Livret A vs LDDS: ceilings, rates and uses 2026

The difference between the Livret A and the LDDS puzzles many savers, as these two regulated passbooks look so alike: same return, same tax exemption, same State guarantee. Yet a few concrete distinctions justify holding both. Here is what really sets them apart in 2026.

One thing in common: the same rate

Let us start with the main misconception: the Livret A and the LDDS are not distinguished by their rate. Both pay the same rate, set by the State, and revised in principle twice a year, on 1 February and 1 August. Since 1 August 2026, this rate has been 1.7% net, against 1.5% previously.

This return is free of all taxation: no income tax, no social levies. Interest is calculated per fortnight and paid once a year. On this front, choosing one or the other therefore changes nothing.

The real difference: the ceiling

This is the most concrete distinction. The payment ceilings differ markedly:

• Livret A: 22,950 euros;
• LDDS: 12,000 euros.

These ceilings concern payments; capitalised interest can push the balance beyond them. As the two passbooks can be combined, a single saver can place up to 34,950 euros in total in their classic regulated savings, excluding interest. This is a key argument for opening both rather than choosing.

Distinct opening conditions

The Livret A is the most universal: it can be opened by anyone, including a minor, as well as by certain legal entities (associations, social housing organisations). You can hold only one per person.

The LDDS, for its part, is reserved for adult individuals tax-resident in France. A minor therefore cannot open one. Here too, the rule is one LDDS per taxpayer.

The LDDS’s solidarity purpose

The LDDS (Livret de Développement Durable et Solidaire, the Sustainable and Solidarity Development Passbook) lives up to its name: the funds collected help finance SMEs, the ecological transition and the social and solidarity economy. Holders can even ask their bank to make a donation, from their LDDS, to a social-and-solidarity-economy enterprise. The Livret A, meanwhile, primarily finances social housing and urban policy, through the Caisse des Dépôts.

Which one to choose in 2026?

Since the rate is identical, the simplest logic is to use both: fill up one first, then the other, to maximise available, safe and tax-free savings. Beyond these ceilings, other investments take over: our comparison of the best savings account lists bank passbooks (taxed but with no regulatory ceiling), and our guide to the best term deposit account is aimed at those who can lock away a sum for a fixed term.

The rates and ceilings of regulated savings are set by the public authorities and can change. For up-to-date official figures, refer to the service-public.fr website.