APY
Calculator

Calculate the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) — the real return you earn on deposits when compounding is factored in. Compare savings accounts, CDs, and money market accounts using the true yield.

APY Formula
APY = (1 + r/n)n − 1
Scroll
APY
Yield
5.12%
Interest Earned$511.62
Total After 1 Year$10,511.62
APY vs APR Diff+0.12%

APY Visualized

Compounding Comparison

Live

APY Gauge

Animated
5.12%APY

Calculation

Steps
1
Period Rate5% ÷ 12 = 0.4167%
2
Compound(1 + 0.004167)^12 = 1.05116
APY1.05116 − 1 = 5.116% APY

Interest Earned

Interactive
Principal
Interest (5%)

APY vs APR Explained

APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the simple stated interest rate without compounding. APY (Annual Percentage Yield) includes the effect of compounding, showing your true earnings.

A 5% APR compounded monthly gives a 5.116% APY because interest earned each month itself earns interest. The more frequently interest compounds, the higher the APY relative to APR.

Banks advertise APY on savings (to show higher returns) and APR on loans (to show lower costs). Always compare like-for-like using APY for savings and APR+fees for loans.

APR vs APY
5.00%
APR
Compounding
5.12%
APY

Compounding Frequency Impact

Annual (1×)

No compounding benefit. APY equals APR. 5.00% APR = 5.00% APY. Simplest but least beneficial.

Monthly (12×)

Most common for savings accounts. 5.00% APR = 5.116% APY. Good balance of frequency and benefit.

Daily (365×)

Maximum practical compounding. 5.00% APR = 5.127% APY. Only marginally better than monthly for most deposit sizes.

Where APY Matters

High-Yield Savings

HYSA rates at 4-5% APY make comparing providers essential. Even 0.1% APY difference matters on large balances.

Certificates of Deposit

CDs lock your money but offer higher APY. Compare APY across terms (6mo, 1yr, 5yr) and institutions.

Money Market Accounts

Money market accounts offer check-writing with competitive APY. Usually tier-based: higher balances earn higher APY.

Treasury Bonds

I-Bonds and Treasury securities quote rates that can be converted to APY for true comparison with bank products.

DeFi Yields

Crypto lending platforms quote APY. Rates can be extremely high (5-20%) but carry significant risk. Compare carefully.

Retirement Accounts

IRA and 401k investments compound over decades. Understanding APY helps project long-term retirement growth.

APY FAQs

What is APY?

Annual Percentage Yield is the effective annual rate of return taking into account the effect of compounding interest. It shows what you actually earn, not just the stated rate.

Is APY the same as interest rate?

No. APY is always ≥ the nominal interest rate (APR). They're equal only with annual compounding. With monthly compounding, a 5% APR becomes a 5.116% APY.

What is a good APY for savings?

As of 2024, top HYSA rates offer 4.5-5.3% APY. Traditional banks offer 0.01-0.5%. Always look for APY above the current inflation rate (~3%) to maintain purchasing power.

Does compounding frequency matter?

Yes, but less than you'd think. At 5% APR: annual = 5.00% APY, monthly = 5.116% APY, daily = 5.127% APY. The difference narrows with each frequency increase.

Can APY change?

For variable-rate products like savings accounts, yes — APY changes with the Fed funds rate. CDs lock in the APY for the term. Always check if the rate is fixed or variable.

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