We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. With parent-friendly features and support for up to five cards at the lowest fee level, the Greenlight Kids' Debit Card is our pick for the best kids debit card overall. To choose the best debit cards for kids and teens, we evaluated 25 of the top card issuers based on 34 criteria, including reputation, pricing and fees, parental controls, education, and security. Best Debit Cards for Kids and Teens of January 2024 Best Debit Cards for Kids and Teens of January 2024 Final Verdict Compare Debit Cards How to Choose Pros and Cons Alternatives FAQ Methodology Guide to Teen Debit Cards Learn More: Teaching Your Teen About Money Why We Chose It The Greenlight Kids’ Debit Card is our top overall pick for teens, offering chore management, instant transfers, real-time notifications, spending controls by store, and more. Greenlight also covers up to five debit cards even with the lowest-cost monthly plan, making it a great option for households with multiple teens. Pros and Cons Pros Full parental control and monitoring of teen spending Built-in financial education Chore management and payments Can block spending for specific stores Cons $1,500 daily spending limit Can only fund accounts via bank account, debit card, or direct deposit Overview Greenlight offers a ton of value for teens and parents, with a simple-to-use mobile experience to help teach kids how to manage money responsibly. For a low monthly fee, Greenlight offers up to five debit Mastercards for teens, all linked to a parent-controlled account. Parents can monitor all child spending, deactivate or activate debit cards, and even block specific stores and online spending within the mobile app. Identity theft protection is included. Greenlight offers several levels of service; the most basic comes with debit cards and access to the mobile app with parental controls for $4.99 per month. For $9.98 per month, kids gain access to Greenlight’s investing platform (which is just a parent brokerage account that the kids can use to invest). In the Greenlight Max account (which costs $14.98 per month), families receive real time location monitoring, crash detection, and an SOS system. Greenlight does come with some limitations, however. Maximum daily spending is currently capped at $1,500 per day. While this may seem high, it's lower than some other teen debit cards. Also, Greenlight does not allow accounts to be funded through PayPal or credit cards, instead requiring users to connect a bank account or debit card to fund the account; you can also load the account through payroll direct deposits. To be fair, this also cuts out fees from third-party services, which can save users money. There are no “in-network” ATMs available, and ATM fees are not reimbursed. Greenlight was founded in 2014 and has headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Why We Chose It The Axos Bank First Checking account comes with a free debit card and is available to teens with no account fees including no maintenance fees, no overdraft or insufficient funds fees, and up to $12 in ATM fee reimbursem*nts per month. Pros and Cons Pros No monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, or insufficient funds fees ATM reimbursem*nts Joint checking account with teen Cons Only available to teens from age 13 to 17 Limited parental controls via the mobile app Overview Axos Bank offers its First Checking account for teens ages 13 to 17, with a debit card included. This is a standard checking account with online bill pay, peer-to-peer payments, and FDIC insurance. The best bits are that it comes with no account maintenance fees, no overdraft fees, and ATM charges are reimbursed for up to $12 each month. While the Axos Bank mobile app doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other teen debit cards, it offers an inexpensive way to get your teen used to managing money on their own. Axos requires a parent or guardian to be a joint account owner with their teen, giving them equal control over the account. Parents can deactivate (or reactivate) their teen’s debit card directly from their dashboard, and set up automated alerts for any account activity. Like other standard checking accounts, teens can direct deposit their paychecks. They can also earn some interest with this checking account, though it’s well below 1%, which doesn’t add up to much, and parents should consider setting up a savings account for their teens instead. Axos Bank was founded in 2000 under the name Bank of Internet USA. Today it's headquartered in San Diego, California; it and its affiliates have offices in several other states, as well. Why We Chose It BusyKid offers an easy-to-fund prepaid debit card, as well as full parental control of loading the card, investing, and donating. Parents can even prevent transfers and boost savings by using the money movement controls to lock certain features. Pros and Cons Pros Savings locks and account alerts User-friendly