Quick Verdict
Aware Super is cheaper at $50k ($442/yr vs $465/yr). Aware Super leads on 10-year returns (8.10% vs 7.20%).
Fund Overview
Aware Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2020 |
| Trustee | Aware Super Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | NSW |
| Members | 1.2M |
| Assets (AUM) | $175B |
First Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1984 |
| Trustee | First Super Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 50K |
| Assets (AUM) | $6B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Aware Super | First Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $52 | $85 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.18% | 0.20% |
| Investment Fee | 0.52% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.11% | 0.10% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Aware Super | First Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $130 | $161 |
| $25,000 | $247 | $275 |
| $50,000 | $442 | $465 |
| $100,000 | $832 | $845 |
| $250,000 | $2,002 | $1,985 |
| $500,000 | $3,952 | $3,885 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Aware Super | First Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.50% | 10.20% |
| 3-Year | 8.00% | 7.00% |
| 5-Year | 8.10% | 7.20% |
| 7-Year | 8.20% | 7.50% |
| 10-Year | 8.10% | 7.20% |
| FY2024 | 8.50% | 8.00% |
| FY2023 | 10.10% | 9.00% |
| FY2022 | -3.20% | -3.20% |
| FY2021 | 19.80% | 18.00% |
| FY2020 | -0.30% | -0.50% |
| FY2019 | 8.20% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 10.10% | 9.20% |
| FY2017 | 12.50% | 11.50% |
| FY2016 | 3.80% | 3.00% |
| FY2015 | 10.20% | 9.20% |
Insurance Comparison
Aware Super
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| 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 | Aware Super | First Super |
|---|
| 25 | $130 | N/A |
| 30 | $220 | N/A |
| 35 | $380 | N/A |
| 40 | $580 | N/A |
| 45 | $900 | N/A |
| 50 | $1,380 | N/A |
| 55 | $2,050 | N/A |
| 60 | $2,920 | N/A |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Aware Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
First Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Below median |
| Sustainability | Attention |
Investment Options
Aware Super
| Total Options | 11 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
First Super
| Total Options | 6 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
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 |
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, Aware Super is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Aware Super costs $442 per year compared to $465 for First Super — a difference of $23 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 7.20% for First Super — a gap of 0.90% per annum. While not enormous, that gap adds up over the compounding horizon of a superannuation balance.
On insurance, Aware Super uses AIA Australia while First Super is backed by MetLife Insurance. Aware Super charges around $580/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, Aware Super has fewer AFCA complaints at 4.3 per 10,000 members compared to 4.4 for the other.
Aware Super is best suited for public sector workers, education sector, while First Super targets construction workers. One key difference is scale: Aware Super manages $175B in assets and has 1.2M 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.