Quick Verdict
AustralianSuper is cheaper at $50k ($392/yr vs $438/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 |
Media Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2008 |
| Trustee | Media Super Limited |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 60K |
| Assets (AUM) | $8B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | AustralianSuper | Media Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $137 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.00% | 0.18% |
| Investment Fee | 0.46% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.10% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | AustralianSuper | Media Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $188 | $150 |
| $25,000 | $264 | $258 |
| $50,000 | $392 | $438 |
| $100,000 | $647 | $798 |
| $250,000 | $1,412 | $1,878 |
| $500,000 | $2,687 | $3,678 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | AustralianSuper | Media Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 12.10% | 10.20% |
| 3-Year | 8.50% | 7.50% |
| 5-Year | 8.20% | 7.20% |
| 7-Year | 8.50% | 7.50% |
| 10-Year | 8.90% | 7.20% |
| FY2024 | 9.10% | 8.20% |
| FY2023 | 10.30% | 9.50% |
| FY2022 | -2.70% | -3.20% |
| FY2021 | 20.40% | 18.00% |
| FY2020 | -0.70% | -0.50% |
| FY2019 | 8.60% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 10.30% | 9.50% |
| FY2017 | 13.10% | 11.80% |
| FY2016 | 4.20% | 3.20% |
| FY2015 | 10.80% | 9.80% |
Insurance Comparison
AustralianSuper
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Media Super
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | AustralianSuper | Media 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 |
Media Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
AustralianSuper
| Total Options | 14 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| Indexed Option | Yes |
| Direct Investing | No |
Media Super
| Total Options | 8 |
| 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 |
Media Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.2 / Android 4.0 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 5.0 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 $438 for Media Super — a difference of $46 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 Media 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 Media Super is backed by TAL Life Limited. 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 5.0 for the other.
AustralianSuper is best suited for large fund stability, low fees, while Media Super targets media entertainment workers. One key difference is scale: AustralianSuper manages $365B in assets and has 3.4M members, dwarfing Media Super's $8B. 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.