MemoryBank vs. BusyKid

Both apps want kids to learn about money, including investing, but they start from different places. BusyKid starts with chores: kids earn an allowance, then split it into save, share and spend, with a prepaid card and the option to buy stocks. MemoryBank starts with the accounts your family already opened for your child, and shows them what they own and how it is growing.

MemoryBank is

A read-only kids’ investment dashboard. You connect the UTMA, 529, custodial Roth IRA, Trump Account or savings account you already have at your brokerage, state plan or bank. Your child gets their own view of what they own and how it’s growing, with Penny, an AI money mentor, explaining it at their age. Nothing can be bought, sold or spent inside it.

BusyKid is

A chores and allowance app with a Visa prepaid card for kids 5 to 17. Parents set chores, approve payday each week, and choose how allowance splits across Save/Invest, Share and Spend. Kids can request stock and ETF purchases from their Save/Invest balance, which a parent approves; brokerage is provided by Apex.

Side by side

	MemoryBank	BusyKid
The main job	Show kids the real accounts their family already opened, and teach them what they own.	Turn chores into allowance, then teach kids to save, give, spend and invest it.
Debit or prepaid card	None. There is nothing to spend.	Yes. A Visa prepaid card for ages 5 to 17; up to five cards per family subscription.
Where the money sits	At your brokerage, 529 plan or bank. MemoryBank never holds, receives or moves money.	Inside BusyKid: allowance balances and the prepaid card, plus an investing account through Apex.
Can the kid trade?	No. No trading, transfers or withdrawals exist anywhere in the app.	Kids pick stocks or ETFs (4,000+ available) and a parent approves each purchase. Minimum purchase $10, no commission.
Accounts it shows	UTMA/UGMA, 529, custodial Roth IRA, Trump Account, brokerage and savings accounts at 10,000+ institutions through Plaid, including Schwab, Fidelity and Vanguard. Unlinkable accounts can be entered manually.	BusyKid’s own Save/Invest, Share and Spend balances, card and investing account.
Financial literacy	Penny answers questions at your child’s age level (5 to 18+), every holding gets a plain-English story, a weekly recap teaches one money word at a time, plus 90+ free parent guides.	Chores tied to pay, a save/share/spend split, charity donations, and hands-on stock buying.
Gifts from family	Family members contribute to the child’s real accounts at the brokerage or plan; MemoryBank shows the result.	BusyPay: anyone can add money to a child’s BusyKid account from a QR code ($1 fee for the sender).
Price	Free to start (up to 3 kids). Starter $6.99/mo (up to 3 kids, 3 linked accounts), Family $9.99/mo (up to 10 kids, 10 linked accounts). About two months free on annual billing.	$48 a year (about $4/mo, billed annually) per family, including investing.
Platforms	iPhone, Android and any web browser; an always-on frame mode for a wall tablet or TV.	iPhone and Android apps.
Best age range	Any age from the first account at birth; Penny adjusts from 5 to 18+.	Kids old enough to do chores and use a card, 5 to 17.

The main job

MemoryBank

Show kids the real accounts their family already opened, and teach them what they own.

BusyKid

Turn chores into allowance, then teach kids to save, give, spend and invest it.

Debit or prepaid card

MemoryBank

None. There is nothing to spend.

BusyKid

Yes. A Visa prepaid card for ages 5 to 17; up to five cards per family subscription.

Where the money sits

MemoryBank

At your brokerage, 529 plan or bank. MemoryBank never holds, receives or moves money.

BusyKid

Inside BusyKid: allowance balances and the prepaid card, plus an investing account through Apex.

Can the kid trade?

MemoryBank

No. No trading, transfers or withdrawals exist anywhere in the app.

BusyKid

Kids pick stocks or ETFs (4,000+ available) and a parent approves each purchase. Minimum purchase $10, no commission.

