Your kid wants their own debit card. You want guardrails, spending alerts, and maybe even some financial education built in. Greenlight and GoHenry have both been top picks for parents for years, but in 2026, GoHenry folded into Acorns Early. So the real question is: does Greenlight or Acorns Early (the company now running GoHenry's US accounts) give your family more for the money?
Here's an honest side-by-side look based on current pricing and features as of June 2026.
How the Two Cards Compare at a Glance
| Feature | Greenlight (Core) | Acorns Early (GoHenry) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $5.99/month (up to 5 kids) | $8/month (up to 4 kids, Lite tier) |
| Card network | Mastercard (prepaid debit) | Visa (prepaid debit) |
| ATM withdrawals | No Greenlight fee (operator fees apply) | No app fee (operator fees apply) |
| Parental controls | Real-time alerts, category blocks, freeze card | Real-time alerts, spending limits, freeze card |
| Financial education | Level Up game (all plans) | Money Missions quizzes and videos |
| Investing for kids | Available on Max plan ($10.98/mo) | Not available |
| Savings rate | 2% (Core), 3% (Max) | No savings rate offered |
| Card replacement | 1 free/year, then $5.99 each | Not published |
| Annual fee | None (monthly subscription) | None (monthly subscription) |
| Who it fits | Larger families, feature-focused parents | Smaller families, education-focused parents |
Pricing: Greenlight Is Cheaper for Most Families
Greenlight's Core plan costs $5.99 per month for your whole family, covering up to five kids. Acorns Early's Lite tier runs $8 per month and covers up to four kids. That's $24 less per year on Greenlight's entry plan.
If you want investing, cash back, and a higher savings rate, Greenlight's Max plan is $10.98 per month. Acorns Early's Gold tier is $12 per month. Neither plan carries a separate annual fee, so you pay only the monthly subscription.
Parental Controls: Both Cover the Basics Well
Both apps let parents set per-store spending limits, block certain spending categories, receive real-time purchase alerts, and freeze the card instantly from a smartphone. For day-to-day oversight, these features are nearly identical.
Where they differ is in depth. Greenlight lets parents control ATM withdrawal limits specifically, with a monthly ATM maximum of $525. Both apps are solid here, and neither gives kids a way to secretly move money around. Understanding the difference between prepaid debit cards acceptance vs regular debit credit cards is helpful if you want to know where these cards work.
Financial Education: GoHenry Has the Edge
Acorns Early (GoHenry's successor) built its reputation on in-app financial literacy. Its Money Missions feature includes quizzes and videos created by financial professionals and aligned to national curriculum standards. Kids can earn badges and points for completing lessons. This is well-designed for ages 6 to 18.
Greenlight's Level Up game (included on all plans) is engaging too, but reviewers consistently rank Money Missions as more comprehensive. If financial education is your top priority, Acorns Early has the stronger program.
Investing: Greenlight Only
Greenlight's Max plan ($10.98/month) lets teens buy stocks and ETFs with parental approval. Parents can approve each trade and see holdings alongside their kids. Acorns Early does not offer in-app investing for kids, though the parent Acorns app does have investment features for adults separately. For teens ready to build investing knowledge, our guide on investments for beginners covers how to start small and build a habit.
Savings Rate: Greenlight Pays Interest, GoHenry Does Not
Greenlight's Core plan pays 2% on savings balances; the Max plan pays 3%. Acorns Early does not offer a savings rate. Over time, even a modest 2% on a child's saved allowance adds up and teaches compound interest in a real way. You can see how savings account rates compare more broadly in our overview of best high-yield savings account rates.
Where Each Card Works
Both cards work everywhere their respective networks are accepted. Greenlight runs on the Mastercard network. Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry) runs on Visa. Both are open-loop prepaid debit cards, accepted in stores, online, and at ATMs worldwide.
Which Card Is Right for Your Family?
Choose Greenlight if you have three or more kids, want a savings rate, or want to introduce investing to teens. The Core plan is cheaper than Acorns Early for most families.
Choose Acorns Early (GoHenry) if you have one or two kids and financial literacy education is your top goal. Money Missions is genuinely excellent for school-age children.
Both apps are legitimate, well-reviewed, and far better than handing a kid cash with no visibility into spending.
Alternatives Worth Knowing About
If your teen is building a credit history alongside learning to manage money, a fee-free bank account with debit access is another option. Current is a mobile banking app popular with teens and young adults that offers a spending account with no overdraft fees and instant spending notifications. It's free to open and great for older teens who are nearly ready to bank independently. For a full comparison of mobile-first banking options, see our breakdown of varo vs chime to understand what features matter most when transitioning from a kids' card.
Current Banking
Current Banking
Current is a mobile-first banking app with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. Members can earn up to 4.00% APY with a qualifying direct deposit of $200, receive direct-deposit paychecks up to 2 days early, and overdraft up to $200 fee-free.
Standout feature
4.00% APY on Savings Pods (with a $200+ qualifying direct deposit) plus paycheck up to 2 days early — both included on the standard account for free
Fees
Free
Pros
$0 monthly fee; up to 4.00% APY on Savings Pods with qualifying direct deposit; paycheck up to 2 days early;
Cons
No physical branches
Another option for teens ready to transition to independent banking is Chime, which offers a checking account with a Visa debit card, no monthly fees, no minimum balance, and early direct deposit. Chime is best for older teens or young adults (17+) rather than younger children who still need heavy parental controls. If you are already comparing mobile banks, the guide on chime vs sofi walks through how each handles savings rates and overdraft protection.
Both Current and Chime lack the dedicated parental oversight tools that Greenlight and Acorns Early provide, so they work best as a next step rather than a replacement for younger kids.
Chime
Chime
- Fee-free banking plus early pay access - Overdraft up to $200 without fees - 5% cash back and build credit everyday. - 3.75% APY on your savings.
Standout feature
No credit check, no interest, no annual fee, and no minimum deposit required.
Fees
$0
Pros
Fee-Free Banking and Get paid up to 2 days early
Cons
App/online-only support, no branches
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GoHenry still available in 2026?
GoHenry's US brand was folded into Acorns Early in late 2025. If you had a GoHenry account, your account migrated to Acorns Early automatically. The app, card, and core features are still active, just under the Acorns Early name.
Does Greenlight require a bank account?
Yes, you need to link a parent bank account to fund the Greenlight card. Greenlight is a prepaid debit card platform, not a bank, but it is backed by Community Federal Savings Bank. Transfers from a parent account load money onto the child's card.
What age can kids get a Greenlight or GoHenry card?
Both services are designed for children ages 6 to 18. A parent or guardian must open the account and remain the primary account holder. There is no minimum age stated by either app, but most parents start around age 6 to 8.
Which card is better for a 16-year-old?
For a 16-year-old, Greenlight's Max plan makes the most sense if you want to introduce investing alongside spending controls. Acorns Early is still solid for financial education at this age. If your teen has a part-time job, you might also consider transitioning to a full checking account with debit access like Current or Chime for more independence.
