Best Secure Super Funds in Australia 2026
Performance to 30 September 2026
Team Super Secure had the highest five-year return in this comparison, at 3.39% p.a. to 30 September 2026. Hostplus Indexed Defensive led over three years at 6.04% p.a. Australian Ethical’s employer and personal Defensive options shared first place over one year at 3.89%.
We use Lonsec’s Growth Ratio (%) to compare multi-asset super options with 0% to 19% in growth assets. Many cash and bond options also fall in this range. We exclude those specialist options, which leaves a smaller comparison than in the other categories.
The rankings show past returns for the options included in our comparison. They don’t tell you which fund is best for your circumstances. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Secure super options ranked over five years
All eight eligible options with five-year returns are shown, ranked from highest to lowest. Three- and five-year figures are annualised. The last column shows Lonsec’s calculated fee on a $50,000 balance.*
| # | Super fund and option | Growth assets (%) | 1-year return (%) | 3-year return (% p.a.) |
5-year return (% p.a.) |
Fees on $50,000* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Super Secure |
10% | 3.61% | 4.75% | 3.39% | $204.00 |
| 2 | ESSSuper Accum Defensive |
13.55% | 3.78% | 4.81% | 3.02% | $272.00 |
| 3 | Australian Ethical Super Employer Defensive |
10% | 3.89% | 3.98% | 2.98% | $323.00 |
| 3 | Australian Ethical Super Personal Defensive |
10% | 3.89% | 3.98% | 2.98% | $323.00 |
| 5 | IOOF Personal Super Core - MLC MultiActive Capital Stable |
14.5% | 2.66% | 5.04% | 2.84% | $503.00 |
| 6 | Brighter Super Secure |
13.25% | 1.52% | 3.90% | 2.35% | $336.00 |
| 7 | CFS FirstChoice Wholesale Personal CFS Defensive |
10% | 2.14% | 4.84% | 2.21% | $460.00 |
| 8 | smartMonday PRIME - Defensive |
19% | 1.10% | 4.61% | 1.90% | $420.60 |
Returns are after fees associated with the investment option. Fund-level fees, such as fixed administration fees, have not been deducted. The returns therefore do not reflect all fees you may pay as a member.
*Fees are taken directly from Lonsec’s calculated-fee figures. We haven’t added the separately listed buy/sell spreads. The fee section below explains how to read these amounts. CFS stands for Colonial First State.
Top 10 secure super options over one year
Ten of the 11 eligible options appear below, ranked by return for the year ending 30 September 2026.
| # | Super fund and investment option | Growth assets (%) | 1-year return (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australian Ethical Super Employer Defensive |
10% | 3.89% |
| 1 | Australian Ethical Super Personal Defensive |
10% | 3.89% |
| 3 | ESSSuper Accum Defensive |
13.55% | 3.78% |
| 4 | Team Super Secure |
10% | 3.61% |
| 5 | Hostplus Defensive |
18.5% | 3.14% |
| 6 | Hostplus Indexed Defensive |
19% | 3.07% |
| 7 | IOOF Personal Super Core - MLC MultiActive Capital Stable |
14.5% | 2.66% |
| 8 | Hostplus Socially Responsible Investment - Defensive |
18.5% | 2.64% |
| 9 | CFS FirstChoice Wholesale Personal CFS Defensive |
10% | 2.14% |
| 10 | Brighter Super Secure |
13.25% | 1.52% |
Australian Ethical’s employer and personal Defensive options are separate entries in the Lonsec data. Each returned 3.89%, so they share first place. ESSSuper Defensive follows in third place at 3.78%.
What the one-year results show
The two Australian Ethical options each have a reported 10% growth allocation. Lonsec lists 90% in cash and 10% in alternatives. Team Super Secure also has a 10% growth ratio, but its mix is 90% cash and 10% Australian shares. It returned 3.61% over the year.
The growth ratio helps classify these options, but it does not tell you which assets drive their returns. That distinction matters when comparing Secure options with different amounts in shares, bonds and cash.
Before making a decision based on the one-year results, check how the option compares over longer periods and what it invests in.
Top 10 secure super options over three years
The ten highest returns over the three years ending 30 September 2026. Figures are annualised, meaning they show the compound return per year rather than the total gain over three years.
| # | Super fund and investment option | Growth assets (%) | 3-year return (% p.a.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hostplus Indexed Defensive |
19% | 6.04% |
| 2 | Hostplus Defensive |
18.5% | 5.23% |
| 3 | IOOF Personal Super Core - MLC MultiActive Capital Stable |
14.5% | 5.04% |
| 4 | Hostplus Socially Responsible Investment - Defensive |
18.5% | 4.90% |
| 5 | CFS FirstChoice Wholesale Personal CFS Defensive |
10% | 4.84% |
| 6 | ESSSuper Accum Defensive |
13.55% | 4.81% |
| 7 | Team Super Secure |
10% | 4.75% |
| 8 | smartMonday PRIME - Defensive |
19% | 4.61% |
| 9 | Australian Ethical Super Employer Defensive |
10% | 3.98% |
| 9 | Australian Ethical Super Personal Defensive |
10% | 3.98% |
How the three-year leaders compare over five years
Hostplus Indexed Defensive returned 6.04% p.a. over three years, ahead of Hostplus Defensive at 5.23% p.a. and IOOF’s MLC MultiActive Capital Stable at 5.04% p.a. The three Hostplus options in the table have no five-year figure in the supplied data.
