Quick Verdict
Cbus is cheaper at $50k ($393/yr vs $408/yr). Cbus leads on 10-year returns (8.40% vs 8.30%).
Fund Overview
Cbus
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1984 |
| Trustee | United Super Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 900K |
| Assets (AUM) | $85B |
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 | Cbus | HESTA |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Investment Fee | 0.58% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.05% | 0.10% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.10% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Cbus | HESTA |
|---|
| $10,000 | $141 | $144 |
| $25,000 | $236 | $243 |
| $50,000 | $393 | $408 |
| $100,000 | $708 | $738 |
| $250,000 | $1,653 | $1,728 |
| $500,000 | $3,228 | $3,378 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Cbus | HESTA |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.50% | 11.80% |
| 3-Year | 8.20% | 8.10% |
| 5-Year | 8.40% | 8.30% |
| 7-Year | 8.50% | 8.40% |
| 10-Year | 8.40% | 8.30% |
| FY2024 | 8.80% | 9.00% |
| FY2023 | 10.20% | 10.50% |
| FY2022 | -2.20% | -2.90% |
| FY2021 | 20.50% | 19.50% |
| FY2020 | 0.20% | -0.10% |
| FY2019 | 8.20% | 8.50% |
| FY2018 | 10.20% | 10.50% |
| FY2017 | 12.80% | 12.80% |
| FY2016 | 4.50% | 4.00% |
| FY2015 | 10.20% | 10.50% |
Insurance Comparison
Cbus
| Insurer | MetLife Insurance |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, 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 | Cbus | HESTA |
|---|
| 25 | $160 | $140 |
| 30 | $270 | $235 |
| 35 | $450 | $395 |
| 40 | $690 | $600 |
| 45 | $1,080 | $920 |
| 50 | $1,650 | $1,420 |
| 55 | $2,450 | $2,100 |
| 60 | $3,500 | $3,000 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Cbus
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
HESTA
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Cbus
| Total Options | 8 |
| 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
Cbus
| App Ratings | iOS 4.4 / Android 4.2 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included; Cbus coordinators on building sites |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.9 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-8pm AEST Mon-Fri |
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, Cbus is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Cbus costs $393 per year compared to $408 for HESTA — 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, Cbus holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.40% versus 8.30% for HESTA — a gap of 0.10% per annum. The two funds are closely matched on returns, so other factors become more important in choosing between them.
On insurance, Cbus uses MetLife Insurance while HESTA is backed by TAL Life Limited. For a 40-year-old, HESTA's default premiums of around $600/year undercut Cbus's $690/year, giving HESTA the edge on insurance costs. On member satisfaction, HESTA has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.8 per 10,000 members compared to 3.9 for the other.
Cbus is best suited for construction workers, fifo workers, while HESTA targets nurses healthcare workers, aged care workers. The two funds also serve different industries: Cbus focuses on construction, building, 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.