Sharesies Review NZ 2026

Sharesies is a New Zealand wealth and investment platform designed for beginner and regular Kiwi investors, offering fractional investing, Auto-invest, and straightforward access to New Zealand, Australian, and US shares, ETFs, managed funds, and selected cryptocurrencies through an easy-to-use app and website. Its main drawback is that transaction and foreign-exchange fees can become relatively expensive for larger or frequent international trades, which may matter for active and high-volume investors.

Sharesies New Zealand overview

Sharesies pros & cons

Who is Sharesies best for?

• New investors: The simple interface and small starting amounts reduce the practical barriers to getting started.
• Regular long-term investors: Scheduled contributions support a consistent investing routine.
• New Zealand households: Kids Accounts, KiwiSaver and local market access can bring several financial goals into one platform.

Who is Sharesies not ideal for?

• Active traders: Limited advanced tools and percentage-based fees are less suited to frequent trading.
• Large international investors: Repeated foreign-exchange charges can materially increase total costs.
• Investors seeking tailored advice: Most investment decisions remain the customer’s responsibility.

Is Sharesies safe and properly regulated in New Zealand?

Yes. Sharesies operates within New Zealand’s FMA and NZX regulatory framework, while customer money and investments are separated from its operating assets through nominee and sub-custody arrangements. Customers remain the beneficial owners of their holdings. The main limitation is that these safeguards protect asset ownership, not investment value or returns.

Who regulates Sharesies in New Zealand and what that means

Sharesies’ investment activities sit within New Zealand’s financial-services and market-participant framework. This requires the relevant Sharesies entities to meet applicable conduct, custody, clearing, settlement and record-keeping standards.

• Financial Markets Authority: New Zealand’s principal financial-markets conduct regulator. Sharesies Investment Management Limited holds an active managed investment scheme manager licence, FSP1001460, granted on 7 December 2022.
• NZX and NZ RegCo: Sharesies Limited, participant code SHAW, is listed as an Individual Clearing Participant for cash-market transactions.
• Trustees Executors Limited: Acts as the independent supervisor for the Sharesies KiwiSaver Scheme.

What protections apply to customers in New Zealand?

Sharesies uses legal separation and custody controls to distinguish customer property from its everyday business assets.

Customers remain the beneficial owners of their investments, while nominee companies hold the legal title on their behalf. Sharesies also keeps records identifying the money and investments allocated to each account.

Customers can escalate unresolved complaints to Financial Services Complaints Limited after 40 business days. FSCL is an independent dispute-resolution service and does not charge customers to investigate a complaint.

How are client funds and assets held?

Sharesies Nominee Limited is a separate, non-trading company that holds customer money and investments on bare trust. Assets may be kept in pooled accounts, but Sharesies maintains individual records showing each customer’s wallet balance and holdings.

New Zealand, Australian and US holdings may use different nominees or sub-custodians. Sharesies’ terms state that assets held on bare trust cannot legally be used to repay Sharesies’ debts if Sharesies or a sub-custodian becomes insolvent.

Investor protection by region

The table below describes the custody protection applying to New Zealand customers investing across the three supported markets. These are ownership and asset-separation arrangements, not guarantees against falling prices.

Negative balance protection and leverage safeguards

• Buy orders generally require enough money to be available in the Sharesies Wallet.
• Standard share, ETF, fund and bond purchases are cash-funded rather than margin-based.
• Investors can lose the money invested, but ordinary purchases do not carry the same negative-balance risk as leveraged trading products.

Track record and transparency

• Sharesies Investment Management Limited’s FMA licence remains active.
• Sharesies Limited remains listed on the NZX clearing-participant register.
• The FMA issued Sharesies Limited and Sharesies Nominee Limited a formal warning in August 2021 over weaknesses in anti-money laundering procedures and controls.

Biggest limitation to be aware of

Sharesies’ custody arrangements protect legal ownership but do not compensate investors when shares, funds or cryptocurrencies fall in value. The platform also relies on nominees and overseas sub-custodians, so an insolvency or operational failure could still delay access while holdings and ownership records are reconciled.

Bottom line

Sharesies has a credible protection framework for New Zealand investors. FMA oversight, NZX participant status, beneficial ownership and bare-trust custody provide meaningful safeguards around how customer assets are handled. These protections reduce platform and custody risk, but normal investment risk remains with the customer.

What does it cost to use Sharesies?

