Quick Verdict
Active Super is cheaper at $50k ($418/yr vs $423/yr). CareSuper leads on 10-year returns (8.00% vs 7.50%).
Fund Overview
Active Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2023 |
| Trustee | LGSS Pty Limited |
| HQ State | NSW |
| Members | 100K |
| Assets (AUM) | $22B |
CareSuper
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1986 |
| Trustee | CareSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 220K |
| Assets (AUM) | $28B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Active Super | CareSuper |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.15% | 0.09% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.55% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.10% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Active Super | CareSuper |
|---|
| $10,000 | $146 | $147 |
| $25,000 | $248 | $250 |
| $50,000 | $418 | $423 |
| $100,000 | $758 | $768 |
| $250,000 | $1,778 | $1,803 |
| $500,000 | $3,478 | $3,528 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Active Super | CareSuper |
|---|
| 1-Year | 10.80% | 11.00% |
| 3-Year | 7.50% | 7.80% |
| 5-Year | 7.80% | 8.00% |
| 7-Year | 7.80% | 8.10% |
| 10-Year | 7.50% | 8.00% |
| FY2024 | 8.50% | 8.80% |
| FY2023 | 9.50% | 9.80% |
| FY2022 | -2.80% | -3.00% |
| FY2021 | 18.50% | 19.20% |
| FY2020 | -0.20% | -0.20% |
| FY2019 | 7.80% | 8.00% |
| FY2018 | 9.50% | 9.80% |
| FY2017 | 11.50% | 12.00% |
| FY2016 | 3.50% | 3.80% |
| FY2015 | 9.50% | 10.00% |
Insurance Comparison
Active Super
| Insurer | MetLife Insurance |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
CareSuper
| 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 | CareSuper |
|---|
| 25 | N/A | $125 |
| 30 | N/A | $210 |
| 35 | N/A | $365 |
| 40 | N/A | $560 |
| 45 | N/A | $870 |
| 50 | N/A | $1,350 |
| 55 | N/A | $2,000 |
| 60 | N/A | $2,850 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Active Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
CareSuper
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Active Super
| Total Options | 8 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
CareSuper
| Total Options | 10 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| 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 |
CareSuper
| App Ratings | iOS 4.3 / Android 4.1 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.9 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 $423 for CareSuper — a difference of $5 annually. That gap is small enough that it should not be the deciding factor between these two funds.
Looking at long-term performance, CareSuper holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.00% versus 7.50% for Active Super — a gap of 0.50% 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 CareSuper is backed by AIA Australia. CareSuper charges around $560/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, CareSuper has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.9 per 10,000 members compared to 4.0 for the other.
Active Super is best suited for public sector workers, while CareSuper targets it professionals, lawyers legal workers. The two funds also serve different industries: Active Super focuses on local government, transport, while CareSuper targets professional services, corporate. If your employer defaults to one of these funds, that alone may tip the decision.
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.