Allowance apps compared: Kroni, Greenlight, Gimi and Rooster Money

Short answer: choose the money model and family workflow first

Kroni, Greenlight, Gimi and Rooster Money all cover parts of family allowance or chores. The useful distinction is what your family wants to do: keep a virtual record, manage household tasks, or give a child a way to spend real money.

Kroni combines chores, scheduled allowance and family rewards with a virtual balance. It has no bank connection or payment card. That is useful when parents want to settle pocket money themselves or use noncash rewards. Other apps also offer virtual tracking, so "no bank required" is not unique to Kroni.

Reviewed September 28, 2026. We make Kroni. This comparison uses the providers' published information linked below; it is not a hands-on test or an independent ranking. Availability, features and fees depend on country and plan.

Named apps compared

App	Money model	Chores and allowance	Country or plan check
Kroni	Virtual balance; no bank account or card	Paid or unpaid chores, optional approval, scheduled allowance and family-defined rewards	iPhone, iPad and Android; check the local store. Free for one child and five active chores
Greenlight	US debit-card product with real funds	Recurring chores, one-time jobs, reminders and allowance with or without chore conditions	Check US eligibility and the current subscription
Gimi	Demo balance or a supported linked bank account	Chores and weekly/monthly allowance; bank linking is a Pro feature	Demo, chores and allowance are listed without Pro; supported banks and offers vary
NatWest Rooster Money	Free virtual tracker or a separate real-money card option	Pocket-money tracking; a chore manager is offered with the card product	Rooster Card requires a UK-resident parent/guardian; check plan eligibility and fees

Sources: Greenlight chores and allowance, Gimi account types, Gimi feature access, and Rooster Money products and eligibility.

When a real-money card matters

If your child needs to pay in shops, a virtual balance cannot replace a card or cash. Greenlight combines spending with recurring chores and one-off jobs, and lets parents decide whether allowance depends on completion. You do not need a separate chore app simply because you choose a card product.

Rooster Money also offers a card and chore manager. Its free virtual tracker is a different option; do not assume the free tracker includes every paid feature. For either provider, check age, residency, funding, fees and parental controls before signing up.

Canada, Australia and other English-speaking markets have different banking products and eligibility rules. A US or UK recommendation is not automatically available where you live. Our guide to children paying by card can help you frame the practical decision.

When virtual tracking is enough

Kroni records what the family agreed without transferring money. Parents can schedule allowance separately from chores, add paid extra jobs and keep everyday responsibilities unpaid. A child can save the virtual balance or request an agreed reward. Any cash, transfer or purchase happens outside the app.

Gimi also offers a demo account without real transfers. Compare the actual chore, reward and family workflows rather than treating bank-free use as a Kroni-only feature. The Kroni and Gimi comparison explains this distinction in more detail.

In Kroni, parents decide which chores need approval. A completion photo can be used where the task calls for one; it is not a requirement for every chore. Adults in the same family can follow the shared record. See how Kroni handles chores for the workflow and the allowance-app guide for the balance and plan limits.

When paper is enough

A paper chart can be a good fit when everyone can see the same sheet and you do not need a shared digital history. Write down the task, who does it and how completion is recorded. If a chart is enough for your family, start with the free printable chore-chart generator.

A shared to-do app is another option when a checklist is all you need. Check whether it supports the approval, balance or reward record you want instead of assuming every to-do app has the same limitations.

Five checks before choosing

1. Country and devices. Can every adult and child access the product on the devices you use?
2. Real or virtual money. Do you need spending, or a record that parents settle separately?
3. Allowance rules. Fixed allowance, paid jobs and unpaid household contributions can coexist.
4. Follow-up. Decide which tasks need an adult's approval and who handles it.
5. Limits and cost. Compare the number of children and active chores you actually need, using current local terms.

For allowance amounts, the calculator uses disclosed US data as a starting point. Its USD examples are not a global allowance standard. Agree what the money covers and what your household can afford before comparing amounts.

Try one small agreement

Choose a few tasks and one clear allowance or reward agreement. Write down who confirms completion and when any payment happens. Review it together after you have tried it, and adjust sooner if it creates confusion or pressure.

For noncash ideas, see 50 rewards that cost nothing. If a product detail here has changed, please tell us so we can recheck the source.