Are you looking for the best value KiwiSaver scheme? One that delivers not just the best returns, but all-round value in terms performance, price and features? Then let Canstar’s Outstanding Value KiwiSaver Scheme Awards be your guide.
Milford | QuayStreet | SuperLife
This year, three providers earn top honours and one of our Outstanding Value KiwiSaver Scheme Awards:
- Milford
- QuayStreet
- SuperLife
Canstar’s latest Outstanding Value KiwiSaver Scheme Awards and Star Ratings credit the providers that deliver the best returns and overall value.
Our KiwiSaver Star Ratings involve a sophisticated and unique methodology. Canstar’s expert research team delves deep and compares the costs, features and performance of KiwiSaver schemes, and rewards the best with a 5-Star seal of approval.
The schemes that perform most strongly across Conservative, Balanced and Growth investment profiles then earn our top accolade, an Outstanding Value KiwiSaver Scheme Award.
And, importantly, we don’t just look at short-term results. KiwiSaver is a long-term investment. And our research reflects this, rewarding providers for their average returns over the past five years.
For this year’s ratings, our researchers analysed:
- 18 Providers
- 19 Schemes
- 126 KiwiSaver Funds
Each of the eligible KiwiSaver funds is rated across three main categories:
Performance: Importantly, this covers annual returns, but it also looks at consistency of performance. This means how returns fluctuate year to year – whether they are consistent or vary wildly.
Features: Including the range of investment options offered by a KiwiSaver provider, the financial advice, tools and support provided, and ease of member access.
Price: Annual cost to members, including fees and total fund charges.
Canstar’s Best KiwiSaver Funds
Part of choosing a KiwiSaver provider is determining which fund type is best for you, your financial goals and your appetite for risk.
If you’re expecting to make a withdrawal in the near future, it’s recommended that you choose a more balanced fund. This reduces your risk, and the chances of your KiwiSaver balance dropping suddenly just before you access your funds.
However, if you’re just starting on your KiwiSaver journey, a riskier growth fund could help boost your initial investment.
If you are considering changing your fund or risk profile, check out the different funds that earned our top 5-Star ratings for Outstanding Value across the following fund categories:
Best Cash Funds
ANZ Investments – ANZ KiwiSaver Scheme Cash Fund
ANZ Investments – OneAnswer KiwiSaver Scheme Cash Fund
BT Funds Management – Westpac KiwiSaver Scheme Cash Fund
Best Conservative Funds
Fisher Funds – Conservative Fund & Default Conservative Fund
Milford – Conservative Fund
QuayStreet Asset Management – Conservative Fund
SuperLife – Conservative Fund
Best Defensive Fund
Milford – Cash Fund
Best Balanced Funds
AMP – Balanced Fund No.2
Milford – Balanced Fund
QuayStreet Asset Management – Balanced Fund & Socially Responsible Investment Fund
SuperLife – Ethica Fund
Best Growth Funds
Milford – Active Growth Fund
QuayStreet Asset Management – Growth Fund
Simplicity – Growth Fund
Best Aggressive Fund
Milford – Aggressive Fund
Milford: Canstar’s Provider of the Year KiwiSaver 2025
In addition to winning one of our Outstanding Value KiwiSaver awards, for the sixth year in a row, Milford is Canstar’s KiwiSaver Provider of the Year, due to its great returns and the high levels of support and advice it offers its KiwiSaver members.
In awarding Milford its top KiwiSaver accolade, our expert research team noted that Milford delivers:
- Market-leading returns
- Great product features, for example its investor app
- High levels of customer support
- A range of investment options to suit all KiwiSaver investors
- Competitive fees
To read more about why Milford is our Provider of the Year, click on the button below.
Milford is Canstar's KiwiSaver Provider of the Year
Compare KiwiSaver Providers with Canstar
If you’re comparing KiwiSaver funds, the comparison table below displays some of the products currently available on Canstar’s database for a KiwiSaver member with a balance of $20,000 in a Growth fund, sorted by Star Rating (highest to lowest), followed by company name (alphabetical) – some may have links to providers’ websites. Use Canstar’s KiwiSaver comparison selector to view a wider range of retirement funds. Canstar may earn a fee for referrals.
To read more about our Outstanding Value KiwiSaver awards click this link. Or to compare KiwiSaver providers, click on the button below.
Compare KiwiSaver providers for free with Canstar!
About the author of this page
Bruce Pitchers is Canstar NZ’s Content Manager. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the Driven, Stuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines and newspapers, including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery book 5 Minute Murder.
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