7 Best Debit Cards for Kids: Allowances, Chores and Parental Controls

We regularly research over 35 debit cards for kids to rank the best options for children aged 13 and under, and a few teen options as well. These kids’ debit cards come with robust parental controls, financial education tools and low monthly fees, all designed to help you teach your child about saving and spending safely. And of course, all our top picks have FDIC insurance coverage.

We’ve found plenty of options with flexible age requirements, allowing kids under 13 to get a debit or prepaid card as long as an adult acts as the joint co-owner or sponsor. Whether you’re looking for a free debit card, one with investing features or a full financial literacy app, we have plenty of options to compare.

Featured debit cards for kids

See how these three cards for kids stack up on features, fees and interest.

Best for safety features

Finder Award

Greenlight

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• Starts at $5.99/month after free trial
• Earn up to 6% on savings and 1% cashback
• Optional investing tools
• You and a referred friend can earn $30+

Important information

Best for money games

Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry)

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• Finder-exclusive 2-month free trial plus $10 in allowance, then $8
• Optional parent-paid interest
• 35+ customizable card designs

Important information

Best for parental controls

Chase First Banking℠

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• $0 monthly fee
• Financial learning tools for kids
• Flexible parental controls
• Supports chores and allowances
• For kids ages 6 to 17
• FDIC insured

Important information

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC

7 Best kids’ debit cards at a glance

Quickly compare the best kids’ debit cards by age requirements, monthly fees and more.

Best debit cards for kids under 13

Greenlight

The Greenlight kids’ prepaid card and banking app has no age requirements, includes allowance tools, features an optional investing platform and enables parents to set custom spending limits by category or store. Reloads are free and instant, plus you can create chores and much more. Add up to five kids per plan, and the monthly fee starts at $5.99 per month. If you have an eligible US Bank checking account and make it the funding source, your Greenlight account is complimentary.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • $0 reload fees
  • Up to five kids per plan
  • Set store- and category-level custom limits
  • Chore and allowance creation
  • More safety features than most competitors

  Cons

  • Starts at $5.99 per month
  • Online only

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Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry)

Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry) is a debit card and money app for kids aged six to 18. It starts at $8/month for Early Lite and offers up to four debit cards, or you can access Acorns Early Lite for no extra fees if you already have Acorns Gold. Kids can learn financial concepts through the gamified learning feature called Money Missions, as well as educational quizzes, games and lessons with topics like investing, savings, interest and borrowing. Parents can set custom spending limits, and there’s chore and allowance tracking. Card reloads are also free. Parents with an Acorns Gold subscription get extra perks, like a 1% match on an UGMA/UTMA custodial account.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Money games with Money Missions
  • $0 reload fees
  • Custom spending limits
  • Chore and allowance feature
  • No fees with an Acorns Gold subscription

  Cons

  • $8 to $12 per month
  • Second parent can’t send funds

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Chase First Banking

If you’re already a Chase customer, the First Banking account is right there. It’s designed for kids ages six and up and has no monthly fees or reload fees. Parents can monitor spending, set limits and manage chores, while kids can set savings goals and use their debit card. However, only one parent can manage the account, and a Chase checking account is required.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • $0 monthly fee
  • $0 reload fees
  • Custom parental controls
  • Chores and allowances

  Cons

  • Parent must have Chase checking account
  • No educational features

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Modak Makers

The Modak Makers kids’ card has three plans, and the MoBasic comes in with no monthly fees, age requirements, overdraft fees or foreign transaction fees. It offers cash-redeemable rewards called Mobucks, earned through in-app or parent-set challenges like chores or studying. Parents manage the account via a Parent Portal and can reload funds using Apple Pay, Google Pay, direct deposit or transfers. Modak also now supports ATM access. However, watch out for some reload fees.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • $0 monthly fees for MoBasic
  • Cash-redeemable rewards
  • No kid age restrictions
  • Multiple reload options
  • Chores and allowances with MoSilver or MoGold

  Cons

  • $0.50 + 3% reload fee via Apple Pay, Google Pay or credit card
  • $0.50 reload fee via debit card

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Bank of America SafeBalance for Family Banking

