Compare bank cards for kids

They have to learn sometime. Compare the best debit cards for your kids, from age 6 up to 18, and keep an eye on how they’re spending.

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6-17
VISA
£0 ((if guardian has a natwest account))
£0
£0
Free
Subscription free for NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank customers. Otherwise £1.99/mo or £19.99/yr. T&Cs apply.
Eligibility – Ages 6-17. Criteria & T&Cs apply. Other fees may apply.
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Finder Score for kids' cards

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It’s never too early to teach your kids about money and there are now loads of options designed to help you do just that and give them some control over their finances. You can choose a prepaid kids’ debit card where they can only spend the money you load onto the card, which can be controlled through an app. Alternatively, there are more traditional current accounts designed especially for children.

Prepaid cards for kids

Finder Score Age range Monthly fee Savings goals Set chores

Good for parental controls

Finder score
6-17
VISA
£0 ((if guardian has a natwest account))
£0
£0
Subscription free for NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank customers. Otherwise £1.99/mo or £19.99/yr. T&Cs apply.
Eligibility – Ages 6-17. Criteria & T&Cs apply. Other fees may apply.
Free
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Why we like it

NatWest Rooster Money’s parental controls are flexible and can be adjusted to suit how you want your child to manage their money. You can choose where and how much your kids spend. The Rooster Card also has a dynamic CVV to keep their money safe, where a new CVV is generated for each online purchase.

The app also has a Contactless Counter, which helps you keep track of whether your child is near their contactless limit. If they hit it and have forgotten their PIN, you’re able to reset contactless via your family dashboard, and they can continue to tap away without any issues.

Pros

  • Great educational value; a slick app with lots of features to personalise the way you teach your children about finance.
  • Children as young as 4 years old can use it (6 for the card).
  • Total control over where your children use the card and how much they can spend.
  • Safe and secure. The card can be frozen from the app.
  • No fees for using the card (including abroad).
  • One-month free trial.

Cons

  • If not a NatWest customer, monthly/annual fee to access the full range of features.
  • Caps on the maximum number of parent account loads per day and per month.
  • No interest paid on the account balance.
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Kids’ bank accounts with debit cards

Features of a kids’ prepaid debit card

  • Spending controls. Many children’s debit cards come with spending control limits that parents can set within the linked mobile app.
  • Card lock. Parents can also lock the debit card via the app so it can’t be used.
  • Choose how your child can spend. Parents can choose if the debit card can be used at ATMs, online or for in-store purchases.
  • Spending tracking tools. Many of the apps offer spending tracking tools and features to help your child learn how to manage their money.

How to choose the best prepaid debit cards for kids

Compare the following features when shopping around for a debit card for your kids:

  • Check the fees. The costs can vary between different cards. Most prepaid accounts will have either a monthly or yearly fee.
  • Spending limits. Look for cards that let you cap daily spending, set limits for ATM withdrawals or block specific stores.
  • Shopping online. Consider whether being able to buy online is a benefit or a downside, and opt for a kids’ debit card that can restrict or block online spending if needed.
Cathy Hudson's headshot
Our expert says: More options for children to manage their money than ever

"There’s been a whole new breed of children’s account launched in recent years – prepaid cards for kids let you load their pocket money onto the card and set spending controls. Kids can also learn to budget and set goals through innovative apps that effectively gamify money management.

Some cards have monthly fees. These include NatWest’s Rooster Money, GoHenry, Starling Kite and Nimbl. GoHenry is famous for its tools to help children learn about money, with quizzes, rewards, badges and the ability for them to earn money by doing chores. The personalised cards are also fun for children to have.

Starling and Revolut, which are well known as digital-only banking apps for adults, require you to have your own account with them if you’re setting an account up for your child. While Revolut’s under-18 account has no monthly fee, you’ll get an extra level of control over your child’s account if you have one of Revolut’s paid-for accounts yourself.

HyperJar Kids is another option with no monthly fee. Its digital jars let children save money for specific things and set goals, and they can choose names and colours for each. It means they can learn to save and budget without even realising it."

Cathy Hudson's headshot
Money expert

How do prepaid debit cards for kids work?

Many debit cards for kids are prepaid cards. You can load money onto them from the parent’s bank account using a mobile app that accompanies the physical card.

A lot of these cards and apps come with extra features, like the ability to see how your child spends their money or the option to pay them pocket money for doing their chores.

At what age can my child get a prepaid debit card?

Prepaid cards can be available for kids as young as 6. You can let your child keep their prepaid card as they get older, or help them open a current account for teenagers when they’ve outgrown the prepaid card.

What’s the difference between a kids’ prepaid debit card and a children’s bank account?

Debit cards are available with both the app-based digital accounts mentioned in this guide, as well as with traditional children’s bank accounts. So the difference is actually between the accounts themselves. Children’s bank accounts are current accounts, operated by traditional banks in a similar way to adult current accounts, although they don’t have overdrafts and sometimes have spending limits. There’s usually not a fee involved for having the account, and kids can use the accompanying debit card to make purchases and ATM withdrawals. Obviously children will need money in their bank account in order to do this, and you can add funds as a parent, have family members pay monetary gifts in, or they can even have some wages from a part-time job paid in if they’re old enough to be working.

