Best industry super funds

Here are the 5 best-performing industry super funds over the past 10 years. Switching to one could mean you retire with more money in your super.

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By

Alison Banney

Reviewed by

Ryan Watson

Updated

Fact checked
1 - 14 of 245
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.)
+16.34%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.2%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+9.09%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+10.04%
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.
Go to siteMore info
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+11.58%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.97%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+8.5%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+9.3%
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.
Go to siteMore info
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+14.16%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+5.84%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+8.4%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+8.98%
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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UniSuper - Sustainable High Growth
Finder AwardIndustry fundEthicalHigher risk
UniSuper logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+19.04%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+5.14%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+9.23%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+9.81%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$326
Go to siteMore info
Australian Retirement Trust - High Growth
Industry fundHigher risk
Australian Retirement Trust logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+13.73%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+7.51%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+9.19%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+9.58%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$507
Go to siteMore info
Hostplus Indexed Balanced
Industry fund
Hostplus logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+14.22%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.59%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+7.63%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+7.75%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$135
Go to siteMore info
Australian Retirement Trust - International Shares Index (unhedged)
Finder AwardIndustry fundIndexed investmentHigher risk
Australian Retirement Trust logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+26.07%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+10.34%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+12.28%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+11.92%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$192
Go to siteMore info
Aware Super Balanced
Industry fund
Aware Super logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+12.36%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+5.18%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+7%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+7.66%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$422
Go to siteMore info
Hostplus International Shares
Industry fundHigher risk
Hostplus logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+20.98%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+5.98%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+8.97%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+9.92%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$385
Go to siteMore info
Aware Super - Balanced Socially Conscious
Finder AwardIndustry fundEthical
Aware Super logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+14.68%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.36%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+8.14%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+7.94%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$322
Go to siteMore info
Australian Retirement Trust - Socially Conscious Balanced
Industry fundEthical
Australian Retirement Trust logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+11.42%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+5.16%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+7.11%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+6.95%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$497
Go to siteMore info
UniSuper - Sustainable Balanced
Finder AwardIndustry fundEthical
UniSuper logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+15.25%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+4.41%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+7.2%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+7.79%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$316
Go to siteMore info
Australian Retirement Trust - Balanced
Industry fund
Australian Retirement Trust logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+11.89%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.32%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+7.62%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+8.31%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$477
Go to siteMore info
Australian Retirement Trust - Lifecycle Balanced Pool
Industry fundLifestageHigher risk
Australian Retirement Trust logo
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+11.87%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.29%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+7.58%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+8.28%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$477
Go to siteMore info
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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 December 2024

Start comparing

Here are our picks for the best industry super funds

Best returns: 3rd place
Australian Retirement Trust - Balanced

Australian Retirement Trust - Balanced logo
Go to site
+11.89%
1 year performance
+6.32%
3 year performance
+8.31%
10 year performance
Australian Retirement Trust, one of Australia's largest super funds with more than 2 million members. Its Balanced product invests your super in a mix of growth assets, and reduces your risk when you're near retirement.
We only look at Balanced industry super funds using data from Super Rating and available in our comparison table when filtering for 'Balanced'. Ethical or sustainable options have been excluded. Balanced funds in the table are those with an asset allocation between 61-80% towards growth assets.

When determining our 'Top Picks', we included the first 5 funds from this list. The performance data we looked at for this list was the 10-year returns for the period ending April 2024. We haven't considered other features of the funds (such as fees) when determining our Top Picks - it's based on performance alone. We have looked at all products in the market that we have data available for, including retail super funds and funds that have no commercial partnerships with Finder.

Superfund Australian Retirement Trust - Balanced
Fees on $5k balance (p.a.) $104
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $477
Fees on $100k balance (p.a.) $892

Best returns: 4th place
UniSuper - Balanced

UniSuper - Balanced logo
More info
+11.72%
1 year performance
+5.26%
3 year performance
+7.92%
10 year performance
UniSuper is an industry super fund with more than 620,000 members. Its Balanced option invests in a mix of different asset classes and charges some of the lowest fees of all default super products.
We only look at Balanced industry super funds using data from Super Rating and available in our comparison table when filtering for 'Balanced'. Ethical or sustainable options have been excluded. Balanced funds in the table are those with an asset allocation between 61-80% towards growth assets.

When determining our 'Top Picks', we included the first 5 funds from this list. The performance data we looked at for this list was the 10-year returns for the period ending April 2024. We haven't considered other features of the funds (such as fees) when determining our Top Picks - it's based on performance alone. We have looked at all products in the market that we have data available for, including retail super funds and funds that have no commercial partnerships with Finder.

