Reviewed by the Penny Time editorial team
Part of our Allowance hub.
Greenlight vs GoHenry: A Neutral Side-by-Side Comparison
Both Greenlight and GoHenry are prepaid debit cards built for kids and teens, with a parent app that controls spending, sets chores, and automates allowance. We do not sell either card and earn nothing if you sign up, so this comparison sticks to the part most reviews gloss over: what each one actually costs and which family setup it fits.
One important update first: GoHenry's US service has been rebranded to Acorns Early, so a US parent comparing "Greenlight vs GoHenry" today is really weighing Greenlight against Acorns Early. The prices below reflect that. The single biggest difference is how they bill you. Greenlight charges one flat monthly fee that covers up to five children on the same plan. Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry) charges a flat $8 per month for up to four kids. For one child, Greenlight's $5.99 Core plan is cheaper; as you add kids the two land closer, and Greenlight's five-kid coverage edges ahead for the largest families. Everything else (chores, savings goals, parent alerts) is broadly similar.
Price comparison at a glance
Prices change often, so confirm current rates on each provider's site before signing up. As of early 2026, the structure looks like this:
| Feature | Greenlight | Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry US) |
|---|---|---|
| Billing model | One flat fee, up to 5 kids | One flat fee, up to 4 kids |
| Entry plan | Core, about $5.99/mo | Acorns Early Lite, about $8/mo for up to 4 kids |
| Mid tier | Max, about $10.98/mo | Included with Acorns Gold, about $12/mo |
| Top tier | Family Shield, about $19.98/mo (Infinity is $15.98/mo) | No higher tier; Acorns Gold adds parent investing |
| Age range | Any age through teen | Ages 6 to 18 |
| Free trial | One month | One month |
The math example most families care about: two kids on Greenlight Core is still one $5.99 charge. Two kids on Acorns Early is one flat $8 charge, since its fee covers up to four kids either way. Greenlight stays cheaper at this size, but the gap narrows as you add more kids. Run your own numbers for the number of kids you actually have rather than trusting a headline price.
Features both cards share
The core toolkit overlaps heavily. Both let you:
- Send allowance automatically on a schedule, weekly or biweekly
- Attach payouts to chores, so a kid earns by completing tasks
- Set savings goals with progress tracking
- Get a real-time notification every time the card is used
- Block specific stores or set spending limits per category
- Freeze the card instantly from the parent app if it goes missing
If your goal is simply to hand a kid a card they cannot overdraft while you watch the spending, either product covers that. The decision comes down to cost and a few extras.
Where they differ beyond price
Investing and savings rewards
Greenlight's higher tiers (Max and Infinity) add a parent-directed investing feature and a savings reward that functions like interest, plus identity-theft monitoring on Infinity. Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry) leans on Acorns' investing ecosystem and runs in-app money lessons through its Money Missions feature. If teaching investing basics matters to you, look closely at which tier unlocks it, because the entry plans on both usually do not include it.
Financial education content
Acorns Early's Money Missions, carried over from GoHenry, are short interactive lessons with quizzes, aimed squarely at younger kids learning core concepts. Greenlight bundles its own in-app education and an audio money program. Both are fine starting points, though neither replaces hands-on conversations at home.
Age fit
Greenlight has no hard lower age limit, so parents of very young children sometimes open an account early to build habits. Acorns Early targets ages 6 to 18 and then transitions teens toward the Acorns adult product. For a teen close to 18, ask where the account goes after they age out.
Which fits your family
A quick decision guide:
- One child, tight budget: Greenlight's $5.99 Core plan is the cheaper monthly line item, now that GoHenry's US service (Acorns Early) starts at a flat $8.
- Three or more kids: Greenlight's flat fee covering up to five children edges out Acorns Early's four-kid cap for the largest families.
- You want parent-led investing built in: Compare Greenlight Max or Infinity against Acorns Early's investing through Acorns Gold, and check which tier you actually need.
- Younger kids who need lessons: Acorns Early's Money Missions are purpose-built for that age.
- You just want allowance plus chores: Pick whichever is cheaper for your kid count; the basic features match.
You may not need a paid card at all
Before paying a monthly fee, it helps to know what you are trying to teach. A card automates the mechanics, but the lessons can start for free. Our allowance calculator gives you an age-appropriate weekly amount to fund either card, and our wants vs needs activity covers the spending-decision skill that no app teaches on its own. If your child just got a cash gift, the birthday money calculator helps split it into save, spend, and give before any card enters the picture. For ongoing tasks, our free chore chart does the earning side without a subscription, and the budget planner turns allowance into a simple plan a kid can follow.
Plenty of families run a cash allowance and a chore chart for a year or two, then add a card once the basics stick. Both Greenlight and GoHenry are solid tools, but the card is the easy part. The habit it reinforces is what actually pays off, and you can build that today for nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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GoHenry's US service is now Acorns Early, which charges a flat $8 per month for up to four kids. That makes Greenlight's $5.99 Core plan the cheaper option for a single child. Acorns Early stays competitive for three or four kids, since the $8 fee is flat rather than per child. Always confirm current pricing on each provider's site, since both adjust rates.
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Greenlight charges one flat monthly fee that covers up to five children on the same plan. GoHenry historically billed per child; its US service is now Acorns Early, which charges a flat $8 per month for up to four kids. Greenlight's flat fee covering up to five kids can still come out cheaper per child for the largest families.
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GoHenry is designed for ages 6 to 18 and includes Money Missions lessons aimed at younger kids. Greenlight has no firm lower age limit, so some parents start very young. For teens near 18, check where the account transitions, since GoHenry moves users toward Acorns' adult product.
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Both offer parent-directed investing, but usually only on higher tiers, not the entry plans. Greenlight adds investing on its Max and Infinity tiers, while GoHenry connects to the Acorns investing ecosystem after its acquisition. Check exactly which plan unlocks the feature before subscribing.
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No. A card automates allowance and chores, but the underlying lessons can start for free. A cash allowance, a chore chart, and a simple save-spend-give split teach the same decision-making skills. Many families add a card later once the basic habits are in place.
Turn allowance into real money lessons
Penny Time turns allowance into playful Quests where kids make real money decisions and see how each one turns out. Parents stay in charge of every cash-out. Free for the whole family.
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