Earnest lets chores earn two things: minutes for screen time and coins for real-world rewards you set. It is not a debit card or a bank, so the coins buy things like a movie night or ice cream, not cash loaded onto a card.
That split is the point. Some days a kid wants screen time now, other days they are saving for something bigger, and one chore list can feed both.
You write chores as quests, each worth minutes and coins you decide. Your child does the chore, marks it done, and you approve it. Minutes go into the Time Bank for screen time, and coins go into a balance they can spend in the reward shop.
Set one-off, daily, or weekly chores with a category and icon, so everyone knows what needs doing and what it is worth.
A chore can pay minutes, coins, or both. Minutes buy screen time now, coins save toward a real reward later.
You decide the rewards and their coin price, from ice cream to a movie night to a set dollar amount, and kids spend when they are ready.
Nothing credits until you approve with your PIN, so a chore that was not really done does not quietly pay out.
A good rule of thumb: pay minutes for everyday upkeep that you want to be routine, and pay coins when you want a chore to build toward something the child is excited about. You can also pay both for the big jobs. Because you control the values, you can keep the economy sane and adjust it as your kids grow. Earnest is deliberately not a real bank, so coins stay a simple, in-family way to recognize effort rather than a financial account to manage.
Earnest is in early access (version 0.1.0) and Android-only, with no iPhone or iPad version yet. If your goal is a real debit card, saving, or investing, a money app like Greenlight or BusyKid is a different and more mature tool. Earnest is about earning screen time and simple rewards, not banking.
No. Earnest is not a financial product. Coins are for parent-defined rewards, not real money, and there is no card, account, or investing. It tracks effort and screen time, not banking.
Yes, in a simple way. Add a reward worth an amount you choose, such as five dollars. When your child redeems it, you hand over the cash yourself, and Earnest keeps track of the coins.
Match the chore to the age. Younger kids do well with make your bed or clear the table, while older kids can take on laundry or cooking. Our chores-by-age guide has a full list.
See the reward shop and quests up close, or compare Earnest with the chores-to-money apps.
Coins, reward cards, and the parent-defined prices behind them.
How to set daily and weekly chores worth minutes and coins.
The loop from chore to reward, end to end.
Age-appropriate chores from preschool to the teen years.
Screen-time rewards versus a kids debit card, compared fairly.
Coins for rewards versus chores that pay real allowance.