Quick Verdict
HESTA is cheaper at $50k ($408/yr vs $428/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 |
Spirit Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2021 |
| Trustee | Spirit Super Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | TAS |
| Members | 340K |
| Assets (AUM) | $28B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | HESTA | Spirit Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.08% | 0.14% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.50% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.10% | 0.06% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.12% | 0.10% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | HESTA | Spirit Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $144 | $148 |
| $25,000 | $243 | $253 |
| $50,000 | $408 | $428 |
| $100,000 | $738 | $778 |
| $250,000 | $1,728 | $1,828 |
| $500,000 | $3,378 | $3,578 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | HESTA | Spirit Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.80% | 10.80% |
| 3-Year | 8.10% | 7.50% |
| 5-Year | 8.30% | 7.50% |
| 7-Year | 8.40% | 7.80% |
| 10-Year | 8.30% | 7.50% |
| FY2024 | 9.00% | 8.20% |
| FY2023 | 10.50% | 9.50% |
| FY2022 | -2.90% | -2.80% |
| FY2021 | 19.50% | 18.50% |
| FY2020 | -0.10% | -0.50% |
| FY2019 | 8.50% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 10.50% | 9.50% |
| 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 |
Spirit 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 | Spirit Super |
|---|
| 25 | $140 | N/A |
| 30 | $235 | N/A |
| 35 | $395 | N/A |
| 40 | $600 | N/A |
| 45 | $920 | N/A |
| 50 | $1,420 | N/A |
| 55 | $2,100 | N/A |
| 60 | $3,000 | N/A |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
HESTA
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Spirit 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 |
Spirit Super
| Total Options | 8 |
| 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 |
Spirit Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.2 / Android 4.0 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.5 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
Verdict
On fees, HESTA is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, HESTA costs $408 per year compared to $428 for Spirit Super — a difference of $20 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 7.50% for Spirit 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 Spirit Super is backed by TAL Life Limited. HESTA charges around $600/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, Spirit Super has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.5 per 10,000 members compared to 3.8 for the other.
HESTA is best suited for nurses healthcare workers, aged care workers, while Spirit Super targets construction workers, public sector workers. The two funds also serve different industries: HESTA focuses on healthcare, aged care, while Spirit Super targets transport, construction. 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.