Best Performing Super Funds on Canstar Database Background

Best-performing super funds

What are the best-performing super funds in Australia? While past performance does not reliably predict future performance, it can be worth considering what a provider has been able to deliver in the past. Below is a list of the super funds whose investment options on Canstar’s database have delivered the highest investment returns for the age range and balance shown. The results are sorted by highest five-year performance, then highest Star Rating, then alphabetically by provider name.

Ratings Manager
Senior Finance Journalist
Fact checked

Instantly compare 60+ Canstar expert rated funds based on the inputs below


Sort results Sort By
down-arrow
  • Star Rating - lowest first
  • Star Rating - highest first
  • Annual fees at $50k balance - lowest first
  • Annual fees at $50k balance - highest first
  • 1 year return - lowest first
  • 1 year return - highest first
  • 5 year return - lowest first
  • 5 year return - highest first
Catholic Super | Employer Sponsored - Growth Plus
Catholic Super logo

Not rated

$487 Glossary
12.7% Glossary
Growth Plus Glossary
9.3% Glossary
Growth Plus Glossary
Mine Super | High Growth
Mine Super logo
star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon
$392 Glossary
13.5% Glossary
High Growth Glossary
9.1% Glossary
High Growth Glossary
star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon
$497 Glossary
12% Glossary
High Growth (Lifecycle investment) Glossary
9% Glossary
High Growth (Lifecycle investment) Glossary
Virgin Money | LifeStage Tracker 1994 to 1998
Virgin Money logo
star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon
$348 Glossary
14.2% Glossary
1994 to 1998 Glossary
9% Glossary
1994 to 1998 Glossary
Virgin Money | LifeStage Tracker 1999 to 2003
Virgin Money logo
star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon
$348 Glossary
13.9% Glossary
1999 to 2003 Glossary
8.9% Glossary
1999 to 2003 Glossary
Child Care Super | Building
Child Care Super logo
star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon
$435 Glossary
14.5% Glossary
Lifestage - Building Glossary
8.8% Glossary
Lifestage - Building Glossary
GuildSuper | Building
GuildSuper logo
star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon
$429 Glossary
14.5% Glossary
Building Glossary
8.8% Glossary
Building Glossary
Active Super | Lifestage - Accelerator
Active Super logo
star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon star-rating-icon
$601 Glossary
10.3% Glossary
Lifestage - Accelerator Glossary
8.5% Glossary
Lifestage - Accelerator Glossary
Child Care Super | Growing
Child Care Super logo

Not rated

$500 Glossary
12.1% Glossary
Lifestage - Growing Glossary
8.5% Glossary
Lifestage - Growing Glossary
GuildSuper | Growing
GuildSuper logo

Not rated

$459 Glossary
12.1% Glossary
Growing Glossary
8.5% Glossary
Growing Glossary

Showing 10 of 50 results

check Included
cross Not included
circle Optional
na Not applicable
dash Data not captured
canstar-rating-icon Canstar rating
indicative-canstar-rating-icon Indicative Canstar 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, see top of table for details.

What is superannuation?

Superannuation is the portion of your earnings and savings that is placed in a fund and typically held there for you to use after you retire. The objective of superannuation is to provide income in retirement that substitutes or supplements the Australian Age Pension.

The money that is held for you within a superannuation fund is usually invested in a range of assets, including shares and property. Most superannuation funds let their customers choose how their superannuation balance is invested. The income earned by your superannuation investments is taxed concessionally, according to the Australian Taxation Office.

Given that superannuation will typically represent the bulk of retirement savings for many Australians, choosing a superannuation fund should ideally be a well-researched strategic decision.

Past performance can give an indication of what a fund has been able to deliver historically, but it’s important to bear in mind that it doesn’t mean a fund will necessarily be able to repeat that performance in the future.

There are also other factors to consider when deciding on a fund, such as whether the fees charged, insurance and services such as the education and advice on offer from the fund meet your requirements.

Why is performance important for super funds?

Superannuation is all about setting you up for the future and providing you with a large enough nest egg so that you can retire in comfort.

So it’s important that while you’re still working, your super is working for you. The investment return that your super makes (its performance) is a key factor in this.

