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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$457
11%
10.1%
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Super that auto-adjusts investment mix as you get older
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Socially Conscious, Indexed, & other options available
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Choose from 15 investment options
Online rollover
Online application
$406
9.5%
8.1%
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Canstar Outstanding Value Super Award 2022-2025
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Strong long-term performer
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Lower fees means more for your future
Online rollover
Online application

You’ve seen all your search results.

We couldn’t find any other products from our Online Partners, so here are a few from other providers…

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Australian Retirement Trust Lifecycle Investment - High Growth
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Australian Retirement Trust Lifecycle Investment - High Growth
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$487
10.7%
11.5%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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Hostplus Super Personal - Balanced
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Hostplus Super Personal - Balanced
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$667
9.2%
10.1%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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HESTA Balanced Growth
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HESTA Balanced Growth
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$457
9.2%
8.7%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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AustralianSuper Balanced (Accumulation)
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AustralianSuper Balanced (Accumulation)
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$387
9%
8.5%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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Team Super High Growth
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Team Super High Growth
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$356
11%
10.9%
Link Not Supplied
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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Child Care Super Building
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Child Care Super Building
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$393
8.9%
10.3%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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GuildSuper Building
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GuildSuper Building
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$393
8.9%
10.3%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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CareSuper Balanced
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CareSuper Balanced
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$457
8%
7.9%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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NGS Super Diversified (MySuper)
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NGS Super Diversified (MySuper)
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$540
10.3%
7.8%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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Nationwide Super Personal Division - GoalTracker Age Based 50 and below
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Nationwide Super Personal Division - GoalTracker Age Based 50 and below
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$520
10.6%
10.1%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Link Not Supplied
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legalsuper Employer Sponsored - MySuper Balanced
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legalsuper Employer Sponsored - MySuper Balanced
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$607
11.9%
8.7%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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Vision Super Personal - Balanced Growth
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Vision Super Personal - Balanced Growth
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$361
8.9%
8.5%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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Cbus Growth (Cbus MySuper)
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Cbus Growth (Cbus MySuper)
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$412
9%
8.2%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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Media Super Industry - Growth (MySuper)
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Media Super Industry - Growth (MySuper)
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$412
9%
8.2%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
promoted
REI Super Balanced (MySuper)
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REI Super Balanced (MySuper)
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$505
9.6%
8.2%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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Rest Growth
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Rest Growth
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$488
8.9%
8.2%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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First Super Employer Sponsored - Balanced (MySuper)
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First Super Employer Sponsored - Balanced (MySuper)
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$467
8.1%
8%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied
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Brighter Super MySuper
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Brighter Super MySuper
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$376
10.1%
7.9%
Link Not Supplied
Online rollover
Online application
Link Not Supplied

Showing 20 of 31 results

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canstar-rating-icon Canstar Star Rating
indicative-canstar-rating-icon Indicative Canstar Star Rating

Unsure of a term in the above table? View glossary

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.

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Australian Financial Services Licence 227263.
Annual fees at $50k balance
1 year return
5 year return
$280
12.2%
N/A
Get 50 years of global investment expertise working for your super.
Whether you prefer a hands-on or hands-off approach to investing, Vanguard offers a range of options to keep your money working hard for the future.
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Benefit from a low yearly fee of just 0.56%
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Powered by Vanguard’s 50 years of global investment expertise
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Choose a strong performer with a 16.44% annual return (Calendar Year 2024) for members aged 47 and under for our Lifecycle option
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Money Magazine’s Best Value MySuper Product 2 years running, and Mozo Expert’s Choice Low Fee MySuper.
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T&Cs apply
Australian Financial Services Licence 227263. See Terms & Conditions.
Australian Financial Services Licence 227263. See Terms & Conditions.

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

You can compare industry super funds listed on our database and their performance by filtering the table above. You can also filter by Star Rating, member accessibility and whether a super fund provides life insurance. The results can then be sorted by Star Rating, fee and performance (average annual return) over one and five years.

