Best GoHenry Alternatives (2026): Cheaper & Free Kids’ Debit Cards
Like GoHenry but fed up with the monthly fees? You’re not alone. GoHenry is a solid kids’ debit card with excellent learning tools, but once you’ve got more than one child, the cost starts to sting.
The good news is that there are several strong alternatives — some cheaper, some completely free — depending on what you actually need.
I’ve tested most of these accounts myself with my own kids. Below is a straight-talking guide to the best GoHenry alternatives, who each one is for, and which is worth your time.
Best GoHenry alternatives at a glance
If you just want the answer, here it is:
• Best overall alternative: NatWest Rooster Money
• Best for learning about money (but expensive): GoHenry
• Best free option: Starling Kite
• Best free fintech option: HyperJar
• Best for older teens: Revolut <18
Everything else below explains why.
Comparison table: GoHenry vs the best alternatives
Account | Monthly cost | Age range | Apple / Google Pay | Savings pots | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
£3.99–£9.99 | 6–18 | Yes (13+) | Yes | Learning about money | |
£1.99 / Free | 6–17 | Yes (13+) | Yes | Best value overall | |
Free | 6–15 | Yes (13+) | No | Free bank-backed option | |
Free | 6–17 | Yes (13+) | Restricted | Large families | |
Free–£12.99 | 7–17 | Yes | Yes | Older teens | |
£2.50 | 8–18 | No | Limited | Simpler paid option | |
£2.67 | 6–18 | No | Micro-savings | Annual subscription |
Quick takeaway:
If you want the closest replacement for GoHenry at a lower cost, Rooster Money is the standout option. If you want free, Starling Kite or HyperJar make more sense — depending on your child’s age.
🥇 Best overall alternative to GoHenry: NatWest Rooster Money
Pros
- Free for many NatWest Group customers
- Cheaper than most kids’ debit cards
- Simple app for parents and children
- Good spending tracking and controls
- Very few hidden fees
Cons
- Free tracker is quite basic
- Rooster doesn’t pay interest itself
- PIN can’t be chosen manually on arrival
Reviewed by Household Money SavingWho it’s best for: Parents who like GoHenry’s features but don’t want to keep paying GoHenry prices.
NatWest Rooster Money is the closest thing to a direct GoHenry replacement. You get allowances, chores, spending controls, savings pots and (parent-funded) interest — but at roughly half the price.
Better still, if you bank with NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank, it’s completely free for up to three children.
Why choose it over GoHenry
• Much cheaper monthly cost
• Almost the same core features
• Apple Pay & Google Pay from age 13
• Free for many families
Main downside
• Financial education tools are simpler than GoHenry’s
Verdict
For most families, this is the smartest alternative. It does nearly everything GoHenry does, without the ongoing cost.
👉 Read my full NatWest Rooster Money review
🥈 Best for learning about money (but expensive): GoHenry
Pros
- Excellent financial education tools
- Strong parental controls
- Savings goals and interest on balances
- Card works online, in shops and at ATMs
Cons
- Expensive monthly fees compared to rivals
- Extra fees for card replacements or custom designs
- Better value free options now exist
Reviewed by Household Money SavingWho it’s best for: Parents who want structured money lessons and don’t mind paying for them.
GoHenry is still the strongest app for financial education. Money Missions and savings goals help kids understand money better than most alternatives.
The problem is price. With more than one child, it quickly becomes one of the most expensive options on this list.
Why people still choose it
• Best financial education tools
• Savings interest paid by GoHenry
Why people leave
• Monthly fees add up fast
• Extra charges unless you upgrade
Verdict
Excellent — but no longer the default choice for most families. If cost matters, there are better-value alternatives.
👉 Read my full GoHenry review
🥉 Best free bank-backed option: Starling Kite
Pros
- Completely free to use
- Easy to monitor child’s spending
- Card works online, in shops and at ATMs
- Add up to six Kite accounts per adult
Cons
- No budgeting or savings tools
- No separate jars or pots
- More suitable for older teens
Reviewed by Household Money SavingWho it’s best for: Older kids or teens who just need a simple, free account.
Starling Kite is a junior account from a real UK bank. It’s completely free, has strong parental controls, and lets kids spend online, in shops and at ATMs.
What it doesn’t do is teach budgeting. There are no pots, no chores, and no rewards.
Why choose it
• Completely free
• Backed by a UK bank
• Easy to monitor spending
Main downside
• No savings pots or education tools
• No separate jars or pots
Verdict
Great if you want simplicity and zero fees. Less useful if you want to teach money skills.
