We compared the top debit cards for teens and kids that give parents real oversight — spending limits, transaction alerts, chore tracking, and financial literacy tools. Our picks cover the best overall, the best free option, and the best for teaching money skills.
Giving your teen a debit card used to mean handing over money with no visibility into where it went. Today's family banking apps flip that: parents set spending limits, get instant notifications, lock the card from their phone, and even assign chores with automatic payouts. Done right, a teen debit card is less a spending tool and more a hands-on financial literacy course.
We looked at the major players — Greenlight, Current, Acorns Early, Revolut <18, and Jassby — comparing fees, age minimums, and the quality of parental controls. Here's what we found.
| Card | Monthly Fee | Min Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenlight | $4.99–$9.98 | 6 | Large families, chore tracking, investing |
| Current Teen | $0 | 13 | Fee-free banking for older teens |
| Acorns Early | $3–$5 | 6 | Age-appropriate financial education |
| Revolut <18 | $0 | 6 | Parents already in the Revolut ecosystem |
| Jassby | $0 | 6 | Chore-based earnings for younger kids |
Monthly fee: $4.99 (Core) / $9.98 (Max) Age: 6+ Parental controls: Spending limits per category, real-time alerts, card lock, chore assignments, allowance automation, investing option
Greenlight is the most feature-complete option for families with multiple children. Parents can set different spending limits for each kid, assign one-time or recurring chores, and automate allowance payouts.1 The app also includes a built-in investing feature where teens can buy fractional shares with parental approval.
The trade-off is the monthly fee — $4.99 for the Core plan covering up to five kids, or $9.98 for the Max plan that adds investing and a 1% savings reward. For families that want a single dashboard for all their kids, it's worth the cost.
Monthly fee: $0 Age: 13+ Parental controls: Spending limits, instant alerts, card lock, savings pods
Current's Teen account stands out for its complete lack of monthly fees, overdraft fees, and ATM fees.2 It's a straightforward, no-nonsense card for teens 13 and older who just need a way to spend and save without their parents worrying.
Parents get spending limits, real-time transaction alerts, and the ability to lock the card instantly. The "Savings Pods" feature lets teens set aside money for specific goals. The main limitation: it's only available for teens 13+, so it won't work for younger kids.
Monthly fee: $3–$5 (bundled with Acorns subscription) Age: 6+ Parental controls: Age-tiered learning missions, chore tracking, allowance, investing
Acorns Early is built around the idea that financial literacy should grow with the child. The app offers tiered learning missions — simple money concepts for younger kids, more advanced topics like investing for teens.3 It's part of the broader Acorns ecosystem, which includes round-up investing and retirement accounts for parents.
The catch: it's not a standalone product. You need an Acorns Personal or Family subscription ($3–$5/month), which includes the adult investing account. If you're already using Acorns, this is a natural add-on. If not, it's a pricier entry point than Current or Revolut.
Monthly fee: $0 Age: 6+ Parental controls: Spending limits, instant notifications, card lock, one-time payment requests
Revolut's under-18 account is free and integrates directly with the parent's Revolut app. Parents can set monthly spending limits, receive instant notifications on every transaction, and lock or unlock the card from their phone. Teens get a standalone card with their own app view.
It's a solid option if you're already using Revolut for your own banking. The parental controls are functional but less granular than Greenlight's — there's no chore tracking or financial literacy curriculum built in.
Monthly fee: $0 Age: 6+ Parental controls: Chore-based earnings, spending limits, card lock, family tasks
Jassby focuses on the chore-to-allowance pipeline. Parents assign tasks, set the reward amount, and kids earn money as they complete them. The card itself is a standard prepaid debit card with parental spending limits.
It's free, which is a plus, and works for kids as young as 6. The interface is colorful and kid-friendly. The downside: fewer financial literacy tools compared to Greenlight or Acorns Early, and the brand is less established than the others on this list.
The right card depends on your kid's age and what you want to teach.
All of these cards give parents the core controls that matter: spending limits, instant alerts, and the ability to lock the card. The differences come down to extra features (chores, investing, education) and whether you're willing to pay a monthly fee.
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