Best super funds Australia

Love low fees? Passionate about performance? Excited about ethical investing? We've got a super fund pick to suit.

16 of 391
Product Last 1 year performance (p.a.) Last 3 year performance (p.a.) Last 5 year performance (p.a.) Last 10 year performance (p.a.) Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+7.34%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+7.14%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+8.74%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+7.07%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$322
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Finder Award
Industry fundEthical
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Fund CategoryIndustry
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
  • Income Protection
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeBalanced
Compare product selection
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+6.53%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
N/A
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
N/A
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
N/A
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$280
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Fund CategoryMySuper
Insurance
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeBalanced
Compare product selection
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+6.93%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.56%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+9.9%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+6.96%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$481
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Fund CategoryMySuper
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeBalanced
Compare product selection
UniSuper logo
UniSuper - Global Companies in Asia
Most LovedIndustry fundHigher risk
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+7.36%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+10.51%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+13.57%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+11.48%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$311
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Industry fundHigher risk
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Fund CategoryIndustry
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
  • Income Protection
DiversificationSingle asset class
Investment TypeHigh growth
Compare product selection
Hostplus logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+6.02%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.94%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+10.21%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+6.89%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$135
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Fund CategoryIndustry
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
  • Income Protection
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeBalanced
Compare product selection
Australian Ethical Super logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+5.61%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.22%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+12.04%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+7.41%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$728
This is a high-risk, high-growth option that invests in Australian and international shares, property and alternatives to provide long term growth.
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Fund CategoryRetail
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
  • Income Protection
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeHigh growth
Compare product selection
Australian Retirement Trust  logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+6.48%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+7.86%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+12.36%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+8.79%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$507
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Fund CategoryIndustry
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeHigh growth
Compare product selection
Virgin Money Super logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+6.76%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+7.4%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+11.09%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
N/A
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$363
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Fund CategoryMySuper
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeBalanced
Compare product selection
Aware Super logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+6.02%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.13%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+8.82%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+6.96%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$422
This is a balanced option aiming for moderate growth over the long term.
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Fund CategoryIndustry
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
  • Income Protection
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeBalanced
Compare product selection
Australian Ethical Super logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+10.83%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+11.65%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+12.92%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+9.3%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$648
This option aims for high growth, with a higher risk profile, by investing in international stock markets.
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Fund CategoryRetail
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
  • Income Protection
DiversificationSingle asset class
Investment TypeHigh growth
Compare product selection
UniSuper logo
UniSuper - High Growth
Most LovedIndustry fundHigher risk
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+4.9%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.96%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+12.34%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+8.88%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$451
This fund targets high growth over a long term horizon by investing in higher growth, higher risk assets such as Australian and international shares.
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Industry fundHigher risk
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Fund CategoryIndustry
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
  • Income Protection
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeHigh growth
Compare product selection
Vanguard logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+6.46%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
N/A
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
N/A
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
N/A
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$270
This is a high-risk, high-growth option that invests in a range of different asset classes, with a strong focus on Australian and international shares.
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Fund CategoryRetail
Insurance
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeHigh growth
Compare product selection
Aware Super logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+6.56%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.76%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+10.77%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+8.09%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$457
A lifecycle super fund weighted heavily towards high growth assets, targeted to people 55 and under.
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Fund CategoryMySuper
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
  • Income Protection
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeHigh growth
Compare product selection
Hostplus logo
Hostplus Australian Shares
Industry fundHigher risk
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+3.62%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+5.58%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+13.86%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+8.1%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$350
This is a high-risk, high-growth investment option that invests entirely in Australian shares and aims for strong returns over the long term.
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Industry fundHigher risk
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Fund CategoryIndustry
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
  • Income Protection
DiversificationSingle asset class
Investment TypeHigh growth
Compare product selection
Spaceship logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+8.38%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+10.91%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+12.58%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
N/A
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$571
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Fund CategoryRetail
Insurance
  • No automatic cover
DiversificationDiversified
Investment TypeHigh growth
Compare product selection
Australian Ethical Super logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+3.07%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+2.55%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+12.93%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+8.75%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$778
Go to siteMore Info
Go to site
Fund CategoryRetail
Insurance
  • Death
  • TPD
  • Income Protection
DiversificationSingle asset class
Investment TypeHigh growth
Compare product selection
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Showing 16 of 92 results

The information in this table is based on data provided by SuperRatings Pty Limited ABN 95 100 192 283, a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR No.1309956) of Lonsec Research Pty Ltd ABN 11 151 658 561, Australian Financial Services Licence No. 421445. In limited instances, where data is not available from SuperRatings for a product, the data is provided directly by the superannuation fund.

