> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.baldmoney.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cheapest 100% Equity & Growth Super Options in Australia (2025) - URL: https://www.baldmoney.com/cheapest-100-equity-growth-super-options-in-australia-2025/ - Published: 2025-11-01T08:02:19.000Z - Updated: 2026-06-13T07:18:32.000Z - Description: Want the lowest fees on your super? I compare the cheapest 100% equity and growth index super options in Australia from Hostplus, AustralianSuper, and Vanguard. - Author: Baron Barnet - Tags: Superannuation, equities, Shares, Investing, Australia, international markets ### If you are hunting for the **cheapest super funds in Australia**, you've probably noticed that index-based super options have started to give the lowest-cost ETFs a serious run for their money. I've done the heavy lifting and compared the heavyweights—**Hostplus**, **AustralianSuper**, **Rest Super**, and **Vanguard Super**—to find out which is the **best growth super option in Australia** based on cost, performance, and asset allocation. --- ## 🔍 Index Super Funds Fees Comparison | 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 --- ## 📊 Super Fund Cost vs Return ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/2b/fc2bd006-f807-4122-b416-35ca98b0ae96/content/images/2025/11/super_cost_vs_return.png) You don’t necessarily need the highest cost to get strong returns. - The cheapest super options in Australia are clustered at the low-cost end, yet deliver solid long-term returns. - Higher cost funds (like Vanguard) deliver competitive returns but with a minor fee penalty. - The standout performer is the **Hostplus International Shares Indexed** option, which has had a absolute ripper few years helped by the US tech giants (the Magnificent Seven). This highlights why international exposure is key for your nest egg. --- ## 📊 Hostplus vs AustralianSuper: Geographic Exposure ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/2b/fc2bd006-f807-4122-b416-35ca98b0ae96/content/images/2025/11/super_fund_allocation.png) - **Hostplus International Shares – Indexed** offers 100% international equity (0% home bias to Australia). - Vanguard Super includes a \~10% allocation to emerging markets. - Rest and AustralianSuper hold a stronger Australian equity component (\~25%) than the pure international options. --- ## 🧩 Key Insights for Australian Super Investors 1. **Hostplus Indexed series** remains the fee leader, with investment fees under \~0.09% to 0.12% p.a. plus the standard admin fee. 2. **AustralianSuper and Rest Indexed** options are very close behind in cost and offer excellent global diversification. 3. **Vanguard Super growth fees** sit around triple the cost (\~0.38%), but add \~10% emerging markets exposure—a valid trade-off for broader index coverage. 4. **Emerging markets exposure**: Only Vanguard openly incorporates a \~10% EM slice into its growth product; the other index options lean heavily on developed markets. 5. **All five options** are passively managed index-based super funds, meaning they regularly rebalance and are perfect for a "set and forget" strategy. --- ## 🪙 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.