mobile app Fund cards through debit card, credit card, or checking account Cons Fee on declined purchases after 4 attempts $5 cost for replacement card $1.50 ATM withdrawal fee Overview BusyKid offers a debit card for your child that pairs with the BusyKid mobile app, which allows parents to pay kids directly for chores and other work. Kids then have the option to choose whether to save, spend, invest, or donate the earned money within the app. BusyKid gives parents full control over spending activity with a real-time activity feed and the ability to lock transfers. BusyKid also requires all outside money transfers or withdrawals to be parent-approved. These controls allow parents to give their kids access to spending tools with the safeguards of parent oversight and control. BusyKid’s mobile app allows kids to earn money through chores or allowance, with a full chart with a preset amount for each activity. As kids perform the chore and check it off, money will be loaded onto their prepaid debit card. The earnings can be split between three categories, spending, saving, and giving. The amounts that flow into each category can be locked by parents, or adjusted as necessary. BusyKid keeps costs low with a $48 annual fee for up to five prepaid debit cards for the family. Replacement cards cost $5. There is also a $2.50 foreign transaction fee. BusyKid was founded in 2011 as MyJobChart; it's based in Scotsdale, Arizona. Why We Chose It The GoHenry debit card comes with a host of features for teens and parents, including chores and allowance tracking, real-time alerts, and parental spending controls. Unlike some other companies, GoHenry also offers customer support via phone, email, or chat, seven days a week. Use code INVFREE for a free month AND a free personalized card. Pros and Cons Pros Customer service available 7 days a week Financial education resources No fee to send money or make ATM withdrawals Cons Higher cost than competitors ($4.99/month, per child) No rewards or investment options Overview GoHenry is a U.K.-based company, founded in 2012, that offers a debit card and mobile app aimed at children ages 6 to 18 to help them manage allowance and chore money. It also has built-in financial education tools, including “money missions,” which are interactive financial lessons based on the K-12 Personal Finance Education National Standards. GoHenry is our top choice for customer service with access to phone and email support seven days a week. There is also a comprehensive support section on the website. GoHenry offers a wide range of features, including chore tracking, savings goals, real-time notifications, parental spending controls, and peer-to-peer payments with friends and family. Direct deposit is available for anyone 14 and older. Accounts are FDIC-insured, and the debit Mastercard offers the latest in chip-and-PIN technology for an extra layer of security. Cardholders can choose from over 45 card designs, including some designed by artist Lucie Corbasson. While GoHenry is slightly more expensive than other debit card accounts, the full-featured app and excellent support team make it a worthy consideration for parents of kids and teens. GoHenry costs 4.99 per month, per child, but you can also get a family plan at $9.98 per month for up to four children. Why We Chose It Jassby offers a completely online experience with the added security of a virtual card that offers PIN and biometric security for every purchase, and full parental controls for each account. Pros and Cons Pros Apple Pay compatible PINs and biometric access authentication capabilities Cons Replacement physical cards are $4.95 Overview Jassby is an online bank (based in Massachusetts) that offers a virtual debit card that is also compatible with Apple Pay for in-store and online purchases. Teens don’t have to worry about losing a physical card with Jassby, and each transaction uses a PIN for an added layer of protection. The debit card is issued by Mastercard, and Jassby accounts are FDIC-insured through Sutton Bank of Ohio. If you'd like, you can order a physical debit card as well. In addition to the debit card, Jassby offers a kid-friendly mobile app that allows parents to assign chores, set up recurring allowance payments, and monitor any debit card transactions on the account. If the card is lost or stolen, you can request a replacement or get help through the app. Kids also gain access to Jassby's rewards program, which provides awards for completing tasks that increase their financial literacy. There are few fees to use the card. There is no minimum or maximum age, but you must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident with a U.S. phone number and an iOS or Android device, and have a U.S. bank account or credit card. Why We Chose It FamZoo has a kid-friendly mobile app, prepaid debit card, and a wide range of educational features, such as chore lists, purpose-driven accounts, savings goals, instant transfers, real-time