Best Cash ISA 2026
Last updated: 26.07.2026
The best cash ISAs in 2026 let you earn interest completely tax-free while making full use of your annual ISA allowance. We compared the top UK providers by rate, flexibility and protection to find the accounts worth opening today, whether you want the highest possible AER or a straightforward option from an established name.
The highest achievable AER on the market right now, a genuinely flexible ISA with no minimum balance, and a slick app make it the strongest all-round pick for most savers.
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Best cash ISAs compared (September 2026)
We compared 4 cash ISAs and these 5 accounts made it into our overview:
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| #1Top pick | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | |
| Provider | | | | | |
| Account | Trading 212 Cash ISA | Chip Cash ISA | Moneybox Cash ISA | Leek Building Society Charter Savings Bank Easy Access Cash ISA | Leeds Building Society Online Access Cash ISA |
| Offer | Open ISA | Open ISA | Open ISA | Open ISA | Open ISA |
| Review | Read review | – | Read review | – | – |
| Rating | 4.5 /5 ★★★★★ | 4.5 /5 ★★★★★ | 4.3 /5 ★★★★☆ | 4.1 /5 ★★★★☆ | 3.9 /5 ★★★★☆ |
| Interest on savings account | 4.71% AER variable (incl. 1.11% bonus for 12 months; standard rate 3.60% AER) | 4.66% AER variable (incl. 0.91% bonus for 12 months; underlying rate tracks BoE base rate minus 0.30%) | 4.70% AER variable (incl. 1.25% bonus for 12 months; standard rate 3.45% AER) | 4.21% AER variable (no introductory bonus) | 3.95% AER variable (Issue 20, no introductory bonus) |
| Deposit protection | 120.000 GBP | 120.000 GBP | 120.000 GBP | 120.000 GBP | 120.000 GBP |
| Online account opening | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Welcome bonus | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Joint account | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Overdraft interest rate | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Savings account | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The best by category
The highest achievable AER on the market right now, a genuinely flexible ISA with no minimum balance, and a slick app make it the strongest all-round pick for most savers.
A near-top rate combined with the easiest route to bring existing ISA balances across, plus a natural upgrade path into Moneybox's stocks and shares ISA if you want to invest later.
Chip pairs flexible ISA status with automated saving tools, letting you withdraw and top back up without losing your annual allowance.
A straightforward variable rate with no temporary bonus that later disappears, so the rate you see is the rate you keep earning.
Backed by a long-established mutual with full FSCS protection, suited to savers who prefer a traditional building society over an app-only challenger.
Trading 212 Cash ISA Top pick
 | 4,71% AER variable (incl, 1,11% bonus for 12 months; standard rate 3,60% AER) |
|---|---|
| 120,000 GBP |
| Yes |
| Yes |
| No |
| No |
| Yes |
- Market-leading rate of 4.71% AER (including 1.11% bonus for 12 months
- standard rate 3.60% AER) for new customers in 2026
- No account fees, no minimum deposit, and no withdrawal penalties
- Tax-free interest on up to £20,000 per tax year within the ISA allowance
- FSCS protection up to £120,000 on deposits
- Interest calculated daily and paid monthly into the account
- Rate drops to a lower variable rate after the 12-month promotional bonus expires
- Withdrawals can take up to three working days to arrive
- Interest rate falls to 0.75% if three or more withdrawals are made in a calendar year
- Account managed exclusively via mobile app with no web-based dashboard for everyday use
Chip Cash ISA
| 4,66% AER variable (incl, 0,91% bonus for 12 months; underlying rate tracks BoE base rate minus 0,30%) |
|---|---|
| 120,000 GBP |
| Yes |
| Yes |
| No |
| No |
| Yes |
- Flexible ISA status lets you withdraw and replace funds without losing allowance
- three fee-free withdrawals per 12 months
- simple app-based setup with round-up saving tools.
- Headline rate includes a 12-month bonus that drops away
- ongoing rate then tracks the Bank of England base rate minus 0.30%.
Moneybox Cash ISA
| 4,70% AER variable (incl, 1,25% bonus for 12 months; standard rate 3,45% AER) |
|---|---|
| 120,000 GBP |
| Yes |
| No |
| No |
| No |
| Yes |
- 4.70% AER (variable) including 1.25% bonus rate for first 12 months (standard rate 3.45% AER) -- one of the UK's top easy-access Cash ISA rates
- FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per partner bank
- free ISA transfers in from other providers with no hassle
- fully app-based management with a clean, beginner-friendly interface
- interest paid monthly so gains compound quickly
- Rate drops to 0.75% AER if you make four or more withdrawals in a 12-month period
- bonus rate only applies for the first year, after which the underlying rate is lower
- no joint Cash ISA option available
- minimum balance of 500 GBP required to earn the headline rate
Leek Building Society Charter Savings Bank Easy Access Cash ISA
| 4,21% AER variable (no introductory bonus) |
|---|---|
| 120,000 GBP |
| Yes |
| No |
| No |
| No |
| Yes |
- Straightforward variable rate with no temporary bonus to fall away later
- FSCS protected UK bank
- simple online account opening.
- Online-only, no branch or in-person support
- rate sits below the top bonus-boosted accounts.
