Super funds with the lowest fees (June 2026 update)

Super fund fees are unavoidable, but how much you pay varies enormously. Fees differ by fund, investment option and the size of your balance. Even small differences can lead to greatly reduced retirement outcomes due to compounding.

Since the Banking Royal Commission and the Productivity Commission (PC) review of super, fees charged by super funds have been under scrutiny. The PC concluded that fees are “the biggest drain on net returns”, which is true even when percentage differences look small.

The PC estimated that an increase of just 0.5% a year in fees would reduce the retirement balance of a typical worker by a projected 12% – or around $100,000. That’s why it’s worth understanding where your fund ranks on fees.

Fees aren’t easy to compare

The PC also found that close to 60% of members don’t understand the fees and charges they’re paying, and unfortunately comparing super fund fees isn’t straightforward.

The fees charged by your fund are either a fixed dollar amount or based on a percentage of your balance, earnings or both, and are deducted from your super balance. Fees vary based on your account balance and the investment option you choose (such as Growth, Balanced or Conservative).