APR to APY Calculator

Convert between APR and APY instantly. See how compounding frequency impacts the effective interest rate on loans and savings.

Your Monthly EMI

โ‚น856

Principal

โ‚น10,000

Total Interest

โ‚น273

Total Payable

โ‚น10,273

Breakdown

Principal: โ‚น10,000 (97%)

Total Interest: โ‚น273 (3%)

Interest-to-Principal: 2.7%

๐Ÿ“Š Interactive EMI Breakdown

Principal vs Interest

Principal: โ‚น10,000
Interest: โ‚น273

Year-by-Year Payment Split

Loan Scenario Comparison

MetricYour plan+1% Interest (6.0%)+12 Months (24mo)
Monthly EMIโ‚น856โ‚น861 โ†‘ โ‚น5โ‚น439 โ†“ โ‚น417
Total Interestโ‚น273โ‚น328 โ†‘ โ‚น55โ‚น529 โ†‘ โ‚น256
Total Payableโ‚น10,273โ‚น10,328โ‚น10,529

APR vs APY โ€” What's the Real Difference?

APR (Annual Percentage Rate) and APY (Annual Percentage Yield) are two ways to express interest rates โ€” but they tell very different stories. Understanding the difference can literally save you thousands of dollars when comparing loans and savings products.

APR represents the nominal interest rate for a year without accounting for compounding within the year. APY includes the effect of compounding โ€” how often interest is calculated and added to your balance. For borrowers, APR understates the true cost; APY shows the real cost.

The Conversion Formula

APY = (1 + APR/n)^n โˆ’ 1

Where n = number of compounding periods per year
(Daily = 365, Monthly = 12, Quarterly = 4, Semi-annually = 2, Annually = 1)

Example: 12% APR compounded monthly:
APY = (1 + 0.12/12)^12 โˆ’ 1 = (1.01)^12 โˆ’ 1 = 1.1268 โˆ’ 1 = 12.68% APY

APR vs APY Comparison Table

APRCompoundingAPYDifference
5%Monthly5.116%+0.116%
6%Monthly6.168%+0.168%
8%Monthly8.300%+0.300%
10%Daily10.516%+0.516%
12%Monthly12.683%+0.683%
18%Monthly19.562%+1.562%
20%Daily22.134%+2.134%
25%Daily28.400%+3.400%

Which to Use When?

  • Shopping for a loan? Compare using APY โ€” it shows the true cost. A credit card advertising "15% APR (monthly compounding)" actually costs you 16.08% APY
  • Shopping for savings? Banks advertise APY (the higher number). Compare savings accounts and CDs using APY for apples-to-apples comparison
  • Mortgages: The federally mandated APR for mortgages includes fees โ€” making it higher than the note rate. The effective monthly rate (APY equivalent) further adjusts for compounding

Credit Card APR โ€” The Real Story

Credit cards typically compound daily. A card stated as 20% APR compounds daily at 20%/365 = 0.0548%/day. The true annual cost:

APY = (1 + 0.20/365)^365 โˆ’ 1 = 22.13%
On a $5,000 balance carried for a full year: interest cost = $1,107 (not $1,000 as APR implies)

References

  • Federal Reserve โ€” Truth in Lending Act (TILA) / Regulation Z
  • Federal Truth in Savings Act (TISA) โ€” requires banks to disclose APY
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) โ€” consumerfinance.gov

APR to APY Calculator FAQ