Best New Zealand Sharing Trading & Investment Apps (2024)

Updated 4 August 2024

Finding the Best Investment App for Your Needs
Investing apps have taken New Zealand by storm since the launch of Sharesies in 2017. While web-based platforms such as ASB Securities have existed for years, the 'Sharesies effect' has made investing accessible for everyone. You can invest as little as 1 cent with Sharesies and $1 on many other platforms, and you can do it from your phone. With the arrival of innovative services like Sharesies, Hatch, InvestNow, Stake, Tiger Brokers and specific fund managers, the range of investing apps continues to grow. Best of all, every innovation directly benefits the New Zealand consumer with lower fees and more choice.

This guide outlines investment platforms and apps currently available to anyone residing in New Zealand. We cover:

• ​Summary of Best Investment Apps​
• ​Investment Apps Pros and Cons
• Our Favourite Investing Apps (for Specific Purposes)
• Frequently Asked Questions

Know this first: We've included investment platforms that are web-based in our list of investing apps. This is because we believe for the majority of New Zealanders, a web-based interface and an app are both sufficient for the type ofinvesting being conducted. If you do feel as if you need further insights beyond a particular app's offering, we suggest looking at Sharesight as a possible add-on.

Are you looking to understand investment terms?Investment apps can be confusing - our extensiveinvesting glossaryoutlines must-know words and explains what they mean with relevant New Zealand examples.

Our Favourite Investment Apps

Based on our research and evaluation of the various apps, platforms and interfaces, we believe the five apps stand above the competition based on their offering, features, pricing and service:

1. Hatch:Best App or Platform for New Zealanders Growing their Portfolio while Learning About Investing
2. Tiger Brokers (NZ): Best Low-Cost Shares Platform
3. Sharesies:BestApp or Platformfor Beginners and Auto-Investing
4. InvestNow:Best App or Platform for Managed Funds
5. Kernel:BestApp or Platformfor Specialised Index Funds
6. Simplicity InvestmentFunds:BestApp or Platformfor Low-Cost Index Funds

Disclaimer: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) Exclusion
At MoneyHub, we are committed to providing reliable and locally relevant financial tools and resources. After careful consideration, we have decided not to include Interactive Brokers (IBKR) in our list of recommended investing apps. This decision is based on the following factors:

1. Regulatory Considerations: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is not registered with the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in New Zealand. We prioritise platforms that comply with local regulatory standards to protect investors under New Zealand law.
2. Local Relevance: Our focus is on promoting investment platforms that cater specifically to New Zealand residents, offering features, support, and services that are directly relevant to our users. By including IBKR, we will have to include any other app available to New Zealand investors, which is not something we wish to do.
3. Consumer Safety and Trust: Our top priority is ensuring the safety and security of your investments. By listing platforms that meet New Zealand regulatory requirements, we can better guarantee a high standard of consumer protection and trust.
4. We have reviewed IBKR extensively.

We appreciate your understanding and remain committed to helping you navigate your investment options with confidence.

Summary of New Zealand's Best Investment Apps

How do I use an Investment App?

1. Signing up: For most investment apps, you'll need to be 16 years or older, aNew Zealand resident with a New Zealand bank account. There will usually be an anti-money laundering check after you apply. Once approved, you'll set up a login and password.
2. Investing:You'll be able to see the range of investments offered, which depending on the app, can be anything from 4 to 4,000+. The investment app will guide you through how to fund your account, either by setting up aregular automatic payment from your bank account, or transferring in a one-off sum. Once your account is funded, you can buy and sell investments based on the current market price.
3. Monitoring: Most investment apps have tools so you can see the performance of your investments, helping you make ongoing decisions.

​Investment Apps: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• ​​Low minimum investment – many platforms have a $5 or $10 minimum investment, which allows you to start investing right away. Sharesies, for example, innovates further with a 1 cent minimum investment.
• Low fees for smaller accounts – if a platform charges are membership fee, it will (usually) be less than $30/year. Others only charge a transaction fee, so there’s no ongoing cost unless you buy and sell investments. In contrast, others such as Hatch, Sharesies, InvestNow and Stake don’t charge anything.
• Simple to use – design and user experience are at the heart of keeping investors happy. This means you can sign up for an account in minutes and, after your details are approved, quickly fund your account. You can then track the progress of your investments, visualise your profits, and view investment options.
• Automatic investments - many platforms offer automatic investing, meaning you can actively save for your future. Sharesies, for example, lets you allocate regular contributions to one (or many) or its funds to help grow your balance.
• Socially responsible investing (SR) opportunities are highlighted – many apps categorise their investment options under SRI and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) so you can invest in things that are important to you. For example, Sharesies offers the Pathfinder funds which invest in sustainable businesses.

Cons:

• You may under-invest – if you add $5 or $10 to your investment balance, it’s unlikely to add up to anything significant unless you commit to the long term. An investment app with a balance of $500 or $1,000 after 2+ years of contributing isn’t substantial in the scheme of things. To protect your future, a solid savings plan is needed – sporadic (and small) top-ups are unlikely to provide a suitable long-term strategy.
• Fees can eat into profits – Before investing, check what the platform fees are (per month) and calculate the annual costs and how that affects your expected returns. For example, if a platform charges $30/year to be a member and you invest $1,000, the $30 represents an annual fee of 3%. This is relatively high and means your returns must be above 3% per year to break even.
• Limited account options – right now, most investments apps don’t offer joint accounts or the opportunity to invest on behalf of your business. Only some apps offer managed funds, and investing with Hatch, Stake and Sharesies means a foreign exchange risk if your investments are held in USD (which may increase or decrease against the NZD, affecting the local value of the investments).
• Investing based on hype and buzz can have consequences – there has been a surge of investing Whatsapp and Facebook groups established in the last couple of years. While the intentions are genuine, many ‘tips’ are shared around New Zealand, encouraging inexperienced investors to buy and sell particular shares. If you’re going to actively pick shares to invest in, you have to accept that there is risk and your investment could fall in value. With any investment, the best approach is to diversify your portfolio so that you’re not overly exposed should one asset drop in value.

Our Favourite Investing Apps (for Specific Purposes)

1. Hatch:Best App or Platform for New Zealanders Growing their Portfolio while Learning About Investing
2. Tiger Brokers (NZ): Best Low-Cost Shares Platform
3. Stake: Best platform for Extended Hours, Education and Trading of Unsettled Funds
4. Sharesies:BestApp or Platformfor Beginners and Auto-Investing
5. InvestNow:Best App or Platform for Managed Funds
6. Kernel:BestApp or Platformfor Specialised Index Funds
7. Simplicity InvestmentFunds:BestApp or Platformfor Low-Cost Index Funds

Investment Apps - Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do I need to invest?

​What investment app is best for buying shares?

​I’m new to investing – what is the best app?

​What assets can I buy and sell using these apps?

Is my money safe?

How many investment apps should I sign up for?

How can I quit or leave an investing app?

Related guides:

• Comparing Sharesies vs Investnow vs Hatch and more
• Custodian guide
• NZX in a Nutshell
• Investing in US Shares (from New Zealand)
• ETFs vs Shares
• ETFs vs Index Funds
• Investing glossary