Spriggy is the most-marketed pocket money app in Australia, but it comes with a $47.88/year subscription fee (around $4/month per family). That's fine if the features justify it — but many families don't need a physical debit card for a seven-year-old.
Here are the main alternatives, and who each one suits.
The alternatives at a glance
| App | Cost | Debit card | Min age | What it's best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Pocket | Free | No | 5 | Teaching money habits before the card era |
| Spriggy | ~$48/year | Yes | Any | Kids who are ready for a real card |
| GoHenry | ~$60/year | Yes | 6+ | UK-origin app, strong parental controls |
| Westpac Dollarmites | Free | Yes (savings) | 0 | School savings account, not an app |
| CommBank Youth | Free | Yes | 14+ | Transitioning teens to real banking |
| Roosteroney | Free (basic) | No | Any | Chore tracking focus, UK-based |
Happy Pocket — best free alternative
Happy Pocket is a free shared family ledger. Parents top up virtual "pockets" and kids see their balances in real time. No debit card, no bank account needed.
Best for: Families with kids aged 5–11 who want to build saving habits before introducing a card. Works especially well for younger kids who aren't ready for independent spending.
What it does well:
- Multiple named pockets (Saving, Spending, Giving)
- Parent and child both see the same balances
- Scheduled allowances (weekly, fortnightly, monthly)
- Works for kids as young as 5
- Free, with no plan to charge for current features
What it doesn't do: There's no physical debit card — this is a ledger, not a bank account. For families who want their child to physically spend at a shop, you'll need a card-based product.
No fees, no bank account, no debit card.
Happy Pocket is a virtual ledger that teaches kids money habits from age 5. Free forever for current features.
Get started — it's free →Spriggy — best if you want a card
Spriggy's debit card is its main advantage. Kids can spend at any store, tap to pay, and the transaction shows up in the parent app instantly. For a 12-year-old who's buying things independently, that's genuinely useful.
The $47.88/year fee covers the first child; additional children are $24/year each. The app is polished and the card works everywhere Visa is accepted.
Best for: Kids 10+ who are buying things at shops without a parent present.
GoHenry — international option
GoHenry is a UK company that operates in Australia. Pricing is around $4.99/month per child. The app is well-designed with spending categories, saving goals, and financial education content built in.
Best for: Families who want an international product with strong educational content alongside the card.
Which one should you choose?
The honest framework: start with a free ledger app while kids are young, move to a card product when they're spending independently.
Most 5–9 year olds don't need to tap a card at shops. What they need is to see their balance, make saving decisions, and experience the consequence of spending. A free virtual ledger does all of that without the subscription fee.
When your child is regularly going to the shops independently and needs to pay for things themselves, that's the point to introduce a card product like Spriggy or GoHenry.
The two approaches aren't mutually exclusive — some families use Happy Pocket for habit-building at home and add Spriggy when kids are older.