What's the best industry super fund?

Some of the best-performing industry super funds include Hostplus, AustralianSuper, Australian Retirement Trust, UniSuper and Cbus.

What's the best super fund for age 30?

While you're in your 30s you still have 30+ years for your super to be invested and benefit from compound returns, so it'd best to stay invested in a growth or high growth option.

What's the best super fund for someone starting their first job?

If you're starting work and looking for a super fund, look for a fund with low fees and high long-term returns. Your balance will start off small, so you don't want this already small amount of money eaten away by excessive fees.

What types of super funds can I choose from?

There are 2 main types of super funds: industry super funds and retail super funds. Both funds invest your money in similar ways, but they are different in the way they're owned and managed. Industry super funds are independently run and owned by members, while retail funds are owned by major banks, insurance companies or other financial organisations. Industry super funds typically have lower fees.

What's the best super fund for retirees?

When you're already retired, you may want to choose a super fund that offers an account-based pension so you can access some of your super savings while the remainder stays invested.

Can I have multiple super funds

Yes, you can have multiple super funds, but it's not a good idea to do so. If you had more than one fund, you'd be paying multiple sets of fees which would eat into your retirement balance. If you've got more than one fund open in your name it's a good idea to consolidate them.

Best Super Funds Australia 2026: Compare top performers

Finder Award

Hostplus Indexed Balanced

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This product has very low fees and strong investment returns of 8.14% p.a. over the past 5 years.

Aware Super High Growth Indexed

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Aware Super has some of the lowest fees in the market. Its High Growth Indexed option has returned 13.19% p.a. over the past 3 years.

16 of 580 results

Finder Score	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.)
9.4 Excellent Aware Super High Growth Indexed NewIndustry fundIndexed investmentHigher risk	9.4 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.04%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +13.19%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $162	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.7 Excellent AMP Super Specialist International Shares Finder AwardHigher risk	9.7 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.03%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +17.73%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +12.06%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +13.15%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $545	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.5 Excellent Spaceship - GrowthX Higher risk	9.5 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.71%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +16.84%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +9.32%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $559	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.9 Excellent Aware Super International Shares Finder AwardIndustry fundHigher risk	9.9 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.15%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +16.97%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +12.55%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +13.24%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $162	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.4 Excellent AMP Super MySuper Lifestages 1980s Finder AwardLifestageHigher risk	9.4 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.18%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +11.8%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +7.78%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.88%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $460	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.4 Excellent Vanguard Super SaveSmart - High Growth NewHigher risk	9.4 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +12.14%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +12.93%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $270	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.8 Excellent Hostplus - International Shares - Indexed Industry fundHigher risk	9.8 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.93%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +16.28%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +12.32%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $154	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.8 Excellent Virgin Money LifeStage Tracker Born 2014-2018 LifestageHigher risk	9.8 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.96%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +12.8%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.69%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $358	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.5 Excellent Living Super - International Shares Option Higher risk	9.5 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.26%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +16.39%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +12.41%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +12.95%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $385	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.5 Excellent Spaceship - Global Index Indexed investmentHigher risk	9.5 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.81%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +14.71%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +10.87%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $480	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.6 Excellent Aware Super Balanced Indexed NewIndustry fundIndexed investmentHigher risk	9.6 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +9.77%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +11.77%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $162	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.2 Excellent Aware Super Australian Shares Industry fundHigher risk	9.2 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +6.46%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +10.68%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.07%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +9.66%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $162	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.2 Excellent Aware Super - Balanced Socially Conscious Industry fundEthicalHigher risk	9.2 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +8.2%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +10.53%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +7.77%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.78%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $337	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9.1 Excellent Aware Super Future Saver - MySuper Lifecycle Manage Age 56 Industry fundLifestageHigher risk	9.1 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +8.39%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +10.22%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +7.4%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +9.35%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $442	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
9 Excellent Aware Super Future Saver - MySuper Lifecycle Manage Age 57 Industry fundLifestageHigher risk	9 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +8.2%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +10%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +7.22%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +9.07%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $437	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
8.9 Great Aware Super Future Saver - MySuper Lifecycle Conservative Balanced Industry fundLifestage	8.9 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +6.41%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +7.82%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +5.54%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +6.49%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $397	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Showing 16 of 130 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 June 2026

Finder Score for super funds

Finder Score makes comparing superannuation products easier by scoring products out of 10 after assessing their performance, fees and features.

We assess products from over 40 providers based on their risk profile.

Read the full methodology

Prioritise super funds with strong long-term returns and consistently low fees, like Hostplus Balanced's 8.9% over 10 years.
Align your super's investment strategy with your age; younger investors may target higher growth over 10 years.
Ethical options such as Australian Ethical, or funds with high customer satisfaction like UniSuper, are also worth considering.

