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Freedom of Choice Super vs Hostplus

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

Freedom of Choice Super

Retail fund brand

Freedom of Choice is an Acclaim-administered super and pension product with managed funds, listed investments and term deposits.

Membership

The current disclosure library provides separate application forms for personal super and pension.

Hostplus

Industry fund

Hostplus has a broad menu spanning active diversified portfolios, indexed options, socially responsible options and Choiceplus direct investments.

Membership

Membership is generally available to people who meet Australian residence, tax residence or eligible-employment conditions. Product and insurance eligibility still apply.

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.

APRA product data to 30 June 2026
MeasureChoose an investment optionHostplus MySuper
Return basisChoose an optionMySuper net return after administration costs, $50,000 representative member
3-year return, per yearChoose an option9.48%
5-year return, per yearChoose an option7.46%
7-year return, per yearChoose an option7.89%
10-year return, per yearChoose an option8.70%
APRA strategic growth allocationChoose an option80.35%
Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000Choose an option$655 a year (1.31%)
Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total)Choose an option$120 a year
2026 performance testChoose an optionPass
New-member status at reporting dateCheck the current product eligibility rulesCheck the current product eligibility rules

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

Freedom of Choice Super and Hostplus: product features and conditions
What to compareFreedom of Choice SuperHostplus
Membership and access

The current disclosure library provides separate application forms for personal super and pension.

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Membership is generally available to people who meet Australian residence, tax residence or eligible-employment conditions. Product and insurance eligibility still apply.

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Accounts and products

Freedom of Choice Personal Super and Pension.

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Hostplus super, Pension and Transition to Retirement products.

Hostplus super

Hostplus Pension

Hostplus Transition to Retirement

Choiceplus direct investment option

CPIplus pension investment option

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Investment choices

The menu includes more than 150 managed funds, approved ASX300 shares and ETFs, term deposits and a cash account.

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Balanced

The menu includes diversified active and indexed options, sector investments and socially responsible options. Choiceplus allows eligible members to buy selected ASX 300 shares, ETFs, listed investment companies and term deposits. The low investment cost of an indexed option should not be confused with the price of the default Balanced option.

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Insurance

An insurance guide and occupation-rating forms set out the available cover. Do not assume the terms match Acclaim Core or an employer arrangement.

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Eligible members can receive default death and TPD insurance. Hostplus tells members to check their current cover and cost in the account and review whether the amount meets their needs. Premiums reduce the balance left for retirement.

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Retirement income

A personal pension account is available with separate application and product terms.

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Hostplus has Pension and Transition to Retirement accounts. Pension members can use Choiceplus and CPIplus, but those two options are not available in the TTR account. CPIplus aims for a predetermined return above inflation for a stated return period; its terms need separate reading.

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Advice and support

Adviser nomination and advice-fee consent forms are part of the service. Confirm who will make investment decisions and what they will charge.

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Hostplus offers access to financial planners and identifies separate advice costs and eligibility conditions for services such as SuperSmart. Ask what is covered in the membership fee and what requires an additional payment.

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Fee details to check

Use Freedom of Choice's own reference guide and July 2026 updates. Platform, investments, transactions, cash and advice can all contribute to the cost.

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Hostplus publishes a cost-of-product figure for each option. Use that full figure and its assumptions, then account for insurance and direct-investment costs. Its investment costs are estimates based on prior experience; a very low indexed investment fee is not the total account charge.

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Comparing investment performance

Evaluate the selected managed funds or the member's complete portfolio; another AMG Super product's return is not a substitute.

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Compare the exact portfolio and asset allocation. Hostplus's pension option pages publish returns net of investment fees and costs, with administration and other fees still applying. A pension return should not be placed next to a taxed accumulation return without explanation.

Show Balanced and Indexed Balanced as separate options.

Avoid ranking the whole fund using the cheapest investment option's fee.

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THE SUPERGURU VIEW

Our take on Freedom of Choice Super

Editorial assessment

May suit a member working with an adviser who needs this menu and has compared its total cost with alternatives.

What deserves a closer look

  • The legal fund is shared with other brands, which does not make their fees interchangeable.
  • A long investment list requires deliberate diversification.

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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 Hostplus

Editorial assessment

Hostplus is particularly useful when the question is how much investment choice you want. Its indexed range gives cost-conscious members something concrete to compare, while Choiceplus serves a more involved investor. Check the default separately; the existence of a low-cost option does not mean you are invested in it.

Who might put it on their shortlist

  • People building a shortlist of indexed super portfolios.
  • Members who want direct listed investments without establishing an SMSF.
  • Retirees comparing ordinary diversified investments with a separately structured inflation-linked option.

What deserves a closer look

  • Choiceplus adds trading decisions, restrictions and costs.
  • Options with similar names can have different growth-asset weights.
  • CPIplus is an investment option with its own provider and product risks; its return target should not be presented as a government-guaranteed deposit rate.
  • Choiceplus and CPIplus are unavailable in the TTR product.

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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 Freedom of Choice Super and Hostplus

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 Freedom of Choice Super profile · Read the full Hostplus profile · Choose another comparison

Sources for Freedom of Choice Super

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

  1. Freedom of Choice product history
  2. Investment menu
  3. Product documents
  4. Product ABNs and identifiers

Sources for Hostplus

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

  1. Investment holdings and current menu
  2. Pension investment options
  3. Super fees and charges
  4. Manage insurance and advice access
  5. CPIplus
  6. Hostplus core PDS membership eligibility
  7. Hostplus products, fees and performance