Sharesies uses either pay-as-you-go pricing or optional monthly plans. Pay-as-you-go share orders cost 1.9%, subject to market-specific caps. Costs also arise from the 0.5% currency conversion fee, crypto trading, fund-level charges and optional faster funding or withdrawals. There is no inactivity fee or compulsory subscription.

Below is a detailed breakdown of where users actually pay.

Trading fees and spreads

Stocks and ETFs

Sharesies applies the same 1.9% pay-as-you-go rate across New Zealand, Australian and US share orders, with a different maximum fee for each market.

• NZ shares and ETFs: 1.9%, capped at NZ$25 per order. The cap applies above NZ$1,316.
• Australian shares and ETFs: 1.9%, capped at AU$15. The cap applies above AU$805.
• US shares and ETFs: 1.9%, capped at US$5. The cap applies above US$264.
• Managed funds: no Sharesies transaction fee, although fund management fees and buy or sell spreads may apply.
• ETFs: the provider’s management fee is included in the fund’s unit price.
• Advised portfolios: 0.20% per year, plus capped transaction fees on underlying ETF orders. Rebalancing does not carry a Sharesies transaction fee.

Sharesies plans

Regular investors can replace some transaction fees with a monthly or annual plan. Currency conversion, crypto and fund-provider fees remain separate.

Pay-as-you-go pricing applies after the monthly coverage is used. Plans can be changed or cancelled without a cancellation fee.

Crypto trading

• Buy and sell fee: 0.8% per order, with no fee cap.
• Currency conversion: 0.5%, because crypto is priced in USD.
• Plan coverage: crypto orders do not count towards Sharesies plan allowances.
• Incoming transfers: no Sharesies transfer fee, although network or sending-platform fees may apply.

Non-trading fees

A fast withdrawal only charges the unsettled part. For example, withdrawing NZ$500 when NZ$200 is unsettled would cost NZ$3.80. Withdrawals are made in NZD, so AUD or USD balances must first be converted.

Additional product-level costs can include fund management fees, managed-fund spreads and American depositary receipt fees. ADR charges are generally below US$0.10 per receipt annually and are set by the depositary bank rather than Sharesies.

FX fees and currency conversion

Sharesies charges 0.5% whenever money is exchanged between NZD and another supported currency. The fee is deducted before the remaining amount is converted.

Typical currency conversion costs include:

• NZ$100 converted: approximately NZ$0.50
• NZ$1,000 converted: approximately NZ$4.98
• NZ$5,000 converted: approximately NZ$24.88
• Converting foreign proceeds back to NZD: a second 0.5% fee applies

Sharesies first uses any balance already held in the required currency, which can reduce unnecessary conversions. Foreign-currency dividends may also involve an FX charge where part of the payment must be converted into NZD for withholding tax.

Fee comparison vs major alternatives

The comparison below focuses on standard US share pricing for New Zealand investors. Promotional discounts are excluded.

Platform

US stock trading

Crypto fees

Withdrawal fee

FX costs

US stock trading

1.9%, capped at US$5

Crypto fees

0.8% per trade

Withdrawal fee

NZ$0 standard

FX costs

0.5%

US stock trading

US$3 up to 300 shares, then US$0.01 per extra share

Crypto fees

N/​A

Withdrawal fee

No separate standard fee listed

FX costs

0.5%

US stock trading

US$3 up to US$30,000, then 0.01%

Crypto fees

N/​A

Withdrawal fee

US$0 standard

FX costs

1%, US$2 minimum

Sign up

Sharesies can cost less for small US orders because its percentage fee starts below the US$5 cap. Hatch and Stake use flat brokerage, which can become more competitive as individual orders grow.

Cost summary

Sharesies offers flexible pricing for different investing habits. Pay-as-you-go suits occasional or smaller orders, while the NZ$3, NZ$7 and NZ$15 plans can reduce transaction costs for investors who contribute consistently. The main cost to monitor is foreign exchange, particularly when repeatedly buying and selling overseas investments or converting proceeds back into NZD.

What assets and markets can you access with Sharesies?

Sharesies gives New Zealand investors access to more than 10,000 investments across the NZX, ASX and major US exchanges. The range includes shares, ETFs, managed funds, bond exposure, advised portfolios and seven cryptocurrencies. Its main gaps are leveraged forex, CFDs, exchange-traded options, futures and crypto derivatives.

