CD Comparison Calculator — Markus Williams Jr.
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CD Comparison
Calculator

Compare up to four CD options side-by-side — or against a high-yield savings account. See APY, maturity dates, after-tax yield, real inflation-adjusted returns, and early withdrawal penalties, all in one place.

APR vs APY — important. Banks typically advertise APY (Annual Percentage Yield), which already includes the compounding effect. If you're entering your bank's advertised APY, select Annual compounding to avoid double-counting. Entering APY with daily compounding will overstate your results. The difference between daily and monthly compounding on a 1-year CD is typically less than $5 per $10,000 — don't over-optimize it.
Optional Settings — Apply to All CDs
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IRS 2026 brackets →
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✓ FDIC-insured to $250K per depositor per bank
Up to 4 CDs
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High-Yield Savings Account (Optional Comparison)
HYSA vs CD — the key tradeoff. HYSA = fully liquid, rate can change anytime. CD = rate locked, early withdrawal penalty. This comparison assumes the HYSA rate holds constant — in practice, it may rise or fall.
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CD Ladder Strategy. Instead of locking all your cash in one CD, a ladder splits it across multiple terms (e.g., 3mo, 6mo, 12mo, 18mo). As each CD matures, you reinvest at the longest term. This gives you regular liquidity + the higher rates of longer CDs. Enter CDs with different terms above to model your own ladder — the timeline below shows when each matures.
Save Your Comparison Nothing stored — device only
Cash decisions affect more than just interest.
Liquidity, taxes, reinvestment timing, and opportunity cost — where your cash sits matters to your overall financial plan. Let's coordinate it.
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This calculator provides a hypothetical illustration for educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Results assume constant APR/APY and compounding for the full term, with no additional deposits, fees, or early withdrawals unless modeled. Actual results will vary based on institution-specific terms, rate changes (for variable-rate products), reinvestment timing, and other factors.

APR vs APY: Banks advertise APY (Annual Percentage Yield), which already includes the effect of compounding. Entering an APY with any compounding setting other than Annual will overstate results. Use Annual compounding when entering an advertised APY.

Tax estimates: After-tax results use simplified marginal rate estimates. Actual tax outcomes depend on your full income picture, filing status, deductions, and applicable state law. CD interest is generally ordinary income in the year it is earned, even if not paid until maturity (accrual method). Banks issue Form 1099-INT for interest of $10 or more. Consult a CPA for tax advice.

FDIC coverage: CDs at FDIC-member banks are insured up to $250,000 per depositor per institution per ownership category. Credit unions are covered by NCUA up to the same limit. Deposits above these thresholds are not federally insured.

Early withdrawal penalties: Penalties vary by institution and term. Common examples: 3 months interest for CDs under 12 months; 6 months for 12–23 months; 12 months for 24+ months. Penalties can reduce effective yield significantly on short-term holdings.

Advisory services and securities offered through Lincoln Investment, Registered Investment Adviser, Broker-Dealer, Member FINRA / SIPC. lincolninvestment.com · FINRA BrokerCheck