Quick Verdict
HESTA is cheaper at $50k ($408/yr vs $438/yr). HESTA leads on 10-year returns (8.30% vs 7.50%).
Fund Overview
Brighter Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2022 |
| Trustee | LGIAsuper Trustee |
| HQ State | QLD |
| Members | 120K |
| Assets (AUM) | $18B |
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 | Brighter Super | HESTA |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.18% | 0.08% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.06% | 0.10% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.12% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Brighter Super | HESTA |
|---|
| $10,000 | $150 | $144 |
| $25,000 | $258 | $243 |
| $50,000 | $438 | $408 |
| $100,000 | $798 | $738 |
| $250,000 | $1,878 | $1,728 |
| $500,000 | $3,678 | $3,378 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Brighter Super | HESTA |
|---|
| 1-Year | 10.50% | 11.80% |
| 3-Year | 7.20% | 8.10% |
| 5-Year | 7.50% | 8.30% |
| 7-Year | 7.50% | 8.40% |
| 10-Year | 7.50% | 8.30% |
| FY2024 | 8.20% | 9.00% |
| FY2023 | 9.50% | 10.50% |
| FY2022 | -3.00% | -2.90% |
| FY2021 | 18.50% | 19.50% |
| FY2020 | -0.20% | -0.10% |
| FY2019 | 7.80% | 8.50% |
| FY2018 | 9.50% | 10.50% |
| FY2017 | 11.50% | 12.80% |
| FY2016 | 3.50% | 4.00% |
| FY2015 | 9.50% | 10.50% |
Insurance Comparison
Brighter Super
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — 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 | Brighter Super | HESTA |
|---|
| 25 | N/A | $140 |
| 30 | N/A | $235 |
| 35 | N/A | $395 |
| 40 | N/A | $600 |
| 45 | N/A | $920 |
| 50 | N/A | $1,420 |
| 55 | N/A | $2,100 |
| 60 | N/A | $3,000 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Brighter Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
HESTA
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Brighter Super
| Total Options | 9 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
HESTA
| Total Options | 8 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| 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 |
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 $438 for Brighter Super — a difference of $30 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 7.50% for Brighter Super — a gap of 0.80% 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 HESTA is backed by TAL Life Limited. HESTA charges around $600/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, HESTA has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.8 per 10,000 members compared to 3.8 for the other.
Brighter Super is best suited for public sector workers, miners energy workers, while HESTA targets nurses healthcare workers, aged care workers. The two funds also serve different industries: Brighter Super focuses on local government, energy, 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.