Betterment vs. Otus: savings rates compared
Betterment Cash Reserve pays 3.50% APY. Otus pays 6.00% today. Starting with $25,000 and adding $100 a month, that's $61,003 versus $49,567 after 10 years.
Betterment
Betterment Cash Reserve
3.50%
APY · checked Oct 22, 2026
Base rate; new-customer offers can be higher for a while.
Otus
Guardian, average of the top 10 vaults
6.00%
APY today · live from our vaults
+2.50 pts vs. Betterment
What your money would grow to
Added at the end of every month, at your bank and at Otus.
Betterment in 10 years
Otus in 10 years
more with Otus
Otus
You put in
Extra
- Otus · 6.00%
- Betterment · 3.50%
- What you put in:
Side by side
| Feature | Betterment | Otus |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.50%Base rate; new-customer offers can be higher for a while. | 6.00%Average of the top 10 Guardian vaults today |
| Account | Betterment Cash Reserve | Otus Guardian: onchain lending vaults, rebalanced automatically |
| FDIC insurance | Yes, through partner banks | No |
| Rate checked | Oct 22, 2026 · Betterment's site | Live · Transparency page |
Questions
Does Otus pay more than Betterment?
Today, yes: 6.00% APY at Otus versus 3.50% at Betterment. Starting with $25,000 and adding $100 a month, that's about $11,436 more after 10 years if both rates held, and they won't: rates change.
Is Otus a bank?
No. Otus isn't a bank and isn't FDIC-insured. Betterment Cash Reserve is FDIC-insured through partner banks.
Where does the 6.00% come from?
It's today's average APY across the top 10 Otus Guardian vaults, the same number we publish on our Transparency page. It moves with the vaults.
What does Otus cost?
Otus Guardian is $5/month flat, no percentage of assets. You can start with $10, and there are no lock-ups, no exit fees and no waiting periods. The estimates on this page don't subtract the $5/month.
How current is Betterment's rate?
We last checked it on Oct 22, 2026. Betterment can change it at any time, so confirm on their site before you move money.
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Wells Fargo vs. OtusBetterment's rate was last checked Oct 22, 2026 and may have changed since; see Betterment's site for today's rate. The Otus rate (6.00%) is today's average APY across the top 10 Otus Guardian vaults, the same number on our Transparency page. Rates vary and aren't guaranteed. Estimates compound monthly, with deposits added at the end of each month, and assume today's rates hold for the whole period, which they won't. They don't subtract the Otus Guardian fee of $5/month. Otus isn't a bank and isn't FDIC-insured.
Try it with just $10
Keep Betterment for your bills and let a small amount show you the difference.
