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GoHenry vs HyperJar Kids: Find out which app is better
Is GoHenry or HyperJar Kids a better option for helping your children to manage their money? We take a look at both to help you decide.
GoHenry was set up in 2012 by a group of parents who wanted to encourage children to understand more about money. It consists of a child account, a parent account to top up the child account and a Visa prepaid card. The accounts can be managed via the app.
Meanwhile, its biggest rival, HyperJar, is a prepaid card and budgeting app that enables you to organise money into different “jars” for different purposes, one of which can be your kids’ pocket money. The Hyperjar Kids Card can be linked to one of your jars, so you can transfer their pocket money at any time.
So, how do you decide which option is best for you and your child? We take a look at how they both work so you can make the right choice.
Vital statistics
| Provider |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★ | Finder score ★★★★★ User survey ★★★★★ |
| Age range | 6-18 | 6-17 |
| App for parents | ||
| App for kids | ||
| Network | VISA | Mastercard |
| FSCS protected | ||
| Go to site More Info | Go to site More Info |
GoHenry is a financial tool suitable for children aged between 6 and 18, while HyperJar Kids is aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 17.
GoHenry comes with a prepaid Visa debit card and your child can customise it by choosing from more than 45 different designs. HyperJar Kids comes with a prepaid Mastercard debit card that comes in standard colours of blue and yellow – but also glows in the dark.
Kids and parents alike can manage their money through the GoHenry and HyperJar apps. GoHenry’s app is tailored to your kid’s age and parents also have a companion app to help them track their kids’ progress, set flexible boundaries and goals and get real-time spend notifications. With HyperJar, kids download the same version of the app as their parents, but with a few additional tweaks. Parents will still have full control of their kids’ spending, including being able to set limits.
Because both GoHenry and HyperJar Kids offer prepaid debit cards, there’s no overdraft available so you don’t need to worry about your kids getting into debt.
However, as both GoHenry and HyperJar are e-money products, your funds will not be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Instead, your money will be held in segregated accounts governed by the e-money regulations of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which means you should still get your money back if either company stopped trading.
In our independent 2023 Customer Satisfaction Awards, GoHenry won the kids’ category with 4.5 out of 5 stars and 79% of users saying they would recommend the service. HyperJar scored 4 out of 5, with 70% of its users saying they would recommend it.
Round 1: Account features
| Provider | | |
|---|---|---|
| How many child accounts | 4 | No limit |
| Can non-parents gift money to child's account | ||
| Customised card available | ||
| Maximum daily ATM withdrawal limit | £120 | ATM withdrawals not permitted |
| Make regular pocket money payments | ||
| Web portal (desktop access) | ||
| Go to site More Info | Go to site More Info |
GoHenry limits the number of accounts you can have per household to 4. With HyperJar, you can order as many cards for as many kids as you have living at home. Each prepaid card will be linked to one of your “jars”.
Both HyperJar and GoHenry also allow other family members (not just parents) to pay money into your child’s account. Relatives will need to create their own account with HyperJar or GoHenry to be able to do this, but GoHenry also lets relatives and friends send money to a child’s card via Giftlinks.
ATM withdrawals are permitted up to £120 a day with GoHenry, but you cannot withdraw cash from an ATM with the HyperJar Kids card.
- Winner: GoHenry for allowing ATM withdrawals.
Round 2: App features
| Provider | | |
|---|---|---|
| Spending controls for parents | ||
| Card spend notifications for parents | ||
| Freeze and unfreeze card | ||
| Chore/task manager | ||
| Savings goals | ||
| Learning resources | ||
| Go to site More Info | Go to site More Info |
There are a number of similarities between the GoHenry and HyperJar apps but also some key differences. Both offer spending controls and card notifications for parents, and both let parents freeze a card if it is misplaced and unfreeze it again when found.
Both also include savings goals. GoHenry will calculate the amount your child should save based on the amount of pocket money they get and their end goal date (though you can amend this as required). With HyperJar, you can simply set up different money jars with different names and colours, plus targets for how much you want to save in each.
However, GoHenry’s app is a little more advanced as it also offers a “Money Missions” feature, with different levels of learning for different age groups. Through a combination of stories, videos and quizzes, your child will be able to learn more about managing their money from budgeting and planning to borrowing and credit.
- Winner: Although it’s close, GoHenry’s app offers a wider range of features.
Round 3: Fees
| Provider | | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £3.99 | £0 |
| Card delivery fee | £0 | £0 |
| Loading fee | 50p (one top-up free per month) | £0 |
| UK card transaction fee | £0 | £0 |
| UK cash withdrawal fee | £0 | N/A |
| Fees abroad | £0 | Free when paying in other currencies |
| Replacement card fee | Free, or £4.99 if changing design | £5 |
| Any other fees | ||
| Go to site More Info | Go to site More Info |
There’s no monthly fee to pay for HyperJar Kids, but with GoHenry, you’ll need to pay £3.99 a month (customers can take advantage of a 1-month free trial first). GoHenry also charges a card loading fee of 50p, although you’ll get one free load per month. There’s no loading fee with HyperJar Kids.
Your first HyperJar Kids card will be free of charge, but replacements cost £5. Standard GoHenry cards are free, including replacements, but if you want to change the design, you’ll pay £4.99.
In terms of using the card abroad, cash withdrawals are not permitted with HyperJar Kids, but there are no fees for card purchases. There are no fees for either cash withdrawals or purchases overseas with the GoHenry card.
- Winner: HyperJar Kids because there are no monthly or loading fees to pay.
Overall winner: Is GoHenry better than HyperJar Kids?
There’s a lot to like about both GoHenry and HyperJar Kids, which means this isn’t a straightforward decision. They are both great options if you’re looking for a way to help your child become more financially independent, while also maintaining an element of control over their spending.
However, we’d say GoHenry definitely beats HyperJar Kids in terms of offering a smarter app that will adapt and change according to your child’s age. It also lets your children withdraw money on their prepaid card, which you can’t do with HyperJar Kids.
That being said, GoHenry is relatively expensive compared to HyperJar Kids. This means if you’d prefer not to pay a monthly fee or if you’re not fussed about the extra features available on the GoHenry app, HyperJar Kids is likely to be the better option for you.
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