Quick Verdict
Hostplus is cheaper at $50k ($388/yr vs $408/yr). Hostplus leads on 10-year returns (9.00% vs 8.30%).
Fund Overview
HESTA
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1987 |
| Trustee | H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 1.0M |
| Assets (AUM) | $75B |
Hostplus
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1988 |
| Trustee | Host-Plus Pty Limited |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 1.8M |
| Assets (AUM) | $115B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | HESTA | Hostplus |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.52% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.10% | 0.08% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.12% | 0.08% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | HESTA | Hostplus |
|---|
| $10,000 | $144 | $140 |
| $25,000 | $243 | $233 |
| $50,000 | $408 | $388 |
| $100,000 | $738 | $698 |
| $250,000 | $1,728 | $1,628 |
| $500,000 | $3,378 | $3,178 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | HESTA | Hostplus |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.80% | 12.50% |
| 3-Year | 8.10% | 8.80% |
| 5-Year | 8.30% | 9.00% |
| 7-Year | 8.40% | 9.10% |
| 10-Year | 8.30% | 9.00% |
| FY2024 | 9.00% | 9.50% |
| FY2023 | 10.50% | 10.80% |
| FY2022 | -2.90% | -3.50% |
| FY2021 | 19.50% | 22.10% |
| FY2020 | -0.10% | -1.20% |
| FY2019 | 8.50% | 7.80% |
| FY2018 | 10.50% | 11.50% |
| FY2017 | 12.80% | 14.20% |
| FY2016 | 4.00% | 3.50% |
| FY2015 | 10.50% | 11.20% |
Insurance Comparison
HESTA
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, 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 | HESTA | Hostplus |
|---|
| 25 | $140 | $148 |
| 30 | $235 | $250 |
| 35 | $395 | $410 |
| 40 | $600 | $630 |
| 45 | $920 | $960 |
| 50 | $1,420 | $1,490 |
| 55 | $2,100 | $2,180 |
| 60 | $3,000 | $3,100 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
HESTA
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Hostplus
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
HESTA
| Total Options | 8 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Hostplus
| Total Options | 22 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | Yes |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
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 |
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 $408 for HESTA — a difference of $20 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 8.30% for HESTA — a gap of 0.70% per annum. While not enormous, that gap adds up over the compounding horizon of a superannuation balance.
On insurance, HESTA uses TAL Life Limited while Hostplus is backed by MetLife Insurance. For a 40-year-old, HESTA's default death and TPD premiums cost around $600/year versus $630/year at Hostplus, making HESTA the cheaper option for mid-career cover. On member satisfaction, HESTA has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.8 per 10,000 members compared to 4.0 for the other.
HESTA is best suited for nurses healthcare workers, aged care workers, while Hostplus targets hospitality workers, young australians. The two funds also serve different industries: HESTA focuses on healthcare, aged care, while Hostplus targets hospitality, tourism. 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.