9 Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry) alternatives for families
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Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry) gives families a way to introduce money management to kids, with a debit card, parental controls, and access to investment accounts. For parents who want their kids to get early exposure to financial tools, it checks a lot of boxes.
But for some families, it’s not quite the right fit. Maybe you're looking for stronger educational features, more robust safety tools, or a lower monthly price. Maybe you're already using another app and want a better side-by-side comparison before switching.
The good news is, there are great alternatives out there that make learning about money even more engaging, flexible, and family-friendly. Let’s explore nine Acorns Early alternatives.
Top 9 apps similar to Acorns Early
Greenlight
Current
BusyKid
Modak
Cash App
Till
Capital One Money
FamZoo
Venmo Teen
#1 family finance and safety app
1. Greenlight
Greenlight monthly fee
Plans start at $5.99/month
Greenlight features
Debit card for kids and teens
Chore management and allowance automation
Parental controls and instant transfers
Investing for Kids in stocks and ETFs (with parent approval and no fees)
Educational content with Level Up™
Safety features: crash detection, SOS alerts, and location tracking4
Identity theft protection5
Up to 6% on savings¹ and 1% cash back²
All-in-one app across multiple generations with Family Shield, a safety hub for the whole family
ATM access
Greenlight at a glance
Greenlight, the #1 family finance and safety app, is built for families. It’s more than just a debit card for kids. It’s a complete money management platform that helps kids build real-life financial skills while keeping parents connected every step of the way.
One of Greenlight’s biggest strengths is how much it grows with your child. Younger kids can start with chore-based earnings, set savings goals, and track spending. As they get older, they can dive into investing, explore advanced budgeting, and earn cash back2 and savings rewards1. Parents can fine-tune controls, lock cards instantly, and even track their teen’s location.4
The built-in financial literacy game, Level Up™, sets Greenlight apart from most other apps on this list, and from Acorns Early, which offers limited educational content. With Level Up™, kids learn money basics through interactive lessons that feel more like play than homework. And for families who want extra peace of mind, Greenlight’s higher-tier plans offer crash detection4, identity theft protection5, and account monitoring, all bundled into one app.
Greenlight vs. GoHenry |  Greenlight | GoHenry |
|---|---|---|
Pricing | Starts at $5.99 / month for up to 5 children | Starts at $5.00 / month for 1 child |
Debit card for kids | ||
Allowance & chores | ||
Data sharing | Your child’s data is safe with Greenlight and not shared with anyone. | May share user data with affiliates and third-party service providers. |
Category-specific parental controls | ||
Upload your own custom card photo | ||
Up to 5% on savings¹ | ||
Up to 1% cash back² | ||
Family location sharing and SOS alerts³ | ||
Driving reports, alerts, and crash detection³ |
2. Current
Current monthly fee
None
Current features
Debit card for teens
Chore tracking and allowance tools
Parental controls and spending notifications
Direct deposit and early payday access
Budgeting and saving tools
ATM access
No investing features
No financial literacy content
Current at a glance
Current gives teens a debit card, chore tracking, and savings tools in a free account linked to a parent. Teens can manage their own money with direct deposit, budgeting tools, and early paycheck access, while parents monitor spending and set limits behind the scenes.
It’s a solid choice for older kids who want more freedom and already understand the basics. But compared to Acorns Early, Current skips over investing features and doesn’t include guided education. It may work best as a banking tool, instead of a teaching tool.
3. BusyKid
BusyKid monthly fee
$48/year
BusyKid features
Debit card for kids
Chore-based allowance system
Automatic saving, spending, and giving allocations
Basic investing in stocks and ETFs
Parental controls and spending notifications
Educational content and real-life money tips
Option to share earnings with family
Limited family safety features
BusyKid at a glance
BusyKid connects chores to earning, making it easy for families to automate allowance based on completed tasks. Once kids get paid, the app helps them split money into spend, save, and give buckets, building responsible habits from day one.
There’s also the option to invest in real stocks and ETFs with parent approval, along with bite-sized tips to reinforce smart money decisions. While Acorns Early focuses on passive, parent-led investing, BusyKid gives kids more hands-on experience with everyday money choices.
With a debit card of their own, kids and teens learn to spend wisely, keep an eye on balances, and track their spending. Big money dreams? Set savings goals and start investing with as little as $1 — with your approval on every trade.
4. Modak Makers
Modak Makers monthly fee
Fees for expedited or premium services
Modak Makers features
Debit card for teens
Parental controls and real-time notifications
Savings goals and spending categories
Chore and allowance tracking
Built-in money lessons
No investing tools
No ATM access
Modak Makers at a glance
Modak offers a teen-first experience with interactive money lessons built right into the app. Teens can track chores, earn allowance, set savings goals, and learn how to manage spending categories within an intuitive interface designed to keep things simple and fun.
