Step review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Step is a debit card on the visa network, built for kids, with a monthly fee of $0 and a virtual card option. It suits parents who want a simple first card for a child, not an everyday personal account for an adult.
Key facts
- Best for
- A free debit card for a child, with cashback back on everyday spending.
- Monthly fee
- $0↗
- Card type
- Debit↗
- Cashback rate
- 10%↗
- Card network
- Visa↗
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre↗
- Features
- Virtual card
- Audience
- Kids
- Official website
- step.com
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 3 sources
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- App StoreGoogle Play
- Elsewhere
- LinkedInXinstagram.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Cashback of 10% on spending puts money back in a child's hands on ordinary purchases.
- A virtual card is available as virtual card, giving a second way to pay online.
- The card is debit on the visa network, a standard card rather than a prepaid balance.
- The monthly fee is $0, so there is no standing cost to keep the account open.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone line or live chat for urgent questions.
- Cashback of 10% is the whole reward, so there is little to build on for regular family spending.
Who it suits
- Parents setting up a first card for a child, with a simple cashback reward.
- Families that want a virtual card for a child's online spending as well as the main card.
- Anyone who wants a Visa card with no monthly charge to hold.
Who should look elsewhere
- Adults wanting an everyday personal account: Step is built for kids, kids, while Monzo Flex, with a monthly fee of £0, is the general account to compare.
- Anyone after multi-currency or crypto spending: Wise, at a monthly fee of £0, and Bitpanda, at €0, fit that side better than a card for kids.
How Step compares
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 9.0
9.3 vs 8.2
9.3 vs 9.5
9.3 vs 9.6
9.3 vs 9.0
9.3 vs 9.1The monthly fee of €0 also matches Step's $0, so its audience and product differ from a kids debit card.
9.3 vs 8.9
9.3 vs 8.1
9.3 vs 8.2
9.3 vs 9.5
9.3 vs 9.4
9.3 vs 9.2
9.3 vs 9.1
9.3 vs 9.0
9.3 vs 8.9- 9.3 vs 8.8
9.3 vs 8.8
9.3 vs 8.6
9.3 vs 8.5
9.3 vs 8.3
Where Step is available
- Available
- United States
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does Step cost to hold each month?+
The monthly fee is $0, so there is no standing charge on the account. Cashback of 10% is the money-back side. Monzo Flex, Wise and Bitpanda each list a monthly fee of £0, £0 and €0, so price alone does not separate them.
Is Step a debit, prepaid or virtual card?+
The card is debit and runs on the visa network, so spending draws on the balance in the account. A virtual card also comes as virtual card, which adds a second way to pay online.
How much cashback does Step pay?+
Cashback of 10% comes back on spending through the card, and that is the reward on offer. Because it is tied to purchases rather than to holding the account, a card used little earns little back.
Who is Step built for?+
Step is aimed at kids, so the card is set up around a child's spending rather than an adult's own everyday account. A parent opens the debit card, and what the child spends earns 10% cashback back.
How do I get help from Step?+
Support runs on email and help centre, so questions go by email or through the help centre. There is no phone line or live chat in that set, which matters for a card a child carries on their own.
Can a Step account include a virtual card?+
A virtual card comes with the account as virtual card, alongside the main debit card. It gives a separate set of card details for online spending, while the account itself keeps a monthly fee of $0.
How does Step compare with Monzo Flex and Wise on cost?+
Both are free to hold: Step's monthly fee is $0 and Monzo Flex's is £0. Wise, at £0, and Bitpanda, at €0, sit at the same level. The choice comes down to who the card is for, since Step is aimed at kids.
Sources
- step.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type
“Step Visa Card that builds credit with every purchase”
- step.com/families checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience
“THE FREE, SAFE, AND EASY WAY TO BUILD CREDIT FOR TEENS”
- step.com/faq checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features
“You will receive your Virtual Step Card instantly - Step Visa Card”
- step.com/rewards checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Cashback rate, Monthly fee
“get up to 10% cashback on groceries, essentials, entertainment and more - Step Black”
- step.com/security checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card network, Support channels
“The Step Visa Card is protected by VISA Zero Liability guarantee”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.