{"id":9230,"date":"2009-08-14T00:08:35","date_gmt":"2009-08-13T18:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=9230"},"modified":"2026-11-04T16:56:29","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T11:26:29","slug":"paypal-student-accounts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/","title":{"rendered":"PayPal Student Account: What It Was and Teen Accounts Today"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In 2009 PayPal let parents give their teenage children a <strong>PayPal student account<\/strong>, a free sub-account with its own card and spending limits set by the parent. This article explains how the PayPal Student Account worked, when PayPal closed it, and which teen money accounts parents can use instead today.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-67085\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/paypal-student-account-2026-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"PayPal Student Account: what it was and teen options today\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/paypal-student-account-2026-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/paypal-student-account-2026-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/paypal-student-account-2026-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/paypal-student-account-2026-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/paypal-student-account-2026.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> The PayPal Student Account launched in the US in August 2009 as a free sub-account that parents funded and controlled, with a Student Card for shopping in stores. PayPal closed it in September 2016. Today, PayPal&#8217;s own option for US teens is the Venmo Teen Account for ages 13 to 17, opened and managed by a parent. For more choices, compare the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/budget-app-for-teens\/\">best budget apps for teens<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af664c332a67\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af664c332a67\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#What_was_the_PayPal_Student_Account\" >What was the PayPal Student Account?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#What_parents_could_do\" >What parents could do<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#What_teens_could_do\" >What teens could do<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#What_happened_to_the_PayPal_Student_Account\" >What happened to the PayPal Student Account?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#PayPal_student_account_alternatives_for_teens_today\" >PayPal student account alternatives for teens today<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#Venmo_Teen_Account_from_PayPal\" >Venmo Teen Account (from PayPal)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#Teen_debit_cards_from_banks_and_fintech_apps\" >Teen debit cards from banks and fintech apps<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#Tips_for_teaching_teens_to_manage_money_online\" >Tips for teaching teens to manage money online<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#Does_PayPal_still_offer_a_student_account\" >Does PayPal still offer a student account?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#Can_a_teenager_have_a_PayPal_account\" >Can a teenager have a PayPal account?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#How_many_student_accounts_could_a_parent_have\" >How many student accounts could a parent have?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/paypal-student-accounts\/#Was_the_PayPal_Student_Account_available_outside_the_US\" >Was the PayPal Student Account available outside the US?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_was_the_PayPal_Student_Account\"><\/span>What was the PayPal Student Account?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>PayPal announced the Student Account on 11 August 2009, just in time for back-to-school season. These accounts were sub-accounts set up by parents, which let teens safely use money and buy what they needed while giving them limited financial freedom.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9234\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/paypal-student.jpg\" alt=\"PayPal Student Account for teens\" width=\"300\" height=\"147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/paypal-student.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/paypal-student-150x73.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_parents_could_do\"><\/span>What parents could do<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Keep track of all money spent by their children and set the <strong>spending limit<\/strong> they wanted.<\/li>\n<li>Run up to <strong>four PayPal sub-accounts<\/strong> for their teens.<\/li>\n<li>Transfer money on a one-time or recurring basis.<\/li>\n<li>Check balances, get low balance alerts and transfer money to their teen&#8217;s account from a mobile phone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_teens_could_do\"><\/span>What teens could do<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Teens<\/strong> learned to manage money and could shop online with PayPal, and in stores with the Student Card. They could only spend money that was in the account, so there was no credit to run up. They could also check their balance and ask their parents for money with a simple text message. The Student Account was available in the <strong>United States<\/strong> only.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happened_to_the_PayPal_Student_Account\"><\/span>What happened to the PayPal Student Account?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>PayPal ended the program in 2016. It emailed users that student accounts would close on 29 September 2016, after which the student debit card stopped working. Any money left in a student account was moved to the linked parent&#8217;s PayPal account later that year.<\/p>\n<p>PayPal&#8217;s standard accounts are for adults, so a teen cannot simply open their own regular PayPal account. If a parent no longer needs their own PayPal account, here is how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/09\/close-paypal-account\/\">close a PayPal account<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"PayPal_student_account_alternatives_for_teens_today\"><\/span>PayPal student account alternatives for teens today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Venmo_Teen_Account_from_PayPal\"><\/span>Venmo Teen Account (from PayPal)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>PayPal owns <a href=\"https:\/\/venmo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Venmo<\/a>, and in 2023 it launched the Venmo Teen Account, the closest modern version of the old student account:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>For teens aged <strong>13 to 17<\/strong>, opened by a parent or guardian who has a Venmo account.<\/li>\n<li>Comes with a <strong>Venmo Teen Debit Card<\/strong> (a Mastercard) for shopping in stores and online.<\/li>\n<li>Parents can see the balance and every transaction, lock or unlock the card, and send money to their teen.<\/li>\n<li>Teen transactions are private by default, and only the parent can change privacy settings.<\/li>\n<li>Parents cannot set their own custom dollar limits; they control spending by deciding how much money to send, and the account has built-in daily and weekly limits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Teen_debit_cards_from_banks_and_fintech_apps\"><\/span>Teen debit cards from banks and fintech apps<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many US banks and money apps now offer teen or kids&#8217; debit cards with parental controls, chore and allowance tools, and spending alerts. Compare fees, controls and whether the account is insured before choosing one.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_for_teaching_teens_to_manage_money_online\"><\/span>Tips for teaching teens to manage money online<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Start with a small, regular allowance so teens learn to budget.<\/li>\n<li>Review the transaction history together once a week.<\/li>\n<li>Turn on spending alerts so you notice unusual payments quickly.<\/li>\n<li>Teach them never to share card details or login codes, and to watch out for scams and fake payment requests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_PayPal_still_offer_a_student_account\"><\/span>Does PayPal still offer a student account?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. PayPal closed its Student Account program in September 2016.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_teenager_have_a_PayPal_account\"><\/span>Can a teenager have a PayPal account?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Regular PayPal accounts are for adults. For US teens aged 13 to 17, PayPal&#8217;s option is the Venmo Teen Account, opened by a parent.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_student_accounts_could_a_parent_have\"><\/span>How many student accounts could a parent have?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A parent could run up to four PayPal Student Accounts for their teens.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Was_the_PayPal_Student_Account_available_outside_the_US\"><\/span>Was the PayPal Student Account available outside the US?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. It was only available in the United States.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2009 PayPal let parents give their teenage children a PayPal student account, a free sub-account with its own card&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":67085,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9230"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69480,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9230\/revisions\/69480"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}