Vanguard Super 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.
| Metric | Vanguard Super | Hostplus | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-year net return (MySuper) | 7.50% | 8.20% | Hostplus |
| Annual fee at $50,000 | $350 | $563 | Vanguard Super |
| Annual fee at $250,000 | $1,510 | $2,503 | Vanguard Super |
| MySuper product | Lifecycle | Balanced | |
| Asset mix (MySuper) | Lifecycle — index-tracking | Growth 76 / Defensive 24 | |
| Assets under management | $4B+ | $115B+ | |
| Members | ~45k | 1.7M+ | |
| APRA assessment | Performing | Performing | |
| Choice options | 4 | 16 |
Which is better for you?
Over 10 years, Hostplus has outperformed by roughly 0.70 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 Vanguard Super is cheaper ($213 difference per year). At a $250,000 balance the fee winner is Vanguard Super. The percentage component of fees matters more as balance grows.
Vanguard Super is better if
- Pure indexing approach — lowest strategic cost in the retail space
- Lifecycle default automatically de-risks with age
- Vanguard globally well-regarded for low-cost indexing
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: Vanguard Super · 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.