Read my full Starling Kite review for details.
👉 Read my full Starling Kite review
Other GoHenry alternatives worth knowing about
HyperJar – best free option for big families
HyperJar lets you create spending “jars” restricted to certain retailers. You can have unlimited cards and earn interest, but there’s no ATM access and merchant blocking can be overzealous.
Good value, but not very educational.
Revolut <18 – best for older teens
Revolut <18 works well if you already use Revolut. It’s flexible, app-driven and good for teens, but fees creep in if you have multiple children.
Osper – cheaper paid alternative
Osper is slightly cheaper than GoHenry but has fewer features. Worth a look, but it’s fallen behind newer apps.
nimbl – annual subscription only
nimbl focuses on micro-savings but requires paying yearly upfront. Fine for committed users, less flexible than others.
So, which GoHenry alternative should you choose?
• Want the best balance of price and features? → Rooster Money
• Want the best financial education? → GoHenry
• Want free with no fuss? → Starling Kite
• Have lots of kids? → HyperJar
• Got older teens? → Revolut <18
One final thought
All these apps claim to teach kids about money, but very few put their own money where their mouth is. I’d love to see more providers offer even a small amount of real interest — because nothing motivates kids to save like watching their balance grow.
Until then, value matters. And for most families, GoHenry simply isn’t the best-value option anymore
Also worth reading
Why not take a look at why I’ve introduced a new way for how my kids get their pocket money.
FAQs: GoHenry alternatives
What is the best alternative to GoHenry in the UK?
For most families, NatWest Rooster Money is the best GoHenry alternative.
It offers very similar features — including chores, allowances and spending controls — but at a much lower cost. If you already bank with NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank, it can even be completely free.
Are there any free GoHenry alternatives?
Yes — there are several free GoHenry alternatives in the UK.
The most popular are:
• Starling Kite – a fully free bank account for kids
• HyperJar – a free app with spending “jars”
• Revolut <18 – free on basic plans
The trade-off is that free options usually have fewer learning tools than GoHenry.
Is there a cheaper version of GoHenry?
Not directly — but Rooster Money is the closest cheaper alternative.
It offers most of the same features at a lower monthly cost, and can be free for some users. Other options like Osper and nimbl are also slightly cheaper, but come with fewer features.
Which kids’ debit card is best for learning about money?
GoHenry is still the best option for financial education.
Its “Money Missions” and structured learning tools are more advanced than most competitors. However, you are paying for those features, so it only makes sense if your child actually uses them.
What is the best GoHenry alternative for multiple children?
HyperJar is one of the best options for families with multiple children.
You can create multiple cards without paying per child, which makes it far more cost-effective than GoHenry if you have two or more kids.
Can kids use Apple Pay or Google Pay with GoHenry alternatives?
Yes — most GoHenry alternatives support Apple Pay and Google Pay from age 13+.
This includes Rooster Money, Starling Kite, HyperJar and Revolut <18. Always check age restrictions, as younger children may not have access to these features.
What age are GoHenry alternatives suitable for?
Most GoHenry alternatives are available from around age 6 up to 17 or 18.
Some options, like Starling Kite, are better suited to older children, while others like GoHenry and Rooster Money are designed for younger kids learning about money.
Do kids’ debit cards charge fees?
Some do, some don’t.
• Paid apps (like GoHenry, Osper, nimbl) charge monthly or annual fees
• Free apps (like Starling Kite and HyperJar) have no monthly cost
However, always check for extra charges like ATM withdrawals or card replacement fees.
Similar Posts
Best Curve Card Alternatives (2026)
Looking for a Curve card alternative? Compare the best Curve alternatives in 2026, including Revolut, Wise, Monzo and Starling, plus options for Amex users.
Are Premium Bonds Worth It Or A Waste Of Money?
Are Premium Bonds worth it in 2026? Updated prize rates, real returns, inflation impact and why I personally choose savings and ISAs instead of relying on luck.
Moneybox Review (UK): Fees, ISAs, Safety & is it Worth it?
Moneybox review (UK): an honest look at fees, ISAs, Lifetime ISAs, round-ups, safety and whether the Moneybox app is worth using.
My PayPal Account Was Banned For No Reason (And How I Got It Back)
My PayPal account was banned for no reason, with my money held for 180 days. Here’s exactly what happened, why it might occur, and how I got my account restored.
Curve or Revolut? The Real Differences Explained (2026 Update)
Compare Curve vs Revolut in 2026. See which is better for travel, cashback, card security and everyday spending — plus when using both makes sense.
