Quick Verdict
Active Super is cheaper at $50k ($418/yr vs $442/yr). Aware Super leads on 10-year returns (8.10% vs 7.50%).
Fund Overview
Active Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2023 |
| Trustee | LGSS Pty Limited |
| HQ State | NSW |
| Members | 100K |
| Assets (AUM) | $22B |
Aware Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2020 |
| Trustee | Aware Super Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | NSW |
| Members | 1.2M |
| Assets (AUM) | $175B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Active Super | Aware Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $52 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.15% | 0.18% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.52% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.10% | 0.11% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Active Super | Aware Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $146 | $130 |
| $25,000 | $248 | $247 |
| $50,000 | $418 | $442 |
| $100,000 | $758 | $832 |
| $250,000 | $1,778 | $2,002 |
| $500,000 | $3,478 | $3,952 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Active Super | Aware Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 10.80% | 11.50% |
| 3-Year | 7.50% | 8.00% |
| 5-Year | 7.80% | 8.10% |
| 7-Year | 7.80% | 8.20% |
| 10-Year | 7.50% | 8.10% |
| FY2024 | 8.50% | 8.50% |
| FY2023 | 9.50% | 10.10% |
| FY2022 | -2.80% | -3.20% |
| FY2021 | 18.50% | 19.80% |
| FY2020 | -0.20% | -0.30% |
| FY2019 | 7.80% | 8.20% |
| FY2018 | 9.50% | 10.10% |
| FY2017 | 11.50% | 12.50% |
| FY2016 | 3.50% | 3.80% |
| FY2015 | 9.50% | 10.20% |
Insurance Comparison
Active Super
| Insurer | MetLife Insurance |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Aware Super
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| 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 | Aware Super |
|---|
| 25 | N/A | $130 |
| 30 | N/A | $220 |
| 35 | N/A | $380 |
| 40 | N/A | $580 |
| 45 | N/A | $900 |
| 50 | N/A | $1,380 |
| 55 | N/A | $2,050 |
| 60 | N/A | $2,920 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Active Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Aware Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Active Super
| Total Options | 8 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Aware Super
| Total Options | 11 |
| 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 |
Aware Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.6 / Android 4.3 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included; comprehensive fee-for-service |
| AFCA Complaints | 4.3 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-7pm AEST Mon-Fri |
Verdict
On fees, Active Super is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Active Super costs $418 per year compared to $442 for Aware Super — a difference of $24 annually. Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds meaningfully.
Looking at long-term performance, Aware Super holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.10% versus 7.50% for Active Super — a gap of 0.60% per annum. While not enormous, that gap adds up over the compounding horizon of a superannuation balance.
On insurance, Active Super uses MetLife Insurance while Aware Super is backed by AIA Australia. Aware Super charges around $580/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, Active Super has fewer AFCA complaints at 4.0 per 10,000 members compared to 4.3 for the other.
Active Super is best suited for public sector workers, while Aware Super targets public sector workers, education sector. Scale is a factor here: Aware Super manages $175B with 1.2M 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.