A small difference in average super performance, even as little as 1% a year, can really add up over time. Here is a hypothetical example:

The difference 1% in investment returns can make on superannuation balance

Scroll sideways to view full table

Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3
Starting age 30 30 30
Retirement age 67 67 67
Starting gross
annual income
$77,948 $77,948 $77,948
Starting balance $30,777 $30,777 $30,777
Annual
investment returns
6% 7% 8%
Annual fees
(% of balance)
1.13% 1.13% 1.13%
Starting annual
insurance premium
$287 $287 $287
Account balance
at retirement
$368,464 $451,894 $559,364
Difference to
Scenario 1
retirement balance
$83,430 $190,900

Source: www.canstar.com.au. Prepared on 3/02/2022. Scenario begins at the start of the 2021-22 financial year and is based on a 30 year old with a starting balance of $30,777 (per APRA Annual Superannuation Bulletin), starting gross annual income of $77,948 (per ABS Characteristics of Employment – median employee earnings), and retiring at age 67. SG Contribution amounts per Government announced rates are assumed to be paid into superannuation fund quarterly. Employer contributions are assumed to be taxed at 15%. Average fee based on a balance of $80,000 for balanced options on Canstar’s database. Average life and TPD insurance premium of $287.48, is assumed charged at the end of each year based on products available for a 35 year old on Canstar’s database. Annual income and insurance premiums are assumed to increase with inflation each year. Inflation is assumed to be 2.5%p.a. due to the rising cost of living (CPI Inflation) plus a further 1.5%p.a. due to the rising community living standards. End balance at retirement and total salary sacrifice amounts are shown in “today’s dollars”, i.e. they have been adjusted for inflation. Please note all information on income and superannuation performance returns are used for illustration purposes only. Actual returns and the value of your investment may fall as well as rise from year to year; this example does not take such variation into account. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

A difference of just 1% in performance can mean a person who retires at 67 could have an extra $83,430 in their super fund, compared to someone in a lesser performing fund, according to Canstar Research. As you can see, a small difference in performance could cost you tens of thousands of dollars by the time you retire, all other factors being equal.

Canstar can help you compare available super funds, and their performance, so you can see which one might suit you.

Canstar Star Ratings and Awards 

ellipsis

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 super products offer 5-Star value and which super funds offer outstanding value. We also reveal which providers have the most satisfied customers in our dedicated Customer Satisfaction Awards.

Best Performing Super Funds Frequently Asked Questions

What is superannuation?

Superannuation is the portion of your earnings and savings that is placed in a fund and typically held there for you to use after you retire. The objective of superannuation is to provide income in retirement that substitutes or supplements the Australian Age Pension.

Why is performance important for super funds?

Superannuation is all about setting you up for the future and providing you with a large enough nest egg so that you can retire in comfort. So it’s important that while you’re still working, your super is working for you. The investment return that your super makes (its performance) is a key factor in this.

Latest in superannuation

About our finance experts

Michael Lund, Senior Finance Journalist

Michael LundMichael specialises in writing on superannuation, savings, wealth and life insurance. He is an award-winning journalist with more than three decades of experience reporting on a range of subjects, including general news, lifestyle, local government, science and technology. He started in the UK working for a number of local and evening newspapers, including as a local government reporter. He then moved to the BBC and worked in radio before taking up the position of bi-media local government correspondent for the West of England, based in Bristol. In 1998 Michael moved to Australia and worked for Queensland’s The Sunday Mail before joining the ABC in Brisbane. There, he worked as a reporter and producer in a number of areas in radio and television, including for ABC TV’s popular Australian Story. After a stint as a tutor and lecturer in journalism at Queensland University of Technology, Michael returned to News Corp as a feature writer for The Courier-Mail. An interest in online journalism saw Michael join The Conversation first as a science and technology editor; and later as a commissioning editor, working across all areas of coverage including with The Conversation’s New Zealand team. Michael has been lucky enough to win a few awards for his work, including a Queensland Media Award and a highly commended in the Walkleys. In 2021 he was part of a team that was a finalist in the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Science Journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and applied physics (Manchester Metropolitan University) and a Masters of Science in pure mathematics (Liverpool University). You can connect with Michael on LinkedIn. View Michael’s articles.


Josh Sale, Ratings Manager

Headshot of Josh Sale, Canstar

As Canstar’s Ratings Manager, Josh Sale is responsible for the methodology and delivery of Canstar’s Superannuation Star Ratings and Awards. With tertiary qualifications in economics and finance, Josh has worked behind the scenes for the last five years to develop Star Ratings and Awards that help connect consumers with the right super fund for them.

Josh believes that for many Australians, superannuation is arguably the most important financial product they will ever have, as the fees you’re paying and your fund’s performance could be the difference between a comfortable retirement and struggling to pay the bills.

When it comes to his own super, the phrase ‘set and forget’ is not in Josh’s vocabulary. Not only does he check his super balance monthly, he maintains spreadsheets with projections to ensure he’s on track for retirement. He is passionate about helping others to actively monitor their super and make sure they are on track for the best retirement possible.

As one of Canstar’s spokespeople, Josh has been interviewed on a wide range of personal finance topics by media outlets such as the Australian Financial Review, news.com.au and Money Magazine.

You can follow Josh on LinkedIn, and Canstar on Twitter and Facebook.


Thanks for visiting Canstar, Australia’s biggest financial comparison site*

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.

The Superannuation Star Ratings were awarded in March 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.

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 used by Canstar in rating of the superannuation product. Performance information shown is for the historical periods up to 31/01/2024 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.