Edenred Creche, Estudante, or Flexível? How do you decide which option to assign to each employee?
25 de June, 2026
Today’s teams are made up of people at completely different stages of life. Some have young children, some have school-age children, some want to focus on their own education, care for an elderly family member, or simply invest in their health and well-being. Each of these situations involves different expenses and different expectations regarding the support and benefits a company should offer.
Understanding which solutions best suit each need is essential to ensuring that employees use and appreciate the benefits.
Edenred Creche, Edenred Estudante, and Edenred Flexível are three benefits that address different needs. In this article, we explain the differences between Edenred Creche, Edenred Estudante, and Edenred Flaxível, and help you understand which one to choose in each situation
When assigning Edenred Creche
Profile: Employees with children or dependents under the age of 7.
Edenred Creche is an employee benefit designed to support childcare. It is fully exempt from personal income tax (IRS) and social security contributions (TSU) for the employee, and the company receives a 40% tax credit against corporate income tax (IRC). There is no limit on the amount: the company decides how much to allocate.
It can be used at more than 3,200 public and private facilities: daycare centers, nurseries, breastfeeding rooms, kindergartens, and similar establishments. Employees receive the benefit in the MyEdenred app wallet and can make payments from there.
Factors to consider when deciding whether to grant this benefit:
- The company has employees with children in daycare or preschool;
- Do you want to maximize your tax benefits (this is the product with the greatest tax benefit);
- It aims to support families during a stage of life when they face greater financial pressure.
When assigning Edenred Estudante
Profile: Any employee, as it covers educational expenses for children aged 7 or older and the employee’s own professional training.
Edenred Estudante is a benefit available to people of all ages. It can be used at more than 2,800 institutions: schools, high schools, universities, training centers, language schools, and similar establishments. Both the company and the employee are fully exempt from the TSU.
Since there is no age limit, this product is recommended when Edenred Creche is no longer applicable—that is, when an employee’s children are over 7 years old. It can also be granted to employees without children to support their own professional development.
Just like with Edenred Creche, employees receive the benefit in their MyEdenred app wallet.
Factors to consider when deciding whether to grant this benefit:
- Employees with children over the age of 7 who are enrolled in school;
- Employees who want to invest in their own professional development;
- Companies that want to promote upskilling and reskilling among their teams.
When assigning Edenred Flexível
Profile: Any employee: This is the most comprehensive benefit and adapts to different life stages.
Edenred Flexível can be used at more than 6,000 establishments in the fields of education, training, healthcare, and senior care. It is fully exempt from the TSU for both the company and the employee.
It’s the most versatile product: employees decide where to spend the allocated amount, depending on their current needs. In addition to helping cover expenses for education, training, and school supplies, it can also be used for healthcare expenses and to support elderly family members. It is available as a physical card and can be linked to MB WAY for contactless and online payments.
Factors to consider when deciding whether to grant this benefit:
- Teams with diverse profiles: different ages, life stages, and needs;
- Employees without school-age children;
- Companies that want to offer a single flexible benefit to their entire team.
Comparison Chart: Edenred Creche, Estudante, and Flexível
The following table summarizes the main differences between the three benefits:
| Edenred Creche | Edenred Estudante | Edenred Flexível | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is it for | Employees with children up to 7 years old | Any employee (children over 7 years old or the employee themselves) | Any employee |
| Where it can be used | 3,200+ day-care centres, nurseries and kindergartens | 2,800+ schools, private schools and universities | 6,000+ education, healthcare and senior care providers |
| IRS exemption | Yes | No | No |
| Employer Social Security exemption | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Employee Social Security exemption | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate tax enhancement | Yes (40%) | No | No |
| Value limit | No limit | No limit | No limit |
| Format | MyEdenred Wallet App | MyEdenred Wallet App | Physical card + MB WAY |
| Validity | No limit | 24 months | No limit |
Note: The tax information is based on the laws in effect as of the date of publication of this article. Please contact Edenred to confirm the terms and conditions.
Choosing the right benefit makes all the difference
There is no one-size-fits-all answer for the entire team. The right benefit depends on each employee’s profile, their stage of life, and the organization’s goals. Edenred Daycare, Edenred Student, and Edenred Flexible were designed precisely to address this diversity and can be combined according to each person’s needs.
If you have questions about the best option for your company, the Edenred team is available to help you find the most suitable solution.