The Bank of America SafeBalance account has an option for parents to get their kids a checking account, for ages six and up. The SafeBalance for Family Banking account has no monthly fees for ages 24 and under, then it’s $4.95 per month. It also doesn’t allow overdrafts, and parents are the only ones who can deposit funds into the account. Parents can also set spending limits and categories, set up activity alerts and monitor the account. However, the account doesn’t allow for Zelle access or direct deposit, but once you feel your kid is ready for that, you can “graduate” the account to a regular SafeBalance Banking account.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No monthly fees for ages 24 and under
  • Spending limits and activity alerts
  • Option to graduate to a regular account

  Cons

  • Requires parent to be existing Bank of America customer

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Capital One MONEY Teen Checking

For ages six and up and with no monthly fees or opening deposit, this account is a top choice for kids and teens. Unlike most other banks, Capital One doesn’t require parents to be existing customers to open the MONEY Teen Checking, and you can connect any external account for funding. Parents and kids get their own logins, parents can monitor their account activity, and all balances earn up to 0.1% APY.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No monthly fees
  • Up to 0.1% APY
  • Parental controls
  • Teens 13 and up can use Zelle with parent permission
  • Doesn’t require parents to be Cap One customers

  Cons

  • No chore or allowance features
  • No store or category custom limits

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BusyKid

BusyKid stands out as one of the few kids’ cards with a free investing platform, letting kids aged five to 17 invest in over 4,000 stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Parents can match their child’s savings, and kids can complete chores and earn allowances. It costs $4 per month (billed annually) for up to five kids. It also includes no reload fees and a free 30-day trial.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Ages 5 to 17
  • $0 reload fees
  • Kid-centered investing platform
  • Chores, savings and charity donations

  Cons

  • Fees starts at $48/year or $4/month
  • No educational games

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Methodology: How we choose the best kids’ cards

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

What to look for in a kids’ debit card

When choosing a debit card for a child, consider:

• Cost. Prepaid kids’ cards and apps often charge $4 to $10, while many kids’ checking accounts with traditional banks like Chase or Bank of America don’t charge fees for those under 18.
• Parental controls. Features like spending alerts and card locks are common, and some cards, like Greenlight or Acorns Early, offer custom spending limits by store or category.
• Earning potential. Some cards provide savings bonuses, cashback rewards or even a traditional APY. Having an account that earns passively can teach your kiddo about the power of interest and saving.
• Reload fees. Avoid cards with expensive reload fees, which can add up over time.
• Allowances and chores. An extra feature of kids’ banking apps, many now offer chore and allowance tracking to deposit allowances automatically, so you don’t need cash on hand.

Are debit cards safe for kids under 13?

With parental supervision and careful management, kids’ debit cards can certainly be safe.

Cards for kids often come with strong parental controls like spending limits, store restrictions and the ability to lock the card. Banking apps like Greenlight can also provide additional protections for identity theft and purchases.

No matter which cards you’re considering, make sure it has deposit insurance. Most kids’ debit cards are insured for up to $250,000 through the FDIC or NCUA. Deposit insurance protects your balance in the unlikely event of a bank bankruptcy or failure. All the best kids’ cards we chose have FDIC insurance.

Most bank accounts — for kids and adults — also offer these protections:

• 128-bit or 256-bit encryption to protect sensitive data and personal information
• Personal Identification Number (PIN) to use debit card
• Visa Zero Liability Policy or Mastercard’s Zero Liability fraud protection
• Transaction monitoring and alerts

Bottom line

Kids’ debit cards can provide an easy way for parents to send cash, manage chores and allowances and give kids a little more financial freedom. Learning to manage checking and savings accounts is an essential skill for adulthood.

If your kiddo isn’t quite ready for their own banking app, a regular prepaid card could be a suitable alternative until they’re a little older.

Compare other kids’ banking options and free kids’ bank accounts.

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 a 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.

• What's the youngest age a child can get a debit card?

  If you're wondering how old you have to be to get a debit card, the answer mostly depends on the bank. A minor can open a bank account but they'll need an adult to open it with them. Some kids' debit cards, like Greenlight, have no age requirements. Others, like Chase and Bank of America, require kids to be at least six years old to get a debit card.

• What about Copper Banking?

  Copper discontinued its kids' banking services in May 2024, due to issues with its partner bank Synpase. Compare Copper Banking alternatives.

• 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. Afterward, the Virtual Wallet Student turns into a regular Virtual Wallet with a $7 monthly service charge on the Spend account, which you can waive with a $500 combined average monthly balance and other optionsd.

  Always check whether a kid's account will close, convert or charge fees when your child becomes an adult.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Bethany Hickey

Banking editor

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Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

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Bethany has written 472 Finder guides across topics including:

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