# IJR alternatives: 8 similar ETFs compared

> ETFs similar to IJR, closest first, with each fund's fee, what it tracks, and returns and worst drops on the same dates as IJR. Updated daily.

The ETFs most like IJR are SCHA, VB and IWM. SCHA, VB and IWM hold small US companies, like IJR. SCHA costs less: 0.03% a year against 0.06%.

Written by [the Tactfolio research team](https://tactfolio.com/about/editorial-policy). Fund facts checked October 17, 2026. Prices through October 16, 2026.

## Key points

- 8 funds can stand in for IJR: 3 of the same kind and 5 related funds.
- IJR charges 0.06% a year (about $6 on $10,000). The cheapest alternative here, SCHA, charges 0.03%.
- IJS moved most like IJR: a daily correlation of 0.99 over about the last five years.
- Returns and drops for each pair use the same dates for both funds.

## IJR alternatives at a glance

Each fund below can stand in for IJR, closest first. "Same kind" funds hold the same kind of stocks through a different index. "Related" funds make a different bet that often moves the same way.

| ETF | How close | Yearly fee | Fee on $10,000 | Tracks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **IJR** | This fund | 0.06% | $6 | S&P SmallCap 600 Index |
| [SCHA](https://tactfolio.com/etf/SCHA.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.03% | $3 | Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index |
| [VB](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VB.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.03% | $3 | Morningstar US Small Cap Index |
| [IWM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWM.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.19% | $19 | Russell 2000 Index |
| [IJS](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJS.md) | Related fund | 0.18% | $18 | S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index |
| [VBR](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VBR.md) | Related fund | 0.05% | $5 | Morningstar US Small Cap Value Index |
| [IWN](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWN.md) | Related fund | 0.24% | $24 | Russell 2000 Value Index |
| [IJT](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJT.md) | Related fund | 0.18% | $18 | S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index |
| [AVUV](https://tactfolio.com/etf/AVUV.md) | Related fund | 0.25% | $25 | No index |

Fees come from each fund company, checked on the dates shown on each fund's page.

## How IJR and its alternatives did over the same dates

Each row measures the alternative and IJR on the days both traded, so neither gets a head start. Correlation shows how closely their daily moves matched over about the last five years. A value of 1 means they always moved together.

| ETF | Moves with IJR | Per year | IJR per year | Worst drop | IJR worst drop | Since |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [SCHA](https://tactfolio.com/etf/SCHA.md) | 0.97 | 11.8% | 12.1% | −42.4% | −44.4% | November 2009 |
| [VB](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VB.md) | 0.97 | 9.6% | 9.6% | −59.6% | −58.1% | January 2004 |
| [IWM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWM.md) | 0.97 | 8.4% | 9.8% | −58.6% | −58.1% | May 2000 |
| [IJS](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJS.md) | 0.99 | 9.7% | 9.7% | −60.1% | −58.1% | July 2000 |
| [VBR](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VBR.md) | 0.98 | 9.4% | 9.6% | −62.0% | −58.1% | January 2004 |
| [IWN](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWN.md) | 0.98 | 9.2% | 9.7% | −61.6% | −58.1% | July 2000 |
| [IJT](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJT.md) | 0.98 | 9.2% | 9.7% | −57.6% | −58.1% | July 2000 |
| [AVUV](https://tactfolio.com/etf/AVUV.md) | 0.97 | 15.0% | 9.8% | −49.4% | −42.6% | September 2019 |

Prices through October 16, 2026. Figures use daily closing prices adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They do not include taxes or the cost of buying and selling. Past results do not tell you what will happen next.

## Each IJR alternative, compared

### SCHA: Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF

SCHA also holds small US companies. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index, while IJR tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.

It charges 0.03% a year, about $3 on $10,000, against $6 for IJR. It held 1,721 stocks, against 643 for IJR.

From November 2009 to October 2026, SCHA returned about 11.8% a year and IJR returned about 12.1% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.97).

Read the [SCHA fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/SCHA.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### VB: Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF

VB also holds small US companies. It tracks the Morningstar US Small Cap Index, while IJR tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.

It charges 0.03% a year, about $3 on $10,000, against $6 for IJR. It held 1,301 stocks, against 643 for IJR.

From January 2004 to October 2026, VB returned about 9.6% a year and IJR returned about 9.6% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.97).

Read the [VB fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VB.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### IWM: iShares Russell 2000 ETF

IWM also holds small US companies. It tracks the Russell 2000 Index, while IJR tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.

It charges 0.19% a year, about $19 on $10,000, against $6 for IJR. It held 1,983 stocks, against 643 for IJR.

From May 2000 to October 2026, IWM returned about 8.4% a year and IJR returned about 9.8% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.97).

Read the [IWM fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWM.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### IJS: iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF

IJS is a looser match. It holds small US companies that look cheap compared with their earnings and assets, while IJR holds small US companies.

It charges 0.18% a year, about $18 on $10,000, against $6 for IJR. It held 480 stocks, against 643 for IJR.

From July 2000 to October 2026, IJS returned about 9.7% a year and IJR returned about 9.7% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

Read the [IJS fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJS.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### VBR: Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF

VBR is a looser match. It holds small US companies that look cheap compared with their earnings and assets, while IJR holds small US companies.

It charges 0.05% a year, about $5 on $10,000, against $6 for IJR. It held 820 stocks, against 643 for IJR.

From January 2004 to October 2026, VBR returned about 9.4% a year and IJR returned about 9.6% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.98).

Read the [VBR fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VBR.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### IWN: iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF

IWN is a looser match. It holds small US companies that look cheap compared with their earnings and assets, while IJR holds small US companies.

