The best money market accounts of July 2026: Earn up to 4.0% APY

APYs are current as of the time of publication. CNBC Select will update as changes are made public.

Money market accounts (MMAs) can help you grow your savings while keeping cash accessible for short-term needs. These hybrid deposit accounts offer interest rates on par with high-yield savings accounts, but provide the liquidity you'd expect from a checking account — with features like debit cards and check-writing privileges. That makes them a flexible option for emergency funds or savings goals.

Right now, the highest return is with Brilliant Bank, which is offering 4.00% APY with its Surge Money Market Account. That's more than 11 times the yield of a traditional savings account.

We compared more than 20 MMAs to find the best based on annual percentage yield (APY), fees, minimum balance requirements, account features, ATM networks and other factors. For more on how we made our selections, read our methodology.

Who's this for? The Brilliant Bank Surge Money Market account has the highest APY of the MMAs we've reviewed. You need a $1,000 opening deposit, but there's no minimum balance requirement.

Standout benefits: Checks and a debit card are available on request, with up to six free withdrawals per month. The $10 monthly maintenance fee can be waived with a balance of at least $2,000.

Who's this for? If you want a money market account that functions more like a checking account, the EverBank Performance℠ Money Market comes with both checks and a debit/ATM card, making it easy to access your money without sacrificing a competitive APY.

Standout benefits: There's no minimum balance, no monthly fees and out-of-network ATM fees are automatically reimbursed on U.S. transactions, with up to $15 per month reimbursed for balances under $5,000 and full reimbursement for balances of $5,000 or more.

Who's this for? If you're focused on maximizing your returns and don't need frequent access to your money, CFG Bank High Yield Money Market Account offers a super-competitive APY with interest that compounds daily and pays out monthly.

Standout benefits: The $10 monthly fee is waived as long as you maintain a $1,000 balance, and physical branch locations are available for those who prefer in-person banking.

Who's this for? If you want a money market account that works more like a checking account, the Ally Bank Money Market Account comes with a debit card and check-writing privileges, so you can access your money without having to transfer funds elsewhere first.

Standout benefits: There's no minimum balance, no monthly fees and no overdraft charges. Members get fee-free access to 75,000+ ATMs in the Allpoint and MoneyPass networks, plus a $10 monthly credit for out-of-network ATM fees.

Who's this for? If you want a money market account with no strings attached, the Sallie Mae Money Market Account lets you earn a healthy APY with no minimum balance and no monthly fees standing in the way.

Standout benefits: The account comes with check-writing privileges and Sallie Mae sends your first set of checks for free when you open an account, giving you a convenient way to access your funds without a debit card.

Who's this for? If you're looking for a straightforward money market account with a strong APY and a low barrier to entry, the Vio Bank Cornerstone Money Market Savings Account gets you started with just a $100 opening deposit and no ongoing balance requirement.

Standout benefits: The $5 monthly fee is easily avoided by opting into paperless billing, keeping the account essentially cost-free for most savers.

Who's this for? If you have a larger sum to park and want one of the highest APYs available alongside full checking account features, the UFB Portfolio Money Market gives you both checks and a debit/ATM card so your money stays accessible while it grows.

Standout benefits: The $10 monthly fee is waived as long as you maintain a $5,000 balance, and physical branch locations are available for customers who prefer in-person banking.

Who's this for? If you want a highly competitive APY with virtually no barriers to entry, ZYNLO Bank lets you get started with just $10 and earn a strong rate with no monthly fees, no transaction limits and no minimum balance required to earn interest.

Standout benefits: All deposits above the standard FDIC limit are fully insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund, giving you unlimited coverage protection beyond what most banks offer.

Who's this for? If you want a money market account with debit card access and a competitive base APY, the First Internet Bank of Indiana Money Market Savings is a solid option, though the top rate is reserved for balances above $1 million.

Standout benefits: The $5 monthly fee is waived when you maintain a $4,000 balance, and members get up to $10 per month in out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements, giving you some flexibility when you can't find an in-network ATM.

