Your Super Mate

UniSuper vs Hostplus

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
Hostplus
Industry fund for hospitality, tourism, sport and recreation.
MetricUniSuperHostplusWinner
10-year net return (MySuper)7.80%8.20%Hostplus
Annual fee at $50,000$346$563UniSuper
Annual fee at $250,000$1,346$2,503UniSuper
MySuper productBalancedBalanced
Asset mix (MySuper)Growth 70 / Defensive 30Growth 76 / Defensive 24
Assets under management$140B+$115B+
Members645k+1.7M+
APRA assessmentPerformingPerforming
Choice options1616

Which is better for you?

Over 10 years, Hostplus has outperformed by roughly 0.40 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 ($217 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

Hostplus is better if

  • Strongest 10-year return among the large industry funds
  • Indexed Balanced option (0.06% + admin) — one of the cheapest in Australia
  • Wide range of Choice options including sector sleeves

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 · Hostplus. 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.