A note first: PocketQuest is our app, so weigh this accordingly. We’ve tried to say plainly where a card is the better choice, because for some families it is.
These products sound similar but do different jobs. A kids’ debit card lets a child spend real money in real shops. A chore app helps them build routines and practise saving, usually without any real money moving.
| GoHenry | NatWest Rooster Money | PocketQuest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Prepaid card and app | Prepaid card and app, plus a free tracker | Quest and rewards app, with no card |
| Real money? | Yes | Yes with the card; no with the tracker | No: virtual coins that you control |
| Spend in shops? | Yes | Yes with the card | No |
| Price | Listed from £3.99 a month by comparison sites | Card: £1.99 a month or £19.99 a year, with one subscription per card. Tracker: free. | £0.99 a month or £9.99 a year, for the whole family |
| Youngest age | Check with GoHenry | Card from 6 | About 4 |
Checked 6 November 2026. Rooster Money’s figures come from its own comparison page. We couldn’t load GoHenry’s pricing page directly, so its price comes from comparison sites such as Finder; check GoHenry’s site for the current price. Prices and features change, so please confirm them before you decide.
Choose a card if…
- Your child is old enough to go to shops alone, and needs to pay for things.
- You want them to learn about tapping a card, online spending and running out of real money.
- You’re sending them on a school trip, and want an easy way to top up from a distance.
Choose a chore app if…
- Your main goal is better routines and fewer arguments, and the money side comes second.
- Your child is too young for a card, or you don’t feel ready to give them one.
- You’d rather have mistakes cost a few virtual coins than real pounds.
- You have several children, and a per-card price would add up.
Is there a free option?
Yes. Rooster Money’s tracker is free, and a paper chart is too: ours is free to print, with no sign-up. They’re good places to start. Consider something more only if you find you need approvals, automatic schedules or several grown-ups.
Can you use both?
Yes, and it can work nicely. Many families could use a chore app for the daily routine, then pay out real pocket money by whichever method they prefer. PocketQuest never moves money itself. It can show coins as pounds, so you know what to pay.