FD Comparison Calculator
Comparing fixed deposits from different banks or schemes? Enter 2 to 4 FD options -- their principal, rate, tenure, compounding and payout style -- and see maturity amount, total interest, effective annual return and an educational post-tax estimate side by side, so you can see clearly which one actually pays more. Every calculation runs in your browser -- nothing you enter is ever sent anywhere.
FD Options
Add up to 4 FD options to compare. Choose Cumulative if interest is reinvested and paid at maturity, or Non-Cumulative if interest is paid out to you periodically instead.
Tax Consideration (Optional Estimate)
FD interest is fully taxable as per your income tax slab. This is a simplified educational estimate that applies your slab rate once to the total interest earned -- actual FD interest is taxed on a year-wise accrual basis, and banks deduct TDS as interest accrues, regardless of payout frequency. Confirm your exact tax liability with a tax advisor.
Comparison
Full Comparison Table
How This FD Comparison Calculator Works
Comparing fixed deposits isn't as simple as looking at whichever interest rate is highest -- a lower rate compounded more often, or a longer tenure, can sometimes beat a higher headline rate. This calculator computes each FD option's maturity amount (or total value received, for non-cumulative deposits) using the standard formula A = P x (1 + r/(100n))^(n x t) for cumulative deposits, where P is the principal, r is the annual interest rate, n is the number of compounding periods per year, and t is the tenure in years. For non-cumulative deposits, interest is paid out each period instead of being reinvested, so it doesn't compound -- the total interest over the tenure is simple interest, P x (r/100) x t, and your principal is returned unchanged at maturity.
Why "Effective Annual Return" Matters More Than the Headline Rate
Two FDs with the same headline interest rate can still deliver different actual returns if one compounds quarterly and the other compounds yearly, or if one is cumulative and the other pays out periodically without reinvestment. Effective annual return converts every option's total payout back into a single comparable annual percentage -- it answers "what single yearly compounded rate would have produced this same result?" -- so you can compare cumulative and non-cumulative options, and different compounding frequencies, on the same footing.
Cumulative vs Non-Cumulative Fixed Deposits
In a cumulative FD, interest is reinvested and compounds over the tenure, paid out together with your principal at maturity -- this typically produces the highest total value for a given rate, since your interest itself starts earning interest. In a non-cumulative FD, interest is paid out to you at regular intervals (monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly) instead of being reinvested, so your balance stays at the principal throughout and the payouts don't compound. Non-cumulative deposits are often chosen for a regular income stream rather than the highest possible maturity value.
About the Tax Estimate
Interest earned on a fixed deposit is fully taxable as per your income tax slab, and this is one of the most commonly overlooked factors when comparing FD options -- an FD with a slightly higher rate can end up delivering less in your hands after tax than one with a lower rate, if you fall into a high tax bracket. The tax figures here are a simplified educational estimate: they apply your selected slab rate once to the total interest earned across the tenure. In reality, banks are required to deduct TDS on FD interest as it accrues each financial year (not just at maturity), and the interest itself is taxed on a year-wise accrual basis as part of your total income for that year -- so your actual tax outcome depends on your full income, other deductions and the specific FD's crediting schedule. Always confirm the exact tax treatment with a qualified tax advisor.
Is my deposit data sent to any server?
No. Every calculation runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter -- deposit amounts, interest rates, or tenures -- is ever sent to our servers or stored anywhere. We do not require sign-up or login.
Disclaimer: This tool provides an estimate for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. The calculator is an educational planning tool and results are estimates. Actual FD interest rates, compounding conventions, day-count rules, payout schedules and tax treatment vary by bank, scheme and individual circumstances -- always confirm the specifics with your bank and a tax advisor. See our Disclaimer and Terms of Use for more detail.