GoHenry Review: Best Debit Card for Kids and Teens?

Many parents struggle to strike the right balance between giving kids financial freedom and helping them make smart choices.

Have you ever wondered how to let your child manage money while still feeling in control?

GoHenry is a debit card designed to teach kids and teens responsible money habits in a fun and practical way. 

It allows parents to set limits, monitor spending, and encourage saving—all while giving kids some financial independence.

That all sounds great—but is it the right solution for you and your family?

In this review, we’ll break down the features, pros, and cons, so you can decide if GoHenry is the perfect fit for your needs.

By the end, you’ll know if it’s worth considering to give your child financial freedom while keeping you confidently in control.

Let’s dive right into this detailed GoHenry review!

Is GoHenry Good: Our Verdict

GoHenry is a great option if you’re looking to teach your kids about money in a fun and practical way. It combines real independence for kids with peace of mind for parents, thanks to built-in controls like spending limits and real-time notifications. The Money Missions, chores, and other tools make learning about finances engaging and hands-on.

While the monthly fees can be higher than some alternatives, the educational value and user-friendly app make it worth considering if you’re looking for a comprehensive financial tool for your child. The personalized card is also a nice touch that kids enjoy.

With a TrustPilot rating of 4.1/5 based on over 10,257 reviews, it’s a solid contender in the line-up of prepaid debit cards for kids and teens aged 6-18.

You can sign up using our link to take advantage of a 2-month free trial plus £10 pocket money to test out GoHenry if it’s the right fit for your family. After your free trial, your monthly fee will start at £3.99 per child per month. So make sure you cancel your monthly payments if you don’t plan to continue.

What is GoHenry?

GoHenry is a prepaid debit card for kids and teens, but with some extra features to help them learn how to manage money and with certain limits set by you as a parent.

It’s pretty straightforward – parents load money onto the GoHenry card using the parents’ app, and your kid can use it to buy things, just like adults do.

But here’s the cool part—your kids get access to an app too! The GoHenry app lets them set saving goals, track their spending, and even earn money by doing chores that you set for them.

As a parent, you’re in the driver’s seat. You get to decide where your kids can use the card (like in stores, online, or at ATMs), get real-time notifications whenever they spend, and set limits so they don’t go overboard.

GoHenry is designed to teach financial responsibility in a way that’s hands-on and tailored to younger users, while giving parents peace of mind with built-in controls.

Is GoHenry Safe?

When it comes to finances, safety is always the top concern—but in this case, you’re also thinking about the safety of your child.

So, is GoHenry legit and safe? Let’s break it down.

GoHenry is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), meaning it must follow strict rules to protect customer funds.

However, because GoHenry is a prepaid debit card, it isn’t covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which protects deposits up to £85,000.

This means that if GoHenry were to go under, the money in your child’s account isn’t guaranteed by the government like it is with traditional banks. However, GoHenry ensures safety of funds through other means.

GoHenry Cards are issued by IDT Financial Services Limited, which is a regulated bank, licensed by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission.

All customer funds are held by IDT Financial Services in a segregated NatWest client account, ensuring that the funds are kept separate from GoHenry’s business operations.

Beyond regulatory backing, GoHenry takes practical steps to keep both your child and their money secure.

The app has built-in features that give you control over your child’s spending.

You can easily block or unblock the card if it’s lost or stolen, and since there’s no overdraft, your child can only spend what’s on the card—there’s no risk of debt.

You’ll also receive real-time notifications whenever your child makes a purchase, and you can set spending limits or even decide where the card can be used—whether online, in shops, or at ATMs.

These features offer peace of mind, knowing that you’re in control of how and where your child uses their card.

While the lack of FSCS protection might be a drawback, the combination of FCA regulation, secure fund segregation, built-in security measures and parental controls makes GoHenry a safe option for helping kids learn about money while you stay confidently in control.

GoHenry: Card Design Options

GoHenry offers over 45 fun card designs that kids and teens can personalize to make their own. They can choose from animals, sports, fun prints, and even designer collaborations—there’s something for every personality.

You can also add your child’s name or nickname to make it even more personal.

Some designs are limited edition to add a special touch, like currently they have a collab the WWF ocean-themed designs for those who want to support a good cause.

To customize a card, there is an additional fee of £4.99, but it’s worth it for the extra excitement your child will show when they see their first card with their own name and style.

How Does GoHenry Work?

GoHenry is designed to help your kids learn real-world money skills while giving you full control.

Here’s a breakdown of how it all works:

Setting Up the Account

To get started, you sign up for a 1-month free trial (it’s a full two-months trial + £10 pocket money using our link), create an account for your child, and link your bank account.

