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Cruelty Free Super vs Media Super

Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.

By SuperGuru Group · Research checked 11 September 2026 · Historical APRA figures to 30 June 2026

Cruelty Free Super

Retail fund brand

Cruelty Free Super gives animal-welfare concerns a central role in its ethical approach. It replaced its single Growth option with three choices in 2024.

Membership

Public membership is available under the current product documents.

Media Super

Industry fund brand

Media Super remains the super brand for print, media, entertainment, arts and other creative industries within Cbus.

Membership

The brand serves its creative-industry community and eligible members under its current products.

Compare fees and investment returns

Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.

Choose an investment option to see the figures

The costs and returns belong to the selected product, option or lifecycle stage.

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.

How the products differ

Cruelty Free Super and Media Super: product features and conditions
What to compareCruelty Free SuperMedia Super
Membership and access

Public membership is available under the current product documents.

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The brand serves its creative-industry community and eligible members under its current products.

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Accounts and products

Cruelty Free Super accumulation.

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Media Super branded super and retirement products issued within Cbus.

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Investment choices

The current choices are Cruelty Free Australian Shares, Cruelty Free International Shares and Cash. Members select their own mix; these are not three diversified balanced portfolios.

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Use the current Media Super investment menu. Historic Media Super options are not independent portfolios that remain available alongside Cbus after the merger.

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Insurance

AIA provides insurance. The FAQ says a transfer of existing insurance generally needs to be completed within 30 days of leaving the other fund.

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Insurance terms are product-specific. Creative workers with contract, freelance or irregular work should read the income and employment definitions in their own guide.

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Retirement income

The reviewed FAQ explains retirement withdrawals but does not establish a dedicated pension product. Check the income-stream pathway before retirement.

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Check the current Media Super retirement product documents and default strategy. Compare retirement returns with retirement returns.

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Advice and support

Member services provide product support; personal advice needs a qualified adviser.

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The current site provides advice resources and member assistance. A personal plan needs an explicit scope and fee check.

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Fee details to check

Use the current PDS and reference guide for the chosen option, including administration, investment and insurance costs.

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Use the post-merger Media Super schedule. Its published merger explanation describes investment fee savings but does not mean every historical fee applies today.

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Comparing investment performance

Read option inception and change dates; the pre-2024 single-option record is not the same record as every current option.

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Read the pre- and post-merger history note before comparing a long-run Media Super return. Show when an investment strategy changed.

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THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Cruelty Free Super

Editorial assessment

A candidate for people whose animal-welfare requirements are not met by a mainstream fund's screening policy.

What deserves a closer look

  • Ethical screens apply to the share options, not the Cash option. A shares-only allocation has different risk from a diversified balanced fund.
  • Confirm insurance-transfer acceptance before closing existing cover.

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Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.

THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Media Super

Editorial assessment

A useful comparison for people in creative industries who value that industry connection and want to check the actual insurance and investment terms.

What deserves a closer look

  • Media Super and Cbus share a legal fund, so do not portray their comparison as two independent trustees.
  • Do not carry a pre-April 2022 option or fee into a current comparison.

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Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.

Before choosing between Cruelty Free Super and Media Super

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 Cruelty Free Super profile · Read the full Media Super profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for Cruelty Free Super

Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.

  1. Current product and trustee
  2. FAQs and insurance
  3. Current investment choices and screening scope

Sources for Media Super

Checked 2026-09-11. Documents and product terms can change after this date.

  1. Media Super
  2. Investment changes after merger
  3. Cbus merger and brand background
  4. Annual reports