Cheapest 100 % Equity & Growth Super Options in Australia (2025)
With Australian super fund fees falling rapidly, index-based options from industry funds now rival the lowest-cost ETFs. We’ve compared the main contenders — Hostplus, AustralianSuper, Rest Super, and Vanguard Super — to find which delivers the most international exposure for the lowest all-in cost.
🔍 Comparison Table
| Fund / Option | Strategy | Index Tracked | Intl Equity % | Aust Equity % | Emerging Markets % | Admin Fee (p.a.) | Investment Fee (p.a.) | Total Est. Cost | 5-yr Return (p.a.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostplus Indexed High Growth | ~90-100% shares | Blend of MSCI World ex Aus & ASX 300 | ~70% | ~25% | ~5% | $78 | 0.04% | ~0.09% | ~9.6%* | One of the lowest-cost diversified options in Australia. |
| Hostplus International Shares – Indexed | 100% intl shares | MSCI World ex Australia NR (AUD) | 100% | 0% | small EM tilt | $78 | 0.07% | ~0.12% | ~14.3% | Pure international equity exposure. |
| AustralianSuper Indexed Diversified | ~85% shares | MSCI World ex Aus + ASX 300 | ~60% | ~25% | ~5% | $78 | 0.06% | ~0.11% | ~9.5% | Very similar cost profile to Hostplus Indexed. |
| Rest Indexed Growth | ~85% shares | ASX 300 + MSCI World ex Aus | ~60% | ~25% | ~5% | $78 | 0.08% | ~0.13% | ~9.4% | Low-cost, fewer published multi-year figures. |
| Vanguard Super Growth | ~90% shares | Vanguard Global Index (Dev + EM) | ~70% | ~20% | ~10% | $78 | 0.33% | ~0.38% | ~10.1%† | Broader coverage including emerging markets; higher cost. |
* Uses Hostplus Indexed Balanced as proxy for the newer High Growth series
† Benchmark performance before admin fee
📊 Chart 1: Cost vs Return
- The lowest-cost funds are clustered at left-bottom cost, yet deliver solid returns.
- Higher cost funds (like Vanguard) deliver slightly better returns but with a cost penalty.
- The standout performer is the Hostplus International Shares Indexed which has had a ripper few years helped by the Magnificent Seven. Which just shows why you should invest outside Australia
📊 Chart 2: Geographic / Diversification Exposure
- Hostplus International Shares – Indexed offers 100% international equity (0% Australian).
- Vanguard includes ~10% emerging markets exposure.
- Rest and AustralianSuper have a stronger Australian equity component (~25%) than the pure international options.
🧩 Key Insights
- Hostplus Indexed series remain the fee leaders: total annual costs under ~0.10% to 0.12% plus the $78 admin fee.
- AustralianSuper and Rest Indexed options are very close behind in cost and offer broad diversification.
- Vanguard Super Growth costs around triple (~0.38%) yet offers ~10% emerging markets exposure — a valid trade-off for broader diversification.
- Emerging markets exposure: only Vanguard openly includes ~10% EM in the mix; others rely heavily on developed markets.
- All five funds are passively managed / index-based (for the options listed) and regularly rebalance – making them suitable for “set and forget” growth-oriented portfolios.
🪙 Best-Value Picks
| Goal | Recommended Option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest total cost | Hostplus Indexed High Growth | 0.04% investment fee + $78 admin; simple index mix. |
| Pure international equities | Hostplus International Shares – Indexed | Tracks MSCI World ex Australia NR at 0.07%. |
| Broader diversification including emerging markets | Vanguard Super Growth | Slightly higher cost, but adds ~10% emerging markets. |
| Balanced high-growth with low cost | AustralianSuper Indexed Diversified | Cheap, large scale, highly rated. |
⚖️ Final Takeaway
If your goal is to maximise long-term returns through low fees, Hostplus’s indexed range currently delivers the best value in the Australian super market.
For those seeking global diversification including emerging markets, Vanguard Super presents a solid premium option.
Meanwhile, AustralianSuper and Rest provide very competitive alternatives with slightly higher cost but large scale and strong governance.
References
- Hostplus investment performance to 30 June 2025.
- AustralianSuper Balanced returns to 30 June 2025.
- SuperGuide sector return summaries (emerging vs developed).
- Fund fee and cost disclosures from Hostplus, AustralianSuper and Vanguard Super PDS/Dashboards.
