{"id":556592,"date":"2025-03-26T08:19:04","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T08:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=556592"},"modified":"2025-12-23T11:39:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T11:39:16","slug":"monzo-under-16s-vs-natwest-rooster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/banking\/childrens-banking\/monzo-under-16s-vs-natwest-rooster","title":{"rendered":"Monzo for Under 16s vs NatWest Rooster Money: Which is better?"},"content":{"rendered":"If you\u2019re looking to apply for a debit card and money app for your child, it\u2019s not always easy to know where to start. This guide takes a closer look at how the NatWest Rooster Money app and Monzo account for Under 16s compare, so that you can get a better idea of the features available and any relevant fees before making your decision.

Vital statistics<\/h3>
\n \n
Provider<\/th><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Finder score<\/th>9.3<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td>9.7<\/span><\/span>Excellent<\/span><\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Customer satisfaction survey<\/th>Not yet rated<\/td>4.1 <\/span>
\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Age range<\/th>6-15<\/td>6-17<\/td><\/tr>
App for parents<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
App for kids<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Network<\/th>Mastercard<\/td>VISA<\/td><\/tr>
FSCS protected<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Find out more<\/th>
Go to site<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td>
See account<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

Pocket money app Rooster Money, started off in 2016 but it wasn\u2019t until 2021 that it was acquired by NatWest. The Monzo for Under 16s account, on the other hand, launched in early 2025, making it the newbie of the kids\u2019 finance market.<\/p>

Both accounts come with a child and parent\u2019s app, but while Rooster Money is designed for kids between the ages of 6 and 17, Monzo\u2019s account is for 6- to 15-year-olds. <\/p>

Monzo is a UK licensed bank which means deposits are protected up to \u00a3120,000 by the FSCS. By comparison, although Rooster Money is part of NatWest, it doesn\u2019t offer FSCS protection. Instead, it\u2019s licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to deal in electronic money. This means your money will be ringfenced and held in a segregated account where it can\u2019t be touched by Rooster Money itself.<\/p>

Round 1: Account features<\/h3>
\n \n
Provider<\/th><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
How many child accounts<\/th>5<\/span><\/td>No limit<\/span><\/td><\/tr>
Can non-parents gift money to child's account<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Customised card available<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Maximum daily ATM withdrawal limit<\/th>\u00a3100<\/td>\u00a3200 a day<\/td><\/tr>
Make regular pocket money payments<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Web portal (desktop access)<\/th><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/use><\/svg><\/td><\/tr>
Find out more<\/th>
Go to site<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td>
See account<\/a>
Read review<\/a><\/div><\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>

Both Monzo and NatWest Rooster Money allow parents to make regular pocket money contributions, although with Rooster Money this depends on the plan you have. Rooster Money offers a free basic version (Virtual Tracker) which allows your child to track money and spending habits without real cash, or there\u2019s the more comprehensive Rooster Card subscription that\u2019s designed for older children and offers a wider range of features. <\/p>

Both Monzo and NatWest Rooster Money let relatives and friends add money to the accounts, although the process is more convoluted with Rooster Money. Monzo customers can simply send a payment link, while with Rooster Money you need to send over the full account details for the parent account, including sort code and account number. <\/p>

If you have more than one child, you may wish to open multiple accounts \u2013 with Monzo, you can open up to 5 accounts but Rooster Money imposes no such limit. In practice, for most people this is not going to be much of an issue. Rooster Money also has a higher daily ATM withdrawal limit of \u00a3200 compared to Monzo\u2019s \u00a3100. <\/p>

Monzo doesn\u2019t offer customised cards, but children have the choice of a bright yellow, blue or pink card. With Rooster Money, kids can choose from a trio of free coloured designs or you can pay \u00a34.99 for a more customised card, such as a green football themed card or a glittery rainbow one. <\/p>

However, Monzo does pay interest on kids savings, which is rare to find with a kids money app. <\/p>