Quick Verdict
HESTA is cheaper at $50k ($408/yr vs $442/yr). HESTA leads on 10-year returns (8.30% vs 8.10%).
Fund Overview
Aware Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2020 |
| Trustee | Aware Super Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | NSW |
| Members | 1.2M |
| Assets (AUM) | $175B |
HESTA
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1987 |
| Trustee | H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 1.0M |
| Assets (AUM) | $75B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Aware Super | HESTA |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $52 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.18% | 0.08% |
| Investment Fee | 0.52% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.08% | 0.10% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.11% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Aware Super | HESTA |
|---|
| $10,000 | $130 | $144 |
| $25,000 | $247 | $243 |
| $50,000 | $442 | $408 |
| $100,000 | $832 | $738 |
| $250,000 | $2,002 | $1,728 |
| $500,000 | $3,952 | $3,378 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Aware Super | HESTA |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.50% | 11.80% |
| 3-Year | 8.00% | 8.10% |
| 5-Year | 8.10% | 8.30% |
| 7-Year | 8.20% | 8.40% |
| 10-Year | 8.10% | 8.30% |
| FY2024 | 8.50% | 9.00% |
| FY2023 | 10.10% | 10.50% |
| FY2022 | -3.20% | -2.90% |
| FY2021 | 19.80% | 19.50% |
| FY2020 | -0.30% | -0.10% |
| FY2019 | 8.20% | 8.50% |
| FY2018 | 10.10% | 10.50% |
| FY2017 | 12.50% | 12.80% |
| FY2016 | 3.80% | 4.00% |
| FY2015 | 10.20% | 10.50% |
Insurance Comparison
Aware Super
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
HESTA
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | Aware Super | HESTA |
|---|
| 25 | $130 | $140 |
| 30 | $220 | $235 |
| 35 | $380 | $395 |
| 40 | $580 | $600 |
| 45 | $900 | $920 |
| 50 | $1,380 | $1,420 |
| 55 | $2,050 | $2,100 |
| 60 | $2,920 | $3,000 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Aware Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
HESTA
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Aware Super
| Total Options | 11 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
HESTA
| Total Options | 8 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| 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 |
HESTA
| App Ratings | iOS 4.5 / Android 4.2 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.8 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-8pm AEST Mon-Fri |
Verdict
On fees, HESTA is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, HESTA costs $408 per year compared to $442 for Aware Super — a difference of $34 annually. Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds meaningfully.
Looking at long-term performance, HESTA holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.30% versus 8.10% for Aware Super — a gap of 0.20% per annum. The two funds are closely matched on returns, so other factors become more important in choosing between them.
On insurance, Aware Super uses AIA Australia while HESTA is backed by TAL Life Limited. For a 40-year-old, Aware Super's default death and TPD premiums cost around $580/year versus $600/year at HESTA, making Aware Super the cheaper option for mid-career cover. On member satisfaction, HESTA has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.8 per 10,000 members compared to 4.3 for the other.
Aware Super is best suited for public sector workers, education sector, while HESTA targets nurses healthcare workers, aged care workers. The two funds also serve different industries: Aware Super focuses on public sector, education, while HESTA targets healthcare, aged care. 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.