alerts, and more. Pros and Cons Pros Includes up to four cards (additional cards $3) Unique educational features Chore lists, savings goals, and loan tracking Apple and Google Pay Cons Reload fees up to $4.95 Interest on savings account paid by parents Lowest pricing requires 24-month payment upfront Overview FamZoo focuses on teaching kids good money habits. It offers a prepaid debit card and mobile app that helps kids manage their money using spend, save, and give budget categories. The mobile app has payment checklists for kids to track chores and jobs that earn them money. Payment can be split between categories, teaching kids why paying themselves first is a smart choice. Kids can also set and track savings goals, setting aside funds for larger purchases. Parent-paid interest is available as well, allowing parents to encourage saving money by paying interest on saved amounts. FamZoo offers some unique abilities to help kids learn about real-world finances, including a loan repayment tracker and “chore fail” chart. Parents can loan their kids money (by loading it onto the prepaid card and setting a repayment schedule for kids to repay the loan). The chore fail feature is the ability to remove funds from a child’s account for failure to do a chore. FamZoo provides weekly financial reports, showing transactions and goal progress for each member of the family. FamZoo has two options for families: prepaid cards or IOU accounts. While the IOU account only keeps track of the money you owe your child, the prepaid cards offer a lot more hands-on money management experience. Parents can make instant transfers and track purchases while retaining visibility and control over four linked prepaid cards. There are no age restrictions on FamZoo accounts. The card’s funds are stored in an FDIC-insured account, and the company doesn’t keep your sensitive data on its servers. The pricing for FamZoo ranges from $2.50 to $5.99 per month for up to four cards. You can pay a flat fee of $3 for each additional card after the first four. You'll also receive two free card replacements before being charged a $3 replacement card fee. The reload pricing ranges from free (direct deposit, Apple Pay, PayPal, or Square Cash) to $4.95 (Mastercard rePower, GreenDot @ the Register, GreenDot MoneyPak). FamZoo doesn’t pay interest, but you may set up “parent-paid interest” to encourage saving. FamZoo was founded in 2006, and is based in Palo Alto, California. The $2.50 per month pricing requires you to prepay $59.99 in advance for 24 months. Why We Chose It Kachinga offers a fully controllable prepaid debit card and chore app, with the ability to receive notifications every time a transaction occurs, instantly lock/unlock cards through the mobile app, and even restrict access to age-inappropriate spending categories. Pros and Cons Pros Real-time transaction monitoring Ability to lock child debit cards remotely Free trial available Cons $36/year per child $2 ATM withdrawal fees Limited customer support Overview Kachinga is a chore app that pairs with a prepaid debit card that helps teens learn how to earn, save, and spend money. Kachinga offers a wide range of parental controls, including spending alerts, blocking spending at certain merchants, and the ability to lock a debit card from the mobile app. The app helps teens earn money by allowing parents to set up chore charts or recurring allowance. The earned money is loaded to the prepaid debit card, and teens can either spend, save, or give the funds on the card. The app also tracks spending over time and offers simple spending reports to help teens learn about money management. Kachinga costs $36 per year per child, so it may get expensive for parents with multiple kids. There is a one-month free trial for the service included. There is also no ATM partner network, so ATM withdrawals will incur a $2 fee that is not reimbursed. There are no overdraft fees, inactivity fees, or reload fees on the card. Kachinga's headquarters are in San Francisco, California. Why We Chose It Current is an innovative banking app with helpful financial planning features for teens such as setting savings goals, the ability to round-up purchases toward savings, and earning money by completing chores within the app. Current also gives teens the ability to request or send money to friends as well as give to charity. Pros Intuitive mobile app Savings Pods help teens learn to save for future expenses Round-up feature to save spare change Spending tracker to monitor spending Fee-free ATMs available Cons Must be linked to a parent account Deposits may take up to 5 business days to transfer Overview Current, a fintech company based in New York City, offers a prepaid debit card and mobile app that focuses on teaching teens financial planning through unique in-app features. Teens can manage their money through the Current mobile app, and set aside funds on the debit card for spending, saving, and giving. Current also has a built-in chore