It charges 0.24% a year, about $24 on $10,000, against $6 for IJR. It held 1,410 stocks, against 643 for IJR.

From July 2000 to October 2026, IWN returned about 9.2% a year and IJR returned about 9.7% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.98).

Read the [IWN fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWN.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### IJT: iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF

IJT is a looser match. It holds small US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast, while IJR holds small US companies.

It charges 0.18% a year, about $18 on $10,000, against $6 for IJR. It held 372 stocks, against 643 for IJR.

From July 2000 to October 2026, IJT returned about 9.2% a year and IJR returned about 9.7% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.98).

Read the [IJT fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJT.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

### AVUV: Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF

AVUV is a looser match. It holds small US companies that look cheap compared with their earnings and assets, while IJR holds small US companies.

It charges 0.25% a year, about $25 on $10,000, against $6 for IJR. It held 794 stocks, against 643 for IJR.

From September 2019 to October 2026, AVUV returned about 15.0% a year and IJR returned about 9.8% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.97).

Read the [AVUV fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/AVUV.md) for its returns by year and worst drop.

## IJR versions from other fund companies

Some people keep all their funds with one company. Here is the closest fund to IJR from each other company on this page:

- **Schwab:** [SCHA](https://tactfolio.com/etf/SCHA.md), Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (same kind of fund, 0.03% a year)
- **Vanguard:** [VB](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VB.md), Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF (same kind of fund, 0.03% a year)
- **Avantis Investors (American Century):** [AVUV](https://tactfolio.com/etf/AVUV.md), Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF (related fund, 0.25% a year)

Most brokers let you buy any ETF, whoever runs it. Mutual fund versions, such as a fund company's index mutual fund, are not listed here.

## How to choose between IJR and its alternatives

- **What it tracks.** A fund on the same index holds the same stocks. A different index can mean different weights, more or fewer holdings, or a different mix.
- **The fee.** The difference is often small. On $10,000, IJR costs about $6 a year. SCHA costs about $3.
- **History.** An older fund has been through more bad markets, so you can see how far it fell.
- **What you already own.** Two funds that move together add little variety. A fund with a low correlation behaves more on its own.

## Swapping IJR to harvest a tax loss

Some investors sell a fund at a loss to lower their taxes, then buy a similar fund so they stay invested. This is called tax-loss harvesting.

The IRS wash sale rule blocks the loss if you buy a "substantially identical" security within 30 days before or after the sale. The IRS has not said exactly when two funds count. Funds on the same index are more likely to. Funds on a different index, such as SCHA, VB or IWM, are less likely to.

Ask a tax professional before you rely on this. Read the IRS rules in [Publication 550](https://www.irs.gov/publications/p550).

## Test IJR and its alternatives in a backtest

Tactfolio is a platform where you build rules-based investing strategies, backtest them on decades of real prices, share them, and run them automatically in your own Alpaca account. Open the [builder](https://tactfolio.com/builder), add IJR and SCHA, and see how each would have done on the same dates, or how a mix of both would have done.

## The details

Alternatives are picked from facts, not from returns. First come funds that track the same index as IJR. Then come funds that hold the same kind of stocks through another index. Last come funds from a close category that make a different bet. Leveraged funds are only listed as alternatives to other leveraged funds.

Within each group, the funds whose daily returns moved most like IJR over about the last five years come first. Returns and worst drops use Tactfolio's stored daily prices, adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. Each alternative is measured with IJR only on days both traded. Read [what a backtest simulates](https://tactfolio.com/docs/backtests.md) for more on these measures.

## Research and test it

- [S&P 500 index](https://tactfolio.com/learn/sp500-index): The S&P 500 tracks about 500 large US companies. Learn how stocks get in, how the index is weighted, how to invest in it, and how far it has fallen before.
- [What is an ETF](https://tactfolio.com/learn/what-is-an-etf): An ETF is a fund that trades like a stock. Learn how ETFs work, what they cost, the main types, and the risks, with SEC sources.
- [ETF screener](https://tactfolio.com/screener.md): A free ETF screener for 162 US-listed funds. Filter by type, issuer and fee, sort by returns or worst drop, and compare funds side by side.
- [ETF expense ratio](https://tactfolio.com/learn/etf-expense-ratio): What an ETF expense ratio is, how the fund charges it, and how 0.03% vs 1% adds up over 10 and 30 years, with real fund examples.
- [Backtest a portfolio](https://tactfolio.com/trading-tools/backtest-portfolio): Backtest a portfolio of US stocks and ETFs. Enter tickers and shares, pick when to rebalance, and get the results with a link to share.
- [Backtesting](https://tactfolio.com/backtesting): Free backtesting software for stocks, ETFs, and crypto perps.

## Common questions

### What ETF is most similar to IJR?

SCHA is the closest. SCHA also holds small US companies. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index, while IJR tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together.

### Is there a cheaper alternative to IJR?

Yes. SCHA charges 0.03% a year, VB charges 0.03% a year and VBR charges 0.05% a year, against 0.06% for IJR. On $10,000 that is about $3 a year instead of $6.

### Is IJR or SCHA better?

Neither is better for everyone. From November 2009 to October 2026, IJR returned about 12.1% a year and SCHA returned about 11.8% a year. IJR charges 0.06% a year and SCHA charges 0.03%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

### What if I had put $10,000 in IJR 10 years ago?

It would have grown to about $26,079 by October 16, 2026, with dividends reinvested. That is about 10.1% a year. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

## Sources

- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239774/ishares-core-s-p-small-cap-etf)
- [Schwