Quick Verdict
Both charge $438/yr at a $50k balance. Brighter Super leads on 10-year returns (7.50% vs 7.20%).
Fund Overview
Brighter Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2022 |
| Trustee | LGIAsuper Trustee |
| HQ State | QLD |
| Members | 120K |
| Assets (AUM) | $18B |
Media Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2008 |
| Trustee | Media Super Limited |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 60K |
| Assets (AUM) | $8B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Brighter Super | Media Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.18% | 0.18% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.12% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Brighter Super | Media Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $150 | $150 |
| $25,000 | $258 | $258 |
| $50,000 | $438 | $438 |
| $100,000 | $798 | $798 |
| $250,000 | $1,878 | $1,878 |
| $500,000 | $3,678 | $3,678 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Brighter Super | Media Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 10.50% | 10.20% |
| 3-Year | 7.20% | 7.50% |
| 5-Year | 7.50% | 7.20% |
| 7-Year | 7.50% | 7.50% |
| 10-Year | 7.50% | 7.20% |
| FY2024 | 8.20% | 8.20% |
| FY2023 | 9.50% | 9.50% |
| FY2022 | -3.00% | -3.20% |
| FY2021 | 18.50% | 18.00% |
| FY2020 | -0.20% | -0.50% |
| FY2019 | 7.80% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 9.50% | 9.50% |
| FY2017 | 11.50% | 11.80% |
| FY2016 | 3.50% | 3.20% |
| FY2015 | 9.50% | 9.80% |
Insurance Comparison
Brighter Super
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — 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 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Brighter Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Media Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Brighter Super
| Total Options | 9 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Media Super
| Total Options | 8 |
| 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 |
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, Media Super is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Media Super costs $438 per year compared to $438 for Brighter Super — a difference of $0 annually. That gap is small enough that it should not be the deciding factor between these two funds.
Looking at long-term performance, Brighter Super holds the edge with a 10-year return of 7.50% versus 7.20% for Media Super — a gap of 0.30% 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 Media Super is backed by TAL Life Limited. On member satisfaction, Brighter Super has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.8 per 10,000 members compared to 5.0 for the other.
Brighter Super is best suited for public sector workers, miners energy workers, while Media Super targets media entertainment workers. The two funds also serve different industries: Brighter Super focuses on local government, energy, while Media Super targets media, entertainment. 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.