# Children's mutual funds compared

Source page: https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/category/childrens-funds

Children's funds are solution-oriented funds with a lock-in of at least 5 years or until the child comes of age, whichever comes first. (SEBI categorisation of mutual fund schemes, 6 October 2017, as amended.)

All 13 children's funds, Direct plan, Growth option, NAV as of 2026-10-07. Every figure is worked out from each fund's own NAV.

Category averages: 3-year return +9.3% a year, 5-year return +8.6% a year (both annualised), volatility over 3 years 12.6%, expense ratio 1.46%.

| Rank | Fund | 1Y | 3Y (annualised) | 5Y (annualised) | Volatility 3Y | Worst fall 5Y | Expense ratio | Fund size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [SBI Children's Fund - Investment Plan - Direct Plan - Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/sbi-children-s-fund-investment-plan-direct-plan-growth) | +14.3% | +20.9% | +18.9% | 15.7% | -15.7% | 1.11% | ₹7,765 Cr |
| 2 | [ICICI Prudential Children's Fund - Direct Plan](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/icici-prudential-children-s-fund-direct-plan) | -3.2% | +12.0% | +11.1% | 14.8% | -15.4% | 2.36% | ₹1,436 Cr |
| 3 | [SBI Children's Fund - Savings Plan - Direct Plan - Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/sbi-children-s-fund-savings-plan-direct-plan-growth) | +9.7% | +11.4% | +10.5% | 5.0% | -4.7% | 0.92% | ₹149 Cr |
| 4 | [HDFC Childrens Fund - Direct Plan](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/hdfc-childrens-fund-direct-plan) | -2.2% | +8.0% | +9.8% | 10.8% | -12.4% | 1.02% | ₹10,658 Cr |
| 5 | [Aditya Birla Sun Life Bal Bhavishya Yojna Direct Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/aditya-birla-sun-life-bal-bhavishya-yojna-direct-growth) | +1.9% | +9.9% | +8.9% | 15.4% | -18.9% | 1.07% | ₹1,266 Cr |
| 6 | [LIC MF Children's Fund-Direct Plan-Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/lic-mf-children-s-fund-direct-plan-growth) | +3.6% | +8.5% | +7.4% | 15.1% | -19.5% | 2.12% | ₹16 Cr |
| 7 | [UTI Children's Hybrid Fund - Direct Plan](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/uti-children-s-hybrid-fund-direct-plan) | -2.5% | +6.1% | +5.9% | 7.0% | -7.3% | 1.47% | ₹4,391 Cr |
| 8 | [UTI Children's Equity Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/uti-children-s-equity-fund-direct-plan-growth-option) | -9.0% | +6.2% | +5.7% | 15.0% | -21.3% | 1.26% | ₹1,133 Cr |
| 9 | [Axis Children's Fund - No Lock in - Direct Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/axis-children-s-fund-no-lock-in-direct-growth) | -2.0% | +7.9% | +5.5% | 11.1% | -18.1% | 1.47% | ₹907 Cr |
| 10 | [Axis Children's Fund - Lock in - Direct Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/axis-children-s-fund-lock-in-direct-growth) | -2.0% | +7.8% | +5.4% | 11.1% | -18.2% | 1.47% | ₹907 Cr |
| 11 | [Tata Childrens Fund-Direct Plan-Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/tata-childrens-fund-direct-plan-growth-option) | -11.9% | +3.4% | +5.4% | 15.3% | -22.0% | 1.84% | ₹331 Cr |
| 12 | [Baroda BNP Paribas Children's Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/baroda-bnp-paribas-children-s-fund-direct-plan-growth-option) | +1.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.39% | ₹130 Cr |
| 13 | [Union Children's Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/union-children-s-fund-direct-plan-growth-option) | -1.2% | N/A | N/A | 14.7% | N/A | 1.48% | ₹95 Cr |

Ordered by 5-year annualised return, highest first; funds younger than 5 years follow by 3-year, then 1-year return. Volatility is the annualised standard deviation of monthly returns. Worst fall is the largest drop from a peak in the last 5 years. We do not label any fund as the best.

Investing from the UAE: NRIs can generally invest once KYC is complete, paying from an NRE or NRO bank account. Some fund houses do not accept residents of the United States or Canada. The UAE does not levy personal income tax, and the India UAE tax treaty may affect how gains are treated, so confirm your own position with a tax adviser.

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RuDo Wealth is a fee-only cross-border advisory operating through two separate companies. India: RuDo Wealth Investment Advisory, SEBI Registered Investment Adviser, registration INA000019503. UAE: RuDo Digital Wealth, FSRA Financial Services Permission 220155, Category 3C (Retail), ADGM. The entity permitted to serve you depends on your country of residence.

General information, not a recommendation to buy or sell any fund. Past performance does not indicate future returns.