Once that’s done, your child’s card will arrive within a week, ready to use.

Loading Money on GoHenry Card

So how do you do a GoHenry card top up? You can top up your child’s card using the parent app. You can set up regular allowances, which are automatically transferred to the card, or make one-off transfers whenever you like, making it easy to manage how much your child has available to spend.

Chores and Tasks

You can assign chores to your child through the app. They earn money when they complete these tasks, helping them understand the value of work and how earning works in a simple, practical way.

Spending and Saving

Kids can use their GoHenry card in stores, online, or at ATMs, depending on your permissions that you set in the app. They can also set savings goals for things they want and track their progress in the app, helping them learn about both spending and saving in a real-world context.

Parental Controls  

The app gives you complete oversight over your child’s spending. You can set spending limits, get real-time notifications for every transaction, and decide exactly where the card can be used—whether that’s in shops, online, or at ATMs.

This way, you’re in charge while your child gets to learn.

Educational Features 

Money Missions are fun, interactive lessons that teach budgeting, saving, and making smart spending choices. These lessons are designed make money management fun and engaging for kids.

What Age is GoHenry For?

GoHenry is made for children aged 6 to 18. 

Younger kids get to learn the basics—like how to spend wisely, save up for things they want, and earn through chores.

Older teens get more independence, with features like Apple Pay and direct payments option for part-time jobs.

Is GoHenry Free?

GoHenry isn’t entirely free, but you do get a 1-month free trial to see if it works for your family, no strings attached. That’s the usual offer GoHenry runs for new customers.

However, if you use our special link, you’ll get 2 months free plus £10 pocket money to get started.

After the trial, there’s a monthly fee based on the plan you pick. Plus, there are some extra costs for customizing or replacing cards, which we’ll get into in the next section.

Let’s look at the charges and fees now.

How Much Does GoHenry Cost: Membership Plans & Fees

There are three different membership plans available:

Everyday: £3.99 per month, per child. This plan covers the basics for managing pocket money.

Plus: £5.99 per month, per child. With this plan, you get savings interest and cashback rewards, giving kids a bit more motivation to save and spend wisely.  

Max: £9.99 per month, for up to four kids. This plan includes everything in Plus, but allows you to manage accounts for up to four children under one subscription, which can be more cost-effective for larger families.

Here’s how the plans stack up comparing what they offer:

Customization Fee
If you want to order a personalized card, there’s a one-time fee of £4.99. This allows you and your child to choose from a wide range of designs and add their name for a personal touch.

Other Fees

• ATM Withdrawals: There’s no fee for using ATMs in the UK, but be aware that some ATMs may apply their own charges.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: One of the great things about GoHenry is that there are no foreign transaction fees, so your child can use their card abroad without extra costs.
• Replacement Card: If the card gets lost, replacing it will cost £4.99.

GoHenry Promo Code

If you’re interested in trying GoHenry, there’s a great offer available!

Usually, GoHenry offers a 1-month free trial for new customers, but you can use our link to get a 2-month free trial plus £10 pocket money (the promo code is already applied to the link!).

This special offer makes it easier for you to decide if GoHenry is the right fit for your family, allowing you to explore all the features without committing to the monthly fee right away.

GoHenry Customer Reviews

GoHenry has received generally positive feedback from customers.

On TrustPilot, GoHenry has a rating of 4.1 out of 5, based on over 10,000 reviews.

Parents often praise its ease of use, the educational features, and the ability to customize cards, which makes learning about money management fun for kids. However, some reviews mention the monthly fees as a drawback, especially compared to other free alternatives.

The GoHenry iOS app has a rating of a solid 4.5 out of 5 based on 29,300 reviews.

On Android, the app has over 1 million installs with an overall rating of 4.2/5 based on 27K reviews.

GoHenry Alternatives

If you’re considering GoHenry, you might also want to explore some alternatives. Here’s a quick look at how GoHenry stacks up against Starling Kite, Rooster, HyperJar, and other options:

1. Revolut <18

Revolut <18 is an account for everyone aged 6 to 17, with its own app and card. Your child’s <18 account is linked to your Revolut account as a parent, allowing you to set up allowances, challenges (Revolut’s equivalent for Money Missions), view activity, and more. It includes spending controls, savings goals, and other tools to help kids learn about managing money.

Revolut <18 is free to use, and parents just need a Revolut account (the free Standard plan works for one <18 account). To open a second <18 account or add a co-parent, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan, that start from £3.99 per month.

