01
We confirm what matters to you
A few quick questions about your timeframe, how you feel about market ups and downs, and any investment preferences. The aim is to match you to the right scheme — not just a default based on your age.
Why switch
Should you switch your KiwiSaver provider?
Most people are enrolled in KiwiSaver automatically when they start their first job. If you didn’t choose a provider yourself, you were likely placed into a default scheme - one of six government-selected options. That’s fine as a starting point. But it might not be the right scheme for where you are now.
BetterSaver helps you check whether your current scheme still fits, recommends a better option if it doesn’t, and guides you through switching online. You can change your KiwiSaver provider at any time - there’s no lock-in, and the process is simpler than most people expect.
Why BetterSaver
Why switch your KiwiSaver provider through BetterSaver?
You could go straight to a provider’s website and sign up. Plenty of people do. But you’d be choosing from one option - theirs.
BetterSaver works differently. We’re a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP 600609), which means we’re regulated and independent. We don’t sell a KiwiSaver scheme. We compare them. Our job is to find one that works harder for you, not one that’s most convenient for the provider.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
It’s free.
There’s no cost to use BetterSaver. We may receive a commission from providers if you switch through our platform, but this doesn’t increase your fees - and it doesn’t influence which schemes we recommend. There are more schemes from providers we could be paid for that don’t make our list than ones that do.
It’s personalised.
We ask a few questions about your timeframe, how you’d feel about your balance moving up and down, and any preferences you have about how your money is invested. The recommendation is based on your situation, not a generic shortlist.
It takes minutes.
Most people are done in under five minutes. We handle the paperwork and pass your application to the provider to finalise.
It’s transparent.
We publish the full list of schemes we assess - including the ones we don’t recommend and why. You can read exactly how we analyse KiwiSaver schemes before you start.
How it works
Switch KiwiSaver providers in three simple steps.
Most people are done in under five minutes. We guide you the whole way.
02
We show your recommended options
You’ll see a fund that matches your profile and meets our analysis criteria. Compare it against others in plain English, side by side. No jargon, no noise.
03
We guide you through the switch
Complete an application on the BetterSaver website. We capture what’s needed and pass it to your chosen provider to finalise. Most people are done in under 5 minutes.
Who am I with?
How do I find out who my KiwiSaver provider is?
Not sure who holds your KiwiSaver? You’re not alone. A lot of people were enrolled automatically when they started a job and haven’t looked at it since.
There are a few quick ways to check:
Log in to myIR on the Inland Revenue website.
Your KiwiSaver provider is listed under your KiwiSaver details.
Look for emails or annual statements.
You’d have received correspondence when you were first enrolled - search your inbox for the name of a KiwiSaver provider.
Once you know who your provider is, it’s worth taking five minutes to find out whether they’re still the right fit. BetterSaver can show you how your current scheme compares and whether switching makes sense for your situation.
Before you start
What you’ll need to change KiwiSaver.
Having these handy speeds things up.
Your email address and mobile number.
Your IRD number (helpful, though not always required straight away).
A form of ID for online verification — usually a driver licence or passport.
During the switch
What happens when you switch KiwiSaver providers.
Your KiwiSaver account stays in your name throughout. You’re moving your balance to a new provider and a new scheme — nothing is lost in the process.
Employer contributions keep going as normal. In most cases, you don’t need to tell your employer.
Government contributions still apply. Switching doesn’t reset your member tax credit eligibility.
Your current provider transfers the value of your account to the new provider, which invests it into your chosen scheme.
Timing
How long does it take to switch KiwiSaver providers?
Switching usually takes a few business days, though it can sometimes take a little longer depending on the providers involved. We’ll notify you once your switch is complete.
Out of market
Is my money out of the market when I switch KiwiSaver?
There’s usually a short processing period when your balance is transferred between providers. This is normal for KiwiSaver switches - usually within the same few business days as the transfer itself.
Two paths
Switching KiwiSaver through BetterSaver.
Some providers connect directly with our platform. Others don’t. Either way, we can help.
If your chosen provider supports switching through BetterSaver
This is the smoothest path. You complete everything in one online flow — we guide you through each step and make it clear what happens next and when.
Guided through the join and switch steps online.
Complete it in one flow, from start to finish.
Clear updates on what happens next, and when.
If your chosen provider doesn’t support switching through BetterSaver
We can still recommend a scheme from a provider that isn’t on our direct-switch platform, as long as it meets our analysis criteria. In most cases, you can still complete the application on the BetterSaver website — we then pass it to the provider to finalise.
You can view the scheme and why it’s recommended.
