Search "best chore app for kids" and you will get a dozen listicles that all say the same thing. This one is written by a team that builds a chore app, which means we will be upfront about where our app fits and, just as importantly, where a competitor is the better choice for you. The apps below solve genuinely different problems, so the real question is not "which is best?" but "which is best for what you are trying to do?"
The two kinds of chore apps
Almost every "chore app" falls into one of two camps:
- Chore-first apps are about tasks, points, and rewards. Parents assign chores, kids earn points, and points buy rewards you decide on, like screen time, pocket money, or outings. These are best for motivation, routines, and younger kids, and they are often free or low-cost.
- Money-first apps are really kids' banking apps with a debit card, where chores and allowance are one feature among many. These are best for teaching real-world money management with older kids, and they are almost always a paid monthly subscription.
Knowing which camp you want narrows the field immediately.
At a glance
| Raccoon | Greenlight | BusyKid | OurHome | Cozi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Chore-first | Money-first | Money-first | Chore-first | Organizer-first |
| Points & rewards | |||||
| Real debit card | |||||
| Rotating chores | |||||
| Parent approval | |||||
| Free tier / trial | |||||
| iOS & Android |
A note on prices and features
App pricing and features change often. Everything below reflects each app's general positioning at the time of writing. Always check the provider's own site for current pricing before you subscribe.
Raccoon Kids: best for motivating kids with rewards
Best for: families who want less nagging and a fun, game-like way to get chores done, without setting up a bank account.
Raccoon is a chore-first app built around a simple loop. Parents set chores worth coins, kids complete them in a game-like interface with a raccoon mascot, parents approve, and kids spend coins in a rewards shop you control. You can assign different chores to each child and rotate recurring tasks, like taking out the rubbish, between siblings each week.
- Pros: genuinely kid-friendly design, fully customizable rewards, rotating chores for multiple kids, free to download with a free trial, works on iOS and Android.
- Cons: no real debit card. If your main goal is teaching banking with a physical card, a money-first app fits better.
Greenlight: best for teaching money management
Best for: parents of older kids who want a real debit card plus saving and investing features.
Greenlight is a family finance app centered on a kids' debit card, with chore and allowance tracking layered on top. It shines at the money side. Parents can automate allowance, set spending controls, and help kids learn to save and invest.
- Pros: real debit card, strong parental money controls, saving and investing tools.
- Cons: money-first, so the chore and reward experience is lighter, and it is a paid monthly subscription with no free tier.
BusyKid: best for chore-to-allowance with a card
Best for: families who want chores to translate directly into real spendable allowance via a prepaid card.
BusyKid connects completed chores to allowance that lands on a BusyKid debit card, with options to save, spend, and even donate. It is a solid middle ground between chores and real money.
- Pros: direct chore-to-money link, real card, teaches saving and giving.
- Cons: subscription required, and the chore experience is more functional than playful.
OurHome: best free chore-first option
Best for: budget-conscious families who want points and rewards without paying.
OurHome is a long-standing free app combining chores, rewards, a shared calendar, and grocery lists. It is a capable all-rounder, especially if you also want family organizing features.
- Pros: free, points-and-rewards system, extra family-organizer tools.
- Cons: the interface feels more utilitarian than game-like, which can matter for younger kids' engagement.
Cozi: best if you mainly want a family organizer
Best for: families whose real need is a shared calendar and lists, with light chore tracking.
Cozi is a family organizer first. It handles calendars, to-do and shopping lists brilliantly, and includes basic chore lists, but it is not built around points, rewards, or motivation.
- Pros: excellent shared calendar and lists, free tier available.
- Cons: not a true rewards-based chore app, with no points shop or approval-and-earn loop.
How to choose in one minute
- You want kids motivated to do chores: Raccoon Kids or OurHome.
- You want a real debit card and money lessons: Greenlight or BusyKid.
- You mainly need a shared calendar and lists: Cozi.
- You want the most game-like experience for younger kids: Raccoon Kids.
- You want completely free and do not mind a plainer design: OurHome.
The honest takeaway
If your goal is teaching a teenager to manage a real bank balance, a money-first app like Greenlight or BusyKid is worth the subscription. If your goal, like most families with younger kids, is simply to end the nagging and get chores done without a fight, a chore-first app wins, and that is the problem Raccoon Kids is built to solve. Try it free and see if it clicks with your family.