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How we picked these
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 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.
Key takeaways
- Prioritise super funds with strong long-term returns and consistently low fees, like Hostplus's 8.33% 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
How do we pick the best super funds?
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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 March 2026.
| Fund | 10-year return p.a. |
|---|---|
| Hostplus Balanced | 8.64% |
| Aware Super - Balanced Socially Conscious | 8.59% |
| Australian Retirement Trust - Balanced | 8.45% |
| Australian Retirement Trust - Lifecycle Balanced Pool | 8.37% |
| Hostplus Indexed Balanced | 8.33% |
| AustralianSuper - Balanced | 8.17% |
| Vision Super Balanced Growth | 7.98% |
| UniSuper - Balanced | 7.96% |
| HESTA Balanced Growth | 7.89% |
| Aware Super Balanced | 7.87% |
You can see super fund performance for other investment options in our separate guide.
"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. "
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."
FAQs about picking the best super funds in Australia
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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?
Hi Barb, usually super funds charge a dollar based fee as well as a percentage based fee.
How did I find how Colonial First state pension fund fared in comparison to Australian Super
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for contacting Finder.
To help you compare funds, there are a few key areas, that should be considered when comparing and they include long-term performance, fees and the fund’s investment strategy for your age. We have written a how-to-compare guide, which can help you compare.
Thanks
Raj
Do you have people who advise on how to shutdown an SMSF and transfer to an Industry super fund? And whether it makes sense?
Hi Alan,
Finder is a financial comparison site – we can help you compare your options between products but we aren’t able to offer you any personal financial advice. We suggest you speak with a financial advisor or tax accountant for advice.
Looking at your figures which you say are accurate, I can 100% tell you they are not accurate at all . You have Australian super at 2.71% loss financial year 21/22 , my Super went down far more than that , the figure was 5.1% on the base starting figure plus whole years deposits over the year it would make the loss approx 10% annual .Then if you add in the investment loss , fees etc the figure goes far higher , can you please explain your figures
Hi Michael,
The figures in our super tables are supplied by superannuation research firm Chant West, which source the data directly from the funds themselves. The figure you’re referring to for AustralianSuper is for its Balanced fund. if you’re in a different investment option, or your balance is split between a couple of different options, your performance returns will be different.
Thanks,
Alison
how much are the superannuation fees/costs ?
Hi there,
Super fund fees all vary depending on the fund you’re with, the investment option and your balance. You can see the annual fees based on a $50k balance as an example for the sake of comparison in our table above.
Thanks,
Alison