Stocks and ETFs

Sharesies offers direct ownership-based investing across New Zealand, Australia and the US. Fractional investing is supported across eligible investments, allowing orders from NZ$0.01 rather than requiring customers to buy a whole share.

What’s available

• More than 130 NZX-listed companies
• More than 30 NZX-listed ETFs
• Around 1,900 ASX-listed companies and 350 ASX-listed ETFs
• More than 4,500 US-listed companies
• Thousands of US ETFs
• Fractional shares across eligible NZ, Australian and US investments
• US over-the-counter securities alongside exchange-listed investments

Major exchanges covered

• New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX)
• Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
• New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
• Nasdaq
• Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) equities market

Sharesies provides companies and ETFs listed on CBOE, but this does not mean customers can trade CBOE options contracts.

Important limitations

Direct share access focuses on New Zealand, Australia and the US. Sharesies does not provide direct access to exchanges in regions such as Europe, Hong Kong or Singapore, although ETFs and managed funds can provide indirect exposure to those markets.

Short selling and leveraged share trading are not part of its standard investment service.

Forex and CFDs

Sharesies is structured around buying investments rather than speculating through leveraged derivatives. Customers can exchange NZD into AUD or USD to fund overseas investments, but the currency service is not a retail forex trading account.

Forex

• NZD, AUD and USD wallet balances are supported for investing
• Currency can be exchanged before an order or during the purchase process
• FX is used for funding overseas assets, not trading currency pairs
• The standard currency exchange fee is 0.5%

CFDs

Sharesies does not offer contracts for difference across shares, indices, commodities, forex or cryptocurrencies. Investors normally buy the underlying share, ETF, fund unit or cryptocurrency rather than a leveraged contract linked to its price.

Key restriction

Customers cannot use Sharesies to open leveraged or short positions. This makes the platform more suitable for ownership-based investing than short-term derivative trading.

Crypto spot vs crypto derivatives

Sharesies Crypto provides 24/7 access to seven established cryptocurrencies. Customers are the beneficial owners of the crypto they buy, while the assets are held through a custodial arrangement with Kraken.

Crypto spot trading

The available cryptocurrencies are:

• Bitcoin (BTC)
• Ethereum (ETH)
• Solana (SOL)
• XRP
• Dogecoin (DOGE)
• Chainlink (LINK)
• Polygon (POL)

Minimum purchases generally range from US$5 to US$10, depending on the coin. Prices update around the clock, and buy or sell orders can be placed at any time.

Crypto CFDs

Crypto CFDs, leveraged tokens, futures and perpetual contracts are not offered. Sharesies Crypto is focused on buying, holding and selling the supported coins.

Other crypto features

• Crypto is held custodially with Kraken
• Customers do not manage private keys
• Supported coins can be transferred into Sharesies
• Minimum inbound transfer: US$100 per coin
• Outbound crypto transfers are not currently supported
• Staking and additional coins are listed as planned features

Cost note

Crypto trades cost 0.8% per buy or sell order. Because crypto is priced in USD, a separate 0.5% currency exchange fee can apply when converting to or from NZD.

Funds, bonds, options and futures

Sharesies complements direct shares with managed funds, diversified ETFs, KiwiSaver investment choices and advised portfolios. These can provide exposure to global shares, property, cash, commodities and fixed income without selecting each underlying asset individually.

Managed funds

Customers can invest in managed funds from providers such as Smart, Milford, Pathfinder and Pie Funds. Available strategies cover areas including:

• New Zealand and global shares
• Responsible investing
• Property
• Cash and fixed income
• Balanced and growth portfolios
• Sector and regional investments

Managed funds are available fractionally and can be included in regular Auto-invest orders.

Bonds and fixed income

Bond exposure is available mainly through bond ETFs, managed funds and advised portfolios. Examples of underlying advised-portfolio investments include the Smart NZ Bond ETF and Smart Global Bond ETF.

Eligible bonds listed on the New Zealand Debt Market (NZDX) can also be transferred into Sharesies and held in the portfolio. These bonds are currently transfer-only, which means customers cannot place new buy or sell orders for them through Sharesies. Bond transfers must be made in NZ$1,000 increments.

Options

Sharesies does not provide standard exchange-traded options trading. Customers may occasionally receive warrants, rights or other entitlements through corporate actions linked to shares they already own, but this is different from independently buying and selling options contracts.

