Looking for the best debit card for your kids? Here are the top 7 debit cards, including free options for kids under 13 and teenagers!
Your child once asked, “Can I buy a card like you?” If so, you are not alone. Whether it is for allowances, tedious money or part-time job income, more and more parents are debiting cards to their children to teach currency management in a realistic way.
To be honest? I like it. Because this is a better way to learn money management skills from a young age – rather than having them use your card (and don’t understand it’s “real” money) or having them wait until college until they have no previous experience with a credit card.
7 Best Debit Cards for Children (Teenagers and Kids Under 13)
While I am a major proponent of using cash, I know some parents prefer the idea of providing their children with prepayment cards. I’m often asked about the best debit cards for kids, so I’d like to share a detailed post about some of the best options and how they work.
1. Green light
Age range: Children and adults of all ages (no minimum or maximum minimum children
Fees: Home plan starts at $5.99/month
Green light It is one of the most popular debit cards for children and it is easy to understand why. It is designed to help kids of all ages learn how to save, spend wisely, and even invest in a large number of built-in guardrails.
Parents can allocate trivia in real time, set up allowance schedules and approve expenses. The app also allows you to set spending limits by category.
I really like a feature? Green light Saving interest rates up to 6% according to your plan, which is an excellent motivation for a child to build a balance. There is even an investment feature for older children, and every transaction requires parental approval.
The plan costs $5.99 per month for the whole family, but the added value makes it one of the best debit cards for kids if you want an all-in-one teaching tool. If you are looking for a debit card for kids who want to save, spend or even invest a little bit, then this will surely check all the boxes.
2. Acorns early (formerly Gohenry)
Age range: 6-18 years old
Cost: $5 per month for one child or up to $10 per month for four children/month
If you invest with acorns, you might be glad to know that they now offer children a fully functional chip debit card Acorn morning umbrella. The focus of this card is to teach children’s financial literacy through interactive “money tasks”, short videos and quizzes that make learning to save, spend and give super attractiveness.
Acorns also allow you to set up trivia, automatically pay stipends, and even encourage charitable donations. The clean interface of the app is fun for kids and is intuitive, and parents have complete control over how the card is used and how it is used.
The program costs about $5 per month, and $10 per month for one child or up to four children. However, they also offer a one-month free trial period so you can test it before making a submission. This is a great option if your child thrives on interactive learning and you want more than just a spending tool.
3. Famzoo
Age range: Choices for children under 13 years old, teenagers, and even young people over 18 years old
Fee: $5.99 per month for family plans
Famzoo It has been around for a while and is a favorite of parents who want flexibility. This is a prepaid card for kids that lets you customize everything from trivia charts and allowance schedules to reimbursement and more. You can even set up “Parent Paid Interest” like Greenlight to reward savings.
FAMZOO is perfect for large families or anyone who wants to consistently enhance the value of the currency in a few kids. The whole family is about $5.99 per month, and if you pay annually, it’s cheap. While it may not have features like investment, it is reliable, customizable and practical, and it is perfect if you prefer a way to teach your child how to manage money.
4. Busy
Age range: 5-17 years old
Fee: $4/month per year
If you are looking for something based on trivia and simple, Busy It’s a good choice. Children make money by completing tasks and can then use their debit card to spend what they earn. Parents can approve purchases, transfer funds, and even encourage donations. Busykid has built-in charitable donations that allow kids to give real organizations.
Busykid also includes a savings and investment option, although it is not as good as Greenlight’s. This prepaid debit card for children is a reliable tool for families who want to bind their income directly to their liability. The plan is priced at $4/month bill.
5. step
Age range: No age requirement, but for teenagers and young people
Fee: Zero fee free
Looking for a free debit card for kids who still include some cool features? Check step. It is targeted at teenagers, so it is ideal for kids 13 and older, but Step also welcomes people under 18 to sign up with their parents or guardians to monitor their accounts.
Step offers teens a real visa card and a fee-free bank account with saving tools. They can even get cash back from certain retailers, and parents can monitor spending through the app.
