Giving your child a bank account or prepaid debit card is one of the best ways to teach them about money management before they're old enough for a full current account. But with GoHenry, Starling Kite, NatWest Rooster Money, Revolut <18, Monzo Under 16s, and several more all competing for your attention, choosing the right one isn't straightforward.
This guide covers the best options available in the UK in 2026 — with honest assessments of who each one suits best, and no fluff.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains one affiliate link — GoHenry. All other providers are mentioned editorially with no commercial relationship. Full disclosure →
| Provider | Age | Monthly fee | FSCS protected | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoHenry | 6–18 | From £3.99/child | No | Financial education features |
| Starling Kite | 6–15 | Free (need Starling account) | ✓ Yes | Best free option |
| NatWest Rooster Money | 6–17 | £1.99/child (free for NatWest customers) | No | Best value paid option |
| Revolut <18 | 6–17 | Free (basic plan) | No | Older kids / teens abroad |
| Monzo Under 16s | 6–15 | Free (need Monzo account) | ✓ Yes | Free with Monzo parents |
| Nationwide FlexOne | 11–17 | Free | ✓ Yes | Older kids ready for real bank account |
GoHenry is the most established kids' prepaid card in the UK and is particularly well regarded for its in-app financial education features — money missions, quizzes, badges, and chore-based earning tools. It's the most feature-rich option on the market for younger children (6–18), though it is one of the more expensive options.
Best financial education features. Prepaid card + app for ages 6–18. 3 months free for new customers.
Starling Kite is a free app and contactless debit card for children from age 6 up to 15, allowing daily spending limits to be set and providing spending notifications. It's a "linked space" within the parent's Starling account rather than a standalone account — which means the parent must be a Starling customer, but also means money in a Starling Kite account counts towards the parent's FSCS protection of up to £120,000 — the best protection of any option on this list. There are no fees for overseas use and the ability to instantly freeze the card if it is lost or stolen.
Our verdict: If you're already a Starling customer, Kite is the obvious choice — free, FSCS protected, and genuinely good. If you're not a Starling customer, the value calculation changes.
NatWest Rooster is an app-based account for children from the age of 3, with a contactless prepaid card available for children aged 6 to 17. There is a £1.99 per month card fee, although parents who are NatWest or Royal Bank of Scotland online or mobile banking customers do not pay the card subscription fee.
Our verdict: NatWest Rooster Money is the closest thing to a direct GoHenry replacement — most of the same features at a much lower cost, and free for NatWest, RBS, or Ulster Bank customers.
The free version of Revolut <18 provides enough features to be a viable option — payments, allowance scheduling, and the ability to freeze the card — with a co-parent feature allowing two people to manage the account. It's particularly strong for older children and teenagers who travel or want to spend abroad without currency fees.
The Monzo Under 16s account is broadly very similar to Starling Kite in terms of the controls available to parents, with money transferred to the child's card covered by the parent's Monzo account's FSCS protection of up to £120,000. Free, FSCS protected, and simple — but requires a parent Monzo account.
For children aged 11 and over who are ready to take more ownership of their finances, Nationwide FlexOne is a genuine current account rather than a prepaid card — with FSCS protection, no monthly fee, and interest of up to 5% on balances up to £5,000. Less parental control than prepaid options, but more independence for older teenagers.
If you're already making the most of bank switching bonuses through BeSwitchReady, a kids' account is a natural next step for getting the whole family's finances in order. See our full recommended products page for more tools beyond switching.
The best financial education features of any kids' card, with a current promotion giving new customers 3 months free.
Get GoHenry — 3 months free →Affiliate disclosure: The GoHenry link above is an affiliate link — we may earn a commission if you sign up. All other providers mentioned in this post have no commercial relationship with BeSwitchReady. Information correct as of July 2026.