Not available

• Futures
• Retail forex trading
• CFDs
• Margin trading
• Short selling
• Crypto derivatives

Real assets vs CFDs at Sharesies

Asset availability by market

Bottom line

Sharesies provides broad ownership-based access for New Zealand investors, with more than 10,000 shares, ETFs and funds across three major markets, alongside managed portfolios, fixed-income exposure and seven cryptocurrencies. Its range is strongest for long-term and regular investing, while advanced traders needing leverage, short selling or derivatives will require a different platform.

How do deposits and withdrawals work on Sharesies?

Sharesies customers can fund their Wallet by bank transfer, instant bank transfer, card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Standard bank transfers are free, while instant transfers cost 0.95%, capped at NZ$3. Settled NZD withdrawals normally take 1 to 2 business days, and foreign balances must be converted to NZD first.

Supported deposit methods and minimums

Sharesies uses a multi-currency Wallet for holding money before it is invested. Most customers fund in NZD, although eligible AUD and USD bank deposits may also be accepted.

Deposit methods

• Standard NZ bank transfer: free and suitable for one-off or automatic payments.
• Instant bank transfer: available through ANZ, BNZ and Westpac.
• Debit or credit card: NZD top-ups through the app or website.
• Apple Pay and Google Pay: NZD top-ups through the mobile app.
• AUD or USD bank deposit: may be accepted from an NZ-domiciled foreign-currency account or recognised NZ broker in the customer’s name.

Speed

• Instant bank transfer: available in the Wallet immediately.
• Card, Apple Pay and Google Pay: usually processed within a few hours.
• Standard bank transfer: depends on the bank and may take longer over weekends or public holidays.
• Direct AUD or USD deposit: timing varies and may require assistance from Sharesies.

Minimum deposits

Sharesies does not publish a compulsory minimum Wallet top-up. Eligible fractional investments can be purchased from NZ$0.01, while Auto-invest orders have a NZ$5 minimum.

Deposit limits

• Instant-transfer limits may depend on the customer’s bank.
• Sharesies may apply periodic limits to card and mobile-wallet top-ups.
• Card and mobile-wallet funds must be invested before they can be withdrawn.
• Standard NZD transfers should come from an NZ bank account, normally in the customer’s own name.
• Transfers from services such as Wise and Revolut are not accepted as standard Wallet deposits.

Withdrawal methods, processing time, and fees

Money is withdrawn from the Sharesies Wallet to a linked New Zealand bank account. Only settled NZD can be withdrawn through the standard process, so AUD and USD balances must first be converted into NZD.

Withdrawal options

• Standard withdrawal of settled NZD to an NZ bank account.
• Fast withdrawal where the request includes unsettled sale proceeds.
• Transfers from Save or Spend must first move into the Sharesies Wallet before being withdrawn through the standard process.

Processing time

• Settled Wallet balance: normally 1 to 2 business days.
• Recent share sale: Sharesies describes around 3 to 4 business days for settlement and reconciliation, followed by the bank-transfer period.
• Fast withdrawal: normally reaches the linked bank account within one business day.
• Security or regulatory checks can extend the processing time.

Fees and limits

The fast-withdrawal fee applies only to the unsettled portion. For example, withdrawing NZ$500 when NZ$200 is unsettled costs NZ$3.80. Wallet balances below NZ$0.01 cannot be withdrawn, and Sharesies may apply transaction limits for banking or compliance reasons.

Base currencies and conversion costs

The Sharesies Wallet can hold NZD, AUD and USD. Customers can exchange currency before investing or allow Sharesies to convert available Wallet funds when placing an Australian, US or crypto order. The exchange fee is 0.5%, and the rate is locked when the conversion is confirmed.

Sharesies uses a wholesale rate supplied by XE. If that rate moves by more than 0.2% while the confirmation screen is open, the exchange request must be refreshed. Withdrawals remain NZD-only.

Typical conversion costs

Converting NZ$1,000 costs approximately NZ$4.98 under Sharesies’ fee calculation, leaving about NZ$995.02 to exchange. Converting overseas sale proceeds back into NZD attracts another 0.5% fee.

Key takeaways on funding Sharesies

• Standard NZ bank transfers are the lowest-cost way to fund the account.
• Instant transfers provide immediate access for 0.95%, capped at NZ$3.
• Card and mobile-wallet fees are displayed before confirmation.
• Settled NZD withdrawals are free and usually take 1 to 2 business days.
• Holding AUD or USD can reduce repeated conversions, but all bank withdrawals must ultimately be made in NZD.

