Quick Verdict
REST is cheaper at $50k ($348/yr vs $438/yr). REST leads on 10-year returns (7.80% vs 7.20%).
Fund Overview
Media Super
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 2008 |
| Trustee | Media Super Limited |
| HQ State | VIC |
| Members | 60K |
| Assets (AUM) | $8B |
REST
| Type | Industry |
| Established | 1988 |
| Trustee | Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Limited |
| HQ State | NSW |
| Members | 2.0M |
| Assets (AUM) | $85B |
Fee Comparison
| Fee Component | Media Super | REST |
|---|
| Admin Fee (flat) | $78 | $78 |
| Admin Fee (%) | 0.18% | 0.00% |
| Investment Fee | 0.48% | 0.48% |
| Indirect Cost Ratio | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Buy/Sell Spread | 0.12% | 0.07% |
Total Annual Fee by Balance
| Balance | Media Super | REST |
|---|
| $10,000 | $150 | $132 |
| $25,000 | $258 | $213 |
| $50,000 | $438 | $348 |
| $100,000 | $798 | $618 |
| $250,000 | $1,878 | $1,428 |
| $500,000 | $3,678 | $2,778 |
Performance Comparison
| Period | Media Super | REST |
|---|
| 1-Year | 10.20% | 10.80% |
| 3-Year | 7.50% | 7.50% |
| 5-Year | 7.20% | 7.80% |
| 7-Year | 7.50% | 8.00% |
| 10-Year | 7.20% | 7.80% |
| FY2024 | 8.20% | 8.50% |
| FY2023 | 9.50% | 9.20% |
| FY2022 | -3.20% | -2.50% |
| FY2021 | 18.00% | 17.80% |
| FY2020 | -0.50% | -0.50% |
| FY2019 | 7.50% | 7.50% |
| FY2018 | 9.50% | 9.50% |
| FY2017 | 11.80% | 11.80% |
| FY2016 | 3.20% | 3.50% |
| FY2015 | 9.80% | 9.80% |
Insurance Comparison
Media Super
| Insurer | TAL Life Limited |
| Death Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
REST
| Insurer | AIA Australia |
| Death Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| TPD Cover | Yes — unitised, opt-out |
| IP Cover | Yes — opt-in |
Annual Premium Comparison by Age
| Age | Media Super | REST |
|---|
| 25 | N/A | $110 |
| 30 | N/A | $190 |
| 35 | N/A | $320 |
| 40 | N/A | $490 |
| 45 | N/A | $770 |
| 50 | N/A | $1,180 |
| 55 | N/A | $1,750 |
| 60 | N/A | $2,500 |
APRA Heatmap Ratings
Media Super
| Fee Rating | Above median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
REST
| Fee Rating | Below median |
| Return Rating | Around median |
| Sustainability | Performing |
Investment Options
Media Super
| Total Options | 8 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
REST
| Total Options | 10 |
| Ethical/ESG Option | No |
| Indexed Option | No |
| Direct Investing | No |
Member Services
Media Super
| App Ratings | iOS 4.2 / Android 4.0 |
| Advice | Not specified |
| AFCA Complaints | 5.0 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | Not specified |
REST
| App Ratings | iOS 4.5 / Android 4.2 |
| Advice | Limited personal advice included |
| AFCA Complaints | 3.4 per 10k members |
| Call Centre | 8am-10pm AEST Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat |
Verdict
On fees, REST is the more affordable option. At a $50,000 balance, REST costs $348 per year compared to $438 for Media Super — a difference of $90 annually. That is a substantial gap that will compound significantly over decades.
Looking at long-term performance, REST holds the edge with a 10-year return of 7.80% versus 7.20% for Media Super — a gap of 0.60% per annum. While not enormous, that gap adds up over the compounding horizon of a superannuation balance.
On insurance, Media Super uses TAL Life Limited while REST is backed by AIA Australia. REST charges around $490/year for a 40-year-old's default cover. On member satisfaction, REST has fewer AFCA complaints at 3.4 per 10,000 members compared to 5.0 for the other.
Media Super is best suited for media entertainment workers, while REST targets retail workers, young australians. The two funds also serve different industries: Media Super focuses on media, entertainment, while REST targets retail, fast food. 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.