$50,000 CD vs. $50,000 high-yield savings account vs. $50,000 money market account: Which will earn the most in 2026?

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money $50,000 CD vs. $50,000 high-yield savings account vs. $50,000 money market account: Which will earn the most in 2026? We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Matt Richardson Matt Richardson Sr. Managing Editor, Managing Your Money Matt Richardson is the senior managing editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com. He writes and edits content about personal finance ranging from savings to investing to insurance. Read Full Bio Matt Richardson April 29, 2026 / 3:39 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The interest-earnings associated with a $50,000 deposit can be robust if savers take action right now. BanksPhotos/Getty Images Storing $50,000 in a traditional savings account when you can earn a double-digit return by investing in the market, historically, hasn't been the right move for savers. And that's especially true right now with the average rate on this account a minor 0.38%. But what about alternative savings vehicles like certificates of deposits (CDs), high-yield savings and money market accounts? While not as high as historic stock market returns, savers who put their money into one of these accounts won't have to worry about the volatility stocks are known for, either. And they can still earn a rate of 4% or higher, approximately, if they act now. That said, each account type will earn a similar rate, but not an identical one. And the rate structure of all three will vary, too, with CDs offering fixed options while high-yield savings and money market accounts come with variable rates.To better determine the value of a $50,000 deposit into each account type, it can be helpful to start by understanding the interest-earning capacity each comes with right now. Below, we'll crunch the numbers savers should know before ge...