*Past performance data and fee data is for the period ending March 2025

Best super funds: Finder's 5 picks

Using data from the Finder Awards, we have the following winners based on different super fund categories:

Best Balanced Super Fund: UniSuper - Sustainable Balanced

  • This fund has delivered an average annual return of 6.75% over the last 10 years
  • It has low fees of just $316 for a $50,000 balance.
  • It selects investments based on a range of ethical criteria that limits investment in fossil fuel companies, gambling, alcohol and tobacco and weapon manufacturing.

Best Super Fund Provider: Aware Super

  • Aware Super combines strong fund performance across the majority of its investment options with great customer satisfaction and trustworthiness.
  • Its Balanced Socially Conscious option has delivered an average annual return of 7.81% over the last 10 years.
  • The Balanced Socially Conscious option has low fees of just $322 on a $50,000 balance.

Best Shares Super Fund: Australian Retirement Trust - International Shares Index (unhedged)

  • This fund has achieved strong returns of 10.78% p.a. over the last 10 years.
  • It invests 100% in international shares, making it a very high growth option.
  • It has very low fees of just $192.40 p.a. based on a $50,000 balance.

Best Ethical Super Fund: Australian Ethical Super - Growth

  • Australian Ethical is one of just a handful of super funds to be certified by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia.
  • It excludes all fossil fuel investments and most mining companies, while actively investing in renewable energy.
  • It's Growth product has returned 7.8% p.a. for the last 10 years.

Best Low Fee Super Fund: Hostplus Indexed Balanced

  • Hostplus Indexed Balanced has very low fees of $135.26 on a $50,000 balance. That's a fee of just 0.29% p.a!
  • It also has strong performance returns of 7.82% p.a. over the last 10 years.
  • It has a combination of some of the lowest fees and strongest performance returns of all Balanced funds in our panel.
Pascale Helyar-Moray's headshot

"To most people, the concept of 'best' means the highest-performing by net performance. To calculate net performance, you look at the overall return, and deduct fees and expenses. If your fund charges more than others, but is also consistently outperforming its peers by some margin, then you would probably be happy wearing the higher fees. "

Superannuation expert
How do we pick the best super funds?

We regularly look at the super funds in our database to determine which are the best offers for a range of different purposes. Our best super fund picks are a combination of winners from the Finder Awards and our own expert selections from our partners.

For more detailed insights into the Finder Award winners and how each category of super fund awards was judged, take a look at our Finder Superannuation Awards for a full breakdown of each methodology.

What's the best-performing super fund?

Here are the 10 Balanced super funds with the highest 10-year performance returns, as of March 2025.

Balanced super fund10-yr return p.a.
Hostplus - Balanced7.84
Australian Retirement Trust - Super Savings - Balanced7.64
HESTA - Sustainable Growth7.52
AustralianSuper - Balanced7.44
Cbus - Growth (MySuper)7.18
Media Super - Growth (MySuper)7.18
UniSuper Accum - MySuper Balanced7.11
Vision SS - Balanced Growth7.10
Aware Super Future Saver - Balanced Socially Conscious7.07
Prime Super - MySuper6.99

You can see super fund performance for other investment options in our separate guide.

Top 5 super funds for customer satisfaction

The Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards recognises the best performing super fund for customer satisfaction. It's an award that is decided by the only votes that really matter – yours. We asked customers of major super funds to tell us about their experiences. Now we can reveal what they said.

ProviderOverall satisfactionTrustworthy/reliable
Up★★★★★ 4.46/5100%
Picture not described★★★★★ 4.46/594%
Picture not described★★★★★ 4.28/594%
Picture not described★★★★★ 4.26/5100%
Picture not described★★★★★ 4.15/591%

What's the best super fund for my age?

While you're in your 20s, 30s and even 40s you want to have a super fund that charges minimal fees while delivering high returns. While you're young, make sure you're invested in enough growth assets to ensure your balance really benefits from compound growth.

As you get closer to retirement you might want to gradually reduce your exposure to growth assets like shares, so look for a fund that has a more balanced mix.

We've got more tips for managing your super depending on your lifestage:

How to pick the best super fund

Choosing the right super fund is crucial for your financial future. While the top-performing funds are a great start, they may not always align with your specific needs. If you're looking elsewhere, consider these key factors:

  • High long-term returns. Look for funds with a consistent track record of strong returns over the long term (funds with 10-year returns above 7% p.a. are among the top performers).
  • Low fees. Higher fees can significantly eat into your retirement savings. Opt for funds with lower fees without compromising on performance (aim for annual fees less than 1% of your super balance).
  • Investment strategy aligns with your age. Younger investors might prefer high-growth options, whereas those nearing retirement may prioritise stability and have a shorter investing time horizon for a portion of their balance. If needing access to funds in the next 3-5 years, it's important to be invested in a lower risk option.
  • Access to insurance cover. Does the fund offers members cost-effective life, TPD and salary continuance policies?
Gary Ross Hunter's headshot

"I only moved to Australia 6 years ago so I'm playing catch up with my super. For me, low fees are important and to know my money isn't being invested in something that's destroying the planet. I also cancelled the life insurance inside my super because the premiums increase every year."

