Pocket Money Apps Without a Card or Bank: 2026 Comparison

Updated August 2026 · Written by Mark, dad of three and the maker of Piggo (which appears in this comparison – we're upfront about that)

Card-based apps like GoHenry, Greenlight and Revolut <18 are great if you want your child to have a real debit card – but they come with subscriptions, age limits and KYC. Many families want something simpler: keeping track of pocket money – who has how much, when allowance is paid, what's being saved for – with no bank account, no card, and no ID checks for a six-year-old. The parents ARE the bank; the app just keeps the books.

This category used to be dominated by RoosterMoney's free tracker – which has been UK-only since NatWest acquired it in 2022. Here's what actually exists in 2026:

The comparison

Details are correct to the best of our knowledge as of August 2026 – always check each app's own site. And yes, we're in our own table. That's why you're also told what the others do well.

How to choose

Does language matter in your family?

Most of the category is English-only. Piggo runs in English, Danish, German, French, Italian and Spanish – and each family member picks their own language, which matters when the kids are the ones using it.

Are chores the main thing?

EarnIt, Bomad and Piggo all do chores well. The differences are in the details: Piggo adds parent approval before payout, "first come, first served" chores any sibling can grab, unpaid chores (because not everything in a family should cost money) and reminders. Pure chore apps without a money ledger also exist – but then you still need somewhere to keep the actual accounts.

Is financial education the main thing?

Look for three things: savings goals the child can follow themselves, interest (earning interest on your own savings is the fastest way to understand compound growth), and the child's own login – kids should check their own balance, not borrow dad's phone. Piggo has all three; Bomad and Bankaroo have goals and kid access, but no interest.

What about safety?

The whole point of this category: there is no real money to lose. No card details, no bank access, no ID. Check instead that the app is ad-free and treats children's data properly – Piggo has no ads and no tracking, and every family is fully isolated from every other.

Conclusion

If you want the full toolbox for free – automatic allowance, chores, goals, interest, sibling transfers and a stock watchlist, in your own language – Piggo is the obvious pick; that's exactly the gap we built it to fill. If you're all-in on iPhone and English, also look at Bomad. If you live in the UK and just want the classic, RoosterMoney still works there. And if what you really want is a debit card in your child's pocket, this whole category is the wrong shelf – look at GoHenry or Greenlight and accept the subscription.