Best performing super funds in Australia October 2026

Best super funds: Finder's 5 picks

• Best balanced super fund: Hostplus Indexed Balanced
• Best high growth super fund: Aware Super International Shares
• Best value super fund: UniSuper - Sustainable Balanced
• Best ethical super fund: Australian Ethical Super Growth
• Best conservative super fund: HESTA Conservative

Best balanced super fund

9.7 Excellent Hostplus Indexed Balanced Finder AwardIndustry fundHigher risk

9.7 Excellent

Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +7.59%

Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +12.42%

Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.01%

Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.56%

Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $149

Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare

loading

Why we like it Hostplus Indexed Balanced was named the best balanced super product in the 2025 Finder Awards. It has incredibly low fees of just $149.28 on a $50,000 balance. It has achieved strong returns of 7.59% p.a. over the past year and 8.01% p.a. over 5 years. It has strong exposure to Australian and international shares and is passively managed to keep costs low.

Best high growth super fund

9.9 Excellent Aware Super International Shares Finder AwardIndustry fundHigher risk

9.9 Excellent

Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +9.29%

Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +17.66%

Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +11.99%

Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +13.14%

Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $167

Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare

loading

Why we like it Aware Super International Shares was named the best high growth super product in the 2025 Finder Awards. This product has low fees of just $167 on a $50,000 balance. It has achieved high returns of 9.29% p.a. over the last year and 11.99% p.a. over the last 5 years. This product invests entirely in international shares and is passively managed to keep costs low.

Best value super fund

8.7 Great UniSuper - Sustainable Balanced Most LovedIndustry fundEthicalHigher risk

8.7 Great

Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +4.41%

Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +10.68%

Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +5.62%

Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +7.92%

Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $306

View details Compare product selection Compare

loading

Why we like it UniSuper was also voted the top value super fund by customers in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards 2025. UniSuper has lower than average fees for an ethically screened option. Its Sustainable Balanced option charges just $306 on a $50,000 balance. It has achieved strong returns of 4.41% p.a.over the past year and 5.62% p.a. over 5 years. It invests in a mix of different assets based on a range of ethical criteria that limits investment in fossil fuel companies, gambling, alcohol and tobacco and weapon manufacturing.

Best ethical super fund

6.6 Standard Australian Ethical Super Growth Most LovedEthical

6.6 Standard

Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +3.94%

Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +9.34%

Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +5.56%

Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +7.72%

Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $678

View details Compare product selection Compare

loading

Why we like it Australian Ethical is one of just a handful of super funds to be certified by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia. It excludes all fossil fuel investments and most mining companies, while actively investing in renewable energy. Its growth product has returned 3.94% over the past year and 5.56% p.a. for the last 5 years.

Best conservative super fund

8.9 Great HESTA Conservative Industry fund

8.9 Great

Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +4.54%

Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +6.52%

Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +4.46%

Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +5.21%

Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $327

View details Compare product selection Compare

loading

Why we like it HESTA Conservative was named the best conservative super product in the 2025 Finder Awards. It has a combination of competitive fees and decent returns among all conservative investment options. It invests in a range of asset classes, with around 30-40% exposure to growth assets as the remainder invested in defensive assets to protect your balance.

loading

How do we pick the best super funds?

• See more details here.

  Each year we take a deep dive into all the super funds in our database and analyse their fees, performance and other features to determine the best products in the market. These are revealed as winners (or highly commended) in our Finder Product Awards and Customer Satisfaction Awards. Our best super fund picks are a combination of winners from the Finder Awards and our own expert selections from our partners.

  For more detailed insights into how each category of super fund awards was judged, take a look at our Finder Superannuation Awards for a full breakdown of each methodology.

Our expert says

"To most people, the concept of 'best' means the highest-performing by net performance. To calculate net performance, you look at the overall return and deduct fees and expenses. If your fund charges more than others, but is also consistently outperforming its peers by some margin, then you would probably be happy wearing the higher fees. "

Pascale Helyar

Superannuation and wealth expert

What's the best-performing super fund?

Here are the 10 Balanced super funds with the highest 10-year performance returns, as of the latest data at March 2026.

You can see super fund performance for other investment options in our separate guide.

Top 5 super funds for customer satisfaction

The Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards recognises the best performing super fund for customer satisfaction. It's an award that is decided by the only votes that really matter – yours. We asked customers of major super funds to tell us about their experiences. Now we can reveal what they said.

