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Chore apps for kids fall into two families: banking apps where chores earn real money on a card, and game apps where chores earn points, levels and rewards you choose. Which one fits depends on what you want chores to teach.
Disclosure: we make KUDOZ, one of the apps below. We've tried to describe every app fairly, including ours. Prices were checked on each app's official website on October 6, 2026 (US prices) and can change.
The short answer
| App | Best for | Kids earn | Real money? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenlight | Teaching money with a real debit card | Allowance on a card | Yes | From $5.99/month |
| BusyKid | A simple, low-cost allowance card | Allowance deposited weekly | Yes | $4/month, billed yearly |
| Joon | Kids 6 to 12 who struggle with routines, including ADHD | Progress in a virtual pet game | No | Free tier; Premium $12.99/month |
| Homey | Chores linked to savings accounts | Allowance, transferable to a bank account | Yes | Free to start |
| KUDOZ (ours) | Kids 6 to 13 who love games and levels; multilingual families | XP, levels and coins for a family reward shop | No | Free; optional Premium |
| Paper chart | Kids under 7, one or two chores | Stickers | No | Free (templates here) |
First question: money or game?
Banking apps (Greenlight, BusyKid, Homey) are built around money. Chores are how the allowance gets earned, and the payoff is real: a card, a balance, savings goals, sometimes investing. They're a strong choice if your main goal is financial literacy, and if you're comfortable linking chores to cash.
Game apps (Joon, KUDOZ) are built around motivation. Chores become quests, and the payoff is progress in a game plus rewards you define, like screen time, an outing or choosing dinner. They suit younger kids and families who'd rather not pay for everyday chores.
Neither is better. Some families even use both: a game app for daily chores, a card for pocket money.
Greenlight
Greenlight is a debit card and money app for kids and teens, with chores and allowance built in. Parents set chores, kids complete them and the allowance lands on their card. Plans listed on its site: Core at $5.99/month, Max at $10.98, Infinity at $15.98 and Family Shield at $19.98, all including chores and allowance. Higher plans add features such as investing and family safety.
Good for: families who want chores to teach earning, saving and spending with real money. Keep in mind: it's a financial product first; the chore side is simpler than in dedicated chore apps.
BusyKid
BusyKid is an allowance app with a prepaid Visa card. Parents set chores, kids complete them, and the allowance is deposited each Friday. Its site lists it at $4/month, billed annually. Kids can also save, donate and, optionally, invest.
Good for: a straightforward "chores pay allowance" system at a low price. Keep in mind: like Greenlight, the motivation is money, so it fits kids old enough to care about it.
Joon
Joon targets children aged 6 to 12, particularly those with ADHD or other behavioral challenges. Tasks are "Quests" that let kids care for a virtual pet, and the app avoids monetary rewards. There's a free version with limited features and a Premium plan at $12.99/month or from $89.99/year, with a 7-day trial.
Good for: younger kids who need a strong game hook to get through routines. Keep in mind: the game is the pet, not the family; rewards beyond the game are up to you.
Homey
Homey is a family chore app with recurring daily, weekly or monthly chores, allowance tracking, savings goals and family chat. Its distinctive feature: allowance can be transferred directly to a child's savings or checking account. It's free to start; the site doesn't list Premium prices.
Good for: families who already give an allowance and want it tied to a real bank account. Keep in mind: less game-like for younger kids.
KUDOZ
KUDOZ is our app. Parents create quests ("Tidy your room", 50 XP, 15 Kudoz), kids see them as game cards, tap Start then Done, and parents approve with a tap. Kids earn XP, level up and spend Kudoz coins in a family shop stocked with rewards parents choose. Kudoz are never real money. Finish all the day's quests and a daily gift opens.
It's built for kids 6 to 13, with a dark, game-like child view that doesn't feel babyish and a fast, light parent view. It runs in English, French, Hebrew (right to left) and Russian, works offline, and each child can use their own phone or share a family tablet. The app is free; an optional Premium adds custom avatars, photo proof and photo rewards.
Good for: kids who love games and levels, families who want rewards without cash, multilingual households. Keep in mind: no debit card or banking; if real money is your goal, pair it with a card or use one of the apps above.
How to choose
- What should chores teach? Money management points to Greenlight, BusyKid or Homey. Habits and motivation point to Joon or KUDOZ.
- How old is your child? Under 7, start with a paper chart. From 6 to 13, game apps shine. Teens often prefer real money.
- How many kids? Check that each child gets their own profile and that you can approve everything in one place.
- Does it protect the parent side? A PIN or separate login, so the approve button stays yours.
- Is your family multilingual? Few apps support languages beyond English, and fewer still right-to-left scripts.
Whatever you pick, the rules of a good chart still apply: few chores, clear chores, chores that fit the age (see chores by age) and a reward that comes quickly. Our guide to what to look for in a chore chart app goes into the features one by one.
Sources
- Greenlight, Plans, checked October 6, 2026.
- BusyKid, Pricing, checked October 6, 2026.
- Joon, joonapp.io, checked October 6, 2026.
- Homey, homeyapp.net, checked October 6, 2026.
Turn the chart into a game.
KUDOZ is a family app that does all of this for you: quests, XP, coins and a reward shop your kids actually want to open. Available on iPhone, coming soon to Android.
This guide shares general parenting information. It is not medical advice and does not replace a diagnosis or a care plan from a qualified professional.