Best super funds: Finder's 5 picks

Best balanced super fund: Hostplus Indexed Balanced
Best high growth super fund: Aware Super International Shares
Best value super fund: UniSuper - Sustainable Balanced
Best ethical super fund: Australian Ethical Super Growth
Best conservative super fund: HESTA Conservative

Finder Score	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.)
Best balanced super fund
9.7 Excellent Hostplus Indexed Balanced Finder AwardIndustry fundHigher risk	9.7 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.06%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +11.74%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.14%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.73%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $139	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it Hostplus Indexed Balanced was named the best balanced super product in the 2025 Finder Awards. It has incredibly low fees of just $139.16 on a $50,000 balance. It has achieved strong returns of 11.06% p.a. over the past year and 8.14% p.a. over 5 years. It has strong exposure to Australian and international shares and is passively managed to keep costs low.
Best high growth super fund
9.9 Excellent Aware Super International Shares Finder AwardIndustry fundHigher risk	9.9 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.15%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +16.97%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +12.55%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +13.24%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $162	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it Aware Super International Shares was named the best high growth super product in the 2025 Finder Awards. This product has low fees of just $162 on a $50,000 balance. It has achieved high returns of 14.15% p.a. over the last year and 12.55% p.a. over the last 5 years. This product invests entirely in international shares and is passively managed to keep costs low.
Best value super fund
8.6 Great UniSuper - Sustainable Balanced Most LovedIndustry fundEthicalHigher risk	8.6 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +6.79%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +10.03%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +6.14%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.16%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $326	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it UniSuper was also voted the top value super fund by customers in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards 2025. UniSuper has some of the lowest fees in the market across all investment options. Its Sustainable Balanced option charges just $326 on a $50,000 balance. It has achieved strong returns of 6.79% p.a.over the past year and 6.14% p.a. over 5 years. It invests in a mix of different assets based on a range of ethical criteria that limits investment in fossil fuel companies, gambling, alcohol and tobacco and weapon manufacturing.
Best ethical super fund
7.1 Great Australian Ethical Super Growth Most LovedEthical	7.1 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +6.57%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +8.69%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +6.12%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.07%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $678	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it 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. Its growth product has returned 6.57% over the past year and 6.12% p.a. for the last 5 years.
Best conservative super fund
8.7 Great HESTA Conservative Finder AwardIndustry fund	8.7 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +6.41%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +6.41%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +4.67%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +5.42%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $352	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it HESTA Conservative was named the best conservative super product in the 2025 Finder Awards. It has a combination of competitive fees and decent returns among all conservative investment options. It invests in a range of asset classes, with around 30-40% exposure to growth assets as the remainder invested in defensive assets to protect your balance.

How do we pick the best super funds?

Each year we take a deep dive into all the super funds in our database and analyse their fees, performance and other features to determine the best products in the market. These are revealed as winners (or highly commended) in our Finder Product Awards and Customer Satisfaction Awards. 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 how each category of super fund awards was judged, take a look at our Finder Superannuation Awards for a full breakdown of each methodology.

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Top 10 best-performing super funds

Here are the 10 Balanced super funds with the highest 10-year performance returns, as of the latest data at June 2026.

Fund	10-year return p.a.
Hostplus Balanced	8.9%
Aware Super - Balanced Socially Conscious	8.78%
Hostplus Indexed Balanced	8.73%
Australian Retirement Trust - Balanced	8.69%
Australian Retirement Trust - Lifecycle Balanced Pool	8.61%
AustralianSuper - Balanced	8.47%
Vision Super Balanced Growth	8.43%
UniSuper - Balanced	8.3%
HESTA Balanced Growth	8.29%
Aware Super Balanced	8.22%

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

Our expert says

"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. "

Pascale Helyar

Superannuation and wealth expert

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.

Provider	Overall satisfaction	Trustworthy/reliable
	★★★★★ 4.46/5	100%
	★★★★★ 4.46/5	94%
	★★★★★ 4.28/5	94%
	★★★★★ 4.26/5	100%
	★★★★★ 4.15/5	91%

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

Look for these features:

High long-term returns. A consistent track record of strong returns over the long term (funds with 10-year returns above 8% p.a. are among the top performers).
Low fees. Opt for afund 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 prefer to be invested in a lower risk option.
Access to insurance cover. Does the fund offer members cost-effective life, TPD and income protection policies?

"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."

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

FAQs about picking the best super funds in Australia

There are 2 main types of super funds: industry super funds and retail super funds. Both funds invest your money in similar ways, but they are different in the way they're owned and managed. Industry super funds are independently run and owned by members, while retail funds are owned by major banks, insurance companies or other financial organisations. Industry super funds typically have lower fees.

Sources

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Whitten and reviewed by Pascale Helyar, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.

Written by

Alison Banney

Editorial Manager, Money

Add to Preferred Sources

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 574 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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28 Responses

TonyApril 7, 2026

We are a senior couple with existing super. Our current super is charging too much in fees. Can you suggest a better option? We have $350,000 to transfer

Finder

SarahMay 1, 2026Finder

Hi John,

We’re not licenced to give personal advice, but the best way to compare is to look at your fund’s fees and recent performance, and then check this against 3 or 4 other funds. You can then decide whether you want to switch your fund or keep it where you are. Also, you may be able to get personalised advice directly from your super fund, as they often have financial advisors who can speak to members about their account, their balance and their future projections, which may be helpful. Best of luck!

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?

Finder

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!

rachaelJune 27, 2023

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

Finder

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

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

Finder

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

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.

Finder

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.

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Best super funds in Australia 2026