When it comes to safe investment plans in India, fixed deposits top the list. While bank FDs ensure capital safety, their returns are modest. That’s why many investors are now exploring fixed deposit alternatives like G-Secs and corporate bonds that offer slightly higher returns.
If you’re wondering how to earn better returns than fixed deposits, we have you covered. This guide outlines the leading fixed deposit alternatives for 2026 and examines why investment options are worth considering.
5 Leading Fixed Deposit Alternatives
1. Government Securities
The umbrella of G-Secs includes various securities like treasury Bills which have maturities of 91, 182 or 364 days and are issued at a discount without periodic interest. This may make them a reliable fixed deposit alternative if you have short-term needs.
Government bonds offer semi-annual payouts and maturities up to 40 years. This makes them better suited for long-term goals. State Development Loans also pay interest on a semi-annual basis and come with 3–35 year tenures.
Why investors consider them:
- Relatively low-risk investment option for 2026 that’s backed by the government
- Offering near-zero default risk and strong capital protection
- Available across short and long tenures to suit different time horizons and goals
- Yields often match or exceed many bank FDs, typically around 7%–7.5%
- You can easily invest in them via the RBI Retail Direct platform or SEBI-registered OBPP platforms like GoldenPi
- May be suitable for long-term planning, emergency funds and low-risk portfolio allocation
2. Corporate Bonds
If you’re looking for fixed income options other than FDs, you may consider corporate bonds. When you buy a corporate bond, you are lending money to the company in exchange for fixed interest payments at periodic intervals until maturity.
Returns vary based on the issuer’s credit rating. AAA and AA bonds may offer safer, moderate returns, while A and BBB bonds may provide higher yields for those willing to accept slightly more risk.
Why consider them?
- Often provide higher returns of around 8%-15%
- Offer monthly, quarterly or annual interest payouts for regular income
- Unlike FDs, corporate bonds can be traded on registered bond platforms for easy entry and exit
- The perceived risk level in corporate bonds are low, especially in AAA-rated bonds
- May be suitable for investors seeking predictable income with controlled risk
3. Corporate Fixed Deposits
Issued by NFBCs and companies, corporate FDs remain a popular bank fixed deposit alternative. While these FDs tend to offer attractive yields, they are not covered under the DICGC 5 Lakh insurance cover.
Therefore, the safety of the investment depends entirely on the credit rating of the issuer. Higher credit ratings like AAA may suggest lower default risk, making such corporate FDs good low-risk investment options for 2026.
Why consider them?
- Better interest rates makes them high-return alternatives to FDs in banks
- Suited for short- and medium-term goals with tenures ranging from 12-60 months
- Non-cumulative options are useful for investors seeking monthly income investment plans
- Easy online application and paperless documentation process
- Can be laddered to maintain liquidity while earning steady returns
4. Debt Mutual Funds
If you’re looking for how to earn better returns than fixed deposits while keeping risk relatively low, you may consider debt mutual funds. These funds invest the pooled corpus into government securities, corporate debt, and money market instruments.
You can choose from a variety of debt funds like liquid, short duration, long duration, and gilt funds based on your goals and time horizon. For instance, if your goal is creating an accessible emergency reserve, you may consider liquid funds. However, if you’re investing for a long-term goal that’s 5 years away, you may consider long duration funds.
Why consider them?
- May be high return alternatives to FDs if you’re willing to take on a little more risk
- No fixed maturity date so you can easily withdraw your investment when needed
- Managed by professionals who handle risk and allocation
- Relatively low-risk investment options for 2026 when compared to direct equity or equity funds
5. Fixed Maturity Plans (FMPs)
Fixed Maturity Plans are closed-ended debt funds that invest in corporate bonds, government securities and similar instruments that mature at the same time as the fund. Because the investment and fund maturity align, returns are more predictable than most market-linked products.
They do require locking in your money until the term ends, but they often deliver better outcomes than traditional fixed deposits while keeping risk relatively low. Investors with clear short-term or medium-term goals often find them useful for stable, tax-efficient growth.
Why consider them?
- Better predictability of returns due to aligned maturities
- May often higher yields than conventional fixed deposits
- Lower risk compared to other market-linked FD alternatives
- Can be useful for short- and medium-term financial goals where liquidity is not essential
Factors to Consider When Investing in Fixed Deposit Alternatives
Before choosing fixed deposit alternatives, you can review these factors to ensure your investment aligns with your needs, risk level and long-term financial goals:
- Risk tolerance
Some high-return alternatives to FDs like debt funds may offer potentially higher earnings, but they may also carry greater market risk. That’s why, it’s important to evaluate your own comfort with risk before choosing a fixed deposit alternative.
- Investment horizon
For long-term goals, you may be open to fixed deposit alternatives with slightly higher risk if it means potentially higher returns. But for short-term needs, it may be wiser to choose safer options that protect your capital and offer easy access when required.
- Liquidity needs
Check whether the investment allows easy withdrawals or has lock-in periods. For instance, if you need quick access to your money, options like liquid funds may be better than fixed maturity plans.
- Taxation
The tax treatment of different fixed deposit alternatives varies based on the product category. So consider how interest or gains will be taxed compared to earnings from a fixed deposit.
- Inflation
Consider the rate of inflation to pick high-return alternatives to FDs that can potentially outpace inflation levels. This may help you preserve the value of your investment over the long-run.
Making Sense of FD Alternatives in 2026
While FDs remain a popular choice among Indians, their modest returns may limit your wealth creation journey. Fixed deposit alternatives like G-Secs, corporate bonds, corporate FDs, debt funds, and FMPs can be smarter ways of growing your money while balancing risk.
If you’re looking to explore fixed-income options other than FDs, you can visit GoldenPi. Here you’ll find a range of low-risk investment options for 2026, including high-yield corporate FDs, corporate bonds, and debentures.
FAQs on Fixed Deposit Alternatives
What are some good fixed deposit alternatives?
Government securities, corporate bonds, corporate FDs, debt mutual funds and fixed maturity plans are some good fixed deposit alternatives.
What are some high-return alternatives to FDs?
Corporate bonds and certain debt mutual funds may offer higher returns than traditional FDs. But before you invest in any of these fixed deposit alternatives, remember to review their credit quality and your risk appetite.
Which is the safest fixed income option other than FDs?
Government securities are considered the safest, followed by highly rated corporate bonds and well-rated corporate FDs.
Is a corporate FD safe?
Corporate FDs with a high credit rating of AAA are considered relatively safe. A high credit rating suggests lower default risk on the part of the issuer.
However, you should note that unlike bank FDs, corporate FDs do not have the DICGC cover of 5 Lakhs. This means in the event of a default, there is no guarantee that you will receive your money back.
How can I choose the right fixed deposit alternative?
Start by assessing your risk tolerance, investment horizon and liquidity needs. Then compare options like government securities, corporate bonds, debt funds or corporate FDs based on safety, expected returns and tax impact.
You may then pick the investment that matches your financial goals rather than chasing the highest return.
Disclaimer:
This information is for general information purposes only. GoldenPi makes no guarantee on the accuracy of the data provided here; the information displayed is subject to change and is provided on an as-is basis. Nothing contained herein is intended to or shall be deemed to be investment advice, implied or otherwise. Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the offer-related documents carefully before investing.
Fixed Deposit schemes are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India. GoldenPi Securities Private Limited is a registered debt broker and acts as a distributor and not as a manufacturer of the product.