Accounts it shows

MemoryBank

UTMA/UGMA, 529, custodial Roth IRA, Trump Account, brokerage and savings accounts at 10,000+ institutions through Plaid, including Schwab, Fidelity and Vanguard. Unlinkable accounts can be entered manually.

BusyKid

BusyKid’s own Save/Invest, Share and Spend balances, card and investing account.

Financial literacy

MemoryBank

Penny answers questions at your child’s age level (5 to 18+), every holding gets a plain-English story, a weekly recap teaches one money word at a time, plus 90+ free parent guides.

BusyKid

Chores tied to pay, a save/share/spend split, charity donations, and hands-on stock buying.

Gifts from family

MemoryBank

Family members contribute to the child’s real accounts at the brokerage or plan; MemoryBank shows the result.

BusyKid

BusyPay: anyone can add money to a child’s BusyKid account from a QR code ($1 fee for the sender).

Price

MemoryBank

Free to start (up to 3 kids). Starter $6.99/mo (up to 3 kids, 3 linked accounts), Family $9.99/mo (up to 10 kids, 10 linked accounts). About two months free on annual billing.

BusyKid

$48 a year (about $4/mo, billed annually) per family, including investing.

Platforms

MemoryBank

iPhone, Android and any web browser; an always-on frame mode for a wall tablet or TV.

BusyKid

iPhone and Android apps.

Best age range

MemoryBank

Any age from the first account at birth; Penny adjusts from 5 to 18+.

BusyKid

Kids old enough to do chores and use a card, 5 to 17.

BusyKid details are as described on BusyKid's own website and help center in November 2026and can change; confirm current prices and features there before deciding. MemoryBank isn't affiliated with BusyKid. Sources: BusyKid features and pricing, BusyKid FAQ.

Which one fits your family

Choose BusyKid if

You want chores and allowance to run on autopilot, with payday every Friday.
You want your child to have a prepaid card and practice spending with limits.
You’d like your kid to buy small amounts of stock with allowance money, with you approving each trade.

Choose MemoryBank if

You’ve already opened a UTMA, 529, custodial Roth or Trump Account and want your kid to actually see it.
The money you most want them to understand is long-term money, not allowance.
Your kids’ accounts live at different places and you want one view per child.
You don’t want a card, spending or trading involved in how your child learns about investing.

These fit together well. BusyKid handles chores, allowance and pocket money; MemoryBank shows the college and custodial money that allowance apps don’t see, so a child learns the difference between money they spend this week and money that is growing for them over years.

Common questions

Is MemoryBank a BusyKid alternative?

Only for the investing-education part. MemoryBank has no chores, allowance or card. It is a read-only dashboard for the investment accounts your child already has, with an AI money mentor that explains them at the child’s age. BusyKid is built around chores and allowance.

Can BusyKid show my child’s 529 or UTMA?

No. BusyKid shows the balances and investments held inside BusyKid. MemoryBank connects to accounts at 10,000+ outside institutions through Plaid, including brokerages and banks, and accounts that can’t be linked can be entered manually.

Can kids buy stocks in MemoryBank like they can in BusyKid?

No. MemoryBank is read-only by design: no trading, transfers, withdrawals or card. BusyKid lets kids request stock and ETF purchases from their Save/Invest balance, with a parent approving each one.

Which is cheaper, MemoryBank or BusyKid?

As of November 2026, BusyKid costs $48 a year per family, billed annually. MemoryBank is free to start, with paid plans at $6.99 or $9.99 a month and about two months free on annual billing. Check each site for current prices.

Can I use BusyKid and MemoryBank together?

Yes. BusyKid can run chores and allowance while MemoryBank shows the long-term accounts, like a 529 or UTMA, that sit outside BusyKid.

Their money is growing. Let them see it.

Free to start. Connect the accounts you already have and give your kid their own view.

Try MemoryBank free See every feature

MemoryBank is not a brokerage. It cannot receive, keep or transfer securities, and it never holds your money.