While Modak covers key basics, it doesn’t include investing capabilities or some of the more advanced safety features like crash detection, location tracking, or identity protection that other apps offer. Still, it’s a solid starter option for families who want a free, educational money app that’s easy to use.
5. Cash App
Cash App monthly fee
None
Cash App features
Debit card for teens
Peer-to-peer payments
Direct deposit and early payday access
ATM access
Bitcoin and stock investing
Parental visibility on teen accounts
No chore or allowance tools
No savings goals or built-in education
No family safety features
Cash App at a glance
Cash App gives teens a fast, flexible way to send and spend money. For families with older kids, it can feel like a step into the adult financial world. Teens 13 and up can get their own Cash Card, receive direct deposit, and even invest in stocks or Bitcoin (with adult supervision).
That said, it’s light on parental controls and lacks structured tools like chore tracking, savings goals, educational content, and family safety features. Alternative apps are more focused on teaching kids about long-term investing, while Cash App is more about quick transactions and real-time spending, making it better for teens who already have some money know-how.
6. Till
Till monthly fee
Free plan available
Till features
Debit card for kids and teens
Chore and allowance tracking
Savings goals and budgeting tools
Spending limits and parental controls
No investing tools
No built-in financial education
Limited safety features
Till at a glance
Till focuses on building early money habits through everyday tasks. Kids can earn allowance for chores, set savings goals, and see how their spending adds up over time within a clean, kid-friendly app. Parents can stay involved with controls and shared goals that reinforce accountability.
It’s best for families who want to practice budgeting and saving in real time, without extra complexity. While it doesn’t offer long-term tools like investing or structured lessons, Till’s simplicity makes it approachable for beginners.
Chores. Allowance. They’re different for every family. That’s why we let you call the shots. Want to tie allowance to chores? Pay a percentage based on chore progress — or only if they’re all done. Prefer not to? Your house. Your rules.
7. Capital One Teen Checking
Capital One Teen Checking monthly fee
None
Capital One Teen Checking features
Teen checking account with debit card
Parental alerts and card controls
Direct deposit and ATM access
Real-time spending notifications
No chore or allowance tracking
No investing tools
No in-app financial education
Capital One Teen Checking at a glance
Capital One Teen Checking is designed for older kids and teens who are ready for a more traditional banking experience. It offers a no-fee checking account, direct deposit, and real-time alerts within the familiar Capital One ecosystem.
Unlike more education-focused apps, Capital One doesn’t guide teens through saving or budgeting. But for teens with part-time jobs or basic money skills, it’s a solid stepping stone to financial independence.
8. FamZoo
FamZoo monthly fee
$5.99/month or $59.90/year
FamZoo features
Debit cards for kids
Chore tracking and allowance management
Parent-paid interest on savings
Loan tracking and family IOUs
No investing tools
No built-in financial education
No family safety features
FamZoo at a glance
FamZoo takes a DIY approach to family banking, giving parents full control over how money is earned, saved, and spent. You can set up chores, pay interest on savings, and even simulate loans, turning everyday money tasks into real-life learning.
Unlike Acorns Early, which focuses more on passive investing and less on everyday money behavior, FamZoo puts the power in parents’ hands. It’s highly customizable but a bit more hands-on, making it best for families who want to create their own financial system from scratch.
9. Venmo
Venmo monthly fee
None
Venmo features
Teen debit card with parent-managed account
Peer-to-peer payments
Spending alerts and activity tracking
Direct deposit and ATM access
No chore or allowance tools
No savings goals or investing
No in-app education
No family safety features
Venmo at a glance
With Venmo, teens can send and receive money, get paid through direct deposit, and use their card in stores or online, while parents can monitor spending from their own Venmo account.
It’s a good fit for teens who just want flexible, no-frills access to their money. But compared to other apps on this list, which focus on long-term financial habits and investing, Venmo skips features like savings goals, education, or parental guidance tools, making it better suited for teens who are already pretty independent.
Which Acorns Early alternative app is right for my family?
Acorns Early is an app that introduces kids to money management, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Whether you're looking for more robust parental controls, stronger financial education, or tools that match your child’s age and experience, there are plenty of Acorns Early alternatives to explore.
Among them, Greenlight stands out for its balance of structure and independence. It combines hands-on features like chores, saving goals, and instant transfers with in-app financial lessons, safety alerts, and the flexibility to grow with your child, all in one platform. That makes it one of the most comprehensive and family-focused options out there.
Both you and your kids download the Greenlight app — with tailored experiences. They check off chores, you automate allowance. They spend wisely, you set flexible controls. They build healthy financial habits, and you cheer them on.
FAQs
Join Greenlight. One month, risk-free.†
Plans start at just $5.99/month for the whole family. Includes up to five kids.
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