Products
How much does the Greenlight card cost?
Greenlight is a subscription-based prepaid debit card for kids and teens — not a traditional credit card. Monthly plans start around $5.99/month for the Core plan and go up to $14.98/month for the Max plan. There is no annual credit card fee because Greenlight is a debit product. Verify current pricing at greenlight.com; plan costs and features change.
The full picture
Greenlight is a family finance app with a prepaid Mastercard debit card for children and teens — not a credit card. You pay a flat monthly subscription fee for the service, not an annual credit card fee. The card itself is free; the subscription covers the financial tools, parental controls, and investing features depending on tier.
Prepaid cards vs. credit cards
- Prepaid debit cards are not credit cards — they draw from a preloaded balance rather than a credit line. The CFPB notes that prepaid cards do not build credit history the way a secured or unsecured credit card does. — CFPB
- Monthly or annual fees are common on prepaid and family finance products; always review the Schumer Box or fee schedule before signing up. — CFPB
Greenlight plan tiers (as of August 2026)
Greenlight offers multiple subscription tiers. Pricing is approximate and subject to change — verify current rates at greenlight.com before enrolling:
- Core (~$5.99/month): prepaid debit card + spending controls + chore tracking for up to 5 kids.
- Max (~$9.98/month): adds investing for kids, identity theft protection, and higher cash-back earn rates.
- Infinity (~$14.98/month): adds family location sharing, crash detection, and a 1% savings rate.
What fees to watch
- Monthly subscription: the main ongoing cost; covers all kids on the plan.
- Out-of-network ATM fees: Greenlight may charge for ATM withdrawals outside the AllPoint network; check the fee schedule.
- No foreign transaction fee is advertised by Greenlight for standard use — verify current terms.
- No interest charges: it's a debit card, not a credit line.
Greenlight is not a credit-building product. If your goal is to help a young adult build credit, a secured credit card is a different tool. See how to build credit with a secured credit card or compare credit builder loans vs. secured credit cards.
◆ ClearValue editorial analysis
Why a subscription debit card exists as its own category
Two legal facts explain why a product like Greenlight sits in its own category rather than just being 'a kids' credit card.' First, custodial-account law: all 50 states have adopted some version of the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA), which is the legal framework letting a parent hold and control funds for a minor — the underlying structure most youth debit and family-finance apps build on — with the age at which the child gains control set by each state individually.
Second, the CARD Act of 2009 restricts card issuers from opening a traditional credit card for anyone under 21 unless they can show independent income or add a cosigner, which is exactly the population Greenlight and similar products are built to serve. That's also part of why the market has grown fast: 30 states now require a standalone personal-finance course to graduate high school, up from just 17 in 2022 — a policy shift that's pushed schools and families toward hands-on tools like a monitored debit card rather than waiting until 18 to teach money management.
Sources: CFPB — Prepaid cards and other prepaid accounts
Analysis by the ClearValue Editorial Team, applying our published scoring methodology.
This analysis combines cited public data (Federal Reserve, FDIC, CFPB, SBA, IRS, HHS, or similar primary sources, as cited above) with ClearValue's own math and comparison for this question — it is not proprietary ClearValue applicant data. Figures carry an as-of date; rates, limits, and program terms change, so verify current numbers at the linked primary sources before deciding. Educational information, not financial, legal, or tax advice.
Key takeaways
- Greenlight charges a monthly subscription (~$5.99–$14.98/month depending on plan tier), not an annual credit card fee.
- It's a prepaid debit card for kids — not a credit card and does not build credit history.
- Plans cover up to 5 children; the subscription includes parental controls and optional investing features.
- Verify current pricing and features at greenlight.com before signing up.
Published 2026-06-05 · Updated 2026-08-25 · https://clearvaluelending.com/answers/greenlight-card-fees