How do Booster and Simplicity compare on fees?

Booster's funds carry an average annual fee of 1.20% compared with 0.25% at Simplicity. Illustrative — sub-1-percentage-point fee gaps compound over multi-decade horizons. Compare net-fee return as well as fee level — see the side-by-side data above.

What are the 5-year returns for Booster vs Simplicity?

Based on 5-year average annualised returns from FMA Disclose data, Booster shows 4.52% across its KiwiSaver scheme fund range, and Simplicity shows 4.05%. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns and returns can be negative in any given year.

Can I switch from Booster to Simplicity?

Yes. Switching KiwiSaver providers is free, requires no permission from your current provider, and typically takes 10–15 business days. You apply with your chosen new provider — they handle the transfer with your old provider directly. There are no exit fees or tax penalties. See our switching guide for the step-by-step process.

Which provider has more fund options — Booster or Simplicity?

Booster offers 17 KiwiSaver scheme funds, while Simplicity offers 6. A larger fund range gives more granular control over your asset allocation; a smaller range typically reflects a focused index- or default-fund philosophy.

How is this data sourced?

All figures are extracted from the FMA Disclose register and provider PDS / Quarterly Fund Update documents. Returns are 5-year annualised averages where available. AUM and member counts are sourced from the most recent provider disclosures. Data is refreshed quarterly. See methodology below.

Booster vs Simplicity

Side-by-side KiwiSaver data — fees, 5-year returns, fund options, members, AUM. Sourced from FMA Disclose and provider PDS.

Last updated: 2026-05-09

General Information Only: This page provides factual data for comparison purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Individual circumstances vary.Read our disclosure

Why Booster and Simplicity differ

The most material difference between Booster and Simplicity is fee structure. Simplicity charges an average annual fee of 0.25% across its six funds, while Booster's average sits at 1.197% across 17 funds — a gap of nearly one percentage point that compounds meaningfully over a long KiwiSaver savings horizon. Every fund in the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme carries the same 0.25% fee, whereas Booster's range spans from 0.35% on its Default Saver Fund to 1.5% on its Geared Growth Fund.

On five-year returns, Booster's scheme average of 4.52% edges Simplicity's 4.05%, though that 0.47 percentage point spread narrows when fees are netted out. Booster's Geared Growth Fund stands out at 9.37% over five years, reflecting a higher-risk, leveraged approach not represented in Simplicity's more constrained fund range. Simplicity's top fund by five-year return is listed as its Defensive Fund, but no five-year return figure is disclosed for it in the available data, so a direct like-for-like comparison across fund types is limited.

Metric	Booster	Simplicity	Difference
Average 5Y Return	4.52%	4.05%	0.47% diff
Average Fees	1.20%	0.25%	0.95% diff
Number of Funds	17	6	11 diff
Total Members	232,278	148,826	—
Total AUM	$6468M	$6059M	—

Booster vs Simplicity

Why Booster and Simplicity differ

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Frequently asked questions

How do Booster and Simplicity compare on fees?

What are the 5-year returns for Booster vs Simplicity?

Can I switch from Booster to Simplicity?

Which provider has more fund options — Booster or Simplicity?

How is this data sourced?

Methodology and data sources

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