Quick Verdict
AustralianSuper is cheaper at $50k ($392/yr vs $465/yr). AustralianSuper leads on 10-year returns (8.90% vs 7.20%).
Fund Overview
AustralianSuper
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2006 |
| Trustee | AustralianSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 3.4M |
| Assets (AUM) | $365B |
First Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1984 |
| Trustee | First Super Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 50K |
| Assets (AUM) | $6B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | AustralianSuper | First Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $137 | $85 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.00% | 0.20% |
| Investment Fee | 0.46% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.10% | 0.10% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | AustralianSuper | First Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $188 | $161 |
| $25,000 | $264 | $275 |
| $50,000 | $392 | $465 |
| $100,000 | $647 | $845 |
| $250,000 | $1,412 | $1,985 |
| $500,000 | $2,687 | $3,885 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | AustralianSuper | First Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 12.10% | 10.20% |
| 3-Year | 8.50% | 7.00% |
| 5-Year | 8.20% | 7.20% |
| 7-Year | 8.50% | 7.50% |
| 10-Year | 8.90% | 7.20% |
| FY2024 | 9.10% | 8.00% |
| FY2023 | 10.30% | 9.00% |
| FY2022 | -2.70% | -3.20% |
| FY2021 | 20.40% | 18.00% |
| FY2020 | -0.70% | -0.50% |
| FY2019 | 8.60% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 10.30% | 9.20% |
| FY2017 | 13.10% | 11.50% |
| FY2016 | 4.20% | 3.00% |
| FY2015 | 10.80% | 9.20% |
Insurance Comparison
AustralianSuper
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
First Super
| Insurer | MetLife Insurance |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | AustralianSuper | First Super |
|---|
| 25 | $156 | N/A |
| 30 | $260 | N/A |
| 35 | $416 | N/A |
| 40 | $624 | N/A |
| 45 | $988 | N/A |
| 50 | $1,508 | N/A |
| 55 | $2,236 | N/A |
| 60 | $3,172 | N/A |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
AustralianSuper
| Fee Rating | Below median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
First Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Below median |
| Sustainability | Attention |
Investment Options
AustralianSuper
| Total Options | 14 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| Indexed Option | Yes |
| Direct Investing | No |
First Super
| Total Options | 6 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
AustralianSuper
| App Ratings | iOS 4.7 / Android 4.5 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included; comprehensive fee-for-service |
| AFCA Complaints | 2.5 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-8pm AEST Mon-Fri |
First Super
| App Ratings | iOS 3.8 / Android 3.5 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 4.4 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
Verdict
On fees, AustralianSuper is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, AustralianSuper costs $392 per year compared to $465 for First Super — a difference of $73 annually. Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds meaningfully.
Looking at long-term performance, AustralianSuper holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.90% versus 7.20% for First Super — a gap of 1.70% per annum. That performance spread is significant and would result in tens of thousands of dollars difference over a working life.
On insurance, AustralianSuper uses TAL Life Limited while First Super is backed by MetLife Insurance. AustralianSuper charges around $624/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, AustralianSuper has fewer AFCA complaints at 2.5 per 10,000 members compared to 4.4 for the other.
AustralianSuper is best suited for large fund stability, low fees, while First Super targets construction workers. One key difference is scale: AustralianSuper manages $365B in assets and has 3.4M members, dwarfing First Super's $6B. Larger funds generally negotiate better fees and access exclusive deal flow, though smaller funds can offer more personalised service.
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.