Superfund UniSuper - Balanced
Fees on $5k balance (p.a.) $127
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $406
Fees on $100k balance (p.a.) $716

Best returns: 1st place
Hostplus Balanced

Hostplus Balanced logo
Go to site
+10.32%
1 year performance
+5.27%
3 year performance
+8.36%
10 year performance
Hostplus is an award-winning industry super fund open to all Australians with a focus on the hospitality and retail sector. The Balanced fund invests your super in a broad range of assets and is designed for high long-term growth.
We only look at Balanced industry super funds using data from Super Rating and available in our comparison table when filtering for 'Balanced'. Ethical or sustainable options have been excluded. Balanced funds in the table are those with an asset allocation between 61-80% towards growth assets.

When determining our 'Top Picks', we included the first 5 funds from this list. The performance data we looked at for this list was the 10-year returns for the period ending April 2024. We haven't considered other features of the funds (such as fees) when determining our Top Picks - it's based on performance alone. We have looked at all products in the market that we have data available for, including retail super funds and funds that have no commercial partnerships with Finder.

Superfund Hostplus Balanced
Fees on $5k balance (p.a.) $166
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $625
Fees on $100k balance (p.a.) $1,135

Best returns: 2nd place
AustralianSuper - Balanced

AustralianSuper - Balanced logo
More info
+10.53%
1 year performance
+4.68%
3 year performance
+8.11%
10 year performance
AustralianSuper is an award-winning industry super fund and the largest super fund in Australia. The Balanced fund invests in a mix of different assets like shares, property and cash and is one of the best-performing funds over the long term.
We only look at Balanced industry super funds using data from Super Rating and available in our comparison table when filtering for 'Balanced'. Ethical or sustainable options have been excluded. Balanced funds in the table are those with an asset allocation between 61-80% towards growth assets.

When determining our 'Top Picks', we included the first 5 funds from this list. The performance data we looked at for this list was the 10-year returns for the period ending April 2024. We haven't considered other features of the funds (such as fees) when determining our Top Picks - it's based on performance alone. We have looked at all products in the market that we have data available for, including retail super funds and funds that have no commercial partnerships with Finder.

Superfund AustralianSuper - Balanced
Fees on $5k balance (p.a.) $86
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $387
Fees on $100k balance (p.a.) $722

Best returns: 5th place
Cbus Growth

Cbus Growth logo
More info
+10.77%
1 year performance
+4.92%
3 year performance
+7.83%
10 year performance
Cbus is a leading industry super fund for the building and construction industry, that’s open to all Australians. The Growth fund is a pre-mixed investment portfolio and an approved MySuper product.
We only look at Balanced industry super funds using data from Super Rating and available in our comparison table when filtering for 'Balanced'. Ethical or sustainable options have been excluded. Balanced funds in the table are those with an asset allocation between 61-80% towards growth assets.

When determining our 'Top Picks', we included the first 5 funds from this list. The performance data we looked at for this list was the 10-year returns for the period ending April 2024. We haven't considered other features of the funds (such as fees) when determining our Top Picks - it's based on performance alone. We have looked at all products in the market that we have data available for, including retail super funds and funds that have no commercial partnerships with Finder.

Superfund Cbus Growth
Fees on $5k balance (p.a.) $88
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $412
Fees on $100k balance (p.a.) $772

What is an industry super fund?

Industry super funds are not-for-profit super funds that are owned by the members of the fund. These funds give profits back to members in the form of lower fees, instead of paying profits to shareholders like many retail super funds do. Lower fees often mean higher investment returns over the long term, too.

Industry super funds aren't owned by a major bank or financial institution. Instead, they're owned by the members of the fund. Industry super funds are not-for-profit funds, as they don't exist to make a profit for a parent company or shareholders, but instead exist to benefit the members of the fund.

Benefits of joining an industry super fund:

  • A lot of members from a particular industry
  • Profits go back into the fund to benefit members, not shareholders
  • Low fees compared to some major retail funds
  • Strong long-term performance figures
  • They're not owned by a bank or financial institution
  • Large investments in Australian infrastructure (unlisted assets)

Who can join an industry super fund?

Many industry super funds were initially only available to workers in a certain industry, for example, hospitality or retail. However, today, most industry super funds are open for all Australians to join.

If you work in a particular industry your employer may have the associated industry super fund available as their default option for employees. However, you're in no way required to join your employers chosen fund or your industry fund and are free to join whichever super fund you wish.

How to compare industry super funds

Consider the following features when you're choosing an industry super fund.

