How the numbers are collected, how the CashRanq score works, and how we make money. Data last refreshed 2026-10-28T12:37-04:00.
Our rule: Never ranked by affiliate payout. Payout data isn't an input to the score, and labelled affiliate links never change an option's position.
Ranking on yield alone hides the tradeoffs. Each option gets six sub-scores from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Its score is the weighted average using your weights:
score = Σ (weight × sub-score) ÷ Σ weight
| Factor | How the 0–100 sub-score is set |
|---|---|
| After-tax yield | Starts at 100 for the best after-tax yield in the current view (your state, bracket and filters). Each 0.10 percentage point behind the best costs 10 points, so 1 point behind or more scores 0. |
| Safety | Treasury bills and FDIC-insured savings within $250,000 = 100. Government and Treasury money market funds = 95. FDIC pass-through cash and brokerage sweep programs = 95. Cash held at a broker under SIPC = 90. Prime money market funds = 88. A bank account whose balance is above the $250,000 FDIC limit drops in proportion to the uninsured share (floor 60). |
| Liquidity | Instant or same-day withdrawal = 95. Money market funds = 95. Brokerage cash = 90. Bank and cash accounts (1–3 business-day transfers) = 85. T-bills = 60–85 by term (longer = lower): they can be sold before maturity, but at market price. |
| Minimum | If the minimum to open or earn the stated rate is above your balance, the score is 0. Otherwise it is 100 − 10 × log10(minimum): $0 = 100, $100 = 80, $3,000 ≈ 65. Unknown minimums score a neutral 50 and are marked "unverified". |
| Fees | Money market yields are already net of fund expenses. Required monthly fees (e.g. a subscription needed for the rate) are converted to a % of your balance: 0% = 100, each 0.1% costs 5 points, 2% or more = 0. |
| Effort | Set-and-forget (core brokerage cash) = 95. Fund or brokerage cash = 90. New bank or cash account = 85. Eligibility conditions such as direct deposit = 55–75. Intro/promo rates = at most 65. T-bills = 50–78 depending on how often they roll over. |
Presets (weights for Yield / Safety / Liquidity / Minimum / Fees / Effort). Presets are generic weightings, not advice:
| Preset | After-tax yield | Safety | Liquidity | Minimum | Fees | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced | 30 | 25 | 15 | 5 | 15 | 10 |
| Safety first | 15 | 45 | 20 | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| Max income | 55 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 10 |
| Hands-off | 20 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 30 |
| Need it soon | 20 | 25 | 40 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
Every row's sub-scores and the reason for each are shown under Why this score in the table. The facts behind them live in pipeline/factors.py with a confidence label: page (read from the provider's page this build), policy (a product rule not re-checked this build) or unverified.
Before anything is published, a separate verification program re-checks every number, and the site isn't updated if a single check fails. It recalculates every after-tax yield with independently written code for all 51 jurisdictions, both filing statuses and every federal bracket. It re-reads each rate from its source and compares it with a second publisher where one exists (Federal Reserve H.15 data for T-bills, the fund companies' own pages for money market funds, Bankrate for some savings accounts). It flags stale dates and checks that the numbers on these pages match the data exactly. Every row links to its source and shows its as-of date.
after-tax = y × (1 − federal) − y × (1 − exempt share) × state
taxable-equivalent = after-tax ÷ (1 − federal − state), the rate a fully taxable account (like a savings account) would need to pay to match.
Intro rates (e.g. "for 6 months") are hidden unless you turn on Include intro/promo rates. Rows with conditions (minimum balances, direct deposit, paid subscriptions) are ranked at the rate shown, and the condition counts against their Minimum, Fees or Effort sub-score.
Dividends & bonds, REITs and Alternatives will use the same six factors, plus an "accredited investors only" filter. For assets whose income varies, yield will be trailing distributions net of fees, labelled as historical. Nothing will be ranked on yield alone.
CashRanq may earn from labelled affiliate links and newsletter sponsors. Payout amounts are kept outside the scoring code and are never an input to it. An affiliate link only replaces the "Visit provider" button text and is labelled "Affiliate link". It never changes an option's score or position. There are no affiliate links on the site today. Full details: affiliate disclosure.
Not financial or tax advice. CashRanq is an independent information site that publishes the same general rankings for every reader; scores and presets are not recommendations for you. Rates change often and may depend on balance, eligibility or promotions; money market fund yields are past 7-day yields and are not guaranteed, and funds are not FDIC insured. Tax figures are simplified estimates (marginal rates only; no local taxes, AMT, NIIT, deductions or credits). Always verify the current rate and terms with the provider and consult a tax professional for your situation.
Our rule: Never ranked by affiliate payout. Payout data isn't an input to the score, and labelled affiliate links never change an option's position. How we make money
Not financial or tax advice. CashRanq is an independent information site that publishes the same general rankings for every reader; scores and presets are not recommendations for you. Rates change often and may depend on balance, eligibility or promotions; money market fund yields are past 7-day yields and are not guaranteed, and funds are not FDIC insured. Tax figures are simplified estimates (marginal rates only; no local taxes, AMT, NIIT, deductions or credits). Always verify the current rate and terms with the provider and consult a tax professional for your situation.