Quick Verdict
Hostplus is cheaper at $50k ($388/yr vs $406/yr). Hostplus leads on 10-year returns (9.00% vs 7.50%).
Fund Overview
Hostplus
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1988 |
| Trustee | Host-Plus Pty Limited |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 1.8M |
| Assets (AUM) | $115B |
LUCRF Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1978 |
| Trustee | AustralianSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 140K |
| Assets (AUM) | $10B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Hostplus | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $91 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.02% | 0.10% |
| Investment Fee | 0.52% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.08% | 0.10% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Hostplus | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $140 | $154 |
| $25,000 | $233 | $248 |
| $50,000 | $388 | $406 |
| $100,000 | $698 | $721 |
| $250,000 | $1,628 | $1,666 |
| $500,000 | $3,178 | $3,241 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Hostplus | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 12.50% | 10.50% |
| 3-Year | 8.80% | 7.20% |
| 5-Year | 9.00% | 7.00% |
| 7-Year | 9.10% | 7.50% |
| 10-Year | 9.00% | 7.50% |
| FY2024 | 9.50% | 8.00% |
| FY2023 | 10.80% | 9.50% |
| FY2022 | -3.50% | -3.50% |
| FY2021 | 22.10% | 18.50% |
| FY2020 | -1.20% | -1.00% |
| FY2019 | 7.80% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 11.50% | 9.20% |
| FY2017 | 14.20% | 11.50% |
| FY2016 | 3.50% | 3.50% |
| FY2015 | 11.20% | 9.50% |
Insurance Comparison
Hostplus
| Insurer | MetLife Insurance |
| 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 | Hostplus | LUCRF Super |
|---|
| 25 | $148 | $145 |
| 30 | $250 | $245 |
| 35 | $410 | $400 |
| 40 | $630 | $615 |
| 45 | $960 | $960 |
| 50 | $1,490 | $1,480 |
| 55 | $2,180 | $2,200 |
| 60 | $3,100 | $3,100 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Hostplus
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Above median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
LUCRF Super
| Fee Rating | Around median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Hostplus
| Total Options | 22 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | Yes |
| Direct Investing | No |
LUCRF Super
| Total Options | 6 |
| 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 |
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, Hostplus is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Hostplus costs $388 per year compared to $406 for LUCRF Super — a difference of $18 annually. That gap is small enough that it should not be the deciding factor between these two funds.
Looking at long-term performance, Hostplus holds the edge with a 10-year return of 9.00% versus 7.50% for LUCRF Super — a gap of 1.50% 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 LUCRF Super is backed by TAL Life Limited. For a 40-year-old, LUCRF Super's default premiums of around $615/year undercut Hostplus's $630/year, giving LUCRF Super the edge on insurance costs. On member satisfaction, LUCRF Super 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 LUCRF Super targets retail workers. One key difference is scale: Hostplus manages $115B in assets and has 1.8M members, dwarfing LUCRF Super's $10B. 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.