Sharesies’ Wallet-based funding process, 0.5% FX charge and typical 1 to 2-day withdrawal time are also consistent with the platform information available to New Zealand customers.

How easy is it to open a Sharesies account in New Zealand?

Opening a Sharesies account is straightforward and completed online. Applicants provide personal and tax details, verify their identity and residential address, and link a New Zealand bank account. Electronic checks may complete quickly, while a manual identity review can take up to two working days. There is no compulsory first deposit, and eligible fractional investments start from NZ$0.01.

The main onboarding steps are:

1. Create a Sharesies profile and provide personal details.
2. Confirm New Zealand residency and residential address.
3. Complete identity verification.
4. Provide IRD, prescribed investor rate and foreign tax details where applicable.
5. Link an NZ bank account and fund the Sharesies Wallet.
6. Select an investment and place an order.

Sharesies’ current Invest terms require standard account holders to be at least 16, live in New Zealand, have a New Zealand residential address and hold an NZ bank account.

What documents are needed?

Most applicants can complete digital verification with either:

• A valid New Zealand passport
• A valid New Zealand driver licence

Sharesies may use an electronic verification service that checks the applicant’s identity document and facial image. When an ID is submitted for manual review, verification can take up to two working days.

Alternative certified documents can include:

• An NZ or overseas passport
• An NZ driver licence
• An NZ firearms licence
• A Kiwi Access Card supported by a birth or citizenship certificate

Certified copies generally need to have been certified within the previous three months by an approved person, such as a justice of the peace, police officer, lawyer, registered doctor, chartered accountant or notary public.

Sharesies also verifies the applicant’s residential address. If the address cannot be confirmed electronically, it may accept one document such as:

• A utility bill
• An NZ bank or insurance document
• An NZ government document
• A council rates letter
• A rental agreement
• An employer letter

Address verification must generally be completed within seven days. Restrictions may apply to buying, selling, card top-ups and withdrawals until the check is finished.

Applicants may also need to provide:

• An IRD number
• A prescribed investor rate for PIE investments
• Tax residency information
• A foreign tax identification number if they are tax-resident outside New Zealand

Sharesies may request further information where required by New Zealand anti-money laundering rules.

Can a demo account be used first?

Sharesies does not advertise a dedicated paper-trading or demo account with virtual money. Customers can explore investments, review educational material and set price notifications before placing an order, but a real purchase requires sufficient money in the Sharesies Wallet.

This reflects Sharesies’ focus on long-term, ownership-based investing rather than simulated short-term trading.

Account types and eligibility

Individual Invest Account

The standard account is available to natural persons who:

• Are aged 16 or over
• Live in New Zealand
• Have an NZ residential address
• Have a New Zealand bank account
• Provide the required identity and tax information

Sharesies may approve trust, group or business use separately in writing, but its standard online onboarding process is primarily designed for individuals.

Kids Account

An adult Sharesies customer can create and manage a Kids Account for someone under 18. The child’s IRD number is required, and the account remains linked to the adult manager until the applicable transfer arrangements take effect.

Other Sharesies services

Once registered, eligible customers may also access Sharesies Save, PIE Save, KiwiSaver, advised portfolios, crypto and the Sharesies Spend account. Each product can have additional eligibility, verification and fee requirements.

Country-based minimum deposits

Sharesies does not require customers to maintain a minimum portfolio balance. The NZ$5 threshold applies specifically to Auto-invest instructions rather than ordinary manual investments.

Bottom line

Sharesies offers a relatively simple online application for Kiwi investors, particularly when an NZ passport or driver licence can be verified electronically. There is no compulsory opening deposit, and small fractional orders make it possible to start gradually. Applications requiring certified identification or manual address checks may take longer, with ID reviews taking up to two working days. The available information also confirms the standard requirement for identity and address verification before investing.

How good is the Sharesies app and web platform for everyday use?

Sharesies’ mobile app and web platform are easy to use for routine investing. Both let customers fund accounts, exchange currencies, find investments, place orders, monitor portfolios, set alerts and withdraw money through a consistent interface. They suit beginner and long-term Kiwi investors best, while active traders may want deeper charting and workspace controls.

The iOS app currently holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating from around 13,000 New Zealand App Store ratings. Sharesies also provides a browser-based platform and an Android app, with the same account, Wallet and portfolio accessible across each version.