Provider	Overall satisfaction	Trustworthy/reliable
	★★★★★ 4.46/5	100%
	★★★★★ 4.46/5	94%
	★★★★★ 4.28/5	94%
	★★★★★ 4.26/5	100%
	★★★★★ 4.15/5	91%

What's the best super fund for my age?

While you're in your 20s, 30s and even 40s you want to have a super fund that charges minimal fees while delivering high returns. While you're young, make sure you're invested in enough growth assets to ensure your balance really benefits from compound growth.

As you get closer to retirement you might want to gradually reduce your exposure to growth assets like shares, so look for a fund that has a more balanced mix.

We've got more tips for managing your super depending on your lifestage:

• Superannuation for under 18s
• Superannuation in your 30s and 40s
• Superannuation in your 50s

How to pick the best super fund

Choosing the right super fund is crucial for your financial future. While the top-performing funds are a great start, they may not always align with your specific needs. If you're looking elsewhere, consider these key factors:

• High long-term returns. Look for funds with a consistent track record of strong returns over the long term (funds with 10-year returns above 7% p.a. are among the top performers).
• Low fees. Higher fees can significantly eat into your retirement savings. Opt for funds with lower fees without compromising on performance (aim for annual fees less than 1% of your super balance).
• Investment strategy aligns with your age. Younger investors might prefer high-growth options, whereas those nearing retirement may prioritise stability and have a shorter investing time horizon for a portion of their balance. If needing access to funds in the next 3-5 years, it's important to be invested in a lower risk option.
• Access to insurance cover. Does the fund offers members cost-effective life, TPD and salary continuance policies?

"I only moved to Australia 6 years ago so I'm playing catch up with my super. For me, low fees are important and to know my money isn't being invested in something that's destroying the planet. I also cancelled the life insurance inside my super because the premiums increase every year."

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

FAQs about picking the best super funds in Australia

• What's the best industry super fund?

  Some of the best-performing industry super funds include Hostplus, AustralianSuper, Australian Retirement Trust, UniSuper and Cbus.

• What's the best super fund for age 30?

  While you're in your 30s you still have 30+ years for your super to be invested and benefit from compound returns, so it'd best to stay invested in a growth or high growth option.

• What's the best super fund for someone starting their first job?

  If you're starting work and looking for a super fund, look for a fund with low fees and high long-term returns. Your balance will start off small, so you don't want this already small amount of money eaten away by excessive fees.

• What types of super funds can I choose from?

  There are 2 main types of super funds: industry super funds and retail super funds. Both funds invest your money in similar ways, but they are different in the way they're owned and managed. Industry super funds are independently run and owned by members, while retail funds are owned by major banks, insurance companies or other financial organisations. Industry super funds typically have lower fees.

• Should I change my super to an SMSF?

  SMSFs are generally only recommended if you've got a large super balance to invest, usually $200,000 or more. This is because SMSFs can be quite expensive to run and maintain, especially compared to a typical super fund. If you've got a large balance to invest, investment expertise and experience and an understanding of the legal framework, it could be something worth looking into. But keep in mind there are a lot of legal requirements you need to keep up with, as well as annual fees and charges.

• How do I change super funds?

  Once you've found the new fund you want to join, complete the online application form to become a member. Throughout this process you can elect to have your previous super fund transfer your balance over into your new fund. Most of the work is done for you by your new fund. For a more detailed guide on how to do this, take a look at our article on how to change super funds in 4 steps.

• Can I have multiple super funds

  Yes, you can have multiple super funds, but it's not a good idea to do so. If you had more than one fund, you'd be paying multiple sets of fees which would eat into your retirement balance. If you've got more than one fund open in your name it's a good idea to consolidate them.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Whitten as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Alison Banney

Editorial Manager, Money

Add to Preferred Sources

Alison is an editor at Finder and a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of experience, having contributed to major financial institutions and publications such as Westpac, Money Magazine, and Yahoo Finance. She is frequently quoted in media outlets like SmartCompany and SBS, offering expert insights on superannuation and money management. Alison holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Newcastle, and has earned three ASIC RG146 certifications in superannuation, securities and managed investments and general financial advice, ensuring her expertise is fully aligned with ASIC standards. See full bio

Alison's expertise

Alison has written 575 Finder guides across topics including:

• Superannuation
• Savings accounts, bank accounts and term deposits
• Budgeting and money-saving hacks
• Managing the cost of living