Team Super Secure ranked seventh over three years at 4.75% p.a., yet led the five-year table at 3.39% p.a. The five-year comparison has fewer entries and covers a different period. Both differences matter when reading the rankings.
How we rank secure super funds
Each entry is an investment option within a super fund. A fund may offer several options that qualify, so you may see its name more than once.
Eligibility and coverage
Of the 584 unique options in the September Lonsec dataset, 74 have growth allocations from 0% to 19%. Applying our specialist-sector and geared-option exclusions leaves 11 eligible multi-asset options. All 11 have one- and three-year returns. Eight also have a five-year figure.
We reviewed the mandates as well as the percentages. The 62 entries with a 0% growth ratio in this dataset were specialist cash, deposit or fixed-interest options. We also excluded CFS FirstChoice’s PM Capital Enhanced Yield option, a specialist income strategy with a reported 5% growth ratio. No geared option was identified within this range.
We use Lonsec’s growth ratio as reported for September. A diversified option can qualify at either end of the 0% to 19% range. Its current mix may differ from the mix it held during the return period.
Ranking and missing data
We sort each table by return, from highest to lowest, using figures dated 30 September 2026. If an option is missing a return for a period, it is left out of that table. A missing figure is not zero. Returns tied at the supplied precision share a rank and are displayed alphabetically by option name. Separate products and birth-year options retain their own entries. This comparison does not cover every Australian super fund or option.
The one-year figures cover the year to 30 September. The three- and five-year figures are annualised returns supplied by Lonsec. Fees associated with the investment option are already deducted from these returns. Fund-level fees, such as fixed administration fees, are not deducted. We haven’t made any further deductions or adjusted the figures for individual accounts. Your own return can differ depending on when money enters or leaves your account and the charges that apply to you.
How to compare fees
The fees in the five-year table come from Lonsec’s “Calculated Fee on $50K Balance” field. We’ve kept those amounts rather than rebuilding them from the individual percentage fees, which may use different precision or assumptions. We haven’t added buy/sell spreads. The tables are ranked by performance, not fees.
A $50,000 balance gives everyone the same starting point for comparing costs. Your actual fees may differ because of balance tiers, caps, rebates, insurance or advice charges. Check the current product documents for details. Buy/sell spreads relate to transactions and shouldn’t simply be added to an annual percentage fee. Also check which costs are already reflected in a reported return before subtracting any fees from it.
Lonsec’s fee figure on $50,000 is $204 for Team Super Secure and $272 for ESSSuper Defensive. Their five-year returns are 3.39% p.a. and 3.02% p.a., respectively. The fee column is a separate cost comparison. Subtracting the full amount from the published return would count some costs twice.
Choosing between secure super options
Start with what you want the option to do. A Secure option holding cash and a small share allocation can behave differently from one holding a substantial bond portfolio. Check what the fund holds, its fees and any insurance or service features you rely on.
For a broader comparison, see ASIC Moneysmart’s guide to choosing a super fund
The word “Secure” describes an allocation range here. The value of a Secure option can fall when its underlying investments fall. If you expect to withdraw money soon, check the product terms and how much of the option is held in cash.
Learn more in ASIC Moneysmart’s guide to super investment options
Common questions about secure super
What is the best performing secure super fund?
Team Super Secure leads the five-year comparison at 3.39% p.a. Hostplus Indexed Defensive leads over three years at 6.04% p.a. Australian Ethical’s employer and personal Defensive options share the one-year lead at 3.89%. All periods end on 30 September 2026.
What counts as a secure investment option?
We use a reported growth allocation of 0% to 19%, inclusive, and apply the multi-asset rules above. The adjacent Capital Stable category covers 20% to 40%. Fund labels can differ: Hostplus Indexed Defensive qualifies as Secure at 19%.
Why is my fund missing from the tables?
Your option may have a growth ratio of 20% or more, fall outside the top ten for that period, or be a specialist or geared option. Pure cash and dedicated bond options are common examples excluded here. Some options also have shorter performance histories or fall outside Lonsec’s coverage.
Why are there only eight options in the five-year table?
Lonsec reports five-year returns for eight of the 11 eligible Secure options. The other three are Hostplus Defensive, Hostplus Indexed Defensive and Hostplus Socially Responsible Investment Defensive. They remain eligible for the shorter periods where returns are available.
Should I switch to the highest ranked option?
Before switching, compare longer-term returns, risk, fees, service, insurance and the product terms. The latest ranking is a starting point, not enough on its own to make the decision. Consider personal financial advice if you need help choosing an option that suits your circumstances.
Compare other super investment options
Best performing High Growth super options with 91 to 100% growth assets
Best performing Growth super options with 77 to 90% growth assets
Best performing Balanced super options with 61 to 76% growth assets
Best performing Conservative Balanced super options with 41 to 60% growth assets
Best performing Capital Stable super options with 20 to 40% growth assets
Data source: Lonsec. Performance to 30 September 2026. Rankings and analysis: Review My Super. This is general information and does not take account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the product disclosure statement and target market determination before acting.
About the author
Tom Foreman
Financial adviser and editor of Review My Super
Tom has worked as a financial adviser since 2013, primarily advising on retirement planning and superannuation.