Quick Verdict
CareSuper is cheaper at $50k ($423/yr vs $438/yr). CareSuper leads on 10-year returns (8.00% vs 7.50%).
Fund Overview
Brighter Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2022 |
| Trustee | LGIAsuper Trustee |
| HQ State | QLD |
| Members | 120K |
| Assets (AUM) | $18B |
CareSuper
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1986 |
| Trustee | CareSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 220K |
| Assets (AUM) | $28B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Brighter Super | CareSuper |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.18% | 0.09% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.55% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.12% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Brighter Super | CareSuper |
|---|
| $10,000 | $150 | $147 |
| $25,000 | $258 | $250 |
| $50,000 | $438 | $423 |
| $100,000 | $798 | $768 |
| $250,000 | $1,878 | $1,803 |
| $500,000 | $3,678 | $3,528 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Brighter Super | CareSuper |
|---|
| 1-Year | 10.50% | 11.00% |
| 3-Year | 7.20% | 7.80% |
| 5-Year | 7.50% | 8.00% |
| 7-Year | 7.50% | 8.10% |
| 10-Year | 7.50% | 8.00% |
| FY2024 | 8.20% | 8.80% |
| FY2023 | 9.50% | 9.80% |
| FY2022 | -3.00% | -3.00% |
| FY2021 | 18.50% | 19.20% |
| FY2020 | -0.20% | -0.20% |
| FY2019 | 7.80% | 8.00% |
| FY2018 | 9.50% | 9.80% |
| FY2017 | 11.50% | 12.00% |
| FY2016 | 3.50% | 3.80% |
| FY2015 | 9.50% | 10.00% |
Insurance Comparison
Brighter Super
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
CareSuper
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | Brighter Super | CareSuper |
|---|
| 25 | N/A | $125 |
| 30 | N/A | $210 |
| 35 | N/A | $365 |
| 40 | N/A | $560 |
| 45 | N/A | $870 |
| 50 | N/A | $1,350 |
| 55 | N/A | $2,000 |
| 60 | N/A | $2,850 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Brighter Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
CareSuper
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Brighter Super
| Total Options | 9 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
CareSuper
| Total Options | 10 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
Brighter Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.1 / Android 3.9 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.8 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
CareSuper
| App Ratings | iOS 4.3 / Android 4.1 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.9 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-7pm AEST Mon-Fri |
Verdict
On fees, CareSuper is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, CareSuper costs $423 per year compared to $438 for Brighter Super — a difference of $15 annually. That gap is small enough that it should not be the deciding factor between these two funds.
Looking at long-term performance, CareSuper holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.00% versus 7.50% for Brighter Super — a gap of 0.50% per annum. While not enormous, that gap adds up over the compounding horizon of a superannuation balance.
On insurance, Brighter Super uses TAL Life Limited while CareSuper is backed by AIA Australia. CareSuper charges around $560/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, Brighter Super has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.8 per 10,000 members compared to 3.9 for the other.
Brighter Super is best suited for public sector workers, miners energy workers, while CareSuper targets it professionals, lawyers legal workers. The two funds also serve different industries: Brighter Super focuses on local government, energy, while CareSuper targets professional services, corporate. 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.