Updated March 2026 · Independent comparison
Best NZ investing platforms compared.
We compared 9 NZ investing platforms on fees, markets, ease of use, and more. Here’s everything you need to know to pick the right one.
Last updated March 2026 · Data sourced directly from each platform
Best for beginners
Sharesies
Invest from 1c, NZ/AU/US markets, friendly interface
Best for US stocks
Hatch
Flat $3 USD fee, 3,000+ US shares and ETFs
Best for funds
InvestNow
150+ funds, no platform fee, widest selection
Best for low fees
BlackBull / IBKR
Institutional-grade fees, 80+ global markets
Best NZ index funds
Kernel
Simple index funds, low fees, NZD hedged options
Best for KiwiSaver
Sharesies / Kernel
Both offer flexible, low-cost KiwiSaver schemes
Filter
S
Sharesies
sharesies.nz · Founded 2017 · Wellington
Beginner friendly
KiwiSaver
NZ · AU · US
NZ trades
1.9%, cap $25
US trades
1.9%, cap $5 USD
FX fee
0.5%
Monthly plan
$3 / $7 / $15
Min. investment
1 cent
Account fee
Free
Markets
Pros
Invest from 1 cent — no minimum
NZ, AU and US markets in one app
KiwiSaver scheme included
Monthly plans reduce fees for regular investors
Fractional shares available
Cons
1.9% fee expensive for large trades without a plan
No advanced charting tools
No direct share ownership (custodial)
H
Hatch
hatchinvest.nz · Founded 2018 · Wellington
US market specialist
Flat fee
US trades
$3 USD flat
FX fee
0.5%
Account fee
Free
Setup fee
$1.50 USD once
Annual tax fee
$0.50 USD/yr
Min. investment
$1 USD
Markets
Pros
Flat $3 USD fee — great for larger trades
You own shares directly (not custodial)
SIPC protection up to $500,000 USD
Transparent, low FX fees
NZ tax reporting built in
Cons
US market only — no NZX or ASX
$3 fee expensive for very small trades
No KiwiSaver
I
InvestNow
investnow.nz · NZ-owned fund platform
No platform fee
150+ funds
Platform fee
Free
Transaction fee
Free
Fund mgmt fees
Varies by fund
Min. one-off
$250 NZD
Min. regular
$50 NZD
Number of funds
150+
Fund managers available
Pros
No platform or transaction fees
Widest selection of NZ funds (150+)
Access to Milford, Vanguard & more
Good for passive long-term investing
Cons
$250 minimum for one-off investments
No direct share trading
Interface less modern than Sharesies
K
Kernel
kernelwealth.co.nz · NZ index fund specialist
Low-cost index funds
KiwiSaver
NZD hedged
Platform fee
Free under $25k
Fund mgmt fee
~0.25–0.45%
Min. investment
$1 NZD
NZD hedging
Available
KiwiSaver
Yes
Number of funds
~20 funds
Key funds
Pros
Very low management fees (~0.25–0.45%)
NZD hedged options protect against FX risk
Free platform for accounts under $25k
Simple clean interface
Great KiwiSaver option
Cons
Limited fund selection vs InvestNow
No direct share trading
Annual fee kicks in above $25k
S
Stake
stake.com/nz · Australian-founded, available in NZ
US market
Higher FX fees
US trades
$3 USD flat
FX fee
1%
Account fee
Free
US stocks
9,500+
Fractional shares
Yes
Free share offer
On first deposit
Markets
Pros
Flat $3 USD fee like Hatch
Large selection of US stocks (9,500+)
Free share on first deposit
Fractional shares available
Cons
1% FX fee — double Hatch’s 0.5%
US market only
No KiwiSaver or NZ funds
T
Tiger Brokers
tigerbrokers.com.au · Singapore-founded
Multi-market
AU · US · HK · SG
AU trades
AUD $5 flat
US trades
Low per-share
FX fee
Low
Markets
AU, US, HK, SG
Options trading
Yes
KiwiSaver
No
Markets
Pros
Access to Asian markets (HK, SG)
Competitive fees for AU stocks
Options and futures trading
Good for active traders
Cons
More complex than beginner platforms
No NZX trading
No KiwiSaver or NZ funds
B
BlackBull Markets
blackbull.com · Auckland-founded, IBKR infrastructure
Lowest fees
80+ markets
NZ support
US trades
Fraction of others
FX fee
Very low
Markets
80+ globally
NZX access
