Revolut <18 card review: Kids banking super app

Who is Revolut <18 best for?

The Revolut <18 prepaid debit card is best for kids ages six to 17 who have parents with a Revolut personal account. Parents can set up weekly allowances, set spending limits and get instant alerts through the mobile app. Kids can use it to create a budget, set savings goals, and if they’re over 13, use Revolut’s instant payment system for free transfers to and from other Revolut accounts.

But parents must have an existing Revolut account to access the Revolut <18 kid subaccounts. The good news is that Revolut offers a free personal account option, so parents won’t have to pay anything to get up to five Revolut kid accounts.

How much does Revolut <18 cost?

Parents can choose from three membership plans for Revolut personal accounts:

Plan	Monthly fee	Opening deposit	Number of kid subaccounts allowed
Standard	$0	$0	Up to 5 kids’ cards
Premium	$9.99	$0	Up to 5 kids’ cards
Metal	$16.99	$0	Up to 5 kids’ cards

What we like about Revolut <18

A major perk over other top kids’ banking accounts is that Revolut <18 can be completely free if parents choose the Standard free plan. With this plan, parents can create up to five kid subaccounts at no charge.

Many top kids’ debit cards, such as Greenlight, FamZoo and GoHenry, charge a monthly fee. This makes Revolut <18 a great option for parents on a budget.

Full of features and strong parental controls

Parents can help their kids set up savings goals separate from their spending amount. The app also has budgeting tools and spending analyzers to help your child manage their money. Kids have the option to customize their spending card — including drawing their picture or adding emojis.

Parents can keep track of spending and control how kids can use their card. Parents can set up automatic weekly allowances, receive instant spending alerts and can set custom controls. Revolut has also made sure Revolut <18 cards can’t be used at most age-restricted merchants.

Sending funds and payments made easy

The Revolut <18 spending card can be added to Apple Pay and Google Pay for easy payments as long as they meet the age requirements. This isn’t a given with all kids’ prepaid cards. Kids 13 and up can add it to Apple Pay, and kids 16 and older can add it to Google Pay.

Parents can send money to and from the Revolut <18 account, and kids can only spend money you send to the account. If your child tries to make a purchase without sufficient funds, the transaction will be declined. Kids are also restricted from sending and receiving wire transfers.

And like the personal Revolut adult account, kids can send and receive funds through Revolut’s instant payment feature for free — if they’re at least 13 years old.

Where it falls short

Revolut <18 falls short where other online fintechs and banks do: limited customer support. It lacks physical branches for in-person customer service, and the phone line is automated, so you won’t get to talk to a real person. The best chance of reaching a person is the in-app 24/7 chat feature.

However, it’s worth noting that customers commonly state that while they do wish the phone line offered human support, the chat support is efficient at resolving most issues.

No APY on savings goals

Revolut <18 accounts have the option of creating savings goals, but these subaccounts don’t earn any APY or saving bonuses. Without any earning potential, there may be little incentive to save.

Other top kid accounts, such as the free kids’ app Step, offer up to 5% in savings rewards if direct deposit is set up, and Greenlight offers up to 5% in savings rewards.

Revolut <18‘s fees and access

Type of fee	Fee details
Monthly service	$0 for each subaccount, fee for parent account: Revolut Standard: $0 Revolut Premium: $9.99 Revolut Metal: $16.99
Opening deposit	$0
ATMs	Domestic: $0 in Allpoint network up to $60, 2% fee out-of-network and up to 2% over $60 International: Up to 2% and possible currency conversion fees
Debit card fees	Cash withdrawals: $0 up to $60 per rolling month, 2% fee applies afterward Foreign transactions: Up to 2% Card replacement: $5 to $19.99 for Standard accounts, $0 for Premium and Metal
Overdraft or nonsufficient funds	$0
Wire transfers	N/A
Other fees	Paper statements: $8 Card reloads: $0 Cash deposit: Up to $4.95 at participating retailer

Revolut <18 limits

The Revolut kids’ account has limitations that don’t apply to parent’s personal accounts:

Type of limit	Limitation
Transfers into Revolut <18	Up to $12,000/year
Max balance	Up to $10,000
Spending limit	Up to $1,000/day
Transaction limit	Up to 15/day
ATM withdrawals	Up to $120/day Three withdrawals a day, up to 7 per week

Compare Revolut <18 to other kids’ cards

Narrow down top kid banking options by fees, APYs and features. Select Compare on up to four providers to see their benefits side by side.

How to open the Revolut <18

Parents or guardians must have a Revolut account to access the Revolut <18 subaccounts. For kids under 13, parents can sign up for the Revolut <18 account on their child’s behalf using the Revolut app. Kids over age 13 can sign up for the account themselves, with their parent’s approval.

Customer experience

Revolut has mixed customer reviews, but nearly all are in reference to its personal or business accounts. Revolut holds a poor F-rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which is based on how well a company responds to customer reviews and complaints.

On Trustpilot, Revolut holds a respectable 4.3-star rating — and that high rating is pretty rare among fintechs and neobanks. Nearly every review is about Revolut’s personal accounts, with most praising the international perks. Common complaints are about Revolut’s lack of an in-person phone line. But Revolut offers 24/7 in-app chat assistance, and customers often state most issues can be resolved through that route.

On the app stores, Revolut <18 fairs well. It holds a high 4.8-star rating on the Apple Store and a 4.3-star rating with Google Play. Most ratings don’t include a written review, but those that do state they’re happy with the app and account. A few mention they wish there was a way to send money to people outside of Revolut. A few are unhappy with the app because they can’t add anyone except their parents — likely a big plus for parents, but maybe not so much for the kids looking to send money to their friends.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Revolut <18 card safe?

Yes, the Revolut <18 card is safe. Revolut blocks merchants that aren’t age-appropriate, such as those registered as alcohol, cigarette and gambling companies. The card has an EMV chip in it to help keep your child’s data safe when they buy something, and you can instantly freeze and unfreeze the card from the mobile app.

How do I fund the Revolut <18 card?

There are two ways to fund the account: depositing cash with participating retailers or sending funds through the Revolut app from the parent’s account. Revolut <18 accounts can’t send or receive wire transfers, and cash deposits can incur a fee of up to $4.95.

You can locate a participating retailer location by opening the Revolut app, tapping Add Money, then choosing deposit method Cash, then selecting Unlock locations near me. At the location, you may be required to provide identification.

Can Revolut 18 be used overseas?

Yes, your child can use the Revolut <18 spending card abroad. The currency conversion works the same way as the adult account, and there’s a 2% fee.