This week's top ISAs explained

The best easy access cash ISA rates

Top returns on an easy access ISA have dipped to 4.51% AER this week but can still be found from Trading 212. Its Cash ISA Promo Rate pays this headline rate monthly when considering the 0.91% 12-month bonus available to new customers who apply via Moneyfactscompare.co.uk by 4 May 2026. A £1 minimum deposit is needed to open and manage this account online or via mobile app, and it may particularly appeal to those who often dip into their pot as it allows unlimited penalty-free withdrawals. What’s more, as a flexible ISA, you can replace any withdrawn funds in the same tax-year without affecting your annual ISA allowance.

Meanwhile, Plum continues to sit in second place on our chart despite also recently reducing its Plum Cash ISA to pay 4.31% AER monthly (inclusive of a 1.77% AER bonus for 12 months). After opening via mobile app with a £1 minimum deposit, this flexible ISA can be managed using the same means and grants savers unlimited penalty-free access to their cash. But, even though it accepts transfers in from a wide range of ISAs, bear in mind this is subject to receiving a slightly lower rate of 4.20% AER (inclusive of a 1.66% AER 12-month bonus).

Tembo Money’s Tembo Cash ISA – with 12 months bonus still follows closely behind - continuing to offer 4.30% AER monthly on a £10 minimum deposit (inclusive of a 1.50% bonus for 12 months). Another app-based account, it allows unlimited penalty-free withdrawals via a nominated account (but doesn’t follow flexible ISA rules).

However, before applying for any of these accounts, it’s important to check the provider’s partner banks to make sure your money will be fully covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

The best fixed cash ISA rates

In contrast, the market-leading one- and two-year fixed ISA rates have jumped to 4.65% AER off the back of increases from AlRayan Bank. Its Meteor Savings – 1 and 2 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISAs follow Islamic finance principles, so pay expected profit (instead of interest) on maturity. Both options can be operated online via the Meteor Savings platform with a £1,000 minimum deposit – but savers should consider their opening amount carefully as further additions are prohibited and early access is only available upon account closure subject to 30 days’ loss of expected profit.

However, those looking to lock away their cash for longer can continue to find the best three- and five-year fixed ISA rates from Chetwood Bank. Its HL Active Savings – 3 and 5 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISAs are available online via the Hargreaves Lansdown Active Savings platform with a £1,000 minimum deposit and each pay 4.55% AER on anniversary (until maturing on 24 April 2029 and 29 April 2031, respectively). But, once again, further contributions aren’t allowed and early access can only be gained on account closure subject to a respective 270- and 360-day loss of interest penalty.

The best notice cash ISA rates

Elsewhere, the best rate paid by a cash ISA that requires savers to serve up to 30 days’ notice when making a withdrawal has also improved this week. While Dudley BS continues to top our chart, its 30 Day Notice Cash ISA Issue 4 and 30 Day Cash ISA Online Issue 2 now offer 3.95% AER yearly. Both accounts ask for a £100 minimum opening deposit; the former is available in branch or by post, while the latter operates online only. Further additions are allowed without restriction, and savers have the option to access their cash early (without serving the full notice period) subject to 30 days’ loss of interest.

However, those willing to wait longer before making a withdrawal will find Aldermore’s 60 Day Notice Cash ISA (Issue 10) continues to offer a higher rate of 4.15% AER either monthly or on anniversary and tops our up to 60-day notice ISA chart. This account requires a slightly more substantial deposit of at least £1,000 to open online – after which it can be managed via the same means and grants early access subject to a 60-day loss of interest penalty.

That being said, it’s important to remember that the market-leading easy access cash ISAs still outperform the top notice ISAs.