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Cruelty Free Super vs PSS

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.

PSS

Closed public sector scheme

PSS is a closed defined benefit scheme for eligible Australian Government employees.

Membership

Existing contributors and preserved members retain scheme-specific rights. Limited re-entry rules can apply when returning to eligible employment.

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 PSS: product features and conditions
What to compareCruelty Free SuperPSS
Membership and access

Public membership is available under the current product documents.

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Existing contributors and preserved members retain scheme-specific rights. Limited re-entry rules can apply when returning to eligible employment.

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Accounts and products

Cruelty Free Super accumulation.

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Public Sector Superannuation Scheme. This is different from PSSap.

PSS defined benefit

Preserved benefit

Eligible PSSap ancillary account

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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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Contributors use the default fund. Preserved members can choose Default or Cash for funded amounts.

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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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Contributing members receive built-in death and invalidity cover, subject to scheme conditions.

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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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Eligible benefits may be paid as an indexed pension, a lump sum or a combination.

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Advice and support

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

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This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents.

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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This detail has not been verified for this profile. Check the current product documents.

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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Do not rank the defined benefit using accumulation investment returns.

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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 PSS

Editorial assessment

Contribution choices and retirement timing can matter more here than a published investment return. A benefit estimate tied to your employment history is the useful starting point.

Who this profile is for

  • Existing PSS members considering contributions, preservation or retirement.

What deserves a closer look

  • PSS and PSSap should never be combined into one comparison entry.
  • Opting out has scheme-specific consequences and does not necessarily release preserved benefits.

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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 PSS

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 PSS 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 PSS

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

  1. CSC PSS overview
  2. CSC membership eligibility