Quick Verdict
Media Super is cheaper at $50k ($438/yr vs $501/yr). Media Super leads on 10-year returns (7.20% vs 7.00%).
Fund Overview
LegalSuper
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1988 |
| Trustee | LegalSuper Pty Ltd |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 50K |
| Assets (AUM) | $8B |
Media Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2008 |
| Trustee | Media Super Limited |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 60K |
| Assets (AUM) | $8B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | LegalSuper | Media Super |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $156 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.18% | 0.18% |
| Investment Fee | 0.45% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.08% | 0.12% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | LegalSuper | Media Super |
|---|
| $10,000 | $225 | $150 |
| $25,000 | $328 | $258 |
| $50,000 | $501 | $438 |
| $100,000 | $846 | $798 |
| $250,000 | $1,881 | $1,878 |
| $500,000 | $3,606 | $3,678 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | LegalSuper | Media Super |
|---|
| 1-Year | 10.50% | 10.20% |
| 3-Year | 7.00% | 7.50% |
| 5-Year | 7.00% | 7.20% |
| 7-Year | 7.20% | 7.50% |
| 10-Year | 7.00% | 7.20% |
| FY2024 | 8.00% | 8.20% |
| FY2023 | 9.20% | 9.50% |
| FY2022 | -3.50% | -3.20% |
| FY2021 | 17.50% | 18.00% |
| FY2020 | -0.80% | -0.50% |
| FY2019 | 7.20% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 9.00% | 9.50% |
| FY2017 | 11.20% | 11.80% |
| FY2016 | 3.00% | 3.20% |
| FY2015 | 9.20% | 9.80% |
Insurance Comparison
LegalSuper
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Media Super
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
LegalSuper
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Below median |
| Sustainability | Underperforming |
Media Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
LegalSuper
| Total Options | 10 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Media Super
| Total Options | 8 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
LegalSuper
| App Ratings | iOS 4.0 / Android 3.8 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.6 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
Media Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.2 / Android 4.0 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 5.0 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
Verdict
On fees, Media Super is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, Media Super costs $438 per year compared to $501 for LegalSuper — a difference of $63 annually. Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds meaningfully.
Looking at long-term performance, Media Super holds the edge with a 10-year return of 7.20% versus 7.00% for LegalSuper — 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, LegalSuper uses AIA Australia while Media Super is backed by TAL Life Limited. On member satisfaction, LegalSuper has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.6 per 10,000 members compared to 5.0 for the other.
LegalSuper is best suited for lawyers legal workers, while Media Super targets media entertainment workers. The two funds also serve different industries: LegalSuper focuses on legal, while Media Super targets media, entertainment. 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.