Best Debit Cards For Kids + Teens [2025]: Never Forget An Allowance Again

Helping kids and teens learn about money is an important step toward financial literacy, and teaching these foundational skills as early and often as possible is one of the biggest advantages you can give your child. 

Many banks and companies offer debit cards for kids or teens with extra features that allow parents to monitor and, in some cases, control what their child spends. Here are the best debit cards for kids and teens, why we chose them, and who we recommend each account for.

Key takeaways

• Kids' debit cards can be found in joint bank accounts shared by parents and their kids. Some accounts are available to kids of any age, while others may have age requirements and may only be available to teens (such as 13 or older).
• Parents should look for kids' debit cards with no or low monthly fees, helpful features, parental controls, and excellent mobile apps.
• Some family debit cards offer investment opportunities to teach kids or teens about investing in the stock market or ETFs.
• Banks and credit unions often have accounts for teens or kids, although these tend to have fewer parental control options than kids' banking from online banks and fintechs.

Compare the best debit cards for kids and teens

Company	Best for	Account fees
Greenlight	Features and parental controls	$5.99 to $14.98/month
Current 1 <p><b>Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC.</b>.</p>	Chores and allowance for teens	$02 <p>Out of network cash withdrawal fees, third-party, and cash load fees may apply.</p>
Capital One MONEY Teen Checking	More independent kids/teens	$0
Axos Bank First Checking	All-in-one teen banking	$0
Acorns Early	Educational tools for kids	$5 to $10 per month

Greenlight

The Debit Card Designed for Kids

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FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

2025 award winner Best for Kids and Teens

Greenlight Benefits

• Kids can earn money through chores, set savings goals, spend wisely, and invest
• Get real-time notifications every time their kids spend money
• Kids get up to 1% cash back and 2% on their savings balances
• One month free trial, then as low as $4.99/ month

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Learn more

Greenlight is a mobile app and kids' debit card with the most features we've seen in a platform like it for both parents and their kids. These include:

• Chores, tasks, and allowance
• Savings goals (with interest)
• Investing
• Debit card cash back
• Educational games

Some plan tiers even include safety perks like identity theft protection and family location sharing. Greenlight stands out from all other debit cards for kids because it offers the most tools and perks, but these do come at a higher cost. Greenlight Core is $5.99 a month, Max is $9.98, and Infinity is $14.98.

These prices can be well worth it if your family will actually use all the features available to you, but there are less costly and even free options with fewer perks if you're more interested in saving. And note that some features are only available for Max or Infinity.

Greenlight banking services are provided by Community Federal Savings Bank (Member FDIC).

Visit Greenlight | Read our full Greenlight review.

Note: Fees could reduce earnings on the account.

Current Teen account

While the financial technology company, Current, isn't exclusively for teens, its sole banking account is a good fit for those who are at least 13. Parents can assign chores, automate allowance payments, and set purchasing limits when they link their Current account to one for their teen. They can even block a merchant, which is less common for platforms that don't cater solely to teens, and get notifications about their teen's spending.

It's also unusual for an account for teens to include chore and allowance tools, which are often found with debit cards for younger kids.

Current is a little lighter on parental controls than Greenlight, and teens don't have the option to use their money to invest and won't earn cash back on debit card spending. But we would recommend this account for teaching your teen financial independence, especially if you want the chores features.

Current is a financial technology company that partners with Choice Financial Group (Member FDIC) to provide banking services through the Current app.

Visit Current | Read our full Current review. 

Capital One MONEY Teen Checking

Capital One Bank offers the MONEY Teen Checking account with a free debit card for kids aged 8 and older, but we like it most for kids and teens who already have some experience managing their own money and are ready for more independence. A parent or legal guardian must co-own the account with the child, but the account more closely resembles a traditional bank account than it does a kids' banking account. If you want your teen to learn how to bank without training wheels, this is the account we'd suggest. We also like that teens can keep the joint account after turning 18, if they want to. There is no minimum deposit or balance requirement, and the account balance will earn 0.10% (as of 05/02/25) APY.