With the app-based accounts, usually run by digital-only providers, the kids’ debit cards are prepaid, so you’ll have to load money onto them. Often it’s only the account owner, which is the parent, who can do this. There’s sometimes a subscription fee associated with these accounts, but in return you get more digital features and innovative ways to manage the account through the app (including parental controls and digital notifications), than you would with a traditional children’s bank account. This type of digital account plus card is also available for kids who might be too young to open a traditional bank account.

Kid debit cards

Can I get a credit card for my child?

You have to be 18 to get a credit card in the UK, so it won’t be possible for your child to have one. However, parents can get a prepaid card (like the ones outlined in this guide) for children as young as 6. Another option is to set up a children’s bank account, as these often come with a debit card or a cash card that kids can use from around the age of 11.

What are the pros and cons of prepaid debit cards for kids?

Before you get a debit card for your child, consider these features and drawbacks:

Pros

  • Control. Keep track of your child's spending online and cap the daily limit as you see fit.
  • Security. You can monitor your child's spending in the mobile app and see where they're shopping.
  • Safety. Because you can quickly and easily lock the debit card if it's misplaced, debit cards are often safer than carrying cash.
  • Good practice. Using a debit card will teach your child how money works digitally, as well as create good budgeting habits.

Cons

  • Not a current account. These types of debit cards are prepaid cards and not actual current accounts.
  • Not good for large purchases. The spending limits on these prepaid debit cards for kids are generally much lower than those found on traditional adult debit cards.
  • Account fees. Many of these cards and their associated apps come with a monthly or annual fee.
  • No interest. These types of prepaid accounts usually don't pay interest.
  • Age limits. Each debit card or app can set its own age limit.

Kids’ prepaid cards customer satisfaction league table 2025

BrandLogoCustomers who’d recommendReviewLink
Starling KiteStarling Kite logo93%Starling Kite is Starling’s easy-to-use kids’ prepaid card option for parents with a Starling account. It has low fees and strong parental controls.Read our review
OsperOsper logo90%Osper is a prepaid debit card for children that parents can review and control from an app on their phone.Read our review
GoHenryGoHenry logo88%Popular kids’ card and app combo GoHenry offers customised spending cards and parental controls, as well as interactive Money Missions.Read our review
NatWest Rooster MoneyNatWest Rooster Money logo88%NatWest Rooster Money is a dedicated kids’ card and app which has a big focus on financial education.Read our review
Revolut Kids & TeensRevolut<18 (Revolut Junior) logo87%Revolut Kids & Teens is Revolut’s kids’ prepaid card offering, which is easy to use. Parents will already need to have an account with Revolut to get it. Read our review
NimblNimbl logo70%Nimbl is a kids’ pocket money card and app, which also aims to help children learn money skills.Read our review
    • Which factors are most important in a kids’ prepaid card?

      As part of our customer satisfaction survey, we received feedback from customers on the elements they value most in a card for children. Below, you can see the results of this analysis, highlighting the most important factors when you’re looking for the best kids’ prepaid card or debit card.

      RankingKids’ card factor% of customers it’s a priority for
      1Ease of use and accessibility42.5%
      2Fees and charges8.8%
      3Teaching tools and learning features7.8%
      4Customer service and support7.5%
      5App quality and digital technology7.5%
      6Trust and transparency4.4%
      7Security and safety3.1%
      8Parental controls and spending limits2.5%
      9Speed and efficiency1.6%
      10Money management and child autonomy1.6%

      Bottom line

      Prepaid kids’ debit cards with apps to control them are a great way for kids to learn how to manage their money and make it fun and accessible. GoHenry is probably the best known but there are a range of alternatives you can consider. Read our guide to GoHenry and similar alternatives to find out more.

      If you would prefer your child to have an account with a fuller range of banking features or one just for savings visit our guides to current accounts for children and savings accounts for children.

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      Financial education: Are parents equipped to fill the gap?

      Finder published a paper in August 2023 exploring financial education in the UK and how parents are stepping in to teach their children about money. The report includes the findings of our survey of 1,007 of UK adults with children either at primary or secondary school, and insights from teachers, an academic and experts at GoHenry, HyperJar and All Things Money.
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      To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Jason Loewenthal and reviewed by Rachel Wait, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.
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      Matthew Boyle is a banking and mortgages publisher at Finder. He has a 7-year history of publishing helpful guides to assist consumers in making better decisions. In his spare time, you will find him walking in the Norfolk countryside admiring the local wildlife. See full bio

      Matthew's expertise
      Matthew has written 223 Finder guides across topics including:
      • Helping first-time buyers apply for a mortgage
      • Comparing bank accounts and highlighting useful features
      • Publishing easy-to-understand guides

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