Raiz and Spaceship are Australia’s two most popular micro-investing apps. Both let you invest small amounts in diversified portfolios via a smartphone app — but they differ in portfolio philosophy, automation features, fees, and use cases. This comparison helps you understand the key differences.
General information only — this comparison does not constitute a recommendation to use either platform.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Raiz | Spaceship |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | $5 | $1 |
| Monthly fee (< threshold) | $3.50 | $3.00 |
| Fee threshold | $20,000 | $100,000 |
| Above-threshold fee | 0.275%/year | 0.50%/year (Universe/Earth); 0% (Origin) |
| Portfolio options | 8 | 3 |
| Round-up investing | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Scheduled deposits | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Super product | ✅ Raiz Super | ❌ No |
| Rewards/cashback | ✅ Raiz Rewards | ❌ No |
| ETF-based portfolios | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Bitcoin/crypto exposure | ✅ Sapphire portfolio | ❌ No |
| ESG option | ✅ Emerald portfolio | ✅ Earth portfolio |
| Custom portfolio | ✅ Raiz Custom | ❌ No |
Fee Comparison at Different Balances
Annual fees (flat monthly fee only — investment return not included):
| Balance | Raiz ($42/yr) | Spaceship ($36/yr) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | 8.4%/year | 7.2%/year | Raiz $6/yr more |
| $2,000 | 2.1%/year | 1.8%/year | Raiz $6/yr more |
| $5,000 | 0.84%/year | 0.72%/year | Raiz $6/yr more |
| $10,000 | 0.42%/year | 0.36%/year | Raiz $6/yr more |
Spaceship is $6/year cheaper at all balances below the threshold — a minor but consistent advantage.
Portfolio Philosophy Comparison
Raiz: Diversified, ETF-based portfolios
Raiz portfolios are constructed from established ETFs across Australian shares, international shares, bonds, property, and gold. The Aggressive portfolio is genuinely diversified across global asset classes. The approach is closer to traditional index investing — lower concentration risk.
Spaceship Universe: Tech-concentrated, active selection
Spaceship Universe invests in companies Spaceship believes are “shaping the future” — heavily weighted to global technology leaders. This is more like a thematic/active fund than a passive index. Higher potential return in tech bull markets; higher risk of underperformance during tech downturns.
Spaceship Origin is closer to an index fund — broad global exposure.
Automation: Raiz Wins
Raiz’s round-up feature is its strongest differentiator:
- Links to any Australian bank card
- Automatically invests spare change without manual action
- Strong behavioural finance benefit — you invest without thinking about it
Spaceship has no round-up feature. Contributions require manual initiation or a scheduled recurring deposit — which requires more financial discipline.
Performance Comparison
Comparing Raiz (Aggressive) vs Spaceship (Universe) over various periods:
- In strong tech bull markets (2019–2021, 2023–2024): Spaceship Universe typically outperforms Raiz Aggressive due to high tech concentration
- In broad market downturns or tech-specific downturns (2022): Spaceship Universe typically underperforms
Neither platform publishes independently audited performance — check each platform’s website for current reported returns.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Which Is Better — Raiz or Spaceship?
Neither is universally better — the right choice depends on your preferences:
Choose Raiz if:
- You want round-up automation (investing spare change effortlessly)
- You want more portfolio diversity (8 options including crypto and ESG)
- You want a super component (Raiz Super)
- You want cashback rewards via Raiz Rewards
Choose Spaceship if:
- You believe in the long-term outperformance of technology companies (Universe)
- You want the simplest possible interface
- You are comfortable making manual contributions
- You prefer the slightly lower $3/month fee
Consider CommSec Pocket or a full brokerage account if:
- You want to hold named ETFs directly (more transparency)
- You invest $500+ at a time (no monthly fee advantage)
- You want access to a broader ETF universe
Related Articles
- Raiz Review Australia
- Spaceship Review Australia
- CommSec Pocket Review Australia
- Best Micro-Investing Apps Australia
- Micro-Investing hub
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use both Raiz and Spaceship? Some investors use both — Raiz for round-up automation on daily spending, and Spaceship for manual scheduled contributions. However, as your balance grows, the combined flat fees ($6.50/month = $78/year) become a meaningful drag. Consolidating or transitioning to a low-cost brokerage account may be more efficient above $15,000–$20,000 total balance.
Can I transfer from Raiz to Spaceship (or vice versa)? No — there is no direct transfer between platforms. You would need to withdraw from one platform (receiving cash) and deposit into the other. This may trigger a capital gains tax event on any gains realised at the point of withdrawal.
Are Raiz and Spaceship safe for my money? Both are ASIC-regulated entities holding Australian Financial Services Licences. Client assets are held separately from company assets. Your portfolio value can fall with market movements — but your money is not at risk due to platform insolvency in the same way a bank deposit would not be at risk from ASIC-regulated entities. Note: unlike bank deposits, investment values are not government-guaranteed.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to use Raiz, Spaceship, or any other platform. Always verify current fees and features directly with each provider. For personal advice, speak with a licensed financial adviser through the ASIC financial advisers register or MoneySmart.