Children can use the Capital One app to check their balance, set savings goals, direct funds for spending and saving, deposit checks, or receive direct deposits and text notifications.

Parents can send automatic allowance and one-time transfers, remove money, view transactions, sign up for notifications, and set limits on the card.

You don't need to have an account with Capital One and can link any external bank account to the MONEY Teen Checking account for easy funding.

Member FDIC.

Read our full Capital One 360 review.

Capital One 360 Checking

Once a teen with a Capital One MONEY Teen Checking account turns 18, they can choose to convert their account to a Capital One 360 Checking account. This is one of the best checking accounts we've identified in our research overall, thanks to the facts that it lacks fees, offers plenty of features, and comes with a top-notch mobile app.

Read our full Capital One 360 review.

Axos Bank First Checking

Axos Bank offers a checking account for teenagers aged 13 to 17 that's jointly owned by a parent or guardian. Like some of the best checking accounts available for adults, Axos First Checking earns interest. It lets teens earn up to 0.10% (as of 05/02/25) APY (annual percentage yield) on their checking and linked debit card. 

Axos' First Checking comes with no monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, or insufficient fund fees. The bank will even reimburse up to $12 in monthly domestic ATM fees, which could come in handy for teens who need to add or remove cash from their accounts often. The account has daily transaction limits of $100 for cash withdrawals and $500 for debit, which are a little on the low side but likely not going to be an issue for many teens. A parent or guardian must be listed as a co-owner of the account, but no spending or parental controls are included with First Checking.

We included this account on our list because Axos Bank stands out from other institutions and companies for also offering a savings account for teens called First Savings. Although this account doesn't earn the best rate, it could be smart to help your teen get set up with a bank that offers a wide range of deposit accounts so they can get a feel for how different products work.

Read our full Axos Bank review

Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry)

For $5 a month for one child or $10 a month for up to four, Acorns Early helps kids track spending, budget, and set savings goals. Kids can be paid by completing chores, receiving allowances, or via one-time transfers. Parents can set spending limits, block cards, and see how their child is spending. Acorns Early is unique for its Giftlinks, which let family or friends directly send money for birthdays or other occasions.

Acorns Early also includes Money Missions: interactive money lessons that provide age-appropriate financial literacy stories and quizzes. This is arguably the platform's greatest strength, as many families have found Acorns Early's educational resources to be especially helpful.

Overall, Acorns Early and Greenlight are pretty similar, but Acorns Early doesn't quite match Greenlight's robustness or value. While you can get Greenlight for five kids for as little as $5.99 a month, Acorns Early will cost you $5 for one child or $10 for more and doesn't include investing, debit card cash back, or interest paid by Acorns. However, Acorns would be the better choice for transfers between friends and family members and existing Acorns users (since access is free with Acorns Gold).

Acorns Early partners with Community Federal Savings Bank (Member FDIC) to provide debit cards for kids and teens.

Read our full Acorns Early review.

Kids' debit cards that didn't make our list

Alliant Credit Union

Alliant is the only credit union on our list and provides the highest APY interest rate of any teen account on this list, at 0.25% (as of 12/19/24). Kids between the ages of 13 and 17 are eligible for an account if their parent is an Alliant Credit Union member.

The teen checking account has no minimum balance or service fees. Kids can access more than 80,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide, and Alliant will provide up to $20 a month in ATM fee rebates. Both parents and kids receive a Visa-branded debit card.

Parents can set up transaction alerts to monitor their teen's spending, and the account has daily debit card limits of $500 in ATM withdrawals, $500 in debit card purchases using a PIN, and up to $5,000 in signature-based debit card purchases.

Moving money from the parent's Alliant account to the teen's checking account is easy and can be one-time or recurring transfers. Only adult owners can set up outgoing transfers using the Alliant Mobile Banking app. Member NCUA (the credit union equivalent of the FDIC).

BusyKid

BusyKid is a financial app that costs $4 a month (billed annually). The debit card is issued by MVB Bank (Member FDIC). It offers multiple features, including BusyKid Visa debit cards for up to five children (ages 5 to 17) and chore and allowance tracking based on their age. Parents can even match their child's savings to a certain amount or percentage.

