registration with the SEC and a broker-dealer registration with FINRA, so the running costs stay at the floor and the rate is the thing to compare.
Qonto
What does Qonto charge each month?+
Qonto's account fee is €9. The Mastercard debit card itself has an annual fee of €0. The card also offers a deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost under Card insurance included (travel, business purchases, fraud), Deferred debit option on Plus and X Cards at no extra cost and Account remuneration 5% AER for 2 months then 1.5% (Smart and Premium plans).
What does Qonto charge for currency conversion?+
Currency conversions cost 2%. This matters for business travel or purchases made outside the account's working currency. Qonto supports multi-currency features, but the conversion charge remains 2%.
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Qonto
Betterment Cash Reserve