tracker and recurring allowance options. Current allows you to track spending which helps teens learn to manage their money, with the ability to set budget spending limits. Current also allows teens to “round-up” purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the difference into savings pods, which allow you to split your balance into named savings goals. The Current mobile app also allows teens to set up recurring savings into the savings pods, effectively automating their savings for future financial goals. Current has a Personal Finance 101 section of its website, helping teens learn to plan, budget, and save more effectively. Current comes with all the essential parental controls, including real-time spending notifications, the ability to lock debit cards, and also the ability to block spending for specific merchants, or even specific stores. Current does not charge a subscription fee for teen accounts. However, you will need to have a parent account to sign up. There are no transaction fees, transfer fees, or overdraft fees, and Current partnered with Allpoint to give access to over 40,000 fee-free ATMs across the U.S. Our top pick is Greenlight because it allows parents to monitor and control spending options, lock cards, and set up real-time parental notifications. Greenlight also has a mobile app with the parental controls built in, so parents can monitor and control spending, as well as incentivize chores by adding money to their kids’ accounts directly. Greenlight is a great option for families of any size, but it is especially useful for families with multiple teens. If you are interested in ways to teach your child financial literacy and the ability to manage their own money, a teen debit card is a great onramp to get them started. Many of these debit cards are prepaid cards, and most come with some form of parental controls, including spending alerts, and the ability to block inappropriate merchants. You can think of these teen debit cards as giving your teen a real checking account with bumper lanes. Teens get the responsibility of handling their own finances without the risk of unfiltered access to a standard debit or credit card. And, although debit cards won't help build your child's credit history, being responsible with a prepaid card is good training for using credit cards later on. When looking for the right debit card for your teen, there are a few factors you may want to consider: Most teen debit cards are designed as mobile-first applications, with the ability to sign up online. If the teen is under 18 years of age, there typically needs to be a joint account holder (parent or guardian) who is at least 18 years old to sign up for an account. Once an account is created (typically via the company website or mobile app), a parent will need to link a checking account or debit card to fund the card. Many apps offer chore tracking and recurring allowance payments as well as the ability to split earned money into categories, such as spending, saving, and giving. Teens can monitor their finances through the mobile app, which helps them learn financial literacy and responsibility as they are exposed to rewards, fees, expenses, and more.Depending on the card, you may also get benefits like purchase protection, which can cover eligible purchases against damage and theft. In the News: Despite the prevalence of payment apps and mobile banking, teens still use traditional banking tools. In fact, a recent study found that 59% of teens use debit cards. A debit card with low fees and educational resources can give teens a safe way to learn essential banking and budgeting skills—and minimize the need for their parents' financial assistance when they're adults. It's easy to apply for a kids' debit card, but you may have to complete a few more steps than you would with a typical debit card. Kids' debit cards can't be opened by minors; they must be opened by a parent or guardian over 18. You can typically open a kids' debit card online, or sometimes through a companion mobile app. Learn more: 10 Tips to Teach Your Child to Save Money. Teens are more interested in personal finance than you may think. A 2022 survey found that 49% of teens opened a new bank account, and 20% of teens already started investing. Debit cards for teens provide some useful tools and added features. But for older teens or kids saving for long-term goals, those features may not be necessary. Since they may not use the tools or resources provided, the debit card may not be worth the monthly fee. Instead, these alternatives may be a better fit. Free checking accounts allow individuals to get access to a debit card and check-writing privileges without having to worry about monthly maintenance or account fees. Teens 18 and up can open a free checking account on their own, but younger teens can open one if a parent or legal guardian is willing to act as a joint account holder. Many major banks offer savings accounts designed specifically