Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Betterment Cash Reserve vs Wise
Betterment Cash Reserve
Wise
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | Betterment Cash ReserveReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | WiseReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.5%Higher | 3.29% |
| 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 money and gains; transfer up to 100,000 GBP (Personal) daily without delay |
| Monthly fee | $0 | £0 |
| Minimum deposit | $10 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Rate type (Variable), Account kind (Cash management).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Wise scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Founded is lower at Betterment Cash Reserve: 2008 vs 2011.
- Wise is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Wise is available in 3 more countries.
- Headline rate is higher at Betterment Cash Reserve: 3.5% vs 3.29%.
- Pricing model: only Betterment Cash Reserve offers No monthly fee.
- Pricing model: only Wise 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.
Wise
Wise suits people who hold several currencies and convert often, pairing a monthly fee of £0 with a conversion fee of 0.1% and interest of 3.29% on the balance. The weak spot is cash: free ATM withdrawals stop at £250 and the card ranks 10 of 124 on that measure.
Score breakdown
| Area | Betterment Cash Reserve | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9The monthly fee is $0 on a no monthly fee model, and the minimum deposit is $10. | 9.3HigherA monthly fee of £0 and a conversion fee of 0.1% keep running costs low, and the monthly fee ranks 1 of 422. |
| Offer | 9.5The 3.5% variable rate beats 3.29% at Wise and 3.01% at bunq. | 9.8HigherInterest of 3.29% at a variable rate, a debit card, free ATM withdrawals of £250 and support on email, chat and phone. |
| Trust | 8.8Higher | 8.7 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Betterment Cash Reserve | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Not confirmed | National Bank of Belgium 0713629988 BE_NBB PSD_PI BE_NBB!0713629988 |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 549300ET4IUR6RCZOL84 |
| Lithuania | Not confirmed | LT_BL PSD_EMI LT_LT_BL_304940980 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 51906 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Betterment Cash Reserve: 1. Additional countries for Wise: 4.
Which one suits you
Pick Betterment Cash Reserve if headline rate matter most.
Pick Wise if cost and offer matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Betterment Cash Reserve | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 416 of 1492 | 324 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 278 of 658 | 218 of 658 |
| Cash management accounts | 13 of 46 | 11 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Betterment Cash Reserve | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No annual fee |
| Legal entity | MTG LLC | Wise Europe SA |
| Headquarters | United States | Belgium |
| Founded | 2008Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Email, Chat | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Credit cards
| Fact | Betterment Cash Reserve | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.1% |
| Features | Not confirmed | Multi currency, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business, Kids |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Betterment Cash Reserve | Wise | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.5%above the median | 3.29%below the median | 3.3% |
| Minimum deposit | $10above the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
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.
Wise
Pros
- The monthly fee on the cash management account is £0, level with bunq at €0 and Varo Believe Secured Credit Card at $0, so nothing is given away on the standing charge.
- A currency conversion fee of 0.1% sits well under the site median of 1%, and the account can hold 40 currencies at the same time.
- Idle balances earn 3.29% at a variable rate while staying available, which bunq and Varo Believe Secured Credit Card do not offer in the same form.
Cons
- The free ATM allowance of £250 ranks 10 of 124, so heavy cash users get less than many rivals.
- The conversion fee of 0.1% is not free: Starling Personal Account Debit Card lists 0% on its travel card, which costs less for people who only spend abroad.
- The rate is variable, so the 3.29% earned on the balance can move instead of staying put for a set period.
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.
Wise
Who it suits
- People paid in a single currency and spending in another, since the conversion fee is 0.1% and 40 currencies can be held side by side.
- Travellers who want a debit card with a monthly fee of £0 and interest of 3.29% left in the account.
- Households running accounts for business and kids.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, which lists 0% on its travel card, suits spenders who would rather pay no conversion charge than 0.1%.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card is a secured credit card at $0 a month, so it answers a credit building need rather than a debit card that pays interest.
- bunq, which also charges €0 a month, gives no reason to move on price alone, so the 0.1% conversion fee and the £250 cash allowance are what separate the two.
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
Country by country
| Country | Betterment Cash Reserve | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Lithuania | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
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.
Wise
What does the account cost to run?+
The monthly fee on the cash management account is £0, and the pricing runs on the no annual fee model, so there is no separate annual charge. bunq sits at €0 and Varo Believe Secured Credit Card at $0, so Wise competes on conversion pricing and the interest paid on the balance rather than on the standing fee.
How much does it cost to convert currency?+
The currency conversion fee is 0.1%, and the account can hold 40 currencies at once, so money can sit in the currency you are paid in and convert only when you spend. Starling Personal Account Debit Card lists 0% on its travel card, so a reader who never converts pays less there.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Betterment Cash Reserve
Wise