Side-by-side comparison
| GoHenry | GroMe | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Prepaid debit card + money app for kids and teens | Money-habits & entrepreneurship app for teens |
| Core focus | Spending controls, pocket money, card payments | Earning habits, saving goals, real-world challenges, launching a first idea |
| Ages | 6–18 | 12–18 |
| Physical card | Yes — prepaid Visa debit card | No card, by design |
| Who holds the money | Funds are loaded onto the child's card account | Nobody — parents pay rewards directly; GroMe never holds money |
| Cost | Monthly subscription per child (see gohenry.com for current pricing) | Free for early-access families |
| Money education | In-app lessons ("Money Missions") | Over 50 real-world challenges across three stages, plus GroMe Coach for guided thinking |
| Entrepreneurship | Not a focus | Central — from first earnings to launching a real mini-business |
| Parent's role | Set controls, approve spending, top up the card | See progress, approve rewards, get coaching prompts — money stays in your hands |
| Availability | UK and US | Anywhere — works in any currency, built in Ireland |
When GoHenry is the better fit
- You want a physical card. If the goal is a safe way for your child to pay in shops and online with money you control, that's exactly what GoHenry is built for.
- Your child is under 12. GoHenry starts at age 6; GroMe is designed for teenagers.
- Spending controls matter most. Per-shop limits, card freezing and spend notifications are GoHenry's home turf.
When GroMe is the better fit
- You want your teen to learn to earn, not just spend. GroMe's challenges are about making money real: earning it, saving it toward goals, and eventually launching a first idea.
- You don't want another account or subscription. There's no card to fund, no wallet, no monthly fee — GroMe is currently free for early-access families.
- You want to stay in control of the actual money. GroMe is a shared family ledger; every euro or pound stays with you until you hand it over.
- Your teen has an entrepreneurial spark. The Founder Path — Mindset, Momentum, Mastery — is built to turn "I have an idea" into something real.
Can you use both?
Yes, and some families will. They barely overlap: a card product handles day-to-day spending; GroMe drives the earning habits, saving goals and confidence that a card doesn't teach. If you already have GoHenry and your teen is drifting into passive spending, GroMe is the missing half.
Raise a builder, not just a spender
GroMe turns screen time into real skills — challenges, saving goals and a coach that guides without doing it for them. Free early access for the first 100 families.
Get Free Early AccessSources & further reading
- GoHenry official website — features and pricing. www.gohenry.com
- OECD (2024), PISA 2022 Results (Volume IV): How Financially Smart Are Students?. www.oecd.org
- Junior Achievement USA (2023), JA Teens & Personal Finance Survey. jausa.ja.org
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between GroMe and GoHenry?
GoHenry is a prepaid debit card and app for children aged 6–18, focused on spending controls and pocket money, with a monthly subscription. GroMe is a habit and skills app for teens aged 12–18 with no card and no wallet — teens complete real-world money and entrepreneurship challenges, parents pay rewards directly, and GroMe never holds the family's money.
Is GroMe a good alternative to GoHenry?
It depends on the goal. If you want a physical debit card your child can spend with, GoHenry is built for that. If your priority is teaching a teenager to earn, save and think like a builder — without opening a card account or paying a subscription — GroMe is designed for exactly that, and is currently free for early-access families.
Can I use GroMe and GoHenry together?
Yes. They don't overlap much: GoHenry handles spending with a card, while GroMe drives earning habits, saving goals and entrepreneurial challenges. Some families use a card product for day-to-day spending and GroMe for skills, goals and motivation.
Does GroMe hold my family's money like GoHenry does?
No. GroMe never holds, moves or touches money. Balances in GroMe are a shared family ledger — parents pay rewards directly to their teen however they normally would. That means no card fees, no top-ups and no financial account to open.