Finder’s banking editors research and compare over 35 cards for kids. We evaluate features such as parental controls, ease of use, fees and tools for teaching financial literacy. We also choose cards that can suit specific needs, like large families, gamified learning and investing. To qualify as a best kids’ card, options must meet the following minimum criteria:
Monthly fee under $10 per month
Accepts kids aged 13 or under
Simple reload options
Parental controls
Ability to open the account online
How to compare kids’ debit cards
To find the best account for your family, consider these factors:
Monthly fees: Prepaid kids cards often charge $4 to $10, while many checking and digital accounts provide free options.
Parental controls: Features like spending alerts and card locks are common, and some cards, like Greenlight or Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry), offer custom spending limits by store or category.
Educational tools: Look for games, quizzes or videos that teach kids basic financial concepts.
Earning potential: Some cards provide savings bonuses, cashback rewards or even a traditional APY.
Reload fees: Avoid cards with expensive reload fees, which can add up over time.
Allowances and chores: Many cards automate allowances and offer chore-based earnings.
Transaction limits: Limits help prevent overspending. Most kids’ debit cards have lower spending limits than regular accounts, but be sure to double-check.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a prepaid card for kids and a debit card?
The key difference between prepaid cards and debit cards is that debit cards are tied to a checking account, whereas prepaid cards require you to load funds onto them. Prepaid cards may come with reload fees, monthly fees and ATM transaction limits and typically don’t allow for overdrafts.
Should I get a debit card or credit card for a kid under 13?
For kids under 13, debit cards are a safer first option than credit cards. Debit cards allow kids to spend only what’s in their account, eliminating debt or interest charges. Credit cards, which require adding a child as an authorized user, can encourage overspending and impact the parent’s credit if not managed carefully.
Can a teen get a debit card?
Yes, teens aged 18 to 19 can get a debit card on their own. For teens under 18, banks require an adult to act as a joint owner to manage the account, and many bank accounts require teens to be at least 13 or 14 to become a co-owner. For kids under 13, you may have to look to prepaid cards or kids’ banking apps to find an account suitable for that age range.
What happens to the kid’s bank account when they turn 18?
Some accounts for kids under 13 automatically convert into adult accounts when they turn 18, which may include new fees. For example, PNC’s Virtual Wallet Student account is fee-free for up to six years but converts to a $25/month adult account afterward. Always check whether a kids’ account will close, convert or charge fees when your child becomes an adult.
Do kids’ debit cards charge overdraft fees?
Most cards for kids don’t charge overdraft fees, since the majority of these are prepaid cards, so they can only spend what’s been preloaded into the card. A regular kids’ checking account, like through a traditional bank, might have an overdraft fee, but it’s rare.
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Finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Finder receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. Finder compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
