● Side-by-side investment comparison

Compare Investments Calculator

Enter up to 3 investment options with different rates and terms — see results side-by-side and instantly know the winner.

Should you put $10,000 in a 4.5% savings account for 5 years, or invest in index funds averaging 8%? Or a CD at 5.2%? This calculator shows all 3 outcomes instantly — final balance, total interest, and CAGR — so you can make an informed choice.

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Investment Comparison

Up to 3 scenarios compared side-by-side

Option A

Label

Initial amount

Monthly contribution

Annual rate

Years

yrs

Option B

Label

Initial amount

Monthly contribution

Annual rate

Years

yrs

Option C

Label

Initial amount

Monthly contribution

Annual rate

Years

yrs

Option A

Final balance

—

Total contributed

—

Interest earned

—

CAGR

—

Option B

Final balance

—

Total contributed

—

Interest earned

—

CAGR

—

Option C

Final balance

—

Total contributed

—

Interest earned

—

CAGR

—

How it's calculated

Comparison formula

Comparing investments goes beyond looking at the headline rate. For each option this tool projects the final balance using the same logic of compound growth, then breaks it down into how much you actually put in (the total contributed) and how much the money earned on its own (the interest earned). Putting all three options side by side lets you see, in real numbers, which one builds the most wealth over your chosen horizon.

The headline annual rate can be misleading because fees and costs quietly erode it. An expense ratio of 1% versus 0.05%, or a higher rate paired with worse liquidity, can flip the ranking. That is why the comparison also shows the CAGR (effective return): the single annual rate that, compounded, reproduces each option's result — a fair yardstick even when the options have different terms or contributions.

To read the comparison, start with the final balance to see the winner, then check the interest earned to understand how much of that came from growth rather than your own deposits, and finally compare the CAGR to judge the true efficiency of each option. The highest rate does not always win once costs, time, and contributions are accounted for.

FV = PV × (1 + r/12)^(12×t) + PMT × [(1 + r/12)^(12×t) − 1] / (r/12) CAGR = (FV / PV)^(1/t) − 1 [for lump sum only, no PMT] = (FV / Total_Contributed)^(1/t) − 1 [when PMT > 0]

1
Winning option — final value
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2
Total contributed to it
—
3
Effective annual return (CAGR)
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Understand the terms

Effective return (CAGR): The single annual rate that, compounded over the period, reproduces the final result — the fairest way to compare options with different terms or contributions.
Total contributed: The money that came out of your pocket: the initial amount plus every monthly contribution. It is not profit — it is your own capital.
Net return: What is left after fees and costs are subtracted from the gross rate. An option with a lower rate but tiny fees can beat a higher-rate option burdened with costs.
Opportunity cost: The return you give up by choosing one option over another. Picking the lower-yielding option means missing out on the extra wealth the better one would have built.

Disclaimer: comparison uses monthly compounding. Stock market returns are not guaranteed. Savings and CD rates change over time. This tool assumes a constant rate for the full period.

Frequently asked questions

Why does a 1% rate difference matter so much over long periods?

Because of compounding. $10,000 at 7% for 30 years = $76,123. At 8% = $100,627 — that's $24,000 more from just 1% extra rate. Over 30 years, the gap grows exponentially. Even small differences in expense ratios (like 0.05% vs 1% fund fees) compound into huge wealth differences.

What's a CAGR?

Compound Annual Growth Rate — the single annual rate that would produce the same result as the actual investment over the period. A CAGR of 8% means the investment grew at the equivalent of 8% per year, compounded, regardless of year-to-year volatility.