Quick Verdict
UniSuper is cheaper at $50k ($280/yr vs $408/yr). UniSuper leads on 10-year returns (8.50% 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 |
UniSuper
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2000 |
| Trustee | UniSuper Limited |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 650K |
| Assets (AUM) | $130B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | HESTA | UniSuper |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $60 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.36% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.10% | 0.04% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.12% | 0.09% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | HESTA | UniSuper |
|---|
| $10,000 | $144 | $104 |
| $25,000 | $243 | $170 |
| $50,000 | $408 | $280 |
| $100,000 | $738 | $500 |
| $250,000 | $1,728 | $1,160 |
| $500,000 | $3,378 | $2,260 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | HESTA | UniSuper |
|---|
| 1-Year | 11.80% | 12.00% |
| 3-Year | 8.10% | 8.30% |
| 5-Year | 8.30% | 8.50% |
| 7-Year | 8.40% | 8.60% |
| 10-Year | 8.30% | 8.50% |
| FY2024 | 9.00% | 9.20% |
| FY2023 | 10.50% | 10.80% |
| FY2022 | -2.90% | -3.00% |
| FY2021 | 19.50% | 21.20% |
| FY2020 | -0.10% | -0.80% |
| FY2019 | 8.50% | 8.80% |
| FY2018 | 10.50% | 10.80% |
| FY2017 | 12.80% | 12.90% |
| FY2016 | 4.00% | 4.50% |
| FY2015 | 10.50% | 10.80% |
Insurance Comparison
HESTA
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
UniSuper
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in, 75% of salary |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | HESTA | UniSuper |
|---|
| 25 | $140 | $120 |
| 30 | $235 | $205 |
| 35 | $395 | $350 |
| 40 | $600 | $540 |
| 45 | $920 | $850 |
| 50 | $1,420 | $1,320 |
| 55 | $2,100 | $1,950 |
| 60 | $3,000 | $2,800 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
HESTA
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
UniSuper
| Fee Rating | Below median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
HESTA
| Total Options | 8 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
UniSuper
| Total Options | 16 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | Yes |
| 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 |
UniSuper
| App Ratings | iOS 4.7 / Android 4.5 |
| Advice | Included personal advice; comprehensive fee-for-service; campus consultants |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.2 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-8pm AEST Mon-Fri |
Verdict
On fees, UniSuper is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, UniSuper costs $280 per year compared to $408 for HESTA — a difference of $128 annually. That is a substantial gap that will compound significantly over decades.
Looking at long-term performance, UniSuper holds the edge with a 10-year return of 8.50% versus 8.30% for HESTA — a gap of 0.20% per annum. The two funds are closely matched on returns, so other factors become more important in choosing between them.
On insurance, HESTA uses TAL Life Limited while UniSuper is backed by AIA Australia. For a 40-year-old, UniSuper's default premiums of around $540/year undercut HESTA's $600/year, giving UniSuper the edge on insurance costs. On member satisfaction, UniSuper has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.2 per 10,000 members compared to 3.8 for the other.
HESTA is best suited for nurses healthcare workers, aged care workers, while UniSuper targets it professionals, education workers. The two funds also serve different industries: HESTA focuses on healthcare, aged care, while UniSuper targets education, research. 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.