You may also wish to look at APRA’s Annual Superannuation Performance Test, which reports on a number of super funds and whether or not they are performing above a certain standard. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO)’s YourSuper comparison tool may also help you compare different super funds and their net performances over the last 10 years.

You can usually make additional contributions to an industry super fund. The type of contributions which can be added include any:

If you already have an account with an industry super fund and you move to a new employer then you’re usually able to keep that account.

You might want to check with your super provider to see if your account may be regarded as a stapled account (one that may stay with you throughout your career). If that’s the case then your new employer should be able to make any super contributions to your stapled super account.

Choosing insurance through your superannuation fund is a personal decision. You can hold life insurance through your industry super fund or an external policy—or both.

Most industry super funds offer life insurance, Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) and income protection insurance, with life cover and TPD insurance being available automatically to members.

People aged under 25 or those with account balances of $6,000 or less no longer receive default life insurance through their super when joining a new fund, unless they work in a dangerous job or write to their fund and request it.

When considering a life insurance policy, whether through your super or from an external provider, you should read any relevant documentation, such as the PDS and TMD, before making your decision.

Latest in superannuation

Canstar Superannuation Star Ratings and Awards

Looking for an award-winning product or to switch providers or brands? Canstar rates products based on price and features in our Star Ratings and Awards. Our expert Research team shares insights about which products offer 5-Star value and which providers offer outstanding value overall. We also reveal which providers have the most satisfied customers in our dedicated Customer Satisfaction Awards.

Superannuation Star Ratings and Awards

About the authors

Nina Rinella, Editor-in-Chief

Nina Rinella
As Canstar’s Editor-in-Chief, Nina heads up a team of talented journalists committed to helping empower consumers to take greater control of their finances. Nina has written countless articles about finance and has been interviewed on finance topics by media organisations including The Australian, Realestate.com.au, Domain, the Herald Sun and the Sydney Morning Herald. Previously Nina founded her own agency where she provided content and communications support to clients around Australia for 8 years. She also spent four years as the PR Manager for American Express Australia, and has worked at a Brisbane communications agency where she supported dozens of clients, including Sunsuper and Suncorp. When she’s not dreaming up ways to put a fresh spin on finance, she’s taking her own advice by trying to pay her house off as quickly as possible and raising two money-savvy kids. Nina has a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English Literature from the University of Queensland. She’s also an experienced presenter, and has hosted numerous events and YouTube series. You can follow her on LinkedIn and Canstar on Facebook. Meet the Canstar Editorial Team. Have a media enquiry, and interested in featuring Nina as a financial expert and commentator? Contact Canstar’s Media Team today.

Joshua Sale, GM, Research

Joshua Sale
Joshua Sale is responsible for developing the methodology and delivering Canstar’s flagship Star Ratings, as part of Canstar’s Research Team. With tertiary qualifications in economics and finance, he enjoys helping Australians find more suitable financial products by transforming complex calculations into a consumer-friendly Star Rating that explains the values and benefits of different financial products. As one of Canstar’s company spokespeople, Joshua is confident participating in print, radio and broadcast journalism interviews. He has participated in interviews with the Australian Financial Review, news.com.au and Money Magazine, along with other leading media outlets, discussing topics such as home loan equity, banking incentive schemes, digital wallets and wider finance trends. You can follow Joshua on LinkedIn. Have a media enquiry, and interested in featuring Joshua as a financial expert and commentator? Contact Canstar’s Media Team today.

