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Part of our Allowance hub.
Greenlight vs GoHenry vs Modak: Which Kids' Money App Is Worth It in 2026?
One update to know before you compare: GoHenry's US service has been rebranded to Acorns Early, so a US parent shopping for "GoHenry" today is really looking at Acorns Early. The pricing below reflects that. Most comparisons of these cards skip the question that actually changes the math for families: do you need to pay a monthly fee at all? In 2026 a third option, Modak Makers, ranks alongside the two incumbents and charges no monthly subscription. That reframes the whole decision from "which paid card is best" to "is a paid card worth it for my kid." Here is a neutral breakdown with no referral links, so you can decide based on your family instead of someone's commission.
The short answer
If cost is your main filter, Modak Makers is the only one of the three with no monthly fee, which makes it the natural starting point for a first card. If you want the deepest investing and chore features and do not mind paying, Greenlight has the widest tool set. Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry US) sits in the middle: a clean card with parental controls at a flat $8 per month for up to 4 kids. None of the three is "best" for everyone; the right pick depends on how many kids you have, whether you want investing, and how much you will pay for polish.
Pricing in 2026
Prices shift, so confirm current rates on each provider's site before signing up. As of early 2026 the published structure looks like this:
| App | Monthly cost | Covers how many kids |
|---|---|---|
| Modak Makers | $0 (no monthly fee) | Multiple kids on one parent account |
| Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry US) | $8/mo flat (Lite), $12/mo (Gold, adds investing) | Up to 4 kids on one plan |
| Greenlight | About $5.99 (Core) to $19.98 (Family Shield) | Up to 5 kids on one plan |
The gap matters most for one-child households. Greenlight Core at $5.99 a month is about $72 a year, while Acorns Early's $8 flat plan runs about $96 a year. Greenlight's mid tier lands closer to $132 a year. Modak's $0 means you can test whether your kid even uses a card before committing to a subscription. Because Acorns Early's $8 fee is flat for up to 4 kids, it closes the gap with Greenlight as your family grows, so do the per-head math for your own house.
Features that separate them
Investing for kids
Greenlight is the strongest here. Its higher tiers let kids buy fractional shares of stocks and ETFs with parent approval, which is useful if you want a teen to learn investing with real (small) money. Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry US) leans on the Acorns investing ecosystem on its Gold plan but keeps the kid card focused on saving and spending. Modak's focus is the free card and money basics rather than a full brokerage. If teaching a 13-year-old to buy a fraction of an index fund is your goal, that points toward Greenlight.
Chores and earning
All three connect chores to money in some form, with parents assigning tasks and releasing payment. Greenlight and Acorns Early both have built-in chore lists tied to allowance. If you would rather keep the chore tracking separate from a bank app, you can run a free system at home first with our printable chore chart and only move to an app once the habit sticks.
Allowance automation
Automated weekly allowance transfers are standard across all three. The real decision is the amount, not the app. Parents commonly anchor on roughly $1 per year of age per week, but that is a starting point, not a rule. Run the numbers for your kid's age with our allowance calculator before you set a recurring transfer.
Parental controls and safety
Each app gives parents real-time spend notifications, the ability to lock a card, and store-level or category-level controls. This is table stakes in 2026, so it should not be the deciding factor between them. Read each provider's current fee schedule for ATM withdrawals and card replacement instead, since those small charges vary.
Why affiliate roundups push the paid options
Many "Greenlight vs GoHenry" articles earn a commission when you sign up through their link. A free product like Modak pays little or no referral fee, so it often gets left out of those comparisons. That is not a knock on the paid apps; it is just a reason to be skeptical of any roundup that never mentions a no-fee option. We do not use affiliate links, which is why all three are on equal footing here.
How to actually decide
- Start with the fee question. If you are unsure your kid will use a card, begin with the free option (Modak) and upgrade later if you hit a wall.
- Count your kids. One kid favors Greenlight's $5.99 Core plan or Modak's $0. With several kids, Acorns Early's flat $8 for up to 4 and Greenlight's flat plan for up to 5 both spread the cost.
- Decide if investing matters. If you want real fractional-share investing for a teen, Greenlight's higher tiers are the clearest fit.
- Separate the teaching from the tool. A debit card teaches spending, but the money conversation is the real lesson. Pair any app with a wants vs needs talk and a simple budget plan.
A note on age
For kids under about 8, a physical card is often more friction than it is worth; cash and a clear jar still teach the basics. Most families see real value once a kid is roughly 10 to 13 and starts spending outside the house. If your child just got a cash windfall and you want to turn it into a saving lesson, our birthday money calculator is a free way to start before any card is involved.
The honest takeaway: there is no single winner. Modak removes the cost barrier, Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry US) keeps a card simple at a flat $8 for up to 4 kids, and Greenlight goes deepest for families who want investing and are willing to pay. Pick the one whose trade-off fits your kid this year, and remember you can switch as they grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Modak Makers advertises no monthly subscription fee, which is the main way it differs from Greenlight and GoHenry. As with any card, check the current terms for incidental costs like ATM withdrawals or expedited card replacement, since those can apply even on a no-monthly-fee account. Always confirm the latest fee schedule on Modak's own site before signing up.
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GoHenry's US service is now Acorns Early, which charges a flat $8 per month for up to 4 kids. For a single child, Greenlight's $5.99 Core plan is the cheaper option. Acorns Early closes the gap once you add kids, since its $8 fee is flat rather than per child, and Greenlight's flat plan covering up to 5 kids tends to win for the largest families. Do the per-head math for your own household.
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Greenlight has the strongest investing feature of the three. Its higher tiers let kids buy fractional shares of stocks and ETFs with a parent's approval, which suits teens learning with small amounts of real money. GoHenry and Modak focus more on spending and saving than full investing, so choose Greenlight if a brokerage feature is your priority.
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Most families find a debit card useful once a child is around 10 to 13 and begins spending outside the home. For kids under about 8, cash and a clear jar usually teach the basics with less friction. Match the tool to the moment your child actually needs to spend independently rather than the youngest age the app allows.
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No. A card teaches spending mechanics, but the conversation does the teaching. You can start for free at home with a chore chart, a wants-versus-needs talk, and an allowance routine, then add an app once the habit is established. Many parents run the basics free for months before deciding whether a paid card is worth it.
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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