Having spent years teaching your kids that nothing in life is free, it’s now time to explain that… well, some things are, actually. There are many free prepaid and debit cards available, and they can be a great tool in teaching your children how money works – and giving them a taste of responsibility.
Whether you want to compare the best free debit cards for kids, set them up with a pre-funded card (so they can’t blast next month’s rent on Robux), or just want to get a better understanding of how kids’ cards work, you’ll find what you need in this guide to free prepaid and debit cards for kids.
There are two main options when it comes to free kids’ cards: prepaid cards and debit cards.
Prepaid cards, as the name suggests, let you load up a set amount in advance. You choose exactly how much can be spent – and that’s the limit. You can sleep peacefully knowing you won’t get an alert that they’ve made a cheeky £10,000 donation to their favourite streamer.
Giving your kid a prepaid card is a bit like giving them pocket money in digital form. The money is linked to the card, and they can’t spend money which is in a separate account. But they won’t earn any interest or be able to top up themselves. Less flexibility, more security.
If that sounds good, you can look at free options from Revolut and Hyper. Kids’ debit cards deliver an experience which is much more similar to having a regular bank account and debit card. Most of them come with a monthly fee, but you can find some free ones.
Debit cards for kids aren’t that different from regular debit cards. Your child will have their own card which is linked to their own account, and they can use that card to buy things or withdraw cash. But there may be some extra features, like parental controls which help you monitor or limit their spending and FSCS protection.
Should I get a kids’ prepaid debit card or a children’s bank account?
If you get a free prepaid debit card for your kid, that’s all it is – a card. They can only spend the money which you choose to add to the card, and they can’t really do much more with it.
However, if you help your child set up their own bank account, they can do a lot of things that you can do with your own bank account. This includes making in-branch deposits and withdrawals, using ATMs for cash withdrawals and accruing interest on their savings.
How to choose the best card for kids
If you’ve decided you want to get a card for your child – whether that’s a free prepaid card or a debit card – it’s important to compare your options and find one that works best for you. Here are some thing to look out for:
Fees. A lot of debit cards for children have a monthly fee, but we’ve highlighted some free options here.
Limits. Even if you trust your child, having spending limits in place helps protect you both.
Online availability. Choosing cards that allow you to tailor online access gives them flexibility with security, and means the card can grow with your kids.
Pros and cons of a free card
The biggest pro of getting a free card for kids is that it’s free. If you want to give your kids some financial freedom, but they’ve already tapped you up for Netflix, Disney+ and probably another 10 things you haven’t even noticed yet, the last thing you need is another avoidable monthly outgoing.
No monthly cost
Easy to get set up
However, just like an adult debit card, there are plenty of paid options that sometimes come with cool features which you may be interested in. For example, GoHenry’s paid kids’ card comes with a range of quizzes and games that could make the learning process much more interesting for your child – helping to ensure their card doesn’t end up stuffed under a pile of PlayStation games.
May offer fewer features
Limited free cards to choose from
Bottom line
Ultimately, the decision of whether you should choose a prepaid or debit card will likely hinge on your child’s age and how much financial freedom you think they’re ready for.
By comparing the best kids’ debit cards and prepaid cards, you can find the ideal card for your family – and you don’t necessarily have to pay a penny.
Frequently asked questions
It’s up to you whether you want your child to own a free prepaid or debit card. Common reasons might include when your child starts:
Going to paid activities with friends
Attending secondary school and taking public transport
Needing to buy things when you’re not there to help
If you or your child are victims of fraud – for instance, if a thief uses their card to make a purchase without them knowing – you can often have this reversed if you contact the card company. Of course, it’s important to teach your child about these dangers when giving them the card to begin with.
Some free prepaid and debit cards for kids will have an app that you can use to temporarily freeze your card, which is handy if you think it might’ve just been misplaced around the home. If you know the card is lost or stolen, it’s time to contact the account provider to cancel the existing card and order a replacement.
Many free prepaid and debit cards for kids have an age limit of 18, after which point they won’t be renewed. However, you may find that the bank allows you to use the card until its expiry date, rather than abruptly cutting it off as soon as your child turns 18. After that, you can contact the provider and cancel the account. This is particularly important if you’re paying a monthly fee.
If your child has a free prepaid or debit card and makes a transaction you’re not happy with, the card company won’t be able to help you (unless it was a fraudulent transaction). If you act in advance, you may be able to freeze the card or use other in-app features to help prevent unwanted spending.
No, there’s no credit check for kids’ free prepaid and debit cards. Your card provider will likely request ID and proof of address before they issue you a payment card.
You’ll often find that app-centric kids’ accounts and free debit cards are operated by financial providers that aren’t licensed banks, which means they’re not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
However, before they’re able to offer these types of financial products, all of these providers must be registered and regulated in the UK. This means they have to ring-fence and safeguard customer funds, normally by holding them on trust at a licensed bank.
No. If your child receives interest as part of their free prepaid or debit card, they will not pay tax on the interest. However, if they earn over £100 from the interest given to them by a parent, that parent will then need to pay tax on it if it’s above their personal savings allowance.
Free debit cards and prepaid cards for kids can be a useful tool for them to save their pocket money, especially as these are some of the only options for kids as young as six. From the age of 11, they’ll have the option of a child’s current account. The exception is Santander’s 123 Mini current account which can be taken out for children younger than this, but the option to get a cash or debit card only kicks in when they turn 13.
Kids' cards scores
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Finder scores, in blue, are based on our expert analysis. We also show reviews from users, where we've received more than 10, with a score in yellow. We gather more reviews from customers every year in Finder's customer satisfaction survey.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
Ricky Davies is a senior writer at Finder, focusing on banking and fintech. He’s previously written for Lloyds Banking Group, Halifax, and Royal Bank of Scotland. Additionally, he helped with a major rebrand at LSEG, which is one of the world’s largest providers of financial markets data and infrastructure, and has created guides for several crypto sites. Outside of finance, Ricky enjoys developing personal projects such as writing scripts, and has written an award-winning play. See full bio
Ricky's expertise
Ricky has written 3 Finder guides across topics including:
If you are looking for a free prepaid card to teach your kids about finance while retaining full control, HyperJar is certainly a competitive option. Here’s how it works.
Rooster Money offers a colourful app to teach your kids about budgeting and makes a valid alternative to the traditional children’s current account.
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