Greenlight
Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry)
Step
Compare the following features when shopping around for a debit card for your child:
There are six common features to consider when looking for a debit card for your kid:
Most debit cards for kids are prepaid cards. You can load money onto them from an app using your checking account. Then, your kid can use them to shop online and in-store just as they would a normal debit card. The major difference is that your kid typically can’t overdraft with a prepaid debit card as they could a regular debit card.
A lot of these cards come with extra features, like the ability to see how your child spends their money or pay them for doing chores.
Prepaid cards are available for kids as young as five. But debit cards linked to traditional checking accounts usually require your child to be at least 13.
You can help your child transition to a prepaid debit card for teens once they turn 13, or you can help them open a checking account for teens if they’ve outgrown the prepaid card.
Yes, debit cards for kids are generally safe because of two main features. First, they’re FDIC-insured so you’re guaranteed to get your money back if the bank fails. Secondly, most debit cards for kids are COPPA-compliant, meaning they never sell or collect your child’s personal information, including their name, address, Social Security numbers, and even their geolocation and images.
Your child may be ready for a kids debit card if they often ask to borrow cash or have started earning money on their own — whether through an allowance or a paid job. A debit card like Greenlight can help them master the art of spending, saving and investing wisely.
If your child isn’t ready to handle real money just yet, consider a simulated bank account like Bankaroo. This app use virtual money to help young children learn how to spend and save until they’re ready to upgrade to a real debit card for kids.
You can open most debit cards for kids online. But keep in mind that if you decide to open a kids checking account as opposed to a prepaid card, you’ll need to open it as a joint account between a minor and an adult.
Before you get a debit card for your kid, consider these features and drawbacks:
Here’s a quick overview of the top debit cards available for kids:
| Card name | Features |
|---|---|
| Chase First Banking | It’s technically a kids checking account, but it’s powered by Greenlight and has all the same features. It’s free for parents with an active Chase Checking account. |
| Jassby | A debit card for kids that includes budgeting tools and parental controls. There’s no longer a monthly fee. There used to be a $2.99 fee that you could only avoid when you make one purchase a month, but Jassby has done away with this. |
| Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry) | A basic card with chore and allowance tracking. But be prepared to pay $5 a month for each child — unlike other platforms that charge a flat fee for the entire family. |
| Greenlight | The most robust debit card for kids, offering savings and investing tools, plus store-level spending controls. Costs $5.99 to $14.98 a month depending on your plan but includes debit cards for up to five children. |
| BusyKid | Kids can donate money to charity, invest in stocks or spend with their prepaid debit card. BusyKid charges $48 per year by connecting your bank account, or $49.74 a year with a debit or credit card. The price works out to around $4 per month, and you get up to five cards on one account. |
| Goalsetter | Offers educational quizzes and savings tools designed for Black and Latinx children. But you’ll pay $1 per transaction, which adds up quickly. |
| FamZoo | The app divides your kid’s money into virtual piggy banks for spending, saving and giving. But there’s an unavoidable $5.99 monthly fee. |
| Kachinga | A prepaid Mastercard for teens tied to a chore app that includes features to boost your kid’s financial literacy. Parents can also activate automatic transfers and get real-time notifications about their teen’s purchases. |
| Mazoola | A virtual debit card for kids that’s free for the first 12 months and $4.95 per month after that. It offers basic chore and allowance tracking, spending controls and savings tools. But it’s not available on Android yet. |
| Purewrist | A wearable payment bracelet that comes with a one-time prepaid card or a reloadable option. It costs $25 to activate, but your kid can customize their bracelet color. |
| Revolut <18 | A kids' prepaid card with parent-paid bonuses, spending analyzers and task tracking. But adults must have a personal Revolut account to get started. |
| RoosterMoney | A free allowance app that teaches kids how to earn, spend and save. The debit card option is currently only available in the UK, but the company is looking to expand it to the US soon. |
If you’re not set on a prepaid card for your child, here are some other options to consider, depending on their age:
A prepaid debit card for kids can help your child learn how to manage money responsibly — and let you track their spending so you can see if they’re meeting that goal. But while some prepaid cards let kids save money on them, they’re not a replacement for a savings account.Compare savings accounts for kids and prepaid debit cards to create a banking solution that’s right for your family.
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