Quick Verdict
HESTA is cheaper at $50k ($408/yr vs $438/yr). HESTA leads on 10-year returns (8.30% vs 7.80%).
Fund Overview
Equip Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1931 |
| Trustee | Togethr Trustees Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 100K |
| Assets (AUM) | $35B |
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 | Equip Super | HESTA |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.16% | 0.08% |
| Investment Fee | 0.50% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.06% | 0.10% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.10% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Equip 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 | Equip Super | HESTA |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.00% | 11.80% |
| 3-Year | 7.80% | 8.10% |
| 5-Year | 8.00% | 8.30% |
| 7-Year | 8.00% | 8.40% |
| 10-Year | 7.80% | 8.30% |
| FY2024 | 8.50% | 9.00% |
| FY2023 | 9.80% | 10.50% |
| FY2022 | -2.80% | -2.90% |
| FY2021 | 19.00% | 19.50% |
| FY2020 | -0.20% | -0.10% |
| FY2019 | 8.00% | 8.50% |
| FY2018 | 9.80% | 10.50% |
| FY2017 | 12.00% | 12.80% |
| FY2016 | 3.80% | 4.00% |
| FY2015 | 10.00% | 10.50% |
Insurance Comparison
Equip Super
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| 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 | Equip 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
Equip Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
HESTA
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Equip 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
Equip Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.3 / Android 4.1 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 4.5 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 Equip 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 7.80% for Equip Super — a gap of 0.50% per annum. While not enormous, that gap adds up over the compounding horizon of a superannuation balance.
On insurance, Equip Super uses AIA Australia 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 4.5 for the other.
Equip Super is best suited for miners energy workers, public sector workers, while HESTA targets nurses healthcare workers, aged care workers. The two funds also serve different industries: Equip Super focuses on energy, rail, 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.