Parents can set up a recurring "Payday" (allowance), for their children and tie it to completing chores. The money goes into the account's Save, Spend, Share section, teaching children about dividing their funds every month. The BusyKid app also provides opportunities for hands-on learning about investing for no additional cost.

Although BusyKid offers many features for a relatively low monthly fee, it requires a certain amount of parental involvement. Parents must respond to push notifications authorizing their child's payday or stock purchase and how to break up the child's allowance, among other activities, which could become tedious.

FamZoo

FamZoo offers a prepaid debit card for families and kids issued by Four Corners Community Bank (Member FDIC). It is a digital version of the popular envelope budgeting system, and each family member can have one or more cards earmarked for specific goals.

For a monthly subscription of $5.99 per family (it's cheaper if you prepay - $2.50 per month for 24 months, with one extra free month), FamZoo will provide up to four cards that can be reloaded and additional cards for $3 each.

The primary FamZoo card is reloaded as needed from a funding source linked in the app, and reloading is even available at some stores, which may charge fees. Funds can be dispersed to other family cards through the FamZoo app or using a money rule, which transfers funds automatically for allowances, chores, or special occasions.

Parents can pay kids interest on their savings account balances and even charge kids for family expenses. FamZoo allows activity alerts for card spending, but parents can't easily restrict where a child spends money through the app.

FamZoo can be used through an app, on the web, or even via text message. This can be great for parents who don't want to give their kids access to a smartphone or don't want to use one themselves.

How to choose the best debit cards for kids

Finding the right card for your kids is important since you use the debit card to teach them about handling finances. Minimum age requirements are one consideration, but as you search for a debit card for your child, be sure to keep some important factors in mind.

Security

You can never be too careful on the internet, especially regarding your child's safety. Research each card's security features and data protection and look for a card that uses guidelines from The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, COPPA, a federal law designed to protect children's private information online.

COPPA's requirements include providing notice and getting parental consent before collecting information about a child under 13, having a clear and comprehensive privacy policy, and keeping a child's information secure and confidential.

Features

Research card options to find the features you're looking for. Younger kids might do best with a straightforward card that offers spending and saving options and heavy parental oversight. Older kids and teenagers might be ready to handle more responsibility and might enjoy that some apps have investing or charitable giving features.

Parental controls

Each card issuer has different levels of parental controls available. While you want to monitor your child's spending and account activity, you also want a card or app where you can set up rules or limitations without hassle. Search for a card with the features you want for your child and one that is easy to use.

Spending limits

Depending on the age and maturity of your child, finding a debit card that allows you to set spending limits to prevent overspending and block transactions at certain stores can be beneficial. Many debit cards for kids block certain types of stores, like those selling alcohol or other controlled substances. They may also allow parents to set transaction limits for certain stores or block specific stores completely.

FAQs

Bottom line

Learning financial responsibility helps set your child up for lifelong financial success and helps them gain confidence when handling their finances.

Although several options on this list may be a good fit, Greenlight offers a nice combination of features for a relatively low monthly price, especially if you have more than one child. Depending on what you and your child or teen are looking for, you might prefer debit cards from Current, Capital One, Axos Bank, Acorns, or another company altogether.

If you're searching for a new bank account for the whole family, check out our list of the best banks to help you find the best one for you and your family.

Reach Your Savings Goals Faster

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2025 award winner Best Checking and Savings Combo

SoFi Checking and Savings Benefits

• Limited-Time Offer: Earn up to a $300 bonus and up to 4.50% APY on Savings (3.80% APY³ <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/">sofi.com/banking</a>. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.80% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 1/24/25. There is no minimum balance requirement.&nbsp;Additional information can be found at <a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.⁴ <p>Earn up to 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.80% APY as of 8/5/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account and enroll in SoFi Plus by 9/3/25. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member&nbsp;FDIC.</p>
• No account, overdraft, or monthly fees⁵ <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
• Get your paycheck up to two days early⁶ <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
• Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million⁷ <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.&nbsp;Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at&nbsp;<a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>

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FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

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