You complete the application on our site, and we pass it on to the provider.
The provider may contact you if they need anything further.
Our ongoing service may be more limited once you’re with a non-participating provider.
Different from switching
How to change your KiwiSaver contribution rate
Switching Kiwisaver providers and changing your contribution rate are two different things. If you want to adjust how much of your pay goes into KiwiSaver - rather than which provider holds it - that’s done through your employer.
Available rates: 3.5%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10%
Your KiwiSaver contribution rate is a percentage of your before-tax pay. To change it, give your employer written notice - you can do this at any time, as many times as you like. Changes typically take effect from your next pay run once your employer has processed the request.
Your employer contributes a minimum of 3.5% on top of whatever rate you choose.
Joining for the first time
Joining KiwiSaver for the first time?
If you’re self-employed, have opted out previously, or are a new resident who hasn’t joined yet, you can still use BetterSaver to choose a scheme and join online.
The process is the same: a few quick questions, a scheme recommendation, then an application with your chosen provider.
Transparency
What it costs and how we’re paid.
No extra cost to you
Using BetterSaver doesn’t cost you anything extra.
You pay the same fees you’d pay directly to the provider. These are the provider’s standard management fees - BetterSaver doesn’t add anything on top.
Commissions & independence
Commissions don’t influence our recommendations.
BetterSaver may receive a commission from some KiwiSaver providers when you join or switch through our platform.
You don’t pay this commission directly, and it doesn’t increase your fees.
Our recommended list can include both schemes that pay us and schemes that don’t — as long as they meet our analysis criteria.
Choosing a scheme
Which KiwiSaver scheme should you switch to?
There’s no single answer - and anyone who says otherwise is oversimplifying. The right KiwiSaver scheme depends on your timeframe, how comfortable you are with your balance moving up and down, and whether you have any preferences about how your money is invested.
That said, there are four things worth looking at for any scheme: how it’s performed over the long term against comparable schemes, whether the fees are reasonable for what you’re getting, how consistent the returns have been through different market conditions, and whether there are any red flags in how the scheme is run.
BetterSaver assesses every KiwiSaver scheme in New Zealand against those four criteria, using data from Morningstar and fund providers. We review the list regularly and publish our full shortlist — including the schemes that don’t make the cut and why.
If you’d rather skip straight to a recommendation, answer a few quick questions and we’ll match you with a scheme that suits your situation.
Your information stays yours — used only to recommend, help you switch, and support you as a member, with secure online identity verification.
Frequently asked questions.
The questions that come up most often. Can’t see yours? Talk to us.
Can I change my KiwiSaver provider?
What is a default KiwiSaver scheme?
How do I change my KiwiSaver provider?
Through BetterSaver, switching takes three steps:
- Answer a few quick questions about your situation, timeframe, and any investment preferences.
- Review your recommended KiwiSaver scheme and compare it against other options.
- Complete an application online - we pass it to your chosen provider to finalise.
Most people are done in under five minutes. You can start any time at bettersaver.co.nz
How long does switching KiwiSaver providers take?
Is my money out of the market when I switch KiwiSaver providers?
Can I change my KiwiSaver account contribution rate?
Changing your contribution rate is separate from switching providers - it’s handled through your employer, not your KiwiSaver scheme.
Give your employer written notice stating the new percentage you’d like. Available rates are 3.5%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10% of your before-tax pay. You can change this at any time, as many times as you like. Changes typically take effect from your next pay run once your employer has processed the notice.
How do I find out who my KiwiSaver provider is?
If you’re not sure who holds your KiwiSaver, there are a few quick ways to check:
- Log in to myIR on the Inland Revenue website - your provider is listed under your KiwiSaver details.
- Look for emails or statements from a KiwiSaver provider - you’d have received something when you were first enrolled.
Once you’ve confirmed who your provider is, BetterSaver can help you check whether the scheme still makes sense for your situation.
What can I change about my KiwiSaver?
There are two main things you can change:
Your provider and scheme - you can switch to a different KiwiSaver provider at any time. There’s no lock-in, and BetterSaver can guide you through the process online in under five minutes. Your contribution rate - you can adjust how much of your pay goes into KiwiSaver (3.5%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10%) by notifying your employer in writing. This is handled directly with your employer and is separate from switching providers.
Both changes can be made independently, or at the same time.
Find a better KiwiSaver fund today
Not sure you’re in the right scheme? Tell us a bit about yourself and we’ll show you what your options look like. Switching KiwiSaver providers is easier than most people think.
Get my fund recommendationTakes 2–5 minutes & It’s free