Beefy Finance vs Yearn Finance: Yield Aggregator Comparison 2026
Yield aggregators automate DeFi yield farming by optimizing strategies, auto-compounding rewards, and saving gas costs. Beefy Finance and Yearn Finance are the two dominant yield aggregators with different philosophies and strengths. This comparison helps you choose the right platform for maximizing your yields.
Protocol Philosophy
Yearn Finance pioneered yield aggregation in 2020, introducing the concept of vaults that automatically optimize yield strategies. Founded by Andre Cronje, Yearn focused on Ethereum mainnet with sophisticated strategies managed by experienced strategists. The protocol emphasizes quality over quantity with deeply researched, high-TVL strategies. Beefy Finance launched shortly after with a multi-chain focus from the start. Beefy prioritizes breadth of coverage across chains and protocols, offering thousands of vaults for auto-compounding LP positions and farming rewards. The protocol aims to bring yield optimization to every chain and opportunity.Vault Coverage
Yearn Vaults
- Total Vaults: ~50 active vaults
- Focus: Ethereum mainnet, select L2s
- Strategy Depth: Complex, multi-step strategies
- Average TVL: High per vault ($10M-$500M+)
- Strategy Types: Lending optimization, LST strategies, stablecoin yields
Beefy Vaults
- Total Vaults: 1,000+ active vaults
- Coverage: 25+ chains (Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, BSC, Fantom, Avalanche, Base, etc.)
- Strategy Depth: Primarily auto-compounding
- Average TVL: Varies widely ($10K-$50M)
- Strategy Types: LP auto-compounding, single-asset staking, farming rewards
Strategy Sophistication
Yearn Strategies
Yearn strategies are developed by professional strategists and can involve:
- Multi-protocol yield optimization
- Leveraged yield farming
- Delta-neutral strategies
- Complex rebalancing logic
- Active management and adjustment
Example: A Yearn DAI vault might:
- Lend DAI on Aave
- Borrow ETH against it
- Stake ETH for stETH
- Use stETH as collateral for more DAI
- Recursively optimize
Beefy Strategies
Beefy primarily focuses on auto-compounding with simpler, battle-tested mechanics:
- Deposit LP tokens or assets
- Harvest farming rewards
- Sell rewards for underlying
- Compound back into position
- Repeat at optimal frequency
This simplicity reduces risk while still significantly boosting APY through compounding.
Auto-Compounding Efficiency
Yearn Compounding
- Optimized gas timing
- Strategy-specific harvests
- Shared gas across depositors
- Active rebalancing when needed
Beefy Compounding
- Highly optimized harvest calls
- Gas-efficient batching
- Community-incentivized harvests
- Consistent compounding schedules
Both protocols significantly outperform manual compounding. Beefy's focus on auto-compounding makes it particularly efficient for LP positions.
Fee Structure
Yearn Fees
- Management Fee: 0% (removed in V3)
- Performance Fee: 10-20% of profits
- Withdrawal Fee: 0% (usually)
- Net: You keep 80-90% of generated yield
Beefy Fees
- Performance Fee: 4.5% of profits
- Harvest Fee: 0.5% to callers
- Treasury Fee: Included in performance
- Net: You keep ~95% of generated yield
Beefy's lower fees mean more yield reaches depositors, though Yearn's strategies may generate higher gross yields.
Security and Audits
Yearn Security
- Multiple audits (Trail of Bits, OpenZeppelin)
- Longest track record in yield aggregation
- Security-focused development
- Emergency shutdown procedures
- $1B+ incident-free operation
Beefy Security
- Audited by multiple firms (Certik, others)
- Strategy-specific risk assessments
- Timelock on contract changes
- Community security processes
- Strong multi-chain track record
Both protocols have maintained good security records, though Yearn's Ethereum focus simplifies its attack surface compared to Beefy's multi-chain exposure.
Supported Chains
Yearn Chains
- Ethereum (primary)
- Arbitrum
- Optimism
- Base
- Polygon (limited)
Beefy Chains
- Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base
- Polygon, Avalanche, Fantom
- BSC, Cronos, Moonbeam
- 25+ total chains
For multi-chain DeFi users, Beefy offers dramatically broader coverage.
User Interface
Yearn Interface
- Clean, professional design
- Portfolio tracking
- Strategy details and risk info
- APY calculations
- Limited chain switching
Beefy Interface
- Feature-rich dashboard
- Multi-chain unified view
- Vault search and filters
- Safety score ratings
- Comprehensive analytics
Both offer functional interfaces; Beefy's is optimized for its broader coverage.
APY Comparison Examples
| Strategy Type | Yearn APY | Beefy APY |
|---|---|---|
| . . . . . . . - | . . . . . - | . . . . . - |
| ETH (Mainnet) | 3-5% | 2-4% |
| Stablecoin (Mainnet) | 5-8% | 4-7% |
| LP Tokens (L2s) | 8-15% | 10-20% |
| Alt-chain Farms | Limited | 15-50%+ |
Risk Profiles
Yearn Risks
- Smart contract risk (complex strategies)
- Strategy risk (leveraged positions)
- Protocol dependency risk
- Ethereum gas costs for small deposits
Beefy Risks
- Multi-chain bridge exposure
- Underlying protocol risk (many protocols)
- Smart contract risk (simpler but numerous)
- Chain-specific risks
Use Case Recommendations
Choose Yearn When:
- Large deposits ($50K+) on Ethereum
- Want sophisticated strategy management
- Prefer fewer, higher-quality vaults
- Trust professional strategist curation
- Focus on ETH ecosystem
Choose Beefy When:
- Using multiple chains
- Have LP positions to compound
- Want lower fees on yield
- Need specific protocol coverage
- Prefer broader opportunity access
Ecosystem Integration
Yearn Integration: Deep integration with Curve, Aave, Maker, and core Ethereum DeFi. Yearn vaults are often used as building blocks in other protocols. Beefy Integration: Integration with virtually every DEX, lending protocol, and yield farm across supported chains. Comprehensive coverage of the DeFi landscape.Conclusion
Yearn Finance excels for Ethereum-focused users seeking sophisticated, actively managed strategies with professional curation. Its complex strategies can generate alpha beyond simple compounding, making it ideal for large deposits where strategy sophistication matters. Beefy Finance wins for multi-chain users and LP farmers seeking efficient auto-compounding with lower fees. Its breadth of coverage and simplicity make it accessible for any DeFi position across virtually any chain.Many users utilize both: Yearn for Ethereum mainnet strategies and Beefy for multi-chain LP compounding.
Optimize your yield strategy across both platforms with Fensory.