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Personal Finance · Comparison

Best robo-advisors & micro-investing apps in Australia (2026)

Independent, side-by-side comparison of Australian robo-advisors and micro-investing apps, ranked by effective cost, ownership model and features, with a live multi-year cost projection.

7 providers tested Updated Jul 2026ASIC

General advice only, not personal financial advice. Investment values can fall as well as rise and are not covered by the Financial Claims Scheme. Confirm current fees in each provider's PDS before investing.

Advertising disclosure: some links may earn us a commission at no cost to you — it never affects our rankings. Details

Robo-Advisors & Micro-Investing

Expert Reviews & Ratings

Data verified July 10, 2026 · Reviewed by SmartFinPro Research · How we test

Most investors are best served by Stockspot: it is the largest and longest-running robo-advisor in Australia, holds your ETFs individually under CHESS sponsorship (a genuine rarity in this category), and charges the lowest full-portfolio entry fee of the seven. If you would rather start with spare change than a lump sum, Raiz remains the best pure round-up app. And for CHESS-sponsored ownership backed by a big-four bank at a very low starting amount, CommSec Pocket is hard to beat.

StockspotTop pickBest overall robo-advisorNot yet ratedVisit site Raiz InvestBest for spare-change investing 4.7Visit site CommSec PocketBest CHESS-sponsored starterNot yet ratedVisit site

How we test Robo-Advisors & Micro-Investing

We compare each provider's real fee structure, account minimum, ownership model (CHESS-sponsored vs. custodial/pooled) and features from official pricing and disclosure pages, re-verified quarterly. Because this category mixes flat-fee micro-investing apps with percentage-fee robo-advisors, the "effective fee" shown is each provider's own headline cost converted to an annualised percentage at a representative balance: the full real-world mechanics (flat $/month, tiered %, per-trade brokerage) are always shown in the fee detail below the effective figure, never hidden behind it. The multi-year cost projection assumes a 7% p.a. growth rate, a standard long-term diversified-portfolio assumption. Rankings never depend on commissions; every provider on this page is currently a visit-only listing.

What to look for

CHESS-sponsored vs. custodial ownership

Only Stockspot, CommSec Pocket and InvestSMART hold your ETFs on the CHESS subregister under your own Holder Identification Number (HIN): you directly own the securities. Raiz, Spaceship, Sharesies and Pearler Micro use a pooled managed-fund or custodial/nominee structure. You're the beneficial owner via a trustee, which is a normal and legal structure but a genuinely different risk and portability profile, especially if the provider is ever wound up.

Micro-investing apps vs. true robo-advisors

Raiz, Spaceship, CommSec Pocket, Sharesies and Pearler Micro are built around small, automated or round-up investing with flat monthly fees, cheap at larger balances, proportionally expensive on very small ones. Stockspot and InvestSMART are closer to a traditional robo-advisor: a percentage management fee, a real minimum investment, and automatic rebalancing across a full diversified portfolio.

Flat fees get expensive on small balances

A$2–6.50/month sounds trivial, but on a $2,000 balance that is 1.2%–3.9% per year, often more than a percentage-fee robo-advisor would charge on the same amount. Use the calculator above with your real starting balance, not the marketing headline.

Linked superannuation products

Raiz, Spaceship, Stockspot and Pearler all offer a separate, linked super product alongside their investing app. These are different products with their own fees and PDS: comparing them properly belongs on our dedicated super funds page, not folded into this one.

These are General Advice, not personal financial advice

All 7 providers operate under an ASIC Australian Financial Services Licence (several via an Authorised Representative arrangement rather than their own AFSL, shown per provider). Robo-advice and portfolio suggestions are General or Scaled Advice, not a personal recommendation, and investment values can fall as well as rise.

Related guides & tools

Sources & references

Provider data is collected from official pricing and disclosure pages and re-verified on the dates shown. Regulatory references link to the official register or scheme page.

Frequently asked questions

For most people, Stockspot is the right starting point: Australia's largest and longest-running robo-advisor, with individually CHESS-sponsored holdings and the lowest full-portfolio entry fee (A$1/month up to $20,000). If spare-change investing suits your style better, Raiz is the strongest pure starter app for that. Want CHESS-sponsored ownership from a big-four bank without a large starting amount? CommSec Pocket is the strongest option. Fees and features are re-verified quarterly, and commissions never factor into the ranking.
It depends on the ownership model. CHESS-sponsored providers (Stockspot, CommSec Pocket, InvestSMART) hold your ETFs directly in your name: they remain yours regardless of what happens to the provider. Custodial/pooled providers (Raiz, Spaceship, Sharesies, Pearler Micro) hold assets via a trustee or nominee, separated from the provider's own funds, but the wind-down process runs through that custodian rather than being instantly and directly yours. Neither structure is covered by the government's Financial Claims Scheme, which only applies to bank deposits. These are market investments, not deposits.
We convert each provider's real pricing (flat monthly fee, percentage management fee, or a mix) into an effective annual percentage at your chosen balance, then project it forward assuming 7% p.a. portfolio growth and compounding fees. Move the amount and years sliders to see the dollar impact on your own numbers: the ranking updates live.
No, several apps have no minimum at all (Spaceship, Sharesies, CommSec Pocket accepts trades from A$50, Raiz and Pearler Micro from A$5). Stockspot requires A$1,000 and InvestSMART requires A$10,000, reflecting their fuller, more traditional robo-advisor model.
Every fee, minimum and feature on this page was verified against the provider's official pricing or disclosure page on 10 July 2026 and is re-checked quarterly. Fee structures and promotions can change, so confirm the current terms on the provider's site (and its Product Disclosure Statement) before investing.

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Affiliate & General Advice Warning

SmartFinPro may receive commissions from financial product providers featured on this page. This is general information only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Before making any financial decisions, consider your personal circumstances and consult a licensed financial adviser. We do not guarantee product performance.

ASIC General Advice Warning | This information is not financial advice