The fee gap at $10,000: $119/year
The cheapest fund (Brighter Super) charges $98/year while the most expensive (Hostplus) charges $217/year — a difference of $119 per year. Compounded at 7% annual growth over 30 years, this gap grows to $12,038 in lost retirement savings.
All 19 Funds Ranked by Total Fee at $10,000
Total fee = admin fee (flat) + admin fee (%) + investment fee + indirect cost ratio, applied to a $10,000 balance.
| # | Fund | Admin $ | Admin % | Inv. Fee | ICR | Total $/yr | Total % | 10yr Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brighter Super | $26 | 0.14% | 0.50% | 0.08% | $98 | 0.98% | 7.50% |
| 2 | AustralianSuper | $52 | 0.10% | 0.47% | 0.06% | $115 | 1.15% | 8.90% |
| 3 | Vision Super | $66 | 0.14% | 0.31% | 0.04% | $115 | 1.15% | 7.20% |
| 4 | HESTA | $52 | 0.15% | 0.49% | 0.07% | $123 | 1.23% | 8.30% |
| 5 | Australian Retirement Trust | $57 | 0.10% | 0.51% | 0.11% | $129 | 1.29% | 10.04% |
| 6 | Aware Super | $52 | 0.15% | 0.57% | 0.08% | $132 | 1.32% | 8.10% |
| 7 | Cbus | $52 | 0.19% | 0.44% | 0.19% | $134 | 1.34% | 8.40% |
| 8 | Equip Super | $52 | 0.19% | 0.52% | 0.14% | $137 | 1.37% | 7.80% |
| 9 | LegalSuper | $51 | 0.29% | 0.50% | 0.13% | $143 | 1.43% | 7.00% |
| 10 | UniSuper | $96 | — | 0.43% | 0.08% | $147 | 1.47% | 8.50% |
| 11 | CareSuper | $68 | 0.15% | 0.51% | 0.14% | $148 | 1.48% | 8.00% |
| 12 | REST | $78 | 0.10% | 0.47% | 0.18% | $153 | 1.53% | 7.80% |
| 13 | First Super | $86 | 0.18% | 0.49% | 0.09% | $162 | 1.62% | 7.20% |
| 14 | Hostplus | $129 | — | 0.80% | 0.08% | $217 | 2.17% | 9.00% |
Key Observations at $10,000
- The cheapest fund at this balance is Brighter Super at $98/year (0.98% of balance).
- The most expensive is Hostplus at $217/year (2.17% of balance).
- The $119/year difference compounds to $12,038 over 30 years at 7% growth.
- Lower fees do not guarantee better outcomes — net-of-fee returns matter more. Some higher-fee funds outperform after costs.
Compare at your actual balance
These rankings use a flat $10,000 balance. Use our comparison calculator to see how fees and returns compare at your real balance and contribution level.
Compare at Other Balances
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Fee rankings shift at different balances. Funds with high flat fees penalise smaller balances, while funds with high percentage fees become expensive at larger balances.
By Jarrod, Editor
Independent superannuation research · about the editor ✓ Fact-checked · updated July 2026
Source: APRA & ATO data
Independent superannuation research · about the editor ✓ Fact-checked · updated July 2026
Source: APRA & ATO data
Important information
The information on SuperFind is general in nature and does not take into account your personal financial situation, needs, or objectives. It is not personal financial advice. Before making any financial decisions about your superannuation, consider whether the information is appropriate for your circumstances and consider seeking advice from a licensed financial adviser. Super fund data including fees and performance returns shown on this site were current as of July 2026 — always verify figures on the fund's website. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Data sourced from APRA, ATO, and individual fund disclosures. Read our methodology for how figures are calculated and our about page for editorial policy. SuperFind is a DecisionLab publication.