Gohenry - is it worth it?

[LiJo2015]

Just signed up to gohenry for my 11 year old son - first month free then 2.99 per month thereafter - is it worth it? Is there a free alternative?

God no wouldn't pay that
They can get a high street bank account with a card at age 11

Watching with interest because I want to open some kind of account for my 2 dc. I'm struggling to work out why I should pay for something like go Henry when they can have an account at a high street bank for free. Maybe I'm missing something?

I like it for my 6 and 8 year old but when they come of age, I would prefer to get them a bank account as it’s cheaper

As it is, it’s so easy to use. I can move funds around, change the spending limit and block it too if I need to

Yes, I find it so helpful. Far more features than a bank account

@LiJo2015 get hyper jar and a linked hyper jar kids a card. The same as GoHenry but completely free.

hyperjar.com/kids/ @tiredanddangerous this is free.

I have it for my 11 year old and just tried signing up for a bank account with card instead. Her application has been defected online for some unknown reason and I have to go into the bank, no possible as local on has shut and no time with work to travel for one!
So I'll be keeping go Henry for a bit, it's been good in terms of transferring money and she can see how much she has and her grandparents put her pocket money directly in each month.

Defected = rejected!

There was a thread on this last week, might be worth looking for that.

I compared Go Henry and Rooster recently and went with Rooster. It's £25 fee for the year payable after 1 months free trial. It was also better for number of deposits you could make without being charged. Good app which both me and DD have on phone. She's used the card contactless and I get a notification every time she spends on it.

Mumsnet seems to love GoHenry, but it seems like such a waste of money to me.

Before age 11 I just gave my kids cash as pocket money. At age 11 they got pocket money into their current account by standing order.

DD13 and Ds15 have had Lloyd bank accounts since they were 11 with all the features of a usual bank account (except the overdraft facility!). I don't understand why you need to pay for something like Go Henry when everything you need is available for free from a normal bank

Yes it's good. Of course you'll have loads of people on here saying how they wouldn't pay it etc etc and that's fine - it's a choice after all!

I've had it for my son for 3 years now and he's 14. I'm about to change him to a proper bank account. However it's been great for the past years. I liked seeing his transactions, was able to step in when he was spending far too much on Xbox stuff and I could see what he was up to when out with friends etc as it flags up a spend immediately. It was also the work of minutes to block the card when he had his phone stolen with the card tucked into the case!

So if you like it - go for it

We use it. I don’t mind the fees for a couple of reasons

I used to live in a country where you pay for all current accounts, to,me free banking is a bit odd. Clearly I am the product in the UK. With GoHenry, I fell a little more reassured that I am not the product.

Also, I fritter cash. if I pay pocket money by cash, I’ll have to take it out. Then I’ll spend it. Way more than three quid a month.

You can stop a bank account immediately too. Can't see the b red to pay fees when a child can h'ave their own card and bank account.