Compare super funds and fees in Australia

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 September 2026

How does the Finder Score work?

• Understanding the Finder Score for super funds

  Wondering how we work out Finder Score? We look at products across various risk profiles from more than 40 providers and we compare them against each other to get our simple score out of 10. Products are assessed on their historical performance across 1, 3, 5 and 10 years, along with their fees. Funds that are new to the market are assessed on their available returns. The historical performance used to score these funds is intended to give you a general idea of how well a fund has performed in the past.

  While Finder Score can be a helpful indicator, it shouldn't be the only factor you rely on when evaluating a fund. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results, and we encourage you to consider other aspects like fees, features, and your personal needs before making a decision.

  The Finder Score methodology is designed by our Insights team. Commercial partners carry no weight and all products are reviewed objectively.

  Digging deeper into the Finder superannuation score

  • 9+ Excellent - These products delivered outstanding performance, with low fees and essential features. They represent the most compelling overall value.
  • 7+ Great - Strong performers with relatively lower fees or higher historical performance. These funds are generally competitive, though they may compromise slightly on consistency or features.
  • 5+ Standard - Average to above-average performance and/or fees. These products may lack consistency in returns or offer limited value for cost-conscious members.
  • 0+ Basic - These products lag in performance and/or charge higher fees, making them less competitive overall — despite any features offered.

  We assess funds for their historical performance by grouping them by risk profiles.

  Performance Assessment - Weightings

  Fund Age	1 year performance	3 year performance	5 year performance	10 year performance
  Established Funds	20%	30%	30%	20%
  New to market funds < 10 years	25%	35%	40%
  New to market funds < 5 years	35%	65%
  New to market funds < 3 years	100%

What is superannuation?

Superannuation, often called "super", is Australia's compulsory retirement savings scheme. Over your working life, a portion of your income goes directly into a super fund, which is invested for you and accessible when you retire.

Employers are legally required to pay at least 12% of your earnings into your superannuation fund. This is called the Super Guarantee rate. You are able to access the money in your super fund once you reach 60 and are no longer working, or by age 65 (even if you're still working).

Types of super funds in Australia

• Retail funds. These are super funds run for profit and operated by banks or other financial institutions.
• Industry funds. These super funds are run for the benefit of members. These funds were once tied to workers in specific industries but today are mostly open to anyone.
• Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs). You can manage your own super fund and direct your investments as you see fit. But running your own SMSF comes with a lot more paperwork and legal obligations.

MySuper versus Choice super products

Most Australians stick with a default MySuper investment option. These tend to have lower fees and set your investments based on your age, adjusting to be more conservative as you get older.

Choice super products let you customise your investments, with options like high growth or international shares if you're chasing bigger growth (with higher risks).

5 ways to compare super funds

1. Prioritise high long-term performance

Look at the 5 and 10 year super fund performance - you want a fund that has consistent, strong performance rather than a one-off good year.

For a standard balanced option, 10-year performance of at least 7% p.a. is quite good. If it's a high growth option, you can expect 10-year performance of at least 8 or 9% p.a.

2. Look for a fund with low fees

A general rule of thumb is to make sure your superannuation fees are less than 1% of your balance per year (so for a $50,000 balance, aim for annual fees under $500).

3. Choose an investment strategy that suits your age and goals

When you join a super fund you'll initially be placed in its default product option which is called the MySuper product. But you might be better switching to another super investment option instead.

Generally, younger people can afford slightly riskier, higher growth investments, while older Australians need to invest more defensively.

Some funds offer life-stage investment options which adjust your investments as you get older so you're not taking on too much risk. Others will offer pre-mixed options based on certain risk levels.

4. Make sure your investment approach aligns with your values

If you're passionate about investing ethically and want to exclude certain industries such as fossil fuels or tobacco, choose a fund that offers a sustainable or ethical investment option.

5. Get the right insurance cover

Most funds will offer a default level of cover for death and TPD insurance automatically when you join. If you need more cover, for example, income protection, check if the fund offers it before joining. Or, you might decide you don't need insurance cover at all.

"I ignored my super balance for years. I even kept an old fund open with a few thousand dollars in it. Bad idea. Then I consolidated funds and switched from my default balanced option to a higher growth, higher risk option. This suits me because I am decades from retirement, so I can handle some volatility. And growth is my main objective. I only wish I'd done it earlier in life!"

Richard Whitten

Senior Money Editor

How to choose the right super fund based on your age

Age matters with superannuation. The younger you are, the more time you have until retirement. This means you can afford to take some risks that older Australians can't afford.

There's no right or wrong answer, but here are some general guidelines.

If you're under 35

While younger people can stick with a safe, balanced fund, it's worth thinking about switching to a high-growth investment option. These funds invest more heavily in Australian and international shares.

