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Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard review

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Kachinga
3.2
★★★★★
Finder score
Signature transaction fee
$0
PIN transaction fee
$0

Our verdict

Free mobile app for chores and allowances, but the card costs $36 per year per child.

The Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard is best for teens and kids who are ready to start spending real money. It comes with a free mobile app that lets you set chores and allowances and help your teen learn to spend, save and give wisely.

But although the app is free to download, you’ll pay $36 per year per child for the card. This is about $13 cheaper than BusyKid, but BusyKid comes with up to five debit cards and additional features like investing options.

Pros

  • Free trial
  • Instant transfers
  • Spending charts

Cons

  • No ATM network
  • Customer service support
  • Annual debit card fee

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How do I get the Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard?

Get the Kachinga app and kids’ debit card in six steps:

  1. Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
  2. From the provider website, click Get it on Google Play or Download on the App Store.
  3. Install the app, launch it and click Sign Up.
  4. Enter your full name, email, password, the name your kids’ call you and click Create Account.
  5. Create your child’s account using their name, date of birth, username and password. Click Next.
  6. Select which plan you want — the free virtual money plan or the real money plan that comes with the Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard.
  7. Follow the prompts to finish the application process.

Eligibility

Anyone can download the Kachinga app and use it for chores and allowances, but you’ll need to meet these requirements to get the prepaid card.

  • At least 18 years old
  • US citizen or resident
  • US residential address
  • Valid Social Security number

Required information

Have this information ready when you set up your account and request your kid’s Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard.

  • Full name
  • Home address
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number
  • Login information for connected bank account

What you’ll like about the Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard

The Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard and mobile app comes with standard kids debit card features, like the ability to set up chores, pay allowances and monitor your child’s spending. There’s no credit check to sign up, plus you’ll enjoy these perks.

  • Free trial. You get a 30-day free trial with Kachinga, so you can try it before the $36 annual fee kicks in.
  • Spending charts. You and your teen get real-time reports in the mobile app that shows how much money they’ve spent each month and where they’ve spent it.
  • Instant transfers. No more running out to ATMs in a pinch. You can instantly transfer money to your kid’s card whenever they need it.

What to watch out for

Kachinga helps your teen develop smart money habits, but there are a few drawbacks to watch out for.
  • No ATM network. You’ll pay $2 plus operator fees each time you use an ATM to withdraw cash.
  • Customer service support. Kachinga‘s site doesn’t offer customer support options. But because they’re a third-party site by Akimbo, you can reach them at 855-925-4626 for questions regarding your Kachinga account.
  • Annual debit card fee. You’ll pay $36 per year per child for the Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard. This is cheaper than BusyKid if you have one kid. But BusyKid‘s pricing stays at $48 per year for up to five kids, or $49.74 if you use a debit or credit card for funding.

Is the Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard safe?

The Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard is as safe as any prepaid debit card. You get all the liability protection that comes with Mastercard, plus FDIC insurance through Sunrise Banks.

Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard reviews and complaints

Kachinga just launched in March 2021, so there aren’t any reviews yet on trusted sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. But the company has a 4.0 out of 5-star rating in both the Apple Store and the Google Play stores as of April 2021.

Customers like the financial literacy component of the app and how it helps assign chores and allowances without having to fuss with paper charts and real cash. But a few of them have run into issues when funding their account and say they couldn’t contact customer support for help.

How can I contact Kachinga?

The Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard is a third-party site by Akimbo — a leading prepaid card platform, so you can contact them for questions at 855-925-4626.

We called Akimbo several times while writing this review and someone answered right away every time. You can also try emailing Kachinga at support@kachinga.com.

Compare Kachinga with other debit cards

Use this table to see how Kachinga compares to other kids cards based on fees and features.

Name Product Fee Age requirements Features Offer
GoHenry
Finder Score: 4.3 / 5: ★★★★★
Exclusive
GoHenry
$4.99 per month
6 to 18 years old
  • Automate allowance & instantly send money to your child
  • Optional parent-paid savings interest
  • Spending controls & limits
  • $4.99/month after Finder exclusive free trial
Get 2 months free and $10 allowance when you sign up to GoHenry with Finder's exclusive code: AFFUSFDR10.
Greenlight
Finder Score: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★

Finder Award
Free trial
Greenlight
$4.99 per month
Any age
  • Spend, save & invest
  • Chores & allowance tools
  • Spending controls & limits
  • Instantly send money to your child
  • Up to 5% savings rewards
Get the first 30 days for free. After your one-month trial, plans start at just $5.99/month for the whole family. Includes up to five kids.
Current teen banking
Finder Score: 4.8 / 5: ★★★★★
Current teen banking
$0 per month
Any age
  • Automatic savings round-ups
  • $0 monthly fee
  • Spending limits and parent notifications
  • Instant transfers to your teen
    • Parent Current account required
FamZoo
Finder Score: 3.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Free trial
FamZoo
$5.99 per month
Any age
  • Parent-paid interest
  • No foreign fees
  • Real-time cash requests
One month free trial. After your one-month trial, plans start at just $5.99/month for the whole family. First 4 prepaid cards free.
Jassby
Finder Score: 4 / 5: ★★★★★
Jassby
$5.95 per month
7 to 17 years old
  • Set up allowance and chores
  • Real-time spending notifications
  • Instantly lock and unlock your child’s card
  • Quizzes, videos and games teach kids about money
  • Earn redeemable rewards points
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How do Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard’s fees compare to the competition?

This table highlights how Kachinga‘s fees and limits compare to the competition.

Fee & LimitAmountHow it compares to other kids’ cards
Annual fee$36It’s less expensive than BusyKid for one kid, but more expensive with multiple kids
ATM withdrawal$2This is a typical fee charged by most prepaid card companies.
Cash reload feeN/AKachinga doesn’t accept cash reloads, unlike FamZoo and Greenlight.
Card replacement feeFirst one free, then $5This is typical for most prepaid cards for kids.
Maximum card balance$9,999This is a higher limit than most prepaid cards for kids.
Direct deposit limit$9,999 per dayMost cards only let you transfer up to $2,000 or $5,000 per month. This limit is much higher.
Debit card transfer limit$1,000 per dayMost companies only let you transfer up to $500 per day from debit cards.
ATM withdrawal limit$705 per dayMost debit cards for kids and teens cap you at $120 per day.
Purchase limit$2,500 per dayThis limit is similar to other debit cards for kids.

How long will it take to get my card?

You’ll get your Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard in the mail within 10 business days of requesting it.

I got the card. Now what?

Once your child or teen has their Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard, make the most of it by:

  • Setting up chores. Set up paid and unpaid chores in the mobile app for your child to complete each week. It can be anything from brushing their teeth to mowing the grass.
  • Automating allowances. Put allowances on autopilot in the Kachinga mobile app.
  • Setting up spending, saving and giving buckets. Help your child set up goals for how much money they’ll save, spend and give each month.
  • Funding options

    Fund the Kachinga Prepaid Mastercard using a linked bank account.

    Kids’ debit card ratings

    ★★★★★ — Excellent

    ★★★★★ — Good

    ★★★★★ — Average

    ★★★★★ — Subpar

    ★★★★★ — Poor

    We analyze top debit cards for kids and rate them one to five stars based on factors that are most important to you. We rate kids’ checking accounts by these factors: Monthly fee, features, ATM access, customer support options, and availability. We also consider APY as a factor only for those that earn interest. We rate prepaid debit cards for kids by these factors: monthly fees, features, customer support options and account availability.

    Read the full methodology of how we rate Kids’ debit card accounts.

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