Who's this for? If you want a competitive APY with no minimums or fees to worry about, the Prime Alliance Bank Personal Money Market keeps things straightforward with no minimum balance, no monthly fees, and unlimited deposits.

Standout benefits: Savers can make unlimited deposits and up to six withdrawals or transfers per month, and physical branch locations are available for those who prefer banking in person.

Who's this for? If you're looking for the highest APY on this list with no balance cap and full checking account features, the Quontic Bank Money Market Account delivers with both check-writing privileges and a debit/ATM card, all for a $100 opening deposit.

Standout benefits: There's no monthly fee and no cap on earning the top APY, so your full balance earns the same competitive rate regardless of how much you have saved. Physical branch locations are also available for those who prefer in-person banking.

Who's this for? If you want one of the most generous APYs on this list for everyday savings balances, Redneck Bank Mega Money Market® delivers a strong rate on balances up to $100,000 with check-writing privileges and a Mastercard® debit card included.

Standout benefits: The $3 monthly fee is easily waived by opting into paperless billing, and the Mastercard debit card gives you access to thousands of ATMs worldwide.

Find the right checking account for you

A money market account is a savings account that has some features of a checking account, such as check-writing privileges, debit cards and access to free ATMs.

Despite easy access, money market accounts earn rates more in line with those of high-yield savings accounts. Interest is variable, so the rate you got when you opened the account is not guaranteed forever.

They may sound alike, but money market accounts are not the same as money market funds. Your cash isn't in the stock market and deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per account.

A money market account (MMA) and a traditional savings account are both deposit accounts that earn interest. The main differences are that MMAs provide better returns and easier access to cash.

Interest rate: MMAs have much higher APYs than traditional savings vehicles, often on par with high-yield savings accounts

Check-writing/debit cards: While traditional savings don't come with checks and rarely have debit cards, both are common with MMAs.

Minimum balance: Traditional savings accounts usually have no or low balance or deposit requirements, while an MMA may have either.

Best for: MMAs are best for emergency funds and saving for medium-term financial goals, while traditional savings vehicles work better for everyday savings and smaller balances.

Both MMAs and HYSAs usually have APYs that outpace standard savings accounts. HYSAs tend to have somewhat higher returns, but they're mostly offered by online banks and have more hurdles for cash withdrawals.

HYSAs also lack access to debit cards and check-writing.

A money market account is a good fit for people who want their savings to earn more interest while still keeping their money easily accessible.

You might benefit from a money market account if you are:

• Building an emergency fund: You can earn interest while keeping money handy for unexpected expenses
• Looking for higher interest rates: Money market accounts pay more than traditional savings accounts
• In need of easy cash access: MMAs often come with ATM or debit cards
• Have a higher account balance: Most MMAs don't cap higher APY
• Prefer lower-risk savings vehicles: money market accounts are considered low risk because they're insured by the FDIC or NCUA for up to $250,000 per depositor and are invested in secure, short-term securities.

If money market accounts aren't ideal, there are other places to park your cash:

• High-yield savings accounts: HYSAs offer competitive interest rates, but no checking account features.
• CDs: Certificates of deposit (CDs) offer fixed interest rates for a set term, so your return is guaranteed. In addition, you typically can't access the funds before the term is over without paying a penalty.
• Checking-savings combos: Some banks offer linked checking and savings accounts that come with solid yields. These can be a convenient option if you want to earn interest while keeping your money integrated with everyday spending, but you may need to meet certain balance requirements.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every money market account list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of savings and banking products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

To determine which money market accounts offer the best return, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of options offered by brick-and-mortar banks, credit unions and fintech companies.

We found that the APYs offered by online banks and credit unions far outpaced most branch banks. We did not include any credit unions, however, because of their limits on memberships.

We prioritized accounts that offer competitive APYs or above-average rates. We also compared each on a range of features, including check-writing privileges, debit card and ATM access, account minimums and customer reviews. We considered users' deposit options and the frequency with which interest compounds,

We also took into account CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

All of the money market accounts included on this list are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per person. If you are opening a joint money market account, the insurance limit is doubled.

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