This means higher growth potential, but in the short term you may see periods where your balance dips (because the stock market is pretty volatile).

If you're 35–55

As you get older and your super balance grows you have a bit more to lose. But you still have plenty of time for your investments to recover from a market downturn.

There's nothing wrong with sticking to a high-growth, high-risk fund into your 30s and 40s. But as you get closer to 50 you could consider gradually reducing your exposure to shares by switching to a balanced option.

If you're over 55

When you're in your 50s it's generally advised to have a more balanced mix of investments. Your super will stay invested for many years even after you turn 55 so it's important to have some exposure to shares so your balance continues to grow, but you might not want all your balance invested in shares.

As you get closer to retirement, most people move more of their super investments into safer, low-growth assets. Most super funds balance this for you automatically.

Remember, there's no set rule for how you should invest based on your age alone.

Steps to switch funds

1. Compare super funds. The comparison table above can help you choose a new super fund. Figure out what kind of investment you want (balanced, conservative, high-growth), then find a fund with low fees and a strong long-term performance (and avoid the worst funds).
2. Join the new fund. Complete the online application form available on your new fund's website. It won't take long.
3. Move your super into your new fund. Enter the details of your previous fund when you submit the application form and the new fund will arrange for your balance to be transferred over - you don't need to do this yourself.
4. Let your employer know. Let your employer know right away so they can pay your next super guarantee payment to the correct fund.

If you need a bit more help, see our guide on how to change super funds for a detailed process.

Frequently asked questions

• What is superannuation?

  Your superannuation will be used to help fund your retirement. Throughout your working life, a small amount of the money you earn each year will be sent to your chosen super fund (instead of your bank account). The idea is that by putting aside a small chunk of your earnings on a regular basis from the day you start your first job, you should have enough money to live on when you retire. As your super is your bank account for 'future you', you want to make sure there is as much money in there as possible. There are lots of different ways to contribute to your superannuation, whether you are working or not, partnered or single.

• What do super funds do?

  Super funds take the superannuation money that you're paid by your employer (or your own contributions) and invest it on your behalf into things like shares. The money is your money, it's just managed by the super fund until you're old enough to legally access it (60 if you've retired, or 65 if you're still working).

  Think of your superannuation as the bank account for future you. You can choose which super fund you'd like to look after your superannuation money, and switch super funds at any time.

• What is the best super fund?

  The best super fund for you will depend on your age, risk tolerance and investment preference. You can look at Finder's best super funds guide for more help choosing.

• How do I check my super balance?

  You'll receive an account statement once or twice a year. Most funds will have an online portal or mobile app you can log in to and see an up-to-date transaction history and balance for your account.

  You can also see your current super balance by logging in to your myGov account online.

• How much super do I need to retire?

  According to the ASFA Retirement Standard (March 2026 quarter), you need around $630,000 in super for a comfortable retirement as a single person, or a collective $730,000 for couples. This is just a guide – you may need more or less than this depending on your lifestyle.

  A single person requires around $110,000 and a couple around $120,000 for a modest retirement, according to the ASFA Retirement Standard (March 2026 quarter).

  The ASFA lump sum estimates for either a modest or comfortable retirement assume outright home ownership; this assumption may not be appropriate for your circumstances.

• How can I grow my super?

  • Make sure you're in a low-fee, high-performing fund
  • Consolidate funds so you only have one in your name
  • Consider making additional super contributions
  • Consider investing in a high growth option

• What happens to my super if I change jobs?

  Your super will come with you from job to job. When you start a new job, let your employer know your super account details so they can pay your super contributions into your existing fund. If you don't let them know they will still pay your super but will use their default fund.

• What should I consider when comparing funds in 2026?

  Start with long-term performance. The median balanced fund returned 9.4% in the 2025-26 financial year, down from 10.3% the year before, and markets have been volatile in 2026. One year of returns tells you very little, so compare 5 and 10-year returns instead. For newer funds or high growth options, 1-year returns can still be a useful extra check.

  Next, check your fund passed APRA's annual performance test. In August 2026, 12 products failed, up from 7 last year. One of them was a MySuper product, the default option most Australians are in. You can see the full list in our guide to the worst super funds, or check your fund with the ATO's YourSuper comparison tool.

  Finally, compare fees. As a rough guide, aim for total fees under 1% of your balance, or under $500 a year on a $50,000 balance. You can see each fund's fees on a $50k balance in the table above, or read our guide to superannuation fees.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Whitten as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Alison Banney

Editorial Manager, Money

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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 575 Finder guides across topics including:

• Superannuation
• Savings accounts, bank accounts and term deposits
• Budgeting and money-saving hacks
• Managing the cost of living