Quick Verdict
Hostplus is cheaper at $50k ($388/yr vs $465/yr). Hostplus leads on 10-year returns (9.00% vs 7.20%).
Fund Overview
First Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1984 |
| Trustee | First Super Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 50K |
| Assets (AUM) | $6B |
Hostplus
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1988 |
| Trustee | Host-Plus Pty Limited |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 1.8M |
| Assets (AUM) | $115B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | First Super | Hostplus |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $85 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.20% | 0.02% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.52% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.10% | 0.08% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | First Super | Hostplus |
|---|
| $10,000 | $161 | $140 |
| $25,000 | $275 | $233 |
| $50,000 | $465 | $388 |
| $100,000 | $845 | $698 |
| $250,000 | $1,985 | $1,628 |
| $500,000 | $3,885 | $3,178 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | First Super | Hostplus |
|---|
| 1-Year | 10.20% | 12.50% |
| 3-Year | 7.00% | 8.80% |
| 5-Year | 7.20% | 9.00% |
| 7-Year | 7.50% | 9.10% |
| 10-Year | 7.20% | 9.00% |
| FY2024 | 8.00% | 9.50% |
| FY2023 | 9.00% | 10.80% |
| FY2022 | -3.20% | -3.50% |
| FY2021 | 18.00% | 22.10% |
| FY2020 | -0.50% | -1.20% |
| FY2019 | 7.50% | 7.80% |
| FY2018 | 9.20% | 11.50% |
| FY2017 | 11.50% | 14.20% |
| FY2016 | 3.00% | 3.50% |
| FY2015 | 9.20% | 11.20% |
Insurance Comparison
First Super
| Insurer | MetLife Insurance |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Hostplus
| Insurer | MetLife Insurance |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | First Super | Hostplus |
|---|
| 25 | N/A | $148 |
| 30 | N/A | $250 |
| 35 | N/A | $410 |
| 40 | N/A | $630 |
| 45 | N/A | $960 |
| 50 | N/A | $1,490 |
| 55 | N/A | $2,180 |
| 60 | N/A | $3,100 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
First Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Below median |
| Sustainability | Attention |
Hostplus
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
First Super
| Total Options | 6 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Hostplus
| Total Options | 22 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | Yes |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
First Super
| App Ratings | iOS 3.8 / Android 3.5 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 4.4 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
Hostplus
| App Ratings | iOS 4.5 / Android 4.3 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included; Choiceplus self-directed investing available |
| AFCA Complaints | 4.0 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-8pm AEST Mon-Fri |
Verdict
On fees, Hostplus is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Hostplus costs $388 per year compared to $465 for First Super — a difference of $77 annually. Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds meaningfully.
Looking at long-term performance, Hostplus holds the edge with a 10-year return of 9.00% versus 7.20% for First Super — a gap of 1.80% per annum. That performance spread is significant and would result in tens of thousands of dollars difference over a working life.
On insurance, First Super uses MetLife Insurance while Hostplus is backed by MetLife Insurance. Hostplus charges around $630/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, Hostplus has fewer AFCA complaints at 4.0 per 10,000 members compared to 4.4 for the other.
First Super is best suited for construction workers, while Hostplus targets hospitality workers, young australians. Scale is a factor here: Hostplus manages $115B with 1.8M members, significantly larger than First Super's $6B. That scale advantage means better bargaining power on fees and deal access.
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.