Quick Verdict
CareSuper is cheaper at $50k ($423/yr vs $501/yr). CareSuper leads on 10-year returns (8.00% vs 7.00%).
Fund Overview
CareSuper
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1986 |
| Trustee | CareSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 220K |
| Assets (AUM) | $28B |
LegalSuper
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1988 |
| Trustee | LegalSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 50K |
| Assets (AUM) | $8B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | CareSuper | LegalSuper |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $156 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.09% | 0.18% |
| Investment Fee | 0.55% | 0.45% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.12% | 0.08% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | CareSuper | LegalSuper |
|---|
| $10,000 | $147 | $225 |
| $25,000 | $250 | $328 |
| $50,000 | $423 | $501 |
| $100,000 | $768 | $846 |
| $250,000 | $1,803 | $1,881 |
| $500,000 | $3,528 | $3,606 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | CareSuper | LegalSuper |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.00% | 10.50% |
| 3-Year | 7.80% | 7.00% |
| 5-Year | 8.00% | 7.00% |
| 7-Year | 8.10% | 7.20% |
| 10-Year | 8.00% | 7.00% |
| FY2024 | 8.80% | 8.00% |
| FY2023 | 9.80% | 9.20% |
| FY2022 | -3.00% | -3.50% |
| FY2021 | 19.20% | 17.50% |
| FY2020 | -0.20% | -0.80% |
| FY2019 | 8.00% | 7.20% |
| FY2018 | 9.80% | 9.00% |
| FY2017 | 12.00% | 11.20% |
| FY2016 | 3.80% | 3.00% |
| FY2015 | 10.00% | 9.20% |
Insurance Comparison
CareSuper
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
LegalSuper
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | CareSuper | LegalSuper |
|---|
| 25 | $125 | N/A |
| 30 | $210 | N/A |
| 35 | $365 | N/A |
| 40 | $560 | N/A |
| 45 | $870 | N/A |
| 50 | $1,350 | N/A |
| 55 | $2,000 | N/A |
| 60 | $2,850 | N/A |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
CareSuper
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
LegalSuper
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Below median |
| Sustainability | Underperforming |
Investment Options
CareSuper
| Total Options | 10 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
LegalSuper
| Total Options | 10 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
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 |
LegalSuper
| App Ratings | iOS 4.0 / Android 3.8 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.6 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
Verdict
On fees, CareSuper is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, CareSuper costs $423 per year compared to $501 for LegalSuper — a difference of $78 annually. Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds meaningfully.
Looking at long-term performance, CareSuper holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.00% versus 7.00% for LegalSuper — a gap of 1.00% per annum. That performance spread is significant and would result in tens of thousands of dollars difference over a working life.
On insurance, CareSuper uses AIA Australia while LegalSuper is backed by AIA Australia. CareSuper charges around $560/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, LegalSuper has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.6 per 10,000 members compared to 3.9 for the other.
CareSuper is best suited for it professionals, lawyers legal workers, while LegalSuper targets lawyers legal workers. The two funds also serve different industries: CareSuper focuses on professional services, corporate, while LegalSuper targets legal. 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.