GoHenry alternatives: UK kids’ cards compared

GoHenry is one of the best-known prepaid cards for children in the UK, but families may want to compare alternatives with different fees, age limits and parental controls.

Options range from prepaid pocket-money cards connected to a parent’s account to children’s current accounts that offer greater independence.

This guide compares GoHenry alternatives for UK families, including their costs, key features, account requirements and overseas card fees. We’ll also look at the Wise Young Explorer card as another option for children aged 6 to 17.

Pocket money apps with no monthly subscription

These prepaid cards come with no monthly subscription. They are a popular choice for parents who want more spending visibility without an ongoing cost.

Starling Kite features and costs¹

Starling Kite (now called Under 16s) is a free debit card for children aged 6 to 15. It works as a linked "Space" within your own Starling Bank account - you remain the account holder, and your child spends from money you set aside for them. There are no monthly fees and no charges for spending abroad.

Key features:

• Free Mastercard debit card (made from 95% recycled plastic)
• Set daily spending limits; restrict online or ATM use
• Children get their own version of the Starling app to check their balance
• Instant notifications every time your child spends

To get Kite, you need a Starling personal or joint account. Once set up, you can top up your child's card instantly in the app. It does not pay interest on the balance.

Revolut <18 account overview²³

Revolut Kids & Teens is available from age 6. Revolut currently markets its parent-supervised UK account to 6- to 15-year-olds, while eligible 16- and 17-year-olds may be able to open an independent teen account.

There are no monthly fees if you hold a standard Revolut account, though a card delivery fee may apply. Children get a dedicated kids' app, and parents keep full control over spending limits and notifications.

Key features:

• Set spending limits and freeze the card from your app
• Blocks on gambling, alcohol and age-restricted categories
• Customisable card design (fees may apply)
• Free ATM withdrawals up to £100 per rolling month on a Standard plan; a 2% fee applies after that
• On the Standard plan, a high-frequency foreign exchange fee applies after £500 per rolling month. Other plan-based exchange fees may apply.

HyperJar kids card features⁴

HyperJar is open to all UK families - you do not need to already bank with a specific provider. There are no monthly fees, though there is a one-off £4.99 card delivery fee. Children can have a card from age 6 to 17.

Key features:

• Organise money into digital "jars" for different spending categories
• No fees for use abroad
• Instant spending notifications and card freeze in the app
• Up to 10 free loads per calendar month, of which one can be below £10, and four free transfers out per month
• Children aged 13 and over can download their own version of the app

Paid pocket money apps with extra features

If you are happy to pay a small monthly fee, these apps offer additional features for managing pocket money — particularly around chores, saving habits and spending controls.

NatWest Rooster Money pricing⁵

NatWest Rooster Money is free for existing NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland or Ulster Bank customers. For everyone else, it costs £1.99 a month or £19.99 a year. The card is available for children aged 6 to 17.

Beyond the card, Rooster Money includes a chore tracker, spend, save and give pots, and the ability to automate regular pocket money payments. Parents can set limits for online, in-store and ATM spending separately. It is well-suited to families who want to link pocket money to tasks.

Nimbl and Osper comparison⁶

Nimbl costs around £2.67 a month (£32 a year) and is available for children aged 6 to 18. You can set daily, weekly or monthly spending limits and restrict card use by type (online, in-store or ATM). There is also a built-in savings feature that automatically sets aside a small amount each time the card is used.

Osper is similarly priced at around £2.50 a month and is also available for ages 8 to 18. Scheduled pocket money loads (set up by direct debit or standing order) are free, but manual top-ups cost 50p each. Parental controls include the option to block online or ATM use.

High-street bank accounts for older children

The high-street accounts covered below have no monthly fees. Eligible deposits with UK-authorised banks may be protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per eligible person, per authorised firm.

These accounts work more like adult current accounts and give children more financial independence, with fewer parental controls compared to prepaid apps.

HSBC MyMoney and Santander 123 Mini⁷⁸

HSBC MyMoney is available for 11 to 17 year olds and includes a contactless Visa debit card and a linked MySavings account. There are no monthly fees, and HSBC MyMoney can be managed through the HSBC mobile app.

Parents or guardians who already bank with HSBC can apply online; others need to visit a branch. Note that HSBC charges 2.75% on foreign currency spending, so it may not be the best option for travel. Eligible deposits may be protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per eligible person, per authorised firm.

Santander 123 Mini is available for children and teenagers under 18. For children under 13, the account must be opened and managed in trust by an eligible adult. A debit card is available from age 11, while young people aged 13 to 17 must open and manage the account themselves.

It pays up to 3% AER (variable) on balances between £1,500 and £2,000, and there is no monthly fee. Account holders can choose between a contactless debit card or a cash-only card. Foreign currency fees may apply when spending abroad.