2. Starling Kite

Starling Kite is a free debit card for kids aged 6 to 15, linked directly to your existing Starling account. It makes managing your child’s spending easy, with features like spending limits and activity tracking through the Starling app.

If you’re already with Starling, it’s a simple, integrated option without extra fees.

And if you’re not, you can open a free Starling Current account to get started—since Kite is linked to your main Starling Bank account, it’s not a separate children’s bank account.

3. Rooster by NatWest

Rooster Money, now part of NatWest after its acquisition in October 2021, offers a very similar experience to GoHenry. The app can be used from age 3+, where parents can use Rooster as a reward chart to reinforce positive behaviours from a young age, with features like a star chart, goal setting, and saving encouragement. You can apply for a card for ages 6 to 17.

Rooster Money focuses on simplicity and affordability, but it doesn’t have some of the gamified educational features, like Money Missions, that GoHenry offers.

Rooster offers both a free version and a paid option called Rooster Plus, which costs £1.99 per month (or £19.99 per year) per child.

Rooster Plus adds more features like chores, savings goals, and allowances, making it a budget-friendly option compared to GoHenry.

4. HyperJar Kids Card

HyperJar is another alternative that stands out for being free to use. The HyperJar card can be used by kids aged 6-15, and parents can assign “Jars” for different spending categories paired to the adult’s HyperJar account, which helps teach kids about budgeting.

While HyperJar doesn’t offer as many educational features as GoHenry, it’s a great option if you’re looking for something with no monthly fees.

Summary: Is GoHenry Worth It?

So, after looking at all the features and comparing GoHenry with the alternatives, is it worth it?

Here’s my take:

If you value a hands-on approach to teaching your child about finances and don’t mind the subscription cost, GoHenry is a strong choice. It strikes a nice balance between giving your child some freedom with their money while keeping everything safe and manageable, making it a great tool for building lifelong money skills.

If you’re looking for an easy and fun way to help your kids learn how to manage money while keeping an eye on things, GoHenry is definitely worth a look. It gives your child a good mix of financial independence and educational support while keeping you, as a parent, in charge.

The built-in parental controls, customizable card, and Money Missions make it a well-rounded option for teaching kids about money in a hands-on way.

The monthly fees might be a bit higher compared to other options like HyperJar or Rooster Money, but GoHenry packs in more in terms of educational content and a user-friendly kid and parent apps. Plus, the personalized card adds that extra fun factor that makes kids feel proud of managing their own money.

If you’re up for a hands-on approach to teaching your child about finances and you’re okay with the subscription cost, GoHenry could be a great fit. It strikes a good balance between giving your child the freedom to manage their money with the safety and structure they need, making it a great tool for building lifelong money skills which is especially important since schools don’t teach money!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which Bank is Behind GoHenry?
GoHenry cards are issued by IDT Financial Services Limited, a regulated bank licensed by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission.

How much is GoHenry card a month?
The GoHenry card costs £3.99, £5.99, or £9.99 per month depending on the membership plan you choose.

How to transfer money from GoHenry to bank account?
Currently, there is no direct way to transfer money from a GoHenry card back to a bank account.

Can I add GoHenry to Apple Pay?
Yes, children aged 13 and above can add their GoHenry card to Apple Pay for easy, contactless payments.

How to add GoHenry to Apple Pay?
Children aged 13+ can add their GoHenry card to Apple Pay by following the instructions in the GoHenry app.

How to change spending limit on GoHenry?
To change the spending limit, simply log in to your parent app, go to your child’s profile, and adjust the spending limits.

How to remove a child from GoHenry?
To remove a child, contact GoHenry customer support via the app or email, and they will assist with the removal.

How to cancel GoHenry subscription?
To cancel, log in to your parent app, go to “Account & Settings,” and follow the steps to close the account.

Is GoHenry run by NatWest?
No, GoHenry is not run by NatWest. However, all GoHenry customer funds are held by IDT Financial Services in a secured NatWest client account. Read more here.

How to transfer money from GoHenry to PayPal?
Currently, you cannot directly transfer money from GoHenry to PayPal.

Do all shops accept GoHenry?
Most shops that accept Visa will accept GoHenry, but it’s always a good idea to check with the individual retailer first.

Does GoHenry Work Abroad?

Yes, GoHenry works abroad wherever Visa is accepted, and there are no foreign transaction fees.

Can you use GoHenry Online?

Yes, GoHenry can be used for online purchases, as long as the site accepts Visa.

How to put money on GoHenry card?

You can top up your GoHenry card using the parent app. Set up regular transfers or make one-off top-ups to manage how much your child has to spend.