GoHenry, now Acorns Early, is a popular kids’ banking app offering a debit card and financial education tools for children aged 6 to 18. It includes some nice features, including budgeting tools, strong parental controls, chore tracking and custom card designs. However, with fees starting at $8 per month for one kid or $10 for up to four kids, it may not be the best pick for large families.
5 alternatives to Acorns Early
- Alternative for multiple kids: Greenlight
- Alternative for no monthly fees: Step
- Alternative for teens: Current teen banking
- Alternative for rewards: Modak
- Alternative for a traditional bank: Chase First Banking℠
How Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry) compares
GoHenry, now known as Acorns Early, remains a solid option for kids aged 6 to 18, offering robust financial education tools and customizable debit cards. It stands out for its educational features, including Money Missions, which teaches topics such as investment and basic money management. There are three Money Mission levels, each designed for different ages, and they offer short films and quizzes for more engagement.
However, you can’t get around that monthly fee. If you have more than one kiddo to add, you’ll pay $10 per month for the family plan. Fortunately, there’s a free trial to try before you buy.
Pros
- Accepts ages 6 to 18
- Chore and allowance tracking
- Customizable debit cards
- Money Missions
- Limited free trial
Cons
- Starts at $8/month
- One kid for Basic plan
- No savings or cashback rewards
Bottom line
Acorns Early can offer great tools for kids’ financial education, but it’s not the only option. Whether you’re looking for stronger parental controls, savings tools or credit-building features, alternatives like Greenlight, Modak Makers and Step provide unique benefits.
Think about your child’s financial needs and explore these options to find the best fit. For even more choices, compare the best overall kids’ debit cards and the best free kids’ banking options.
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