for teenagers and children. Savings accounts for kids have low minimum deposit and minimum balance requirements—often as low as $0—and some pay competitive interest rates. The annual percentage yield (APY) of savings accounts varies greatly between banks, so shop around to find the best account that offers low fees and higher yields. Our list of the best high-yield savings accounts is a good starting point. For families that want to save for a child's future, a 529 college savings plan can be an excellent option. A 529 is a tax-advantaged account that allows families to invest money, and the contributions grow on a tax-deferred basis. Once the child is ready for college, they can take tax-free withdrawals from the account to cover qualifying education expenses. Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) and Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) accounts are types of custodial accounts that can be opened on behalf of a child. The custodian—the person that opens an account—can contribute money and invest the funds in the account. Once the child reaches the age of majority for their state, the funds are transferred to the child. Unlike 529 plans, which require the beneficiary to use the money for educational expenses or incur penalties, UGMA/UTMA accounts can be used to finance other purposes. For example, the recipient could use it as a down payment on a house or to purchase a new car. Like 529 college savings plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts are common tools families use to save for postsecondary education. However, Coverdell accounts can also be used to pay for qualifying elementary and secondary school expenses. Coverdell contributions are not tax-deductible, and there are income limits restricting who can contribute to a Coverdell account. The total contributions to all accounts opened on behalf of a beneficiary cannot exceed $2,000 per year. Debit cards for kids are accounts that allow parents to supervise their children as they learn to manage money. These debit cards may be linked to your bank account or another funding source. Debit cards for teens allow children to practice the basics of money management without the risk of high overdraft fees or getting into credit card debt. You may set up payments for chores, monitor spending, set spending limits, transfer money, and more from the convenience of a mobile app. The debit card that’s best for your teen depends on several factors, but our top picks include the Greenlight Kids’ Debit Card, Axos Bank First Checking Account Card, BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card, and GoHenry Debit Card. There are several costs for most teen debit cards, including: While some companies charge more than others, understanding the total costs associated with any teen debit card is important before signing up. Yes, a debit card with the proper parental controls in place can be one of the best ways to expose your teen to financial management without the risks or worries of a credit card. Kids can only spend as much money is loaded on the card or deposited into the associated account, and parental controls are often included to limit activity in various ways. Just check to be sure the bank provides FDIC insurance. Yes, there are a handful of debit cards marketed to and with features designed for teens and kids. They usually function like your average debit card, but they come with extra parental controls to limit certain activities, like spending or withdrawing money. They often come with monitoring tools as well, to give parents an overview of how the card is being used. While many debit cards are only available for teens 13 or older, many kid-focused debit cards are available to kids as young as six years old. No matter what the age requirement is for the child debit card, in the U.S., a child under age 18 must have a parent or guardian on the account who is at least 18 years old. Yes, there are a few free debit cards for kids and teens. The Axos Bank First Checking Account Card is our top pick for no fees, as it has no initial fee, monthly fee, overdraft fee, or insufficient funds fee. It also provides up to $12 in ATM fee reimbursem*nt per month. The Current Debit Card for Teens is another good pick if you're looking for the least expensive debit cards for kids and teens. We researched and reviewed 25 companies to find the best kids debit cards you see on the list above. While we write individual reviews for most companies, we do not always write reviews for companies we would not recommend. Below are the companies we researched along with links to individual company reviews to help you learn more before making a decision: Alliant Credit Union Free Teen Checking, American Express Serve Prepaid Debit Cards, Axos Bank First Checking Account Debit Card, BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card, Capital One MONEY Teen Checking, Chase First Banking, Copper Debit Card, Current Debit Card for