Cheapest 100% Equity & Growth Super Options in Australia (2025)
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.
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
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
- 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
- Hostplus Indexed series remains the fee leader, with investment fees under ~0.09% to 0.12% p.a. plus the standard admin fee.
- AustralianSuper and Rest Indexed options are very close behind in cost and offer excellent global diversification.
- 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.
- Emerging markets exposure: Only Vanguard openly incorporates a ~10% EM slice into its growth product; the other index options lean heavily on developed markets.
- All five options are passively managed index-based super funds, meaning they regularly rebalance and are perfect for a “set and forget” strategy.
🪙 Lowest-Cost Option by Goal
| Goal | Lowest-cost 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.