App and web experience at a glance

The interface remains largely consistent between devices, so an order started on the web can be monitored from the app using the same portfolio and Wallet. Sharesies also offers home-screen widgets on compatible iOS and Android devices.

Order types and trade ticket

The trade ticket is designed to guide customers through an order rather than present a complex professional trading screen. Investors select an asset, choose an order type, enter the dollar or share amount and review the estimated fees before confirming. If the Wallet lacks the required NZD, AUD or USD balance, Sharesies can prompt the customer to top up or exchange currency.

Supported order types

• Market orders: Available for eligible NZ, Australian and US companies and exchange-traded funds. Market orders can support fractional shares.
• Limit orders: Available across NZ, Australian and US shares and ETFs. US limit orders must be placed in whole shares.
• Stop loss orders: Available for US investments. The order becomes a market sell order once the trigger price is reached.
• Trigger buy orders: Available for US investments and sent to market once the selected trigger price is reached.
• Auto-invest: Schedules recurring investments into selected shares, ETFs or managed funds.
• Managed fund orders: Placed by entering a dollar amount rather than using an exchange-style market or limit order.

Order duration

• Standard limit orders can remain open for up to 30 calendar days.
• US stop loss and trigger buy orders expire after 30 days if the trigger is not reached.
• Extended-hours US orders remain open until the end of that trading day’s post-market session.
• Orders may fill in several parts when liquidity is limited or the requested amount is large.

Market orders execute at the best available price rather than a guaranteed price. Stop loss and trigger buy orders also become market orders once activated, so the final execution price can differ from the trigger level.

Charting and analysis tools

Sharesies provides price charts and supporting information on individual investment pages, alongside search filters and an AI Search tool that groups available investments around a topic or industry. AI Search produces short industry summaries, but Sharesies warns that automatically generated results should be independently checked before being used to make an investment decision.

Charting and market-data features

• Price history on company, ETF, fund and crypto pages
• Investment descriptions and available financial information
• AI-assisted investment discovery and industry summaries
• NZX market depth showing prices, order numbers and available share volumes
• Extended-hours trading for most US-listed investments
• Five-second US pricing with the NZ$15 monthly plan
• At least 20-minute delayed pricing for most standard NZ, Australian and US views

NZX market depth is restricted to NZX-listed companies and funds and requires the NZ$15 plan. It is not available for Australian or US investments.

The built-in tools are better suited to checking prices and monitoring long-term holdings than detailed technical analysis. Investors who need deeper performance calculations can connect their portfolio to Sharesight, which accounts for dividends, brokerage, currency movements and capital gains.

Watchlists, alerts and portfolio views

Watchlists

Customers can save companies, ETFs and other supported investments to a Watchlist from search results or individual investment pages. AI Search results can also be added directly by selecting the star icon.

Alerts

Sharesies supports price notifications for investments held in a Portfolio or saved to a Watchlist.

• Up to two price notifications per investment
• Up to 500 active notifications across the account
• In-app alerts on web and mobile
• Push notifications through the mobile app
• Maximum of one notification per price level each day

Price notifications use data delayed by at least 20 minutes and are checked once an hour. They only operate during the investment’s regular exchange hours, so they should be treated as monitoring prompts rather than real-time trading signals.

Portfolio view

The Portfolio area brings together holdings, estimated values, investing activity, Wallet balances and returns. Customers can also access contract notes and export several documents:

• Holdings summary in CSV format
• Investment report in PDF format
• Detailed investment holdings report in CSV format
• Buy and sell transaction report in CSV format
• Wallet and foreign-exchange transaction report
• Foreign Investment Fund income report where relevant

Sharesies can connect directly to a Sharesight portfolio and send new transaction data every few minutes. The integration supports up to 6,000 total transactions and 1,000 transactions per investment.

Accessibility, language support and security

Language and device support

Sharesies is available in English. The mobile app supports compatible iOS and Android devices, while the web platform works through major browsers including Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Firefox. The iOS version requires iOS 16.0 or later, while the iPad app requires iPadOS 16.0 or later.

Light and dark display modes are available, and selected parts of the platform support keyboard navigation. Apple’s App Store does not currently list specific accessibility features declared by the developer.

Login and account security

Sharesies supports several account-security options:

• Passkeys using a device fingerprint, face scan, PIN or pattern
• Optional two-factor authentication through an authenticator app
• Face or fingerprint authentication on mobile
• A four-digit mobile PIN
• Hashed passwords using bcrypt
• Platform and data hosting through Amazon Web Services
• Card processing through Stripe, which is PCI DSS Level 1 certified

Who does the platform suit best?

