Compare what each fund offers, then choose investment options to put their published costs and returns side by side.
Industry fund
HESTA is open to everyone, with roots in health and community services. Its default insurance design is a particularly useful point of difference to investigate.
Anyone can join subject to product eligibility. Check whether the relevant product is HESTA Super, Personal Super or an employer-specific arrangement.
Industry fund
legalsuper is aimed at the legal profession and gives members both managed investment options and a direct investment facility.
Check current employer-sponsored and personal membership terms. The account category matters when comparing fees and insurance.
Choose the actual investment pathway for each account. For lifecycle products, select the named stage relevant to you. No stage is selected automatically.
| Measure | HESTA MySuper | MySuper |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 9.26% | 10.11% |
| 5-year return, per year | 6.91% | 7.32% |
| 7-year return, per year | 7.47% | 7.53% |
| 10-year return, per year | 8.03% | 7.90% |
| APRA strategic growth allocation | 74.25% | 77.72% |
| Reported total fees, net of tax, at $50,000 | $405 a year (0.81%) | $470 a year (0.94%) |
| Administration and advice costs, net of tax (included in total) | $145 a year | $190 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 $65. HESTA'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 74.25% and 77.72%. 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 | HESTA | legalsuper |
|---|---|---|
| Membership and access | Anyone can join subject to product eligibility. Check whether the relevant product is HESTA Super, Personal Super or an employer-specific arrangement. Sources15 | Check current employer-sponsored and personal membership terms. The account category matters when comparing fees and insurance. Sources1234 |
| Accounts and products | HESTA Super and Personal Super; Corporate insurance arrangements need their own guide. HESTA Super HESTA Personal Super Retirement Income Stream Transition to Retirement Income Stream Sources7 | Superannuation, pension and transition-to-retirement pension. Sources1234 |
| Investment choices | Balanced Growth Balanced Growth is the MySuper default. Members can choose other ready-made or asset-class options. The menu includes Sustainable Growth and Indexed Balanced Growth; the Income Stream has its own investment range and disclosure document. Sources23 | Members can choose managed options. Eligible accounts can also use the Direct Investment Option for ASX300 shares, selected ETFs, listed investment companies and term deposits. Sources1234 |
| Insurance | Eligible members receive default death and income protection cover; TPD cover is optional. HESTA also describes an insurance-premium pause for up to 12 months of approved parental leave, subject to conditions. Personal Super members need to check how cover is selected when joining. Sources45 | The fund has insurance options for its membership. Compare the actual policy and occupation category, rather than treating a legal-industry label or award as proof of value. Sources1234 |
| Retirement income | HESTA offers Retirement and Transition to Retirement Income Streams. The fund publishes a separate pension investment menu, so check the income-stream allocation and costs rather than assuming they are identical to the super option with a similar name. Sources3 | Pension members have a managed menu and can access direct investment subject to its rules. Transition-to-retirement pension members cannot use the Direct Investment Option. Sources1234 |
| Advice and support | Most advice about a HESTA account is covered by administration fees. Advice tailored to starting an Income Stream has a separate fee, and comprehensive advice can be provided through an external referral on an agreed fee-for-service basis. Sources6 | The fund provides member information and support. Personal financial advice should have a clear scope and agreed fee; only eligible super-related advice fees may be paid from the account. Sources1234 |
| Fee details to check | Add administration, investment and transaction costs for the selected option and the insurance you actually hold. HESTA's current fee page uses costs for the year ended 30 June 2026, including estimates, and warns that future costs can differ. Sources6 | Direct investing adds its own administration and other costs to the ordinary product schedule. Include these when comparing it with a pooled option or another direct-share facility. Sources1234 |
| Comparing investment performance | Use HESTA Super returns for a super comparison and Income Stream returns for a retirement comparison. Match Balanced Growth's asset mix with the competing option rather than using the word Balanced alone. Sustainable and indexed strategies need their own results. List HESTA's default insurance types explicitly. Treat Sustainable Growth as a specific investment option, not a description of every HESTA investment. Sources7 | A member who holds direct securities has a personal portfolio return. It is not meaningful to assign the MySuper return to that portfolio. Sources1234 |
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
HESTA merits a closer look for someone whose working life includes caring roles, part-time work or parental leave. Its default income protection and optional TPD structure makes a generic insurance tick-box misleading. Read the benefit definitions and waiting periods, and compare the cover you need rather than simply counting how many insurance types a fund advertises.
Sources4
Based on the cited product features. These are general reasons to investigate the fund, not a personal recommendation. Supporting sources.
THE SUPERGURU VIEW
Worth examining for legal professionals or eligible members who want more investment control and will use the direct menu.
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 HESTA profile · Read the full legalsuper 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.