Leeds Building Society Online Access Cash ISA
| 3.95% AER variable (Issue 20, no introductory bonus) |
|---|---|
| 120,000 GBP |
| Yes |
| No |
| No |
| No |
| Yes |
- Backed by a long-established UK building society
- full instant access with no withdrawal limits
- FSCS protected.
- Rate trails the app-based challengers
- mutual member-facing product with a more basic online interface.
Compare the best UK cash ISAs of 2026.
A cash ISA (Individual Savings Account) is a savings account where all the interest you earn is completely free of UK tax, unlike a standard savings account where interest above your Personal Savings Allowance is taxable. Every UK adult resident gets a £20,000 ISA allowance for the 2026/27 tax year, which can be split across a cash ISA, a stocks and shares ISA, a Lifetime ISA and an Innovative Finance ISA in any combination, as long as the total stays within the £20,000 limit.
Unused allowance cannot be carried forward into the next tax year, so it is worth using it before the 5 April deadline if you have spare savings. Many providers, including Trading 212, Moneybox and Chip, offer a "flexible" cash ISA. This means you can withdraw money during the tax year and pay it back in later without it counting twice against your annual allowance, provided the withdrawal and repayment happen with the same flexible ISA provider.
You can also transfer an existing cash ISA from an old provider to a new one to chase a better rate, without losing its tax-free status, as long as you use the official ISA transfer process rather than simply withdrawing and redepositing the cash yourself. Most providers listed here process transfers online within one to two weeks.
From April 2027, the government is changing the rules: the total ISA allowance will remain £20,000, but only £12,000 of it will be usable in a cash ISA, with the rest reserved for stocks and shares ISAs (savers aged 65 and over keep the full £20,000 cash allowance). This does not affect existing ISA balances, only how much new money you can add to a cash ISA specifically going forward, so it is worth using this tax year's full cash ISA allowance while it still applies.
Every provider compared on this page is a UK-regulated bank, building society, or holds cash with a partner bank that is, so deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per person, per banking licence.
How we rate
At BankingGeek we compare products independently on fees, real terms, safety and user experience. We update the data regularly. If you open an account through a link we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you and without affecting our rating.
Frequently asked questions
Is a cash ISA better than a regular savings account?
A cash ISA and a standard savings account can pay similar headline rates, but a cash ISA shelters all of that interest from tax permanently, while a regular account only shelters interest up to your Personal Savings Allowance (£1,000 for basic-rate taxpayers, £500 for higher-rate, nothing for additional-rate). If you already use your full Personal Savings Allowance elsewhere, or you are a higher earner, a cash ISA is almost always the better home for new savings.
How much can I pay into a cash ISA in the 2026/27 tax year?
The overall ISA allowance is £20,000 per adult for the 2026/27 tax year, and you can put the whole amount into a single cash ISA if you wish, or split it across a cash ISA, a stocks and shares ISA, a Lifetime ISA (up to £4,000 of the total) and an Innovative Finance ISA. From April 2027 the rules change so that only £12,000 of the £20,000 allowance can go into a cash ISA, with savers aged 65 and over keeping the full £20,000 cash allowance.
What is a flexible cash ISA?
A flexible ISA lets you withdraw money during the tax year and pay it back into the same ISA later without the repayment counting a second time against your annual allowance. For example, if you pay in £15,000 and later withdraw £5,000, a flexible ISA lets you redeposit that £5,000 on top of the remaining £5,000 allowance, effectively letting you use up to £20,000 of headroom again. Not every provider offers this, so check before assuming a withdrawal is penalty-free on your allowance.
Can I have more than one cash ISA?
Yes. You can hold cash ISAs with several different providers from previous tax years, and current rules also allow you to open and pay into more than one cash ISA with different providers in the same tax year, as long as your total contributions across all ISA types stay within the £20,000 annual limit. Always check the specific provider's own terms, as a small number still restrict you to one active ISA per year.
Is my money protected in a cash ISA?
Yes, provided the ISA is held with, or the cash is ultimately deposited with, a bank or building society authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects deposits up to £120,000 per person, per banking licence. App-based providers that are not banks themselves, such as Trading 212 or Chip, hold customer cash with partner banks that carry this same FSCS protection, so check which licence applies if you also bank with that partner directly, as the limit is shared.
What happens to the cash ISA allowance in April 2027?
From April 2027, the total ISA allowance stays at £20,000, but the amount you can pay into a cash ISA specifically is being reduced to £12,000, with the remaining £8,000 reserved for a stocks and shares ISA. This does not touch money you have already saved in a cash ISA, and savers aged 65 and over will keep the full £20,000 cash ISA allowance. If you want to maximise tax-free cash savings, it is worth using this tax year's full £20,000 cash allowance before the change takes effect.
Can I transfer an old cash ISA to a new provider?
Yes, and you should always use the official ISA transfer process rather than withdrawing the cash yourself and paying it into the new ISA, since a DIY withdrawal loses the tax-free wrapper on that money permanently. Fill in a transfer form with your new provider, who will contact your old provider directly; most transfers complete within one to two weeks, and your money keeps earning interest at the old rate until the transfer finishes.
Do I pay tax on cash ISA interest?
No. Interest earned inside a cash ISA is entirely free of UK income tax, regardless of how much you hold or how high your other income is, and it does not use up or count towards your Personal Savings Allowance. This is the core benefit of a cash ISA over a standard savings account for higher earners or anyone with large cash balances.