On the hunt for a kids’ debit card that won’t charge you a monthly fee? We compare the best debit cards designed for children and their parents to showcase the best no-fee options. We chose the best cards based on features that matter most to families, like parental controls, savings goals and learning tools. Every card on this list charges no monthly fee and is designed to help your child spend and save safely, and each has FDIC insurance on deposits.
Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Direct Deposit provided by Cash App, a Block,Inc. brand. Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See Terms and Conditions. *Teens aged 13 to 17 can join with approval from eligible parent or guardian. To view the eligibility requirements for sponsoring a teen, please visit the Sponsored Accounts section of the Cash App Terms of Service. **Cash App will pass through a portion of the interest paid on your savings balance held in an account for the benefit of Cash App customers at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. To earn the highest interest rate on your Cash App savings balance, you need to (a) have a Cash App Card or sponsor one or more sponsored accounts and receive at least $300 in paycheck direct deposits each month; or (b) have a sponsored account with sponsor approval to earn interest. Exceptions may apply. Savings yield rate is subject to change. ***Brokerage services provided by Cash App Investing LLC, member FINRA / SIPC, subsidiary of Block, Inc. See our BrokerCheck. Bitcoin services are not licensable activity in all U.S. states and territories. Block, Inc. operates in New York as Block of Delaware and is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Investing and bitcoin are non-deposit, non-bank products that are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including monetary loss. Cash App Investing does not trade bitcoin and Block, Inc. is not a member of FINRA or SIPC. For additional information, see the Bitcoin and Cash App Investing disclosures. Additional fees for securities may apply such as regulatory fees and fees to transfer securities externally. Please see our House Rules for more information. Fractional shares investing may involve additional risks such as non-transferability. For additional information regarding the unique risks and limitations of fractional shares, please see the Investing Customer Account Agreement. ***Cash App waives ATM fees for all in-network withdrawals when you deposit at least $300 monthly into Cash App.
Revolut is not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Fees may apply. See revolut.com/en-US/ for details.
7 Best free kids’ debit cards at a glance
These debit cards for kids and teens have no monthly fees, and we specifically chose them for their standout features, safety controls and extra perks.
Methodology: How we chose the best no-fee kids’ debit cards
Finder’s experts regularly review top kids’ bank accounts, debit cards and prepaid cards from various providers to find the best options in the market.
Finder’s banking experts research over 45 kids’ cards before narrowing down the best free accounts. We consider these five factors:
$0 monthly fee
Available in most US states
No strict membership requirements
Strong parental controls
Accounts that kids can keep using after they turn 18
Expert insight
"You can start talking to kids about money as early as age five. At that age, they understand trade-offs like choosing between two toys, which is the perfect way to explain saving, spending and making choices. I’ve worked with parents who used clear jars labeled Spend, Save and Give to help young kids visualize where their money goes. It becomes second nature over time.
For a debit card, age 10 to 13 is usually a good window, depending on maturity. We’ve observed parents tie card access to allowance or chores, helping kids manage their spending while parents keep oversight. Look for cards with spending alerts, parental controls and the ability to lock the card remotely. It’s not just about the card — it’s about building trust and discipline in real time.
Parental controls. Look for spending limits, alerts, fast reload options, chore and allowance features, the ability to turn the card on and off and so on. Some kids’ banking apps, such as Greenlight, offer extra safety features such as suspicious activity alerts, identity theft coverage, car crash detection and family location sharing (for a monthly fee).
App quality. A good interface can make it easier for you to manage the accounts as the parent and easier for kids to use while they’re learning about online banking.
Cost. Many kids’ debit cards have monthly fees, but a few from Capital One, Chase and Modak don’t charge a monthly fee. Also, look out for reload fees, ATM charges or inactivity fees.
Age limits. Some cards are only for teens, others allow younger kids with supervision, which is common with traditional banks. Fintechs like Greenlight and Modak often don’t have age requirements for kids, just requiring the parent to be the account’s custodian.
"Parents don’t need to have a flawless plan or scripted talking points — it’s more effective to let your child’s questions lead the way.
For instance, my four-year-old son once asked me if we pay for his activities. I used that as a starting point to explain that we pay for nearly everything in our lives — our home, his school, the water we drink and bathe in and even his activities. I added that the only thing we don’t pay for is the air we breathe. By connecting the concept of money to concrete examples from his everyday life, I was able to make an abstract idea easier for him to grasp. Starting these conversations early, guided by a child’s natural curiosity, can lay a strong foundation for financial understanding.
Minors can’t get debit cards on their own in most states. To open an account for your child, you’ll need to be on the account with them, usually as a joint owner or custodian.
Knowing that you’ll share ownership of the account can provide a lot of peace of mind. Additionally, all the best kids’ cards we chose have FDIC insurance coverage, meaning deposits are protected by federal deposit insurance up to the typical amount of $250,000.
Most other kids’ debit cards offer strong parental controls, such as the ability to lock the card with an app, set up a PIN for the debit card and block restricted merchants (such as alcohol and lottery purchases). Many also offer custom spending and ATM withdrawal limits.
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What happens to a kid’s checking account once they turn 18?
It depends on the kids’ bank account you choose. With some kid checking accounts, teens are able to keep the account open until a certain age and then are required to upgrade to a standard account.
For example, with the Capital One TEEN Money account, teens have the option to upgrade to a regular Capital One 360 Checking account (also with no monthly fees). If they don’t want to upgrade to a regular 360 Checking account, the TEEN Money account can remain active.
Another example is the Fidelity Youth Account. Once the kid turns 18, that account must be converted to a standard Fidelity brokerage account.
Bottom line
There are plenty of free debit cards for kids that can help them learn essential financial skills, such as budgeting, saving and even investing, all without annoying monthly fees. Whether you’re looking for full parental control or a more flexible teen-friendly setup, one of these picks can help your child get started with money the smart way.
Yes. Several options, like Modak, Capital One MONEY and Chase First Banking, charge no monthly or overdraft fees. Just watch for ATM fees or reload charges.
Do I need to open a new bank account to use these cards?
It depends. Some kid debit cards, like Chase First Banking, require the parent to have a Chase checking account. Others, like the Capital One TEEN Money account, let you link external accounts, and fintechs like Modak and Greenlight work as standalone apps that connect to your existing bank account.
Can kids under 13 get a debit card?
Yes, many providers like Modak and the Chase kids’ account allow kids as young as six with a parent or guardian as a joint account holder.
What happens when my kid turns 18?
Most providers let you convert the account to an adult checking account.
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.
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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.
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