8 best money apps for kids under 18
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Kids and teens are eager to spend their own money, whether it’s allowance, babysitting cash, or earnings from their first job. As parents, though, we want a safe way to give them independence while still teaching good money habits. That’s why so many of us end up looking for money apps designed for kids and teens under 18.
Many of these apps blend debit cards, chore tracking, savings goals, and even investing to give kids and teens a taste of financial independence. The right app can help them learn how money really works, while parents get the oversight they need.
Explore these top money apps for kids and teens to find the best one for your family.
#1 family finance and safety app
1. Greenlight
Greenlight is the #1 family finance and safety app built specifically for kids and teens. Kids get debit cards, and parents can oversee and manage their accounts through the app on their phones and mobile devices. It also includes chore management, automated allowance, savings goals, in-app educational learning games, and even beginner investing features. What really sets Greenlight apart is how it combines so many tools for families in one convenient place.
Greenlight features:
Debit cards for up to five kids and teens, managed by parents
Chore and allowance tracking built into the app
Savings goals and round-ups to teach smart habits
Cash back up to 1%^
Savings rewards up to 6%**
Investing options with parental oversight
Level UpTM in-app educational game
Family safety features, including location sharing and crash detection***
Greenlight price:
Starts at $5.99/month
2. Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry)
Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry) gives kids a debit card they can use for everyday spending, while parents maintain control through the app. Families can also set aside money for the future with round-ups and automated investing if they have an Acorns Gold subscription. The idea is to give kids hands-on practice with money, and parents get tools to guide them as they go.
Acorns Early features:
Prepaid debit cards for kids and teens with parental oversight
Chore and allowance tools
Savings goals
Educational content
Investment accounts designed for kids, with round-up and recurring deposit features
Acorns Early price:
Starts at $5/month
3. BusyKid
BusyKid is built around the idea that kids learn best by earning their own money. Parents can set up chores in the app, kids can check them off, and payments are automatically transferred to their BusyKid debit card. Once they have money in their account, kids can spend, save, donate to charities, or even invest in real stocks with their parent's approval.
BusyKid features:
Customizable chore lists with automatic allowance payments
Prepaid debit card for everyday spending
Options to save, donate, or invest earnings
Simple dashboard for parents to track progress
BusyKid price:
$48/year per family
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. FamZoo
FamZoo works like a digital version of a family bank. Kids get prepaid debit cards, and parents decide how the money flows. Maybe it’s a weekly allowance, payments for chores, or even lending money and charging “interest.” It lets families run things their own way, while giving kids a hands-on look at how money moves in real life.
FamZoo features:
Prepaid debit cards for each child
Tools for allowance, chore tracking, loans, and savings interest
Parent-managed transfers
Works for kids of all ages, from preschoolers to teens
FamZoo price:
$5.99/month
5. Step
Step is a no-fee banking app made for teens who want more independence. It comes with a Visa card that works like both a debit and a credit card. Teens can’t spend more than what’s in their account, but using the card helps them start building credit early. Parents can add money, set limits, and keep an eye on spending from the app.
Step features:
Free Visa card for teens, linked to the Step app
Builds credit history safely with on-time use
Instant money transfers from parents to teens
No fees or interest charges
Step price:
Free
6. Venmo Teen Account
Venmo offers a teen account that comes with its own debit card, allowing kids to send, spend, and receive money within the Venmo app. Parents open the account on their teen’s behalf, load money instantly, and get visibility into every transaction. It’s simple, free, and handy if your family already uses Venmo to split bills or send money. However, it doesn’t have chore tracking and automated allowance, or more advanced family safety features.
Venmo Teen features:
Debit card for teens ages 13-17
Parents can transfer money instantly and monitor activity
Works seamlessly with the regular Venmo app
Venmo Teen price:
Free
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.
7. Cash App
Cash App allows teens aged 13-17 to have their own account, provided they have a parent’s approval. Teens get a Cash Card they can use anywhere Visa is accepted, while parents can see transactions and add money instantly. It’s straightforward and free, but it doesn’t offer the same chore or allowance tools you’ll find in other kid-focused apps.
Cash App features:
Cash Card for teens ages 13-17
Parent approval is required to open an account
Instant transfers and transaction visibility
Send and receive money easily with friends
Cash App price:
Free
8. Modak Makers
Modak Maker’s goal is to make managing money feel like a game. Parents set chores or allowances, and kids get paid in “Modak Bucks” (MBX). Those rewards can then be turned into real money on a Modak Visa debit card. Along the way, kids pick up financial tips through short lessons built into the app.
Modak Makers features:
Debit card for kids and teens
Chores and allowance tracking
MBX rewards that convert to spending money
Built-in financial literacy lessons
Parent controls for transfers and spending
Modak Makers price:
Free
Which money app for kids under 18 should you choose?
There are numerous money apps available for kids under 18, and selecting the right app largely depends on what you want it to do. If you’re focused on chores and allowance, apps like Greenlight, BusyKid, or FamZoo make that easy. Step, Venmo, and Cash App are more about giving teens a simple way to move money and start spending independently. And then you’ve got options like Modak, which turn money lessons into a game.
For families who want everything in one place (spending, saving, investing, plus safety tools), Greenlight covers all the bases. Whatever you pick, the most important part is that your kids get to practice handling money while you’re there to guide them.
Your app. Your money. Manage money, save up, and stay safe with our all-in-one app. Show your parents how Greenlight can help. Try Greenlight, one month, risk-free.†
By: Alyssa Andreadis
Alyssa Andreadis is a writer with more than 25 years of marketing experience and is passionate about helping families feel confident with money. She’s written hundreds of articles on personal finance, parenting, and financial literacy. A single mom raising three money-smart teens, Alyssa brings a real-life perspective to her work. She lives in Pennsylvania and always has a knitting project in progress.
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Plans start at just $5.99/month for the whole family. Includes up to five kids.
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