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.
Outstanding Value KiwiSaver Schemes Awards
ASB | Milford | QuayStreet
Three providers earn top honours and one of our Outstanding Value KiwiSaver Scheme Awards:
- ASB KiwiSaver
- Milford
- QuayStreet
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
- 129 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 KiwiSaver Scheme – ANZ Cash Fund & OneAnswer Cash Fund
BT Funds Management – Westpac KiwiSaver Scheme Cash Fund
Best conservative funds
ASB KiwiSaver Scheme – Conservative Fund
BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme – First Home Buyer Fund
Fisher Funds – Core Conservative Fund
QuayStreet Asset Management – Conservative Fund & Income Fund
Best defensive funds
GoalsGetter – Amova NZ Cash Fund
Milford – Cash Fund
Best balanced funds
ASB KiwiSaver Scheme - Balanced Fund
BNZ KiwiSaver Scheme – Balanced Fund
Milford – Balanced Fund
QuayStreet Asset Management – Balanced Fund & Socially Responsible Investment Fund
Best growth funds
Milford – Active Growth Fund
QuayStreet Asset Management – Growth Fund
Simplicity – Growth Fund
Best aggressive funds
AMP KiwiSaver Scheme – AMP Aggressive Fund
SuperLife – SuperLife High Growth
Milford: Provider of the Year KiwiSaver 2026
In addition to winning one of our Outstanding Value KiwiSaver awards, for the seventh year in a row, Milford is also 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.
Awarding Milford its top KiwiSaver accolade, our expert research team noted that the Milford KiwiSaver scheme saw its strongest performance across its Balanced and Growth funds.
Customer feedback highlights investment returns and communication as Milford's key strengths, reinforcing its ongoing status as a provider of outstanding value for New Zealanders saving for retirement or a first home.
As Canstar's Provider of the Year KiwiSaver, 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
Sharesies: Most Satisfied Customers KiwiSaver 2026
This is the first time Sharesies KiwiSaver has been recognised in Canstar's annual KiwiSaver Awards.
Sharesies wins our Most Satisfied Customers KiwiSaver Award thanks to the great returns it delivers on its customers investments, and the value for money they represent.
Overall, Sharesies' KiwiSaver scheme earned maximum possible scores across all the ratings categories in our survey from its members, outperforming all the other schemes eligible for our 2026 award.
Sharesies KiwiSaver Scheme members rate their provider No.1 across the following categories:
- Communication
- Customer Service
- Investment Options
- Investment Returns
- Fees
- Value for Money