The Sharesies app and web platform are best suited to:

• New investors who want clear navigation and a guided order process
• Regular investors using Auto-invest and fractional shares
• Long-term investors who mainly monitor holdings, returns and dividends
• Kiwi households managing investments, savings and KiwiSaver from one account

They are less suited to highly active traders who depend on custom multi-chart workspaces, advanced technical studies or professional order-routing controls.

Bottom line

Sharesies offers a consistent and approachable app and web experience for everyday investing. Its order controls, watchlists, alerts, AI Search, reporting and Sharesight integration provide enough functionality for most long-term Kiwi investors, while the platform remains simpler than specialist software built for high-frequency or technical trading.

What features stand out compared to similar platforms?

Sharesies stands out through broad Auto-invest support, questionnaire-based advised portfolios, a self-select KiwiSaver scheme and a connected Spend and Investback system. Together, these features let New Zealanders automate small investments, build goal-based portfolios, manage family accounts and direct card rewards into investments from one app.

Auto-invest across shares, ETFs and funds

Sharesies’ Auto-invest feature supports regular investing across more than 10,000 eligible investments on the New Zealand, Australian and US markets. This is broader than an automated fund-only service because customers can build recurring orders from individual companies, exchange-traded funds, managed funds or an advised portfolio.

How it works

• Minimum scheduled order: NZ$5
• Frequencies: weekly, fortnightly, every four weeks or monthly
• Markets: NZX, ASX and US exchanges
• Eligible assets: companies, ETFs, managed funds and advised portfolios
• Fractional investing: supported across eligible NZ, Australian and US investments
• Starting amount for ordinary fractional orders: NZ$0.01
• Kids orders: available through Sharesies Kids Accounts

Customers choose how much to invest, select the investments and set a starting date. Auto-invest then places the scheduled orders automatically, provided there is enough money in the Sharesies Wallet. Fractional support means the order can be divided across several investments without requiring enough money to purchase whole shares.

Sharesies’ NZ$3, NZ$7 and NZ$15 plans also include separate, higher transaction-fee allowances for Auto-invest orders. These range from NZ$1,000 to NZ$10,000 of covered Auto-invest orders each month, depending on the plan.

Advised portfolios with automatic rebalancing

Advised portfolios add a guided option alongside Sharesies’ mainly self-directed investing service. Customers answer questions about their investment timeframe, financial position, risk appetite and preferences, after which Sharesies recommends an expert-designed mix of ETFs and managed funds.

Key characteristics

• Portfolio strategies range from conservative to high growth.
• Customers can create up to 10 portfolios for different goals.
• Portfolios can include passive, actively managed and environmental, social and governance-screened funds.
• Dividends are reinvested automatically.
• Portfolios are rebalanced every quarter and when money is added or withdrawn.
• Sharesies does not charge transaction fees for automatic rebalancing.
• Auto-invest can be used to make regular portfolio contributions.

Sharesies charges a 0.20% annual portfolio fee. Normal transaction fees apply when customers place their own buy or sell orders, while the underlying ETFs and managed funds also carry provider management fees.

This is automated, questionnaire-based investing advice rather than an ongoing relationship with a personal adviser. Customers can contact the Sharesies wealth team with service questions, but they do not receive one-to-one advice from a dedicated human financial adviser through the portfolio tool.

Self-select KiwiSaver and family investing

The Sharesies KiwiSaver Scheme offers more personalisation than a conventional single-fund KiwiSaver account. Members can use diversified base funds, then add selected NZ and US-listed companies and ETFs to part of their investment plan.

KiwiSaver investment choice

• 11 base funds covering strategies from conservative to high growth
• More than 150 NZ and US-listed companies and ETFs available for self-selection
• Up to 50% of the investment plan can be allocated to self-select investments
• Maximum allocation of 5% to each individual self-select investment
• Base-fund and self-select allocations can be changed as circumstances change
• Voluntary KiwiSaver contributions can be made from the Sharesies Wallet

The limits keep at least half of the plan in diversified base funds while still giving members direct input into part of their KiwiSaver portfolio.

Sharesies also offers Kids Accounts for anyone under 18. An adult opens and manages the account as trustee for the child, but does not need to be the child’s parent or legal guardian. Control can transfer at age 25 by default, or from age 18 where the trustee selects an earlier handover. Sharesies reports that more than 80,000 children use Kids Accounts.

