Fund Comparison

Active Super vs Spirit Super — Which Is Better?

A detailed side-by-side comparison for 2026. Fees, returns, insurance, and services.

Quick Verdict Active Super is cheaper at $50k ($418/yr vs $428/yr). both match on 10-year returns at 7.50%.

Fund Overview

Active Super

TypeIndustry
Established2023
TrusteeLGSS Pty Limited
HQ StateNSW
Members100K
Assets (AUM)$22B

Spirit Super

TypeIndustry
Established2021
TrusteeSpirit Super Pty Ltd
HQ StateTAS
Members340K
Assets (AUM)$28B

Fee Comparison

Fee ComponentActive SuperSpirit Super
Admin Fee (flat)$78$78
Admin Fee (%)0.15%0.14%
Investment Fee0.48%0.50%
Indirect Cost Ratio0.05%0.06%
Buy/Sell Spread0.10%0.10%

Total Annual Fee by Balance

BalanceActive SuperSpirit Super
$10,000$146$148
$25,000$248$253
$50,000$418$428
$100,000$758$778
$250,000$1,778$1,828
$500,000$3,478$3,578

Performance Comparison

PeriodActive SuperSpirit Super
1-Year10.80%10.80%
3-Year7.50%7.50%
5-Year7.80%7.50%
7-Year7.80%7.80%
10-Year7.50%7.50%
FY20248.50%8.20%
FY20239.50%9.50%
FY2022-2.80%-2.80%
FY202118.50%18.50%
FY2020-0.20%-0.50%
FY20197.80%7.50%
FY20189.50%9.50%
FY201711.50%11.50%
FY20163.50%3.50%
FY20159.50%9.50%

Insurance Comparison

Active Super

InsurerMetLife Insurance
Death CoverYes — opt-out
TPD CoverYes — opt-out
IP CoverYes — opt-in

Spirit Super

InsurerTAL Life Limited
Death CoverYes — opt-out
TPD CoverYes — opt-out
IP CoverYes — opt-in

APRA Heatmap Ratings

Active Super

Fee RatingAround median
Return RatingAround median
SustainabilityPerforming

Spirit Super

Fee RatingAround median
Return RatingAround median
SustainabilityPerforming

Investment Options

Active Super

Total Options8
Ethical/ESG OptionNo
Indexed OptionNo
Direct InvestingNo

Spirit Super

Total Options8
Ethical/ESG OptionNo
Indexed OptionNo
Direct InvestingNo

Member Services

Active Super

App RatingsiOS 4.1 / Android 3.9
AdviceNot specified
AFCA Complaints4.0 per 10k members
Call CentreNot specified

Spirit Super

App RatingsiOS 4.2 / Android 4.0
AdviceNot specified
AFCA Complaints3.5 per 10k members
Call CentreNot specified

Verdict

On fees, Active Super is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Active Super costs $418 per year compared to $428 for Spirit Super — a difference of $10 annually. That gap is small enough that it should not be the deciding factor between these two funds.

Both funds have delivered identical 10-year returns of 7.50%, so the choice between them will come down to fees, insurance, and personal suitability rather than raw performance.

On insurance, Active Super uses MetLife Insurance while Spirit Super is backed by TAL Life Limited. On member satisfaction, Spirit Super has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.5 per 10,000 members compared to 4.0 for the other.

Active Super is best suited for public sector workers, while Spirit Super targets construction workers, public sector workers. The two funds also serve different industries: Active Super focuses on local government, transport, while Spirit Super targets transport, construction. If your employer defaults to one of these funds, that alone may tip the decision.

Read Active Super Review Read Spirit Super Review
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.