Phone/email only
NZ support
Yes
KiwiSaver
No
Markets
Pros
Lowest fees of any NZ-accessible platform
80+ global markets, 23,000+ stocks
NZ-based customer support
Uses Interactive Brokers infrastructure
Cons
Interface suits experienced investors more
NZX only via phone/email
No KiwiSaver
IB
Interactive Brokers
interactivebrokers.com · US-headquartered, global
135+ markets
Professional grade
US trades
~$0.35 USD
FX fee
~0.02%
Markets
135+ globally
Account fee
Free (Lite)
Options trading
Yes
KiwiSaver
No
Markets
Pros
Lowest possible fees globally
135+ markets worldwide
Professional tools and research
Options, futures, forex all available
Cons
Complex interface — steep learning curve
No NZ-based support
Overkill for most retail investors
No KiwiSaver
A
ASB Securities
asb.co.nz/securities · Bank-integrated NZ broker
Bank integrated
Higher fees
NZ trades (online)
$15 min / 0.3%
US/UK trades
Phone only, 0.6%
FX fee
~2% effective
Live NZX data
Free
ASB integration
Yes
KiwiSaver
No
Markets
Pros
Integrates with ASB bank account
Free live NZX market data
Trusted NZ institution
Good for large NZX trades (0.3% cap)
Cons
$15 minimum fee — poor for small trades
US trading by phone only
~2% effective FX fee — very expensive
Interface dated vs modern platforms
Side-by-side comparison
Key metrics across all 9 platforms. Always verify current pricing on each platform’s website.
| Platform | Trade fee | FX fee | Min. invest | NZX | US stocks | AU stocks | KiwiSaver | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sharesies | 1.9% (capped) | 0.5% | 1 cent | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Beginners, all-in-one |
Hatch | $3 USD flat | 0.5% | $1 USD | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | US stocks |
InvestNow | Free | Varies | $250 NZD | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | Managed funds |
Kernel | Free | In fund fee | $1 NZD | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | Index funds, hedging |
Stake | $3 USD flat | 1% | Any amount | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | US stocks alt. |
Tiger Brokers | AUD $5 flat | Low | Varies | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | AU & Asian markets |
BlackBull | Very low | Very low | No minimum | Phone only | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Low fees, global |
IBKR | ~$0.35 USD | ~0.02% | No minimum | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Advanced traders |
ASB Securities | $15 minimum | ~2% | $1,000+ practical | ✓ | Phone only | ✓ | ✗ | Large NZX trades |
New to investing? Start here.
A simple path for NZ beginners to go from zero to invested.
01
Pick one platform to start
Don’t overthink it. Sharesies is the easiest starting point — invest from $1, access NZ and US markets, and get comfortable with how it works.
02
Start with a simple index fund
A fund like the Sharesies US500 or a Kernel S&P 500 fund gives you instant diversification. Low cost, low effort.
03
Set up auto-invest
Most platforms let you set a recurring investment. Dollar-cost averaging removes the need to time the market.
04
Sort your KiwiSaver
Make sure your KiwiSaver is in a growth fund if you’re under 50. Sharesies and Kernel both offer good low-cost options.
05
Branch out as you learn
Once comfortable, consider Hatch for US stocks, InvestNow for more fund managers, or Kernel for hedged index funds.
06
Know your tax obligations
NZ investors pay tax on overseas investments via FIF rules. Hatch and Sharesies provide tax reports — check with an accountant for your situation.
Not financial advice. KiwiCash provides independent comparisons for informational purposes only. Fees and features change — always verify current pricing on each platform’s website before investing. Last updated March 2026.