Quick Verdict
CareSuper is cheaper at $50k ($423/yr vs $438/yr). CareSuper leads on 10-year returns (8.00% vs 7.20%).
Fund Overview
CareSuper
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1986 |
| Trustee | CareSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 220K |
| Assets (AUM) | $28B |
Media Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2008 |
| Trustee | Media Super Limited |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 60K |
| Assets (AUM) | $8B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | CareSuper | Media Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.09% | 0.18% |
| Investment Fee | 0.55% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.12% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | CareSuper | Media Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $147 | $150 |
| $25,000 | $250 | $258 |
| $50,000 | $423 | $438 |
| $100,000 | $768 | $798 |
| $250,000 | $1,803 | $1,878 |
| $500,000 | $3,528 | $3,678 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | CareSuper | Media Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.00% | 10.20% |
| 3-Year | 7.80% | 7.50% |
| 5-Year | 8.00% | 7.20% |
| 7-Year | 8.10% | 7.50% |
| 10-Year | 8.00% | 7.20% |
| FY2024 | 8.80% | 8.20% |
| FY2023 | 9.80% | 9.50% |
| FY2022 | -3.00% | -3.20% |
| FY2021 | 19.20% | 18.00% |
| FY2020 | -0.20% | -0.50% |
| FY2019 | 8.00% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 9.80% | 9.50% |
| FY2017 | 12.00% | 11.80% |
| FY2016 | 3.80% | 3.20% |
| FY2015 | 10.00% | 9.80% |
Insurance Comparison
CareSuper
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, 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 |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | CareSuper | Media Super |
|---|
| 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 |
Media Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
CareSuper
| Total Options | 10 |
| 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
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 |
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, CareSuper is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, CareSuper costs $423 per year compared to $438 for Media 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 7.20% for Media 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, CareSuper uses AIA Australia while Media Super is backed by TAL Life Limited. CareSuper charges around $560/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, CareSuper has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.9 per 10,000 members compared to 5.0 for the other.
CareSuper is best suited for it professionals, lawyers legal workers, while Media Super targets media entertainment workers. The two funds also serve different industries: CareSuper focuses on professional services, corporate, 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.