ETF alternatives: find similar ETFs
An ETF alternative is a fund that holds the same kind of investments as another one. People look for one to pay a lower fee, to keep their money with one fund company, or to stay invested after selling at a loss. Pick one of 158 funds below to see its closest alternatives.
Written by the Tactfolio research team. Fund facts come from each issuer and carry the date we checked them. Prices update after each US market close.
Key points
- Funds that track the same index come first, then funds that hold the same kind of investments.
- Every alternative is measured with the fund over the same dates.
- Each page shows the fee difference in dollars on $10,000.
- Leveraged funds are only matched with other leveraged funds.
US stocks#
International stocks#
| Fund | What it holds | Closest alternatives | All alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFA | International developed | SCHF, VEA, IEFA | EFA alternatives |
| EFV | International value | IVAL, SCHF, VEA | EFV alternatives |
| EWJ | Japan | SCHF, VEA, IEFA | EWJ alternatives |
| IEFA | International developed | SCHF, VEA, EFA | IEFA alternatives |
| IMOM | International momentum | SCHF, VEA, IEFA | IMOM alternatives |
| IVAL | International value | EFV, SCHF, VEA | IVAL alternatives |
| IXUS | International total | VEU, VXUS, SCHF | IXUS alternatives |
| SCHF | International developed | VEA, IEFA, EFA | SCHF alternatives |
| SCZ | International small caps | SCHF, VEA, IEFA | SCZ alternatives |
| VEA | International developed | SCHF, IEFA, EFA | VEA alternatives |
| VEU | International total | VXUS, IXUS, SCHF | VEU alternatives |
| VGK | Europe | SCHF, VEA, IEFA | VGK alternatives |
| VXUS | International total | VEU, IXUS, SCHF | VXUS alternatives |
Emerging market stocks#
| Fund | What it holds | Closest alternatives | All alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEM | Emerging markets | SCHE, VWO, IEMG | EEM alternatives |
| IEMG | Emerging markets | SCHE, VWO, EEM | IEMG alternatives |
| SCHE | Emerging markets | VWO, IEMG, EEM | SCHE alternatives |
| VWO | Emerging markets | SCHE, IEMG, EEM | VWO alternatives |
Global stocks#
| Fund | What it holds | Closest alternatives | All alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACWI | Global stocks | VT, AVGE, URTH | ACWI alternatives |
| AVGE | Global stocks | VT, URTH, ACWI | AVGE alternatives |
| URTH | Global stocks | VT, AVGE, ACWI | URTH alternatives |
| VT | Global stocks | AVGE, URTH, ACWI | VT alternatives |
US bonds#
International bonds#
| Fund | What it holds | Closest alternatives | All alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNDX | International bonds | BWX, IGOV, EMB | BNDX alternatives |
| BWX | International bonds | BNDX, IGOV, EMB | BWX alternatives |
| EMB | Emerging market bonds | BNDX, BWX, IGOV | EMB alternatives |
| IGOV | International bonds | BNDX, BWX, EMB | IGOV alternatives |
Cash and T-bills#
| Fund | What it holds | Closest alternatives | All alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIL | Treasury bills | SGOV, SHV, TFLO | BIL alternatives |
| SGOV | Treasury bills | BIL, SHV, TFLO | SGOV alternatives |
| SHV | Treasury bills | SGOV, BIL, TFLO | SHV alternatives |
| TFLO | Treasury bills | SGOV, BIL, SHV | TFLO alternatives |
| USFR | Treasury bills | SGOV, BIL, SHV | USFR alternatives |
Real estate#
| Fund | What it holds | Closest alternatives | All alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| IYR | US real estate | SCHH, XLRE, VNQ | IYR alternatives |
| REM | Mortgage REITs | SCHH, XLRE, VNQ | REM alternatives |
| RWO | Global real estate | RWX, SCHH, XLRE | RWO alternatives |
| RWX | Global real estate | RWO, SCHH, XLRE | RWX alternatives |
| SCHH | US real estate | XLRE, VNQ, IYR | SCHH alternatives |
| VNQ | US real estate | SCHH, XLRE, IYR | VNQ alternatives |
| XLRE | US real estate | SCHH, VNQ, IYR | XLRE alternatives |
Commodities#
| Fund | What it holds | Closest alternatives | All alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| DBC | Commodities | DJP, GSG, GLDM | DBC alternatives |
| DJP | Commodities | GSG, DBC, GLDM | DJP alternatives |
| GSG | Commodities | DJP, DBC, GLDM | GSG alternatives |
Gold#
| Fund | What it holds | Closest alternatives | All alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAAU | Gold | GLDM, SGOL, BAR | AAAU alternatives |
| BAR | Gold | GLDM, SGOL, AAAU | BAR alternatives |
| GLD | Gold | GLDM, SGOL, BAR | GLD alternatives |
| GLDM | Gold | SGOL, BAR, AAAU | GLDM alternatives |
| IAU | Gold | GLDM, SGOL, BAR | IAU alternatives |
| SGOL | Gold | GLDM, BAR, AAAU | SGOL alternatives |
How we pick alternatives#
Each fund belongs to one of 56 groups, such as “S&P 500”, “US technology” or “Treasury bills”. A fund’s alternatives are funds on the same index first, then funds in the same group, then funds in a close group.
Within each step, the funds whose daily returns moved most like the fund over about the last five years come first. Facts decide which funds are listed. Prices only decide the order.
Look up one fund#
The ETF list has a page for each fund, with fees, returns by year, worst drops and the strategies that hold it.
Common questions#
What makes a good ETF alternative?#
It holds the same kind of investments, so it rises and falls in a similar way. A fund on the same index holds the same companies. After that, a lower fee and a longer history are worth checking.
Can I switch to an alternative to harvest a tax loss?#
Some investors do. The IRS wash sale rule blocks the loss if the new fund is “substantially identical” and you buy it within 30 days before or after the sale. A fund on a different index is less likely to count. Ask a tax professional first.
Are cheaper ETFs always better?#
Not always. A lower fee helps every year, but the fund must also track what you want. Two funds with different indexes can differ by more than their fees.