EarnIt vs Greenlight vs BusyKid

What We Do Well

• Truly free option — Our free plan includes real functionality (2 kids, unlimited chores, savings goals) not just a trial
• No card required — Focus on teaching money concepts without managing a debit card
• Simple by design — Easy setup, no banking complexity, just chores and allowances
• Affordable premium — $30/year for the whole family is less than many competitors charge monthly
• Automatic money splits — Customize Save/Spend/Give percentages to match your family values

What We Don't Do

• No physical debit card — we're a tracking tool, not a bank
• No investing features — we focus on foundational money habits
• No location tracking — we're a chore app, not a safety app
• No direct payments to charities — we track the category for parents to handle

Best For

Families who want to teach kids that work earns money and saving matters — without the complexity of managing a kids' bank account. Great for younger kids (4-12) learning money basics, or families who prefer handling physical cash.

Strengths

• Complete financial ecosystem — Debit card, chores, investing, and safety features in one app
• Investing for kids — Kids can buy fractional shares with parental approval
• High savings interest — Up to 5% APY on savings (plan dependent)
• Safety features — Location sharing, SOS alerts, crash detection, driving reports
• Large user base — 6+ million families, well-established company

Considerations

• No free plan — only a 30-day trial before paid subscription
• Must use debit card — the card is central to the experience
• Higher cost — $5.99-$14.98/month depending on plan
• More complex — many features may be overwhelming for younger kids

Best For

Families who want their kids to have real spending power with a debit card, are interested in teaching investing, and value the safety/location features. Better suited for older kids and teens who are ready for more financial independence.

Strengths

• Clear workflow — Earn → Save → Spend → Invest → Donate structure
• Auto-deposit — Allowance automatically deposits every Friday
• Stock investing — Kids can invest in real stocks with parental oversight
• BusyPay — Easy way for grandparents and others to send gift money
• Charity donations — Direct donations to real charities from the app

Considerations

• No free plan — requires subscription after trial
• Additional card fees — ATM withdrawals, card replacement have fees
• Debit card required — central to the service
• Smaller company — fewer users than Greenlight

Best For

Families who want a structured earn-save-spend-invest workflow with a debit card. Good for families who want kids to experience charitable giving directly and have relatives who want to contribute easily.