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In this regularly updated round-up, This is Money picks our five favourite cash Isas for savers in 2025.
It is essential reading to help you choose a top savings account for your money that can also protect you from tax - and we detail the top easy access and fixed rate cash Isa deals.
This top Isa round-up has been keeping our readers updated on the best savings deals since 2014 and is kept up-to-date weekly. Bookmark it for the very latest developments.
How an Isa works and why you should have one
Each year in April, savers are given a fresh Isa allowance that qualifies for tax-free interest.
For the 2025/26 financial year, starting 6 April 2025 and ending 5 April 2026, the limit is £20,000.
You can transfer Isa money whichever way you wish between an investment account to savings account, whereas previously you could only shift it from saving to investments.
Cash Isa rates have been rising, along with non-tax free rates. It is worth opening one to shield money away from the taxman, especially with rates moving upwards.
You can also transfer an old Isa for better returns. Here's a quick guide to Isa saving.
It is possible to switch your current year's cash Isa if you move the entire amount, but it is far simpler to get your choice right in the first place.
Get an Isa to beat savings tax
Higher rates have dragged more people into the savings tax net, meaning a cash Isa's shelter is even more valuable.
An Isa is worth having, despite the tax-free savings interest allowance of £1,000 a year for basic rate taxpayers and £500 for higher rate taxpayers.
If you're a basic-rate taxpayer earning 5 per cent interest, having more than £20,000 in savings will tip you into tax, for a higher-rate taxpayer that figure is £10,000 and if you are in the 45p tax bracket, you get no savings allowance at all.
You may also want to look into a stocks and shares Isa. Read about how to choose the best stocks and share Isa.
Our five favourite Isas:
- Facts: £1 to open
- Transfers in: Yes
- Flexible: Yes
> Full details at Trading 212*
This is Money says: Trading 212 is the next best cash Isa if you're looking for a true easy-access Isa that doesn't cut your rate for withdrawing money.
The rate includes a 0.66 per cent bonus rate which lasts for 12 months for new customers, after which it falls to 3.85 per cent. Use this special This is Money Trading 212* link to secure it.
Existing customers can earn 3.85 per cent with interest paid monthly.
The Isa is competitive because it has a good underlying rate, no withdrawal limits and is flexible.
Trading 212 will also apply the boosted rate to contributions made this tax year when transferring an Isa from another provider - previous tax year contributions receive the lower rate.
The account can only be opened by downloading Trading 212's app. There are no limits to how many times you can withdraw your money and Trading 212 will not reduce your interest rate for accessing your money.
Trading 212's Isa is a flexible Isa which is a big benefit to savers with the financial fire power to max out their Isa limit each year.
Any cash deposited with the Trading 212 cash Isa is fully FSCS protected, as are all of the accounts in this list. Funds in the Trading 212 Isa are held in partner bank accounts with Barclays, NatWest and JPMorgan, so they're FSCS protected with these providers.
Customers are able to see the percentage of their cash held at each bank is in the interest on the cash tab in the Trading 212 app.
It means if you already have money in Barclays, NatWest or JPMorgan, you'll need to be careful not to breach the £85,000 limit if you put money away with Trading 212.
- Facts: £500 to open, app only
- Transfers in: No
- Flexible: No
> Full details at Tembo
This is Money says: Tembo currently offers the best one-year fix, but keep in mind it's an app-based provider, so you need to download it to open an account.
Tembo doesn't accept transfers in and you need a minimum of £500 to open an account. This is lower than other providers, with another best-buy 4.2 per cent fix from NatWest requiring £1,000 to open it - although this account accepts transfers.
Unusually you can add further funds to the fixed-rate Isa, which Tembo locks in for 12 months from the date they're added, at the best rate available at the time.
- Facts: £1,000 to open
- Transfers in: Yes
- Flexible: No
> Full details at NatWest
This is Money says: It's a rarity for a high street bank to offer a top rate, but NatWest is currently competing with top one-year fixes from newer platforms, so it's worth mentioning because some prefer established names.
While Tembo beats NatWest on rate, NatWest accepts transfers, so this could be a significant deciding factor for those willing to stash their money away for 12 months.
This fix is available until 5pm on 23 October for new customers and until 28 October for existing NatWest customers. You can withdraw money until 11 November, but then partial withdrawals aren't permitted unless you close the account and pay an early closure charge.
Read more: The best bank accounts
- Facts: £500 to open
- Transfers in: Yes (must make a full transfer of contributions made this tax year; can choose partial or full transfer of previous tax year contributions)
- Flexible: No
> Full details at Cynergy Bank
This is Money says: If you're keen to lock away your money for longer to have the certainty of a fixed rate for your savings, Cynergy Bank is currently offering the best two-year fixed rate.
You need to apply online and you can manage the account online, by post or over the phone. Cynergy will open a variable rate Isa for you at the same time, which is for any additional funds you want to add after your money is fixed.
The best lifetime Isa
- Facts: £1 to open
- Transfers in: Yes (not partial transfers)
- Flexible: No
> Full details at Moneybox
This is Money says: For those aged between 18-39 who are either saving up to buy their first home or towards retirement, this is the best paying cash Lisa deal on the market - and the top rate on any Isa product available at the moment.
Save up to £4,000 each tax year and get a 25 per cent government bonus. The deal is only available via its app.
The rate includes a 1.55 per cent fixed bonus for the first year, making the underlying rate is 3.05 per cent.
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