Your Super Mate

UniSuper vs Aware Super

Side-by-side comparison of the two funds on the numbers that actually matter: long-term net return, fees at your balance, asset mix, and insurance defaults.

Industry
UniSuper
Industry fund originally for higher education and research.
Industry
Aware Super
Public-sector-origin fund, now open to all Australians.
MetricUniSuperAware SuperWinner
10-year net return (MySuper)7.80%8.10%Aware Super
Annual fee at $50,000$346$547UniSuper
Annual fee at $250,000$1,346$2,527UniSuper
MySuper productBalancedHigh Growth (MySuper)
Asset mix (MySuper)Growth 70 / Defensive 30Growth 88 / Defensive 12
Assets under management$140B+$170B+
Members645k+1.1M+
APRA assessmentPerformingPerforming
Choice options1612

Which is better for you?

Over 10 years, Aware Super has outperformed by roughly 0.30 percentage points per year. On a $250,000 balance held for 20 years at the average return, a 1 p.p. return gap compounds to roughly $90,000 — so even small return differences add up.

On fees, at a $50,000 balance UniSuper is cheaper ($201 difference per year). At a $250,000 balance the fee winner is UniSuper. The percentage component of fees matters more as balance grows.

UniSuper is better if

  • Very low % fee on Balanced (0.50%)
  • Strong long-run returns
  • Open to the public since 2021 — no longer restricted to universities

Aware Super is better if

  • High Growth default is better aligned to long-horizon accumulators
  • Low admin fee
  • Well-regarded direct-property and infrastructure allocations

Things neither fund fixes

  • Performance test results change yearly — check the APRA heatmap before you decide
  • Default insurance may not match your actual cover needs
  • Switching funds cancels your existing insurance — check health status first

Full fund reviews

Read the complete reviews: UniSuper · Aware Super. Or use the compare-funds tool to add any pair and your own balance.

General information only — not financial advice. Super decisions are long-term; verify with a licensed adviser.