Public

The industry it's aligned to

Most funds are open to everyone to join, and you don't have to join the fund for your particular industry. however, you might like to. Some industry funds offer tailored perks and benefits to people who work in that industry, and often the fund will invest back into the industry when making investment decisions.

Public

Past performance

When comparing performance, look for a fund with high long-term returns (the 10+ year returns) for the most accurate picture of how the fund has performed on average.

Public

The fees

Look for low annual admin and investment fees. The more money you pay in fees the less you'll benefit from investment returns.

Public

Insurance options

Does the fund offer tailored insurance options for your particular industry? For example, Cbus is the industry fund for construction workers and offers a range of insurance options to suit this line of work.

Public

Investment strategy

Check the fund's investment strategy aligns with what you're looking for. For example does it invest ethically?

How well do industry super funds perform?

Industry super funds have, on average, performed better than retail super funds over the long term. Data analysed by Industry Super Australia found that industry funds have outperformed retail funds over the past 5, 10 and 20 years.

Finder's comparison table shows that of the top-10 performing Balanced funds for the past decade, all 10 are industry super funds. These are listed below.

Top 10 industry super funds

The table below shows the top 10 Balanced industry super funds based on 10-year return, per annum to December 2024.

Super fund10-year return
Hostplus Balanced8.36%
AustralianSuper Balanced8.11%
Australian Retirement Trust Balanced8.31%
UniSuper Balanced7.92%
Cbus Growth7.83%
CareSuper Balanced7.58%
HESTA Balanced Growth7.72%
LegalSuper MySuper Balanced7.2%
Vision Super Balanced Growth7.76%
Aware Super Balanced7.66%

Methodology

The table above looks at only Balanced industry super funds using data from Super Rating and available in our comparison table when filtering for 'Balanced'. Ethical or sustainable options have been excluded. Balanced funds in the table are those with an asset allocation between 61-80% towards growth assets.

When determining our 'Top Picks', we included the first 5 funds from this list. The performance data we looked at for this list was the 10-year returns for the period ending April 2024. We haven't considered other features of the funds (such as fees) when determining our Top Picks - it's based on performance alone. We have looked at all products in the market that we have data available for, including retail super funds and funds that have no commercial partnerships with Finder.

Do industry super funds have low fees?

The fees charged by industry super funds vary, and will depend on the investment option that you're in.

Top 5 Balanced industry super funds with the lowest fees

Super fundFees p.a. on $50k balance
UniSuper Balanced$406
QSuper Balanced$402.40
Vision Super Balanced Growth$373
Rest Super - Core Strategy$488
AustralianSuper Balanced$387

How to switch to an industry super fund

Follow these steps to switch to an industry super fund:

1. Pick an industry super fund.

You can use the comparison table above to compare the fees and performance figures for all industry super funds.

2. Join the fund.

Complete the online membership application form for the fund you've chosen. Make sure to have details like your Tax File Number and your employer's details handy, as well as ID like a driver's license or passport.

3. Close your previous fund (if you have one).

There will be an option to consolidate your super in the application form. Just provide your membership number/s from your old fund, and the new fund you're switching to will take care of the rest.

4. Tell your employer.

Give your new membership number and account details to your employer so that they can pay your super guarantee payments directly into the new fund.

Raj Lal's headshot

"I recently switched super funds to a better performing fund. One thing that helped me out in selecting the right fund was selecting 3-5 funds which had great long term performance with low fees. The final deciding factor which helped me choose the right fund was how my values and risk tolerance aligned with the fund. In the end I chose a fund that had a strong track record of growth and low fees."

Publisher

Frequently asked questions

Ryan Watson's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been reviewed by Ryan Watson, 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 640 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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4 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    MikeOctober 23, 2018

    What super fund will accept KiwiSaver?

      Default GravatarFinder
      JhezelynOctober 23, 2018Finder

      Hello Mike,

      Thank you for your comment.

      According to the super guide, there are only 3 Australian super funds that accept transfers from KiwiSaver accounts to Australian super accounts. These are WA Super, FIRST Super and Energy Super.

      Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

    Default Gravatar
    KevinApril 21, 2018

    what retail or industry funds accept QROPS 55 from the UK new members KC?

      Default GravatarFinder
      JeniApril 22, 2018Finder

      Hi Kevin,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      Please see this guide to check the recognised overseas pension schemes notification list for the full list of retail and industry funds in Australia that accept QROPS.

      Please note that you will need to check that the scheme you are transferring to on or after that date meets the new requirements.

      I hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jeni

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