Teens, Family Money by Verizon, FamZoo Prepaid Debit Card, Fidelity Youth Account, Goalsetter: Family Banking, Gohenry Debit Card, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenlight Kids’ Debit Card, Jassby Virtual Debit Card, Kachinga Prepaid Debit Card + Chore App, Mango Prepaid Debit Card, Mazoola Virtual Debit Card, Step Banking for Teens, Till Financial, USAA Youth Spending Account, Visa Buxx Card, Wingocard Prepaid Visa Card, Wells Fargo Clear Access Banking. Although debit cards for teens are a newer concept, there are already several competing companies on the market. This can make it difficult for busy parents to decide, particularly when so many products offer a similar set of features. Some products also offer less pricing transparency, especially when it comes to extra fees, making it difficult to make a true apples-to-apples comparison. We started with 25 of the top kids' debit cards. We compared 34 criteria for each company, including its history, reputation, features, and how the product works. We also looked at pricing and fees, including any that can be waived. We reviewed parental controls, education, security, and any other standout features to select the best options. Although we did consider some larger, national banks, our research indicated that the smaller, niche banks provided better services tailored to the specific needs of teens and their parents. Investopedia collected key data points from 25 companies to identify the most important factors for readers choosing a kids' debit card. We used this data to review each company for pricing, reputation, and other features to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews to ensure our readers make the right decision for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999, and has been helping readers find the best kids' debit cards since 2020. Article Sources Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in oureditorial policy. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. "Guidance to Encourage Financial Institutions’ Youth Savings Programs and Address Related Frequently Asked Questions," Page 2. Citizens Bank. "New Research Shows Majority of Teens Feel Unprepared to Finance Their Futures." Fidelity. "2022 Teens and Money Survey." Investor.gov. "529 Plans." FINRA. "FINRA Reminds Member Firms of Their Responsibilities for Supervising UTMA and UGMA Accounts."Best Debit Cards for Kids and Teens of January 2024
Best Overall : Greenlight Kids’ Debit Card
Best for No Fees : Axos Bank First Checking Account Card
Best for Spending Controls : BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card
Best for Customer Service : GoHenry Debit Card
Best for Security Features : Jassby Virtual Debit Card
Best for Financial Education : FamZoo Prepaid Debit Card
Best for Parental Controls : Kachinga Prepaid Debit Card
Best for Financial Planning : Current Debit Card for Teens
Pros and Cons
Final Verdict
Compare the Best Debit Cards for Teens
Company Monthly Fee per Teen Reload Fee Minimum Age States Available Parental Control via Mobile App Greenlight Kids’ Debit Card Best Overall $4.99 to $14.98/month (supports up to 5 kids) N/A None 50 Y Axos Bank First Checking Account + Debit Card Best for No Fees $0 N/A 13 50 Y BusyKid Visa Prepaid Spend Card Best for Spending Controls $4/month, billed annually (up to 5 cards) $0 None 50 Y GoHenry Debit Card Best for Customer Service $4.99/month, per child; $9.98/month for up to 4 children $0 6 50 Y Jassby Virtual Debit Card Best for Security Features $5.95 N/A None 50 Y FamZoo Prepaid Debit Card Best for Financial Education $2.50 to $5.99/month (up to 4 cards) $0 to $4.95 (depending on reload method) None 50 Y Kachinga Prepaid Debit Card Best for Parental Controls $3/month, billed annually N/A None 50 Y Current Debit Card for Teens Best for Financial Planning $0 per child, with linked parent account N/A 13 50 Y Guide to Choosing the Best Debit Card for Teens
Should Your Teen Use a Debit Card?
How to Compare Debit Cards for Teens
How to Teach Your Teen to Use a Debit Card Safely
In the News
How to Get a Kids' Debit Card
Pros and Cons of Debit Cards for Teens
Pros
Cons
Alternatives to Debit Cards for Teens and Kids
Free Checking Accounts
Savings Accounts for Kids
529 Plans
UGMA/UTMA Accounts
Coverdell
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Debit Card for Kids and Teens?
Which Debit Card Is Best for Minors?
What Costs Are Associated With a Debit Card for Teens?
Are Debit Cards for Kids Safe?
Can a Teen/Kid Get a Debit Card?
What Is the Minimum Age to Receive a Debit Card for Kids and Teens?
Are There Free Debit Cards for Kids?
Debit Cards We Reviewed
How We Picked the Best Debit Cards for Teens
Why You Should Trust Us
Guide to Debit Cards for Teens
Learn More: Teaching Your Teen About Money
See Also
Allowances and Kids: How to Build Health Habits EarlyTypes Of Debit Cards: Which Is Right For You?Teenagers and saving | Consumer Financial Protection BureauChecking Account vs Debit Card