Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Industry fund
Cbus combines a construction-industry focus with public membership, a conventional investment menu and an optional direct investment service.
Anyone can join, subject to product eligibility. Certain Retirement Scheme members cannot use all the same investment features as ordinary accumulation members.
Industry fund
First Super has a compact investment menu and offers super, transition-to-retirement and retirement income accounts. Members can get help with their investment choice without a separate advice charge.
The fund accepts new members through its public joining process. Read the relevant PDS and target market determination before opening an account.
Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.
| Measure | Growth (MySuper) | Balanced - accumulation |
|---|---|---|
| Return basis | MySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member | MySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member |
| 3-year return, per year | 8.92% | 8.35% |
| 5-year return, per year | 6.09% | 6.94% |
| 7-year return, per year | 7.00% | 6.62% |
| 10-year return, per year | 7.82% | 7.25% |
| APRA strategic growth allocation | 76.08% | 79.50% |
| Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000 | $455 a year (0.91%) | $560 a year (1.12%) |
| Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total) | $180 a year | $175 a year |
| 2026 performance test | Pass | Pass |
| New-member status at reporting date | Check the current product eligibility rules | Check the current product eligibility rules |
At $50,000, the reported annual total-cost difference is $105. Cbus's selected reporting pathway has the lower reported cost on this measure. The figures cover the year to June 2026; current prices, insurance and separately charged advice can change the comparison.
The growth allocations are 76.08% and 79.50%. A return gap can reflect different exposure to growth assets, and similar headline allocations can still contain different investments.
A performance-test pass is a benchmark result for the tested product or pathway. It is not an endorsement or a guarantee of future performance.
Source: APRA Comprehensive Product Performance Package 2026, published 28 August 2026. Fees reflect the reporting year to 30 June 2026, are net of tax, use standard arrangements and exclude member-activity fees. Dollar figures are rounded. They are not a current quote. Check the latest PDS for changes, insurance premiums and any separately charged advice.
Returns are annualised historical results. Different return bases, risk levels and periods cannot be treated as interchangeable. MySuper net returns use a $50,000 representative balance even when you change the fee balance. A lifecycle stage return does not track a person moving between stages. Missing figures mean not reported, not zero. Past returns do not predict future returns. Read our method and APRA's definitions.
| What to compare | Cbus | First Super |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | Anyone can join, subject to product eligibility. Certain Retirement Scheme members cannot use all the same investment features as ordinary accumulation members. Sources1 | The fund accepts new members through its public joining process. Read the relevant PDS and target market determination before opening an account. Sources1234 |
| Accounts and products | Cbus Industry Super and Super Income Stream. Retirement Scheme members have separate restrictions. Cbus Industry Super Super Income Stream Cbus Self Managed investment option Retirement Scheme arrangements Sources123456 | Accumulation super, transition-to-retirement account and Retirement Income account. Sources1234 |
| Investment choices | Growth (MySuper) Members can choose pre-mixed and DIY asset-class options, including an Indexed Diversified option. Eligible members can use Cbus Self Managed for selected Australian shares, ETFs, term deposits and managed property and infrastructure investments. Despite its name, Cbus Self Managed is an option inside Cbus, not a separate SMSF. Sources23 | Balanced is the MySuper default. The other options are Conservative Balanced, Growth, Shares Plus and Cash. Members can split their balance across options. Sources1234 |
| Insurance | Cbus offers death and TPD cover tailored to building, construction and allied industries. It describes automatic cover for eligible younger or low-balance members in the manual occupation category, an exception that makes the occupation rules especially important to read. Sources4 | Insurance through super is available. Check the current insurance guide for the cover offered to your membership category and the cost at your age. Sources1234 |
| Retirement income | Super Income Stream provides retirement and transition-to-retirement pathways. The Fully Retired account allows eligible members to receive regular payments and make withdrawals. New members can establish an income stream using money from another super fund. Sources15 | A Retirement Income account allows a choice of investment mix and payment frequency. Pension payments can be fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly, subject to the required annual minimum. Sources1234 |
| Advice and support | Cbus has an advice team, retirement information sessions and member support. Confirm whether the proposed service is general help or personal advice and whether a fee applies. Sources1 | The fund says advice about its investment options is available to members at no extra cost. A wider advice request needs a separate scope and cost check. Sources1234 |
| Fee details to check | Use the fees for the chosen pooled option or Self Managed arrangement, including account administration, investment costs and any trading costs. Insurance needs its own occupation-based comparison. Do not compare only the cash transaction account's interest rate or the price of one ETF. Sources123456 | The current fees page gives a $50,000 Balanced example of $465.80 a year, including administration, investment and transaction costs, before any additional applicable fees. This is an example for that option and balance, not a universal member bill. Sources1234 |
| Comparing investment performance | Cbus crediting rates deduct investment and transaction costs and investment tax, but exclude charges taken directly from member accounts. Its growth/defensive classification splits some property and infrastructure exposures between the two categories, so inspect the underlying allocation when comparing with another fund. Show the claims-handling finding as a dated court outcome, not as an allegation or an investment-performance measure. Compare asset allocation before comparing two funds' published growth-asset percentages. Sources2 | Compare Balanced with portfolios carrying a similar growth allocation, over the same dates. Shares Plus and Cash have different risk profiles and should not be ranked as though they pursue the same outcome. Sources1234 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Cbus is a sensible fund to investigate when insuring manual work is part of the decision. Its direct property and infrastructure choices also distinguish the investment menu. The serious claims-handling failures recorded by ASIC need to sit alongside those features in a fair assessment.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
A useful shortlist candidate for someone who wants to choose among a small number of diversified strategies rather than manage individual securities.
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
Use the membership rules to establish which accounts are available to you. Then compare the total price of the investment option and cover you need. A lower fee or higher historical return alone does not tell you which fund is suitable.
Ask both funds to confirm insurance acceptance, exclusions, waiting periods and whether cover would change when you leave your employer. Obtain advice before giving up a defined benefit or an insurance policy you may not be able to replace. ASIC Moneysmart explains the comparison checks.
Read the full Cbus profile · Read the full First Super profile · Choose another comparison
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.
Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.