Mazoola review
A free virtual debit card for kids with built-in tools for chores, allowances and saving.
finder.com’s rating: 4.5 / 5.0
★★★★★
Mazoola is a virtual Mastercard debit card for kids. You won’t pay a dime to maintain this account or to assign chores and pay allowance, set savings goals and spend money anywhere contactless payments are accepted. But without a physical card, you’re limited to retail stores that accept contactless payments.
$0 per month
Fee
N/A
APY
Review by
Cassidy Horton
cassidy.horton@findercrew.comCassidy Horton is a writer for Finder, specializing in banking and kids’ debit cards. She’s been featured on Legal Zoom, MSN, and Consolidated Credit and has a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a Master of Business Administration from Georgia Southern University. When not writing, you can find her exploring the Pacific Northwest and watching endless reruns of The Office.
Expert review
Mazoola is best for parents of tech-savvy kids who are ready to start managing their own money — with your guidance. The app and virtual debit card are free and built-in tools help you assign and track chores, create savings goals and spend wisely anywhere Mastercard contactless payments are accepted.Most debit cards for kids have some type of annual or monthly fee, so Mazoola is a great option for parents looking for a free way to introduce money management to their children.
But it’s missing standout features you’ll find with other debit cards for kids. For instance, Greenlight comes with an investing platform that helps your child learn the ropes of the stock market in addition to saving and spending. It also has a physical card your child can use at stores that don’t accept contactless payments.
If you live in a large city that accepts contactless payments almost everywhere, Mazoola may be a good option. But if your kid doesn’t have a cell phone yet or wants a physical debit card, you’ll want to keep looking.
How do I get Mazoola?
Follow these steps to download Mazoola and set up your kid’s virtual debit card:
- Go to the provider’s site and follow the steps to apply.
- Go to Mazoola‘s website and select Get the App at upper right.
- Download Mazoola, and select Sign up from the app.
- Create your account using your name, email address and password.
- Review and agree to the terms and conditions.
- Add your phone number and click Send Code.
- Enter the last four digits of your Social Security number and your home address, and select Save & Continue.
- Follow the steps to finish setting up your parent account and link a bank account or credit card.
- Set up your child’s account.
Eligibility
Open a Mazoola account for your family if you meet these eligibility requirements:
- US citizen or resident
- Social Security number or tax identification number
Required information
You’ll need this information handy when you set up your account:
- Full name
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
- Home address
- Bank credentials for linked account
What you’ll like about Mazoola
As with most debit cards for kids, Mazoola allows you to manage and track allowance, set spending controls for specific retailers and get instant alerts when your child uses their card.
It also has these key benefits:
- No fees. We spoke with customer service to confirm that Mazoola is completely free to use and your child can’t overdraft on their account. Any purchase that drops their balance below $0 is declined.
- Track savings goals. Help your child set up savings goals in the Mazoola app and keep tabs on their progress as they get paid.
- P2P payments. Kids can send peer-to-peer payments to friends and family through the Mazoola mobile app.
What to watch out for
While Mazoola comes with the main chores and allowance features for free, it has these potential drawbacks:
- No physical card. Because Mazoola is a virtual debit card, you can’t use it to withdraw cash at an ATM or at stores that don’t accept contactless payments.
- New app. Mazoola just launched in 2021, so it’s too soon to know how parents feel about the app just yet.
If you want your child to have a physical card to use, compare these popular kids debit cards.
Is Mazoola safe?
Yes. Mazoola’s virtual debit card is issued and FDIC-insured through Evolve Bank & Trust bank — a long-standing financial institution that insures accounts for several digital banks such as Dave Banking, OnJuno and Level, among many others. And because it’s backed by Mastercard’s Zero Liability Protection, you aren’t responsible for unauthorized transactions made at a store, online or through the app.
Similar to other debit cards for kids, Mazoola also complies with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This means that parents must provide consent regarding which details about their children can be collected by websites, apps and smart devices.
Compare Mazoola with other kids debit cards
See how Mazoola stacks up against other debit cards for kids.
How do Mazoola‘s fees compare to the competition?
This table highlights how Mazoola compares to other debit cards for kids:
| Mazoola fee or limit | Details | How it compares to other kids’ cards |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | This is low, considering most debit cards for kids have monthly fees. |
| ATM withdrawal | Not available | Mazoola doesn’t support ATM withdrawals, which is typical for debit cards for kids. |
| Cash reload fee | Not available | Bank transfers are the only way to add money. |
| Daily purchase limit | $3,000 | Limit is slightly higher than the average, which is around $2,500. |
I got the Mazoola virtual card. Now what?
You’ll get access to your virtual card instantly after you set up your account. Once you have it, make the most of it using these tips:
- Fund your account. Connect Mazoola to your bank account to transfer money to the app.
- Set up chores and allowances. Set up recurring deposits so your child gets an allowance for each week they complete their chores.
- Show your kid how to use the account. Teach your kid how to mark chores as complete, set savings goals and use their virtual debit card.
How can I contact Mazoola?
Get help in two ways:
- Call 844-210-4789 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
- Email info@mazoola.co and wait for a response
How do I close my Mazoola account?
Close your Mazoola account in two steps:
- Transfer all funds out of Mazoola.
- Email info@mazoola.co with a request to close your account.
Kids’ debit card ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
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Read the full methodology of how we rate Kids’ debit card accounts.