Quick Verdict
Australian Retirement Trust is cheaper at $50k ($363/yr vs $418/yr). Australian Retirement Trust leads on 10-year returns (8.60% vs 7.50%).
Fund Overview
Active Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2023 |
| Trustee | LGSS Pty Limited |
| HQ State | NSW |
| Members | 100K |
| Assets (AUM) | $22B |
Australian Retirement Trust
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2022 |
| Trustee | Australian Retirement Trust Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | QLD |
| Members | 2.3M |
| Assets (AUM) | $300B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Active Super | Australian Retirement Trust |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.15% | 0.10% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.42% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.10% | 0.09% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Active Super | Australian Retirement Trust |
|---|
| $10,000 | $146 | $135 |
| $25,000 | $248 | $220 |
| $50,000 | $418 | $363 |
| $100,000 | $758 | $648 |
| $250,000 | $1,778 | $1,503 |
| $500,000 | $3,478 | $2,928 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Active Super | Australian Retirement Trust |
|---|
| 1-Year | 10.80% | 12.20% |
| 3-Year | 7.50% | 8.40% |
| 5-Year | 7.80% | 8.60% |
| 7-Year | 7.80% | 8.70% |
| 10-Year | 7.50% | 8.60% |
| FY2024 | 8.50% | 9.30% |
| FY2023 | 9.50% | 10.50% |
| FY2022 | -2.80% | -2.80% |
| FY2021 | 18.50% | 20.80% |
| FY2020 | -0.20% | -0.50% |
| FY2019 | 7.80% | 8.50% |
| FY2018 | 9.50% | 10.50% |
| FY2017 | 11.50% | 13.20% |
| FY2016 | 3.50% | 4.20% |
| FY2015 | 9.50% | 10.50% |
Insurance Comparison
Active Super
| Insurer | MetLife Insurance |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Australian Retirement Trust
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | Active Super | Australian Retirement Trust |
|---|
| 25 | N/A | $135 |
| 30 | N/A | $228 |
| 35 | N/A | $385 |
| 40 | N/A | $590 |
| 45 | N/A | $910 |
| 50 | N/A | $1,400 |
| 55 | N/A | $2,080 |
| 60 | N/A | $2,950 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Active Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Australian Retirement Trust
| Fee Rating | Below median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Active Super
| Total Options | 8 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Australian Retirement Trust
| Total Options | 18 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
Active Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.1 / Android 3.9 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 4.0 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
Australian Retirement Trust
| App Ratings | iOS 4.6 / Android 4.4 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included; comprehensive fee-for-service |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.4 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-6pm AEST Mon-Fri |
Verdict
On fees, Australian Retirement Trust is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Australian Retirement Trust costs $363 per year compared to $418 for Active Super — a difference of $55 annually. Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds meaningfully.
Looking at long-term performance, Australian Retirement Trust holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.60% versus 7.50% for Active Super — a gap of 1.10% per annum. That performance spread is significant and would result in tens of thousands of dollars difference over a working life.
On insurance, Active Super uses MetLife Insurance while Australian Retirement Trust is backed by TAL Life Limited. Australian Retirement Trust charges around $590/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, Australian Retirement Trust has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.4 per 10,000 members compared to 4.0 for the other.
Active Super is best suited for public sector workers, while Australian Retirement Trust targets public sector workers, large balances over 250k. Scale is a factor here: Australian Retirement Trust manages $300B with 2.3M members, significantly larger than Active Super's $22B. That scale advantage means better bargaining power on fees and deal access.
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 April 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. SuperFind is a
DecisionLab publication.