Journalist

FAQs about picking the best super funds in Australia

Karen Eley is the founder of Women Talking Finance, which provides money coaching and financial literacy and education services. An experienced and former financial adviser who has worked in financial services industry for 22 years, Karen is a Certified Money Coach (CMC), holds a Bachelor of Accounting and an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning and CFP.
Richard Whitten's headshot
Pascale Helyar-Moray's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Whitten and reviewed by Pascale Helyar-Moray, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.
Alison Banney's headshot
Written by

Editorial Manager, Money

Alison is an editor at Finder and a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of experience, having contributed to major financial institutions and publications such as Westpac, Money Magazine, and Yahoo Finance. She is frequently quoted in media outlets like SmartCompany and SBS, offering expert insights on superannuation and money management. Alison holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Newcastle, and has earned three ASIC RG146 certifications in superannuation, securities and managed investments and general financial advice, ensuring her expertise is fully aligned with ASIC standards. See full bio

Alison's expertise
Alison has written 651 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Superannuation
  • Savings accounts, bank accounts and term deposits
  • Budgeting and money-saving hacks
  • Managing the cost of living

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26 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    S.AJuly 12, 2023

    As a self employed, am I by law required to have a super fund? At 50, contemplating on starting a superannuation fund, plus paying for a 30 year mortgage, is there a table showing approximately returns on what amount is put in… Are there previous charts on what is put in and what is the outcome after 10/ 20 years?

      AvatarFinder
      SarahJuly 13, 2023Finder

      Hi there,

      When you are self-employed there is no legal requirement to pay yourself superannuation. However, there may be some tax advantages of doing so, not to mention the benefit of investment returns.

      We’re not licenced to offer personal advice, but this calculator can help you understand how much you might be able to generate through super (in the employer contributions section, enter the percentage that you are considering paying):
      https://www.finder.com.au/super-funds/superannuation-calculator

      Also, here is some more information about superannuation for self-employed Australians:
      https://www.finder.com.au/super-funds/superannuation-for-sole-traders

      Hope this helps!

    Default Gravatar
    rachaelJune 27, 2023

    i have a 15 year old who is working. what is the best super fund for teenagers?

      AvatarFinder
      RajJune 27, 2023Finder

      Hi Rachel,

      We won’t be able to recommend any specific super fund products for your son. However we have written what to look for when selecting a suitable fund here

      Thanks
      Raj

    Default Gravatar
    NavidJune 2, 2023

    Hi, I am looking for the best returning super fund taking into account as is stated on your website the fees, how the fund invests your money and if it aligns with your risk appetite which is high growth. The difficulty I am having is comparing high growth as the definition/asset class and the weightings between different super funds can vary so we are not comparing apples to apples. Currently I am with an industry fund and find since they run a lot of ads, fund profits/fees are eaten by the ads so I am looking for other type of funds that are also transparent. Thank you

      AvatarFinder
      AlisonJune 22, 2023Finder

      Hi Navid, Finder is a comparison site and we aren’t licensed to give you any personal advice or product recommendations. You can use our comparison table to compare high growth options, by using the filters on the side: https://www.finder.com.au/super-funds
      Hope this helps. Thanks,
      Alison

    Default Gravatar
    MariaMay 20, 2023

    Hi, I’m an international student (my plan is to get a PR eventually), and I am about to start 2 casual jobs; I do not know how to choose which is better for my situation. Could you please assist me with that?

    Thank you.

      AvatarFinder
      AlisonMay 22, 2023Finder

      Hi Maria, we aren’t licensed to offer you any personal financial advice or product recommendations. In general when choosing a super fund it’s best to look for a fund that has a combination of low annual fees and a history of high long-term returns. If you’d like some personal recommendations it’d be best to speak to a financial adviser who can give you recommendations for your situation. Thanks, Alison.

    Default Gravatar
    BarbMay 15, 2023

    If the fees charged by on a Pension account are a percentage of your balance, how do you lose money by having more than one account?

      AvatarFinder
      AlisonMay 16, 2023Finder

      Hi Barb, usually super funds charge a dollar based fee as well as a percentage based fee.

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