NatWest Adapt and TSB Under 19s⁹¹⁰

NatWest Adapt is a current account for 11 to 17 year olds, with no monthly fees. It pays 1.60% AER (variable) on the balance and includes a handy cardless ATM feature — children can withdraw up to £130 per day from NatWest ATMs without the physical card. It is managed through the NatWest app.

TSB Under 19s is available for 11 to 17 year olds (despite the name) and pays 2.5% AER (variable) on balances up to £2,500. There are no monthly fees, and the account includes a contactless debit card, online banking and — for older account holders — a discount on AA driving lessons.

Eligible deposits may be protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per eligible person, per authorised firm.

Interest rates and age requirements

Interest rates on children's accounts are variable and can change at any time. Always check the provider's website for the latest rate before applying. Here is a quick comparison:

Comparing costs and key features

Monthly fees and transaction charges

*On Standard plan; fees apply above limits.

Parental controls and educational tools

Prepaid apps generally offer stronger parental controls than bank accounts. With Starling Kite, NatWest Rooster Money and Revolut <18, you can set daily spending limits, restrict where the card is used and receive instant notifications for every transaction. HyperJar adds jar-based budgeting to help children visualise what their money is for.

High-street bank accounts give children more independence, which can suit older teens well. However, parents have less visibility and fewer tools to restrict spending. NatWest Rooster Money includes chore and reward features that may appeal to families looking for structured pocket-money tools.

If your child travels or you need a card that works well internationally, it is worth checking overseas fees before choosing. Starling Kite, HyperJar, NatWest Rooster Money and Revolut <18 (up to the plan limit) all charge nothing extra for foreign spending.

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Get a Wise Young Explorer card for 6-17 year olds

Travelling or spending abroad as a family? The Wise Young Explorer card gives 6-17 year olds their own card, managed through a parent or guardian’s Wise account.

You can set aside money for them, choose spending and ATM limits, up to a max combined UK cap of £1,000 per month, and see their spending from your Wise app.

They can spend in-store, online and at ATMs worldwide at the mid-market rate with low, transparent conversion fees, and age-appropriate merchant controls.

There’s no monthly subscription - just a one-off fee for the physical card. Free withdrawals up to 250 GBP/month. A 2.69% fee applies to any amount in excess of the monthly 250 GBP free withdrawal allowance. Some ATM providers may charge additional fees.

Order a Young Explorer card for your child today

The Wise account is not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

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FAQs

Which GoHenry alternatives are free?

Several options have no monthly fees. Starling Kite, Revolut <18 (on a Standard parent account) and HyperJar all charge nothing monthly, though HyperJar and Revolut may charge a one-off card delivery fee. NatWest Rooster Money is free for existing NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank customers.

All high-street bank accounts in this guide — including HSBC MyMoney, Santander 123 Mini, NatWest Adapt and TSB Under 19s — are also free.

Can my child use these cards abroad?

Yes, but fees vary by provider. Starling Kite, HyperJar and NatWest Rooster Money charge no fees for foreign currency spending. Revolut <18 allows up to £500 of free foreign exchange per month on a Standard plan.

High-street bank accounts such as HSBC MyMoney typically charge around 2.75% on foreign currency transactions. The Wise Young Explorer card lets children spend at the mid-market exchange rate with no added markup or monthly fee¹¹.

What is the minimum age for a card?

Most prepaid apps start from age 6, including Starling Kite, Revolut <18, HyperJar and NatWest Rooster Money. High-street bank accounts generally require children to be at least 11 years old. Santander 123 Mini can be opened for younger children but must be managed by a parent; from age 13, children can apply themselves.

How do parental controls work on these apps?

With prepaid cards, parents manage the account through their own app. You can typically set daily or weekly spending limits, block certain types of purchases and receive instant notifications when the card is used.

Cards are also automatically blocked at age-restricted merchants such as gambling sites, off-licences and pubs. High-street bank accounts offer fewer parental controls and are designed for children to manage more independently.

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Sources used:

¹ Starling Bank — Debit card and account for under-16s
² Revolut — Kids & Teens account for parents and guardians
³ Revolut — Kids & Teens legal terms
⁴ HyperJar — Kids’ debit card
⁵ RoosterMoney — Rooster Card features
⁶ MoneySavingExpert — Top prepaid cards and bank accounts for under-18s
⁷ HSBC — Children’s bank accounts
⁸ Santander — 1|2|3 Mini Current Account
⁹ NatWest — Adapt account for young people
¹⁰ TSB — Under-19s bank account
¹¹ Wise — Young Explorer card

Sources last checked on date: 29 July 2026