Quick Verdict
Hostplus is cheaper at $50k ($388/yr vs $501/yr). Hostplus leads on 10-year returns (9.00% vs 7.00%).
Fund Overview
Hostplus
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1988 |
| Trustee | Host-Plus Pty Limited |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 1.8M |
| Assets (AUM) | $115B |
LegalSuper
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1988 |
| Trustee | LegalSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 50K |
| Assets (AUM) | $8B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Hostplus | LegalSuper |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $156 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.02% | 0.18% |
| Investment Fee | 0.52% | 0.45% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.08% | 0.08% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Hostplus | LegalSuper |
|---|
| $10,000 | $140 | $225 |
| $25,000 | $233 | $328 |
| $50,000 | $388 | $501 |
| $100,000 | $698 | $846 |
| $250,000 | $1,628 | $1,881 |
| $500,000 | $3,178 | $3,606 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Hostplus | LegalSuper |
|---|
| 1-Year | 12.50% | 10.50% |
| 3-Year | 8.80% | 7.00% |
| 5-Year | 9.00% | 7.00% |
| 7-Year | 9.10% | 7.20% |
| 10-Year | 9.00% | 7.00% |
| FY2024 | 9.50% | 8.00% |
| FY2023 | 10.80% | 9.20% |
| FY2022 | -3.50% | -3.50% |
| FY2021 | 22.10% | 17.50% |
| FY2020 | -1.20% | -0.80% |
| FY2019 | 7.80% | 7.20% |
| FY2018 | 11.50% | 9.00% |
| FY2017 | 14.20% | 11.20% |
| FY2016 | 3.50% | 3.00% |
| FY2015 | 11.20% | 9.20% |
Insurance Comparison
Hostplus
| Insurer | MetLife Insurance |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
LegalSuper
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | Hostplus | LegalSuper |
|---|
| 25 | $148 | N/A |
| 30 | $250 | N/A |
| 35 | $410 | N/A |
| 40 | $630 | N/A |
| 45 | $960 | N/A |
| 50 | $1,490 | N/A |
| 55 | $2,180 | N/A |
| 60 | $3,100 | N/A |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Hostplus
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
LegalSuper
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Below median |
| Sustainability | Underperforming |
Investment Options
Hostplus
| Total Options | 22 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | Yes |
| Direct Investing | No |
LegalSuper
| Total Options | 10 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
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 |
LegalSuper
| App Ratings | iOS 4.0 / Android 3.8 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.6 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
Verdict
On fees, Hostplus is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Hostplus costs $388 per year compared to $501 for LegalSuper — a difference of $113 annually. That is a substantial gap that will compound significantly over decades.
Looking at long-term performance, Hostplus holds the edge with a 10-year return of 9.00% versus 7.00% for LegalSuper — a gap of 2.00% per annum. That performance spread is significant and would result in tens of thousands of dollars difference over a working life.
On insurance, Hostplus uses MetLife Insurance while LegalSuper is backed by AIA Australia. Hostplus charges around $630/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, LegalSuper has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.6 per 10,000 members compared to 4.0 for the other.
Hostplus is best suited for hospitality workers, young australians, while LegalSuper targets lawyers legal workers. One key difference is scale: Hostplus manages $115B in assets and has 1.8M members, dwarfing LegalSuper's $8B. Larger funds generally negotiate better fees and access exclusive deal flow, though smaller funds can offer more personalised service.
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.