A dedicated NZ$1 monthly kids plan covers transaction fees on up to NZ$500 of manual orders and NZ$1,000 of Auto-invest orders each month. Pay-as-you-go pricing applies after those allowances are used.

Connected spending, saving and investing

Sharesies combines investing with KiwiSaver, Save and PIE Save accounts, seven spot cryptocurrencies and a Spend account within the same app. The most distinctive connection is Investback, which turns eligible debit-card spending into automatic investments.

How Investback works

• Customers earn 1% of eligible spending made with the Sharesies Debit Mastercard.
• Earnings are invested automatically each week.
• There is no minimum earning amount or overall earnings cap.
• Customers can choose one of more than 10,000 companies or funds.
• Investback can instead go into a Sharesies advised portfolio or KiwiSaver account.
• The default selection is the Smart Global ESG ETF.
• Sharesies does not charge brokerage or FX fees on Investback orders placed through its Invest service.

For example, NZ$500 of eligible card spending would generate NZ$5 of Investback, which would be invested into the customer’s selected destination. The Spend account costs NZ$25 per year, reduced to NZ$12 per year for customers on a Sharesies monthly plan.

Feature comparison snapshot

Sharesies’ current services support a broader household wealth setup than a trading-only account, particularly through the combination of automated investing, KiwiSaver, Kids Accounts, saving and Investback.

Bottom line

Sharesies’ strongest differentiators are its automation and connected money features. Auto-invest, advised portfolios, self-select KiwiSaver, Kids Accounts and Investback all support regular, long-term wealth building from one platform. Its feature set is less focused on copy trading, public trading APIs or algorithmic tools, but those are not central to its intended everyday investing experience.

What is Sharesies best for?

Sharesies is best for beginner and small-budget investors, regular long-term investors, and New Zealand households that want investing, Kids Accounts or KiwiSaver in one platform. Fractional investing, Auto-invest and advised portfolios make gradual wealth building practical, while its app and web platform keep everyday portfolio management straightforward.

Below is a clear breakdown of who Sharesies fits best, and why.

How to get started with Sharesies

To get started with Sharesies, create an online account, complete the required identity and address checks, fund the Sharesies Wallet, and place an order through the app or website. Adult Invest accounts are available to New Zealand residents aged 16 or over with an NZ residential address and bank account. There is no compulsory opening deposit.

Step by step: getting started with Sharesies New Zealand

1. Create an account: Register through the Sharesies website or app and provide your personal details, New Zealand residential address, bank account information and current tax details. Foreign tax residents may also need to provide a relevant tax identification number.
2. Complete identity checks: Sharesies may verify you electronically using a valid NZ passport or driver licence. Further checks can include a facial image, proof of address or certified documents. A manual identity review can take up to two working days.
3. Use the demo account, if required: Sharesies does not currently advertise a dedicated demo or paper-trading account. New investors can instead explore investment pages, use its Learn resources and review price movements before investing real money.
4. Deposit funds: Open the Wallet and add NZD by standard bank transfer, instant bank transfer, debit or credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Standard NZ bank transfers are free. Card and mobile-wallet processing fees are shown before confirmation, while instant bank transfers make the money available immediately.
5. Start investing: Select Explore, search for a company, exchange-traded fund or managed fund, then choose Buy. Enter the amount, select an available order type, review the transaction fee and confirm the order. Australian and US investments require AUD or USD, which can be exchanged through the Wallet before or during the order.

Eligible fractional investments can start from NZ$0.01, although investors should review transaction charges, foreign-exchange costs and the risk of losing money before confirming an order.

Final thoughts

Sharesies is a straightforward New Zealand investing platform best suited to beginners, regular long-term investors and families building portfolios gradually. Its main drawback is that the 1.9% transaction fee and 0.5% currency-conversion charge can make frequent overseas investing comparatively expensive.

Compared with more advanced brokers, Sharesies prioritises accessibility and everyday portfolio management over specialist trading tools and the lowest possible execution costs. It is a sensible choice for Kiwis investing small or regular amounts who value simplicity more than active-trading functionality.

FAQs

How we tested and our methodology

This platform was evaluated using a standardised broker review framework designed to ensure consistency, accuracy, and comparability across all reviews. The assessment combines hands-on testing, quantitative fee analysis, feature-level comparisons, and regulatory due diligence to reflect how the platform performs in real-world use.