Important information

For those that love the detail

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

Canstar may earn a fee from its Online Partners for referrals from its website tables, and from sponsorship or promotion of certain products. Fees payable by product providers for referrals and sponsorship or promotion may vary between providers, website position, and revenue model. Sponsorship/promotion fees may be higher than referral fees. If a product is sponsored or promoted, it’s an ad and it is clearly marked as such. An ad might appear in different places on our website, such as in comparison tables and articles. Ads may be displayed in a fixed position in a table, regardless of the product's rating, price or other attributes. The location of an ad doesn’t indicate any ranking or rating by Canstar. Payment of fees for ads does not influence our Star Ratings. See How We Get Paid to find out more. Payment of fees for ads does not influence our Star Ratings or Awards.

The Superannuation Star Ratings were awarded in November 2024. The results don’t include every provider in the market and we may not compare all features relevant to you. Current fees and performance information are displayed and may be different to what was rated. You can find a description of the initial sort order below the table. You can use the sort buttons at the top of each column to re-order the display. Learn more about our Superannuation Star Rating Methodology. The rating shown is only one factor to take into account when considering products. Check current product details and investment options with the product issuer. If you are unsure about any terms used in the comparison table please refer to the glossary.

What is a Target Market Determination?

A Target Market Determination (‘TMD’) is a document that explains which people particular financial products may be suitable for (the target market) and sets out any conditions around how financial products can be distributed to consumers.

Why do product issuers provide Target Market Determinations?

From 5 October 2021, TMDs are compulsory for most financial products.

Issuers and distributors of financial products must take reasonable steps that are likely to result in financial products reaching consumers in the target market defined by the product issuer.

We recommend that you consider the TMD before making a purchase decision. Contact the product issuer directly for a copy of the TMD.

Any advice on this page is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this general financial advice is right for your personal circumstances. You may need financial advice from a qualified adviser. Canstar is not providing a recommendation for your individual circumstances. It’s important you check product information directly with the provider. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination (TMD), before making a purchase decision. Contact the product issuer directly for a copy of the TMD. For more information, read our Detailed Disclosure.

Canstar is not providing a recommendation for your individual circumstances. We cannot and do not recommend that any particular product is suitable for you. 

We provide links to our Online Partners. These are brands that may pay Canstar a fee for referring you. Our tables default to display only our Online Partners’ products initially, you can adjust the Online Partner Filter to see all of the products available for comparison on Canstar’s website. We provide these links so that you can click through to the product provider’s website to get more information. The provision of these links does not constitute a recommendation by Canstar.

The age group you selected is used to provide the results in the table, including fee, performance and asset allocation based on the investment profile in the Canstar Superannuation Star Ratings methodology. Consider your own level of risk comfort when you review the asset allocation as your preference may not match the profile shown. Some providers use different age groups for their investment profiles which may result in you being offered or eligible for a different product to what is displayed in the table. See here for more details.

Australian Retirement Trust Super Savings’ allocation of funds for investors aged 55-99 differs from Canstar’s methodology – see details here. The Australian Retirement Trust Super Savings (formerly Sunsuper for Life) product may appear in the table multiple times. While you will not be offered any single investment option, this is to take into account the different combinations of investment options Australian Retirement Trust may apply to your account based on your age. For more detail in relation to the Australian Retirement Trust Super Savings (formerly Sunsuper for Life) product please refer to the PDS issued by Australian Retirement Trust for this product.

Investment profiles applied initially may change over time in line with an investor’s age. See the provider’s Product Disclosure Statement and in particular applicable age groups for more information about how providers determine their investment profiles.

The performance and fee information shown in the table is for the investment option listed in the table above the performance and fee information and used by Canstar in rating the Superannuation product (where the product has a Star Rating). Performance information shown is for the historical periods up to 31/05/2025 and investment options noted in the table information. Performance figures shown reflect net investment performance, i.e. net of investment tax, investment management fees and the applicable administration fees based on an account balance of $50,000. To learn more about performance information, click here. Performance data may not be available for some products. This is indicated in the tables by a note referring the user to the product provider, or by no performance information being shown.

Please note that all information about performance returns is historical. Past performance should not be relied upon as an indicator of future performance; unit prices and the value of your investment may fall as well as rise.