Best performing industry super funds
The table below shows industry super fund products from our Online Partners, sorted first by five-year average annual return.

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The initial results in the table above are sorted by 5 year return (High-Low) , then Star Rating (High-Low) , then Provider Name (Alphabetical) . Additional filters may have been applied, which impact the results displayed in the table - filters can be applied or removed at any time.
What is an industry super fund?
An industry super fund is one that was originally set up to offer superannuation only to a particular group of workers (i.e. hospitality and retail or construction and building). Now, some of those (typically the bigger ones) are open for anyone to join.
An industry super fund is run as a non-for-profit organisation, which means there are no shareholders to pay and any profit stays within the organisation for the benefit of its members. As a result of this, industry super funds tend to have lower fees.
Industry super funds accounted for about $1.485 trillion in assets in the March 2025 quarter, according to figures from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). That’s about 36.0% of the total $4.129 trillion in all Australian super funds.
They’ve also delivered an annual rate of return that’s fairly close to the average of all APRA regulated super funds over the past few years.
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) says industry super funds are the most popular single sector in superannuation with 14.2 million accounts, that’s about 57% of the total 24.7 million accounts reported in December 2024.
According to APRA, the top five industry super funds when it comes to membership accounts at June 2024 were:
- AustralianSuper (3,422,250)
- Australian Retirement Trust (2,491,213)
- Rest Super (2,084,787)
- Hostplus (1,861,500)
- Aware Super (1,224,303)
In comparison, the retail super fund with the largest number of membership accounts was Mercer Super Trust with 943,187 members.
Before making any decisions around joining an industry super fund, you might want to consider seeking some independent financial advice first. When considering any industry super fund, carefully read any relevant documentation, such as the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD), before making your decision.
How does industry super work?
An industry super fund works in a similar way to most other superannuation products in Australia. Superannuation is a way to save and invest money during your working life that you can use for your retirement. The aim is to provide you with an income in retirement that substitutes or supplements the Australian Age Pension.
If you’re employed and meet the eligibility requirements to receive the compulsory Superannuation Guarantee then your employer must pay a set percentage of your ordinary time earnings into your super fund, which may be an industry super fund.
If you meet the requirements, you must be paid super whether you work casually, part-time, full-time or as a contractor, and even if you’re a temporary resident.
Money held in your super account is invested in a range of assets by your fund. Most funds give members the option of choosing how their savings are invested, so it could be helpful to learn more about your super investment options.
You generally can’t access the money in your super account until you qualify for a ‘condition of release’, for example when you’ve reached your preservation age.
How to compare industry super funds
When comparing industry super funds you should look at a number of factors, as you would when considering any type of investment product.
The Federal Government’s Moneysmart website says you should first consider whether you can actually join an industry fund. While many are open to the public, there are others that have strict eligibility requirements, so not everyone can join them.
Most industry funds are accumulation funds which means you and your employer can add contributions to the account which hopefully grows over time, based on how the money is invested and what fees are charged. Some industry super funds may still have a defined benefit option, where any retirement benefit paid is defined by a formula. However, many are now closed to new members.
You need to look at what investment options an industry fund may offer, such as growth, balanced, conservative, a default MySuper and any ethical options. You may want to have the option to select a mix of investment approaches and change them over time as you get closer to retirement and your financial goals and circumstances change.
You also need to look at what fees are charged for particular services and how often they’re charged. Just a small change in superannuation fees can make a big difference to your balance at retirement.
Finally, you need to consider how a particular industry fund has performed over a period of time, often calculated as an average annual return on investment. It’s important to remember though that past performance is no guarantee of future performance.
You can use the comparison table above to compare some of the best industry super fund products from our Online Partners. The table also has filters which you can change to better suit your requirements.
How do I open an industry super account?
You may get a chance to open your first super account when you start your first job. Depending on your employer or employment type you may be eligible to join an industry super fund that’s restricted to certain members.
Since most industry super funds are open to anyone these days, you don’t have to go with an option suggested by your employer. You could choose your preferred industry super fund—if you find one that suits your needs.
If you’re looking to switch to an industry super fund from your current fund, you generally have to complete an online application form with your new fund. During this process you can elect to have your current super fund transfer your balance over into your new fund. Most of the organisational work is done for you by your new fund, who will communicate with your old fund on your behalf.
After you’ve successfully joined your new industry super fund, it’s important to inform your employer of this change. They may ask you to fill out a new superannuation choice form, so they can ensure your superannuation guarantee is going into the correct super fund account.
Frequently Asked Questions about industry super funds
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About the authors
Nina Rinella, Editor-in-Chief

Joshua Sale, GM, Research

Important information
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This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this advice is right for you.