Is Greenlight worth it? 10 reasons to give it a try

If you're a parent looking for a way to teach your kids smart money habits, Greenlight might be perfect for your family. Greenlight is a financial and educational platform designed to help kids and teens build real-world money skills, like budgeting, saving, investing, and giving, in a safe, supervised way. More than 6 million parents and kids use Greenlight, and 95% of Greenlight parents say it helps teach financial responsibility. 

Greenlight offers three plans (Core, Max, and Infinity), each with features designed to help kids and teens learn smart money habits. In addition to a debit card for kids, the app includes tools for managing chores and allowances, as well as parental controls, investing features, savings rewards¹, educational games, and no ATM fees. With Greenlight Infinity, you can even take advantage of robust safety features like location sharing, crash detection, SOS alerts, and driving reports,² giving parents extra reassurance as kids start to explore their independence. However, the tiered monthly subscription may not work for every family’s budget.

So, is Greenlight worth it for your family? Let’s dive in. 

10 features that make Greenlight worth it

There are many reasons why families choose Greenlight, but are these reasons enough for you to become a Greenlight user too? Let’s take a look at 10 features that Greenlight customers love.

1. A debit card designed for kids

Greenlight offers a secure debit card that gives kids and teens hands-on experience managing money, all with built-in parental controls. For $5.99 per month, the Core plan covers up to five kids, allowing parents to send money transfers quickly while kids earn cash back on purchases³. Real-time notifications keep you updated on their spending, and you can set limits on where and how much they can spend, adjusting as they grow. Kids can even personalize their debit card with their favorite photo, making it unique to them and a lot of fun to use.

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2. Teaches kids financial literacy

While the debit card for kids is a big part of what Greenlight is all about, there’s more than that to love. Greenlight is also a hands-on financial education tool that teaches kids the basics of earning, saving, spending, investing, and giving, all while building healthy money habits they’ll carry into adulthood. Level Up™, Greenlight’s financial literacy game for kids and teens, has a financial curriculum, interactive challenges, and rewards to make learning about budgeting, investing, and money management fun.

3. Gives parents extra peace of mind 

Greenlight’s built-in safety and parental controls let you set flexible spending limits, get real-time transaction alerts, and even block unsafe spending categories. But Greenlight offers more than just financial security, with features like location tracking, crash detection², and identity theft protection.⁴ This is perfect for families with teens learning to drive or starting their first job because it gives parents the tools they need to monitor their child’s whereabouts, track driving behavior, and provide emergency support when needed.

4. Introduces kids to investing

With Investing for Kids, available in Greenlight’s Max and Infinity plans, kids and teens can begin to explore investing in a safe way with no trading fees. They can research stocks and ETFs and buy fractional shares of their favorite stocks (with parental approval, of course!). Plus, with real-time tracking and notifications, parents can stay informed every step of the way.

5. Builds independence and responsibility 

Greenlight really shines when it comes to helping families manage chores and allowance. As a parent, you can assign recurring chores for up to five kids and let them check completed tasks off as they go. Or, assign a one-time chore and pay them once it’s complete. You can also customize allowances by setting the payout schedule, choosing whether to link it to chores, or fully automating it all, saving you time and making the process seamless. Greenlight’s chores and allowance features help kids connect work with money, teaches them responsibility, and motivates them to explore their independence.

6. Helps you invest in your child’s future

Greenlight gives kids a head start on smart money management with features like savings goals, parent-paid interest, and cash back on purchases³. By allowing parents to set interest incentives, kids see how their savings can grow over time. Whether they’re working toward a short-term goal or one that’s more long-term, Greenlight helps you invest in your child’s future in a way they can see, understand, and get excited about.

7. Keeps your family connected in one app

Within the Greenlight app, parents can manage chores, automate allowances, track savings, and even introduce their kids to investing. But there are even more features that go beyond money management. Greenlight’s Infinity plan includes all of the core money management features plus family location sharing, SOS alerts, crash detection, driving insights², phone⁴ purchase, and identity theft protection. This makes Greenlight a great financial and safety hub that keeps everyone in your family connected and safe.

8. Teaches smart budgeting with spend categories

Budgeting is one of those skills that kids learn best through hands-on practice — and Greenlight makes it straightforward. Instead of abstract lessons, kids use real money, guided by parents. You can set spending categories like lunch money, entertainment, or gas, and put limits in place that help kids see firsthand how to balance what they want with what they really need. It's a practical way to build good financial habits they'll actually use later in life.

9. Encourages charitable giving 

The Giving category feature in Greenlight helps kids make charitable giving part of their money habits. Kids can easily set up a Giving account, where they can move some of their money to designate it for charitable giving. The Greenlight app connects to Charity Navigator, a non-profit company that evaluates charities so you can make donations you feel good about — and kids can make a donation with as little as $10. This helps them understand that managing money isn’t just about spending and saving; it’s also about making a difference.

10. Grows with your child

Kids grow up, and Greenlight’s features grow with them. Little kids can begin with simple savings goals and learning how to manage their allowance. Older kids and teens can explore investing, set up direct deposit from their first job, and practice budgeting for college. This makes Greenlight a great companion for your kids that helps them prepare for every stage of life that’s ahead.

Is Greenlight worth it for you? 

If you're looking for an app that's both educational and secure, with lots of ways to encourage smart financial choices, Greenlight could be a great fit. If you prefer a simpler, subscription-free option, opening a traditional bank account for your kids may be a better option for your family. 

Families with kids just starting to manage money, teens preparing for financial independence, or even young drivers who need an added layer of safety will likely get the most from Greenlight’s all-in-one platform. Give it a try today!

Real families, real results. Join 6+ million financially smart kids, teens, and parents learning to earn, save, and invest together!  Try Greenlight, one month, risk-free.†

†Valid for new customers only. Subject to identity verification and minimum load requirements. Your first monthly fee will be billed to your parent wallet seven days after successful registration. To receive a refund of your first monthly fee, you must request to close your account on or before the day immediately preceding your first Monthly Billing Date. See the ‘Account’ tab of Settings by tapping the gear icon on the Greenlight app home page to confirm when your risk-free trial ends. See Terms for details.

¹Greenlight Core families can earn 2% per annum, Greenlight Max families can earn 3% per annum, and Greenlight Infinity families can earn 5% per annum on an average daily savings balance of up to $5,000 per family. To qualify, the Primary Account must be in Good Standing and have a verified ACH funding account. See Greenlight Terms of Service for details. Subject to change at any time.

²Requires mobile data or a WiFi connection, and access to sensory and motion data from cell phone to utilize safety features including family location sharing and driving alerts and reports. Messaging and data rates and other terms may apply.

³Greenlight Max and Infinity families can earn 1% cash back on spending monthly. To qualify, the Primary Account must be in Good Standing and have a verified ACH funding account. See Greenlight Terms of Service for details. Subject to change at any time.

⁴Provided by Virginia Surety Company, Inc., cell phone protection is not available to residents of New York.