KiwiSaver Scheme Funds Lowest Fees by Category
The lowest-published-fee funds in each risk category (Conservative, Balanced, Growth, Aggressive).
Average Fees
0.23%
Annual management fee
Average Returns
1.56%
5-year average
Funds Found
12
In this fee bracket
Illustrative Fee Impact Over 30 Years
Maximum fee savings while maintaining your preferred risk level
Hypothetical compounding mechanics — illustrative only. Actual outcomes depend on real fund net-fee returns, real contributions, and PIE tax. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Compounding effect: each year's fees reduce both the in-period balance and the growth that balance could otherwise generate. Across a 30-year horizon, sustained percentage-point fee differences translate to materially different final balances. Use the fees-impact calculator to model your own situation.
Why Fees Matter
Fees compound against you
While your investment compounds positively, fees compound negatively. A 1% fee doesn't just take 1% of your balance - it takes 1% of your balance every year, reducing the amount that can compound for you.
Small differences add up
The percentage-point difference between a sample 0.3% TAFC and a sample 0.8% TAFC looks small in any single year, but compounds over multi-decade horizons. Illustrative — on a sample $50,000 balance over 30 years, the compounded fee gap can be a five-figure swing in final balance.
Fees are guaranteed, returns are not
You pay fees regardless of performance. In years when the market is down, you still pay the same percentage. Lower fees mean more of your money stays invested.
Low-Fee Funds by Category
Low-fee funds within each risk category
Conservative Funds3 funds
Balanced Funds3 funds
Growth Funds3 funds
Aggressive Funds3 funds
Who Should Choose Lowest Fees by Category?
Investors who want low fees but also want to choose their risk level
Compare every fund on the FMA Disclose register. Refreshed quarterly. Independent — FundCompare is not a Financial Advice Provider; general information only.
Compare
Learn
Important Information and Disclosure
The information provided on this website is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial products. Nothing on this website constitutes financial advice for the purposes of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. FundCompare.co.nz is not a licensed Financial Advice Provider.
Investing involves risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you put in. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Before making any investment decision, you should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the fund carefully. If you have questions or are unclear about the implications of your investment decision, you should seek advice from a licensed Financial Advice Provider.
All information displayed is sourced from scheme providers, the Disclose Register, and the Sorted Smart Investor universal feed (operated by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission), or other publicly available sources. We take reasonable steps to ensure accuracy but cannot guarantee information is always current or complete.
FundCompare.co.nz may receive referral fees or commissions from scheme providers if you sign up via links on this website. These payments do not influence the order, ranking, or inclusion of products displayed.
For more information, please see our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure Statement.
This website is operated by FundCompare.co.nz and is not endorsed by, or affiliated with, the New Zealand government or Inland Revenue. FundCompare.co.nz is using the KiwiSaver trade mark and logo under licence from Inland Revenue. To view the official New Zealand government KiwiSaver website, please click here.
© 2026 FundCompare.co.nz. All rights reserved.