Sharesies Australia Review 2026: Is It Worth Using?
Sharesies started in New Zealand in 2017 with a simple mission: make investing accessible to everyone, regardless of how much money they have. After building a loyal following of over 500,000 Kiwi investors, Sharesies expanded into Australia — and it's been gaining traction ever since.
Finder rates Sharesies highly for customer satisfaction, which is telling. It's not necessarily the cheapest or most feature-rich platform, but it's the one users consistently report enjoying. For a lot of Australians — especially first-time investors — that matters.
Here's everything you need to know before signing up.
What Is Sharesies?
Sharesies is an investment platform that lets Australians buy shares and ETFs on the ASX, as well as US and NZ markets. It was founded in New Zealand and is now available in Australia, operated under an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) issued by ASIC.
The platform's defining feature is
fractional investing — you can invest any dollar amount from as little as $1, even in companies whose shares cost hundreds of dollars each. This makes Sharesies uniquely accessible for investors starting out with small amounts, or those who want to build diversified portfolios without needing large lump sums.
Who Is Sharesies Best For?
Sharesies is a particularly good fit for:
- First-time investors who want a friendly, guided experience and low barriers to entry
- Investors with small amounts to start — the $1 minimum makes it genuinely accessible
- People building regular savings habits — auto-invest features help you set and forget
- Younger Australians who want a simple, well-designed app experience
- Investors who want ASX, US, and NZ market access in one place
It's less suited to experienced investors who want advanced charting, margin trading, or sophisticated research tools. Moomoo or Interactive Brokers would serve those needs better. Sharesies is optimised for approachability and habit formation, not power-user features.
Sharesies Fees: What Does It Cost?
Sharesies uses a transaction-fee model rather than a flat brokerage structure. Understanding the fee tiers matters because costs can add up differently depending on how you invest.
Transaction Fees
Sharesies charges a percentage-based fee per transaction:
- 0.5% on NZX (New Zealand) trades
- 0.5% on ASX trades (capped at $5 AUD per transaction)
- 0.5% on US trades (capped at $5 USD per transaction)
The cap is the important detail. For any transaction above $1,000 AUD on the ASX, the fee stays at $5 regardless of transaction size. That's equivalent to or cheaper than most flat-fee brokers for mid-sized purchases.
For small transactions — say, $50 — the fee is $0.25. At $100, it's $0.50. These are reasonable amounts, though CMC Invest's zero-brokerage tier is cheaper for purchases under $1,000.
Currency Exchange
For US market trades, a foreign exchange fee of approximately 0.5% applies when converting AUD to USD. This is competitive compared to eToro (1.5%) and similar to moomoo.
Account Fees
There are no monthly subscription fees on Sharesies — unlike some competitors that charge flat monthly fees regardless of trading activity, Sharesies only charges you when you transact.
Fractional Shares: The Feature That Sets Sharesies Apart
If you've been wanting to invest in high-priced US stocks — companies like Amazon, Tesla, or Booking Holdings, where a single share can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars — Sharesies' fractional share feature is genuinely valuable.
Instead of needing $200 to buy one share of a company trading at $200, you can invest $20 and own 10% of a share. Your proportional dividend and capital gains still apply.
This feature is available for both US and ASX shares on Sharesies. While other platforms like moomoo and Stake also offer fractional shares on US stocks, Sharesies applies it across all supported markets including the ASX — which is less common among Australian platforms.
Auto-Invest: Building Wealth on Autopilot
Sharesies includes an
auto-invest feature that lets you set up recurring investments on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly schedule. You specify an amount, select your investments (or let Sharesies distribute across a pre-set allocation), and the purchases happen automatically.
This is a genuinely useful feature for investors who want to dollar-cost average into their portfolio without logging in each time. Platforms like Pearler have built their entire identity around this approach, but Sharesies implements it cleanly for investors who also want the flexibility to trade manually.
What Can You Invest In?
Sharesies offers access to:
- ASX shares and ETFs — comprehensive coverage of Australian listed securities
- US shares and ETFs — NYSE and NASDAQ listed stocks
- NZX shares — New Zealand Stock Exchange coverage (unique among Australian platforms)
- Managed funds — select managed funds available in addition to direct shares
The NZX access is genuinely unique in the Australian platform market. If you want exposure to New Zealand companies or NZ-listed ETFs, Sharesies is effectively your only retail option.
The Sharesies App and Platform Experience
Sharesies is widely praised for its user experience. The app is clean, well-organised, and designed with first-time investors in mind — without being so simplified that it feels patronising.
Key features of the app include:
- Portfolio overview with performance tracking and return calculations
- Discover section with curated investment ideas and educational content
- Market news integrated alongside your watchlist
- Recurring investment management — easy to set up and modify your auto-invest settings
- Tax reporting — Sharesies provides annual investment summaries for your ATO return
The onboarding process is one of the smoothest in the market. Account setup typically takes under 15 minutes, and Sharesies' in-app guidance helps new investors understand what they're doing at each step.
Sharesies vs Competitors
vs Raiz: Both target beginner investors with low minimums. Raiz uses a round-up model and invests into managed ETF portfolios; Sharesies lets you choose your own investments. Sharesies is better if you want control over what you own.
vs Spaceship: Spaceship also targets younger investors but invests into pre-built portfolios. Sharesies gives you more flexibility to pick individual shares and ETFs.
vs CMC Invest: CMC Invest is cheaper for larger purchases and offers CHESS sponsorship. Sharesies is more beginner-friendly and includes fractional shares with a $1 entry point.
vs Pearler: Both offer auto-invest features aimed at long-term investors. Pearler is CHESS-sponsored; Sharesies uses a custodial model. Pearler's community and "ethical" focus appeals to some investors; Sharesies has a friendlier onboarding experience.
vs moomoo: Moomoo has significantly more research tools and lower overall brokerage. Sharesies is more accessible for beginners and includes NZX access.
CHESS Sponsorship on Sharesies
Sharesies uses a
custodial model for share ownership — your shares are held by Sharesies as custodian, not registered directly under your name in the CHESS system. This is worth understanding if you eventually want to transfer your portfolio to a CHESS-sponsored broker.
Transferring from a custodial platform to a CHESS broker typically involves selling and repurchasing your positions, which can trigger capital gains tax obligations. If direct CHESS ownership is important to you from the start, consider starting with CMC Invest or Pearler instead.
Is Sharesies Safe?
Sharesies Australia holds an AFSL issued by ASIC. Client money is held in segregated trust accounts at Australian banks, separated from Sharesies' operating funds. The company has a multi-year operating track record in New Zealand (since 2017) and Australia.
As with any investment platform, your money is not guaranteed — investment returns can go up or down. The safety question here refers to platform risk (whether the company itself is a legitimate, regulated operation) rather than investment risk, and on that front, Sharesies passes comfortably.
The Verdict: Is Sharesies Worth It for Australian Investors?
Sharesies is one of the friendliest entry points into investing available to Australians in 2026. Its $1 minimum, fractional share access, auto-invest tools, and clean app experience make it particularly well suited for beginners and those building investing habits with small regular amounts.
The pros:
- $1 minimum investment with fractional shares
- Competitive fees (capped at $5 per ASX/US trade)
- Auto-invest for set-and-forget portfolio building
- Access to ASX, US, and NZ markets
- Excellent app experience, highly rated for customer satisfaction
- Regulated by ASIC
The cons:
- Custodial model — no CHESS sponsorship
- Percentage-based fees are more expensive than $0 brokerage platforms for larger trades
- Less research and charting capability than moomoo or IBKR
- No crypto
For investors just starting out, or those who want a simple, enjoyable investing experience with low entry barriers, Sharesies is a strong choice in 2026. If you're investing larger amounts regularly and want maximum cost efficiency, you'll eventually want to consider moving to a zero-brokerage platform like CMC Invest or moomoo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sharesies only available in Australia and New Zealand?
Sharesies operates in both Australia and New Zealand. Australian accounts are governed by ASIC; New Zealand accounts by the FMA.
Can I invest in US shares through Sharesies Australia?
Yes — Sharesies provides access to NYSE and NASDAQ listed shares and ETFs from your Australian account.
What is the withdrawal process on Sharesies?
Withdrawals are processed to your linked Australian bank account. Processing times are typically 1–3 business days.
Does Sharesies offer a kids account?
Sharesies offers gift investing features but does not currently operate formal children's accounts in Australia as of 2026.
Are dividends automatically reinvested on Sharesies?
Dividends are paid to your Sharesies wallet by default. You can configure automatic reinvestment if preferred.