Quick Verdict
LUCRF Super is cheaper at $50k ($406/yr vs $408/yr). HESTA leads on 10-year returns (8.30% vs 7.50%).
Fund Overview
HESTA
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1987 |
| Trustee | H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 1.0M |
| Assets (AUM) | $75B |
LUCRF Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1978 |
| Trustee | AustralianSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 140K |
| Assets (AUM) | $10B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | HESTA | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $91 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.08% | 0.10% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.10% | 0.05% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.12% | 0.10% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | HESTA | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $144 | $154 |
| $25,000 | $243 | $248 |
| $50,000 | $408 | $406 |
| $100,000 | $738 | $721 |
| $250,000 | $1,728 | $1,666 |
| $500,000 | $3,378 | $3,241 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | HESTA | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.80% | 10.50% |
| 3-Year | 8.10% | 7.20% |
| 5-Year | 8.30% | 7.00% |
| 7-Year | 8.40% | 7.50% |
| 10-Year | 8.30% | 7.50% |
| FY2024 | 9.00% | 8.00% |
| FY2023 | 10.50% | 9.50% |
| FY2022 | -2.90% | -3.50% |
| FY2021 | 19.50% | 18.50% |
| FY2020 | -0.10% | -1.00% |
| FY2019 | 8.50% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 10.50% | 9.20% |
| FY2017 | 12.80% | 11.50% |
| FY2016 | 4.00% | 3.50% |
| FY2015 | 10.50% | 9.50% |
Insurance Comparison
HESTA
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
LUCRF 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 | HESTA | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| 25 | $140 | $145 |
| 30 | $235 | $245 |
| 35 | $395 | $400 |
| 40 | $600 | $615 |
| 45 | $920 | $960 |
| 50 | $1,420 | $1,480 |
| 55 | $2,100 | $2,200 |
| 60 | $3,000 | $3,100 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
HESTA
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
LUCRF Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
HESTA
| Total Options | 8 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
LUCRF Super
| Total Options | 6 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| 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 |
LUCRF Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.7 / Android 4.5 |
| Advice | Via AustralianSuper |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.6 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
Verdict
On fees, LUCRF Super is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, LUCRF Super costs $406 per year compared to $408 for HESTA — a difference of $2 annually. That gap is small enough that it should not be the deciding factor between these two funds.
Looking at long-term performance, HESTA holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.30% versus 7.50% for LUCRF 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, HESTA uses TAL Life Limited while LUCRF Super is backed by TAL Life Limited. For a 40-year-old, HESTA's default death and TPD premiums cost around $600/year versus $615/year at LUCRF Super, making HESTA the cheaper option for mid-career cover. On member satisfaction, LUCRF Super has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.6 per 10,000 members compared to 3.8 for the other.
HESTA is best suited for nurses healthcare workers, aged care workers, while LUCRF Super targets retail workers. The two funds also serve different industries: HESTA focuses on healthcare, aged care, while LUCRF Super targets retail, warehouse. 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.