Greenlight aims to teach children and teenagers how to spend, save, and even invest wisely. The Greenlight debit card and its accompanying mobile app offer a wide range of features to achieve this goal: parents can set spending and withdrawal limits, automate fund distribution, tie payments to the completion of chores, block specific spending categories, and more. The app also includes educational content and games focused on financial literacy.
One of Greenlight’s most significant features is the ability to earn 1% cashback on purchases and up to 6% interest on savings balances, depending on the chosen plan.
Greenlight’s main drawback is its cost. Fees for the Core plan start at $5.99 per month, but to access the full range of benefits, you need to choose the Family Shield plan, which costs $19.98 per month (for a limited time). Fees and details are effective as of August 12, 2025, for the Greenlight debit card.
Pros
- Set spending limits and view transaction history.
- Link transfers to achievements such as chores and school grades.
- Cashback and savings rewards.
- In-app educational content.
Cons
- High monthly fee.
- The basic plan offers limited benefits.
- Does not support cash deposits.
Learn more.
On the Greenlight website.
Products.
Debit card, savings tools, investment platform.
Monthly maintenance fee.
$5.99 to $19.98.
ATM network.
None.
Who Is Greenlight Best For?
Greenlight is ideal for parents with multiple children who want to teach them to manage their finances responsibly from an early age. It is an ideal option for parents seeking a children’s debit card with a comprehensive app that allows them to set safeguards and monitor spending, while also offering educational content for their children.
Greenlight Debit Card Basics
The Greenlight card is a debit card specifically designed to help children and teenagers develop healthy financial habits. Greenlight offers a variety of features and is available in four different plans: Core, Max, Infinity, and Family Shield. Prices range from $5.99 to $19.98 per month (for a limited time), depending on the chosen plan. Each plan supports up to five children and has no minimum age requirement. Greenlight allows users to set spending and savings categories, helping children manage their finances effectively. Depending on the chosen plan, your child can earn up to 6% annually on their savings (based on an average daily balance of up to $5,000 per family) and receive 1% cashback on every purchase.
The Greenlight Max, Infinity, and Family Shield plans also offer investment opportunities for children. Investment portfolios created through Greenlight are standard brokerage accounts held in the primary parent’s name; children can explore and select investments, but parents approve every transaction.
By opening a Greenlight debit card for a child or teen, parents can help their children learn to manage their finances through hands-on experience while maintaining control. The card is managed via the Greenlight mobile app, which offers various features for both children and parents. In the app, parents can utilize the following features:
- Set spending and cash withdrawal limits
- Set spending limits for the child
- Configure savings round-ups
- Block unsafe spending categories
- Enable real-time notifications
- Automate allowances
- Link payments to the completion of chores
- Activate or deactivate the child’s card
- Approve money sent by friends and family members
- Set up direct deposit for working teens
- Pay interest on the child’s savings (up to 100%)
Children have access to various features:
- View card balance
- Review transactions
- Play “Level Up,” Greenlight’s financial literacy game
- Receive chore reminders and mark tasks as complete
Greenlight cards are accepted wherever Mastercard is accepted, with the exception of the following:
- Bank transfers
- Money transfers
- Brokers or securities transactions
- Dating services or female escorts
- Massage parlors
- Lotteries
- Casinos or online betting
- Horse and greyhound racing
- Non-sports online casinos
- Cashback at the point of sale
Greenlight Plan Details and Pricing
Here are the four plans offered by Greenlight:
Core
Price: $5.99 per month
The Core plan is Greenlight’s most basic option. The account offers a 2% savings rate but does not include cash back on purchases. It allows parents to assign chores, tasks, and allowances, as well as set up direct deposits; it also gives children access to Greenlight’s financial education game. This plan does not include investment opportunities for children.
Max
Price: $10.98/month
The next available plan is Max, which offers all the features of the Core plan, plus the following:
- 3% savings interest rate
- 1% cash back
- Investment opportunities
- Identity theft protection, purchase protection, and mobile phone protection
Infinity
Price: $15.98/month
The Infinity plan offers all the features of the Max plan, plus the following:
- 5% savings interest rate
- Family location sharing with alerts
- SOS alerts and crash detection
- Vehicle notifications and alerts
Family Shield
Price: $19.98/month (limited-time offer: 20% discount)
The Family Shield plan offers features specifically designed for older adults. Account holders can link the accounts of their elderly family members (primarily from financial institutions) to monitor them and set up alerts for fraud and suspicious activity. The plan also offers additional debit cards for two adults, complete with purchase protection.
It includes all the features of the Infinity plan, plus the following:
- 6% savings interest rate
- Financial account monitoring
- Suspicious activity alerts
- Up to $100,000 in insurance against fraudulent money transfers
- Up to $1 million in insurance against identity theft
How the Greenlight Card Stacks Up
If you are looking for a Greenlight alternative, Acorns Early is worth considering. Like Greenlight, Acorns Early (formerly GoHenry) offers a debit card and a full-featured mobile app designed to teach children the value of money. It costs $5 per month for one child and $10 per month for families with up to four children. The app is designed to grow with your child, offering more advanced features and financial lessons for older children. With Acorns Early, parents can schedule automatic allowances, send rewards for completed tasks, receive spending notifications, set spending limits, block transactions at specific stores, and lock or unlock their children’s savings goals, among other features.
While Acorns Early has also made our list of the best debit cards for kids and teens, Greenlight remains the top choice. The Greenlight Max plan costs about the same as Acorns Early but supports up to five children, offers cashback on purchases, and earns 3% interest on savings. If you are looking for a high interest rate for your child’s money, consider the best savings accounts for kids and teens as well.
Bottom Line
Greenlight is a great option for families who want to start teaching their children about responsible money management. It topped our list of the best debit cards for children and teenagers because it offers one of the most comprehensive feature sets available for this type of card.
Each plan supports up to five children, making it a suitable option for large families. However, the main downside is that Greenlight’s more comprehensive plans are somewhat expensive.