Because one step Backed by a real bank, it can help teens build credit (yes, credit!) without the risk of overdraft fees or debt. This is one of the best debit cards for entering two years and teenagers who are ready to be independent but still need guidance.
6. Venmo debit card for teenagers
Age range: 13-17 years old
Cost: Free
This is another free debit card for children! You know teenagers can have their own Venmo Account and Debit Card? Parents set up and manage accounts, but teenagers (13-17) can easily send and receive funds – perfect for receiving babysitter payments or splitting takeaways with friends!
First, log in to your own Venmo account on your phone, click “Me” in the lower right corner, then log in at the arrow next to the name in the upper left corner, and select “Create a Teen Account.” Your teen will get his or her own account and a Venmo Teen debit card while you are still fully visible and controlled.
Teens can use their debit cards in most businessmen (just where Venmo considers it to be “high risk”) and they can send and receive payments with designated friends and family, but they cannot get payments for goods/services or cash checks. As a parent, you can also set privacy levels for their accounts.
If your teen has a bank account, any transfer must be through your (parents) Venmo, as the teen cannot directly link to the bank. This is an extra step, but it helps because Venmo So widely used!
7. Capital One Money Youth Inspection
Age range: 8 years old or older
Cost: Free
Another great contender for free debit cards for children is Capital One Money Teen Checking Accountdesigned for teenagers and teenagers (age over 8 years old) ready to enter the banking industry. This is not only a flashy fintech application. This is a fully insured checking account insured by FDIC and comes with a true Mastercard debit card that your child can use in stores, online, and even over 70,000 nationwide free ATMS that can be used by the card.
What makes Capital One Shine is its simplicity and transparency. There is no monthly fee, no minimum balance, and no ATM fees, including off-network machines. (Although it is nice to note that if a non-capital ATM charges its own fees, it will not be reimbursed.)
Both parents and children separate the wood, so teenagers can get money to manage themselves independently while their parents retain supervision. Alarms, lock/unlock features, and customizable spending limits help make it a guided experience.
Plus, teenagers earn a little interest every month, and parents can automatically transfer or link external bank accounts to get smooth funds.
Whether you’re just starting your kid’s money journey or looking for a better way to manage allowances and trivia, kids’ debit cards can be a game-changer. You don’t have to worry about the lost cash, you’ll be completely transparent about where their money goes, and most importantly, your child starts to learn how to budget and make decisions with real money.
Every family has different needs, but there is no choice. The best debit card for kids comes down to what’s most important to you, whether it’s parental control, financial education, saving interests, or just making things simple and free!
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Children’s Debit Cards
What is the best debit card for kids?
it depends! If you want a feature-rich experience in savings, investments, and strong parental controls, Greenlight is the biggest contender. If you’re looking for something interactive and educational, early acorns are great. Steps are an excellent choice for teenagers who want more independence. The best kids debit card depends heavily on your current needs, goals and preferences, so it is important to choose what is best for your family.
Is it better to be green light or gohenry?
Greenlight tends to win features: it offers more options for savings, spending and investment, plus better parental control. But early (formerly Gohenry) Acorns are better for kids who like game-like learning and lessons. Your choice depends on whether you are more focused on functionality or interactive education.
Do you have a real debit card for children?
Yes! All of this is a real visa or Mastercard debit card used in stores, online and ATMS (restrictions). Parents can help fund accounts, set up controls and monitor spending when teaching their children to manage their own money.
Is the green light card worth it?
For many families, absolutely. Greenlight is a powerful teaching tool if you want your child to save, invest and learn while having a guardrail. This is especially valuable for larger families, as you can add up to five kids in one plan.
Which bank is the best for kids account?
Although traditional banks offer children’s savings accounts, fintech options such as Greenlight and Step often provide useful tools for teaching funding management. And, don’t forget Capitalone’s Teen Checking Account, which offers several handy features. Many parents find all of this more helpful than a basic bank account, especially for debit cards for kids under 13 years of age.
Do you have a debit card for your child? We would love to hear about your experience and what you suggest or avoid in the comments!
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