Comparison · Updated 2026-04-20
KidCash vs. Greenlight
Greenlight is a debit-card-based kids banking app. Parents fund a family account, kids get Visa cards, and Greenlight layers chores, allowance, and optional investing on top. It works well if your kid is old enough to spend with a card and you want the card itself to be the product.
Pick KidCash if
Parents who already handle money themselves (cash, Venmo, their own bank) and just want a clean place to track what each kid has earned and owes — without paying a monthly card fee or giving a third party custody of the money.
Pick Greenlight if
Families whose kids are ready to spend with a card in the real world and who want one-stop banking, investing, and spend controls under a single monthly subscription.
Feature comparison
| Feature | KidCash | Greenlight |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes — 1 kid free forever | — |
| Cost for 3 kids | $99/year | $72–$180/year |
| Cost for 5 kids | $129/year | $72–$180/year |
| Real debit card | — | ✓ |
| Tracks money you already haveGreenlight requires funding a custodial account | ✓ | — |
| Printable QR bills | ✓ | — |
| Chores & allowance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Siri / Apple Watch | ✓ | — |
| Alexa skill | ✓ | — |
| Public kid profile pages | ✓ | — |
| Savings goals & interest | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investing for kids | — | ✓ |
| No money held in custody | ✓ | — |
Pricing
KidCash
- Free — 1 kid forever
- Family — $99/year (1–3 kids)
- Big Family — $129/year (4+ kids)
No per-kid fees. No card fees.
Greenlight
- Core — $5.99/mo (~$72/yr): debit cards, chore/allowance tools, parent controls
- Max — $9.98/mo (~$120/yr): adds investing for kids, priority support
- Infinity — $14.98/mo (~$180/yr): adds family safety (phone, ID, location)
Family plan covers up to 5 kids. No free tier.
Why families switch to KidCash
- ✓Flat family pricing — $99/yr for up to 3 kids, $129/yr for 4+. No per-kid fees.
- ✓You control the money. KidCash tracks balances; the actual cash stays in your bank, their piggy bank, or wherever you want.
- ✓Siri, Apple Watch, and Alexa built in. Check or log transactions hands-free.
- ✓Printable QR "bills" let kids hold physical money that redeems to their balance.
- ✓No ads, no data sold, no investing upsells aimed at kids.
FAQ
Does KidCash replace Greenlight?
Not directly — Greenlight is a debit card, KidCash is a ledger. If your kid needs to spend at the store, you still need Greenlight (or cash). KidCash tracks the money itself; the two can actually coexist if you want both.
Can I move from Greenlight to KidCash?
Yes. Most families migrate by cashing out the Greenlight balance, setting the kid's starting balance in KidCash to match, and then using your own bank + KidCash as the ledger going forward.
Is KidCash cheaper than Greenlight?
For most families, yes — KidCash is $99/yr flat for up to 3 kids, $129/yr for 4+. Greenlight's cheapest tier is ~$72/yr but jumps to $120–$180/yr for the features parents actually want.
Try KidCash free
1 kid free forever. No credit card required.
Information about Greenlight reflects publicly posted details at time of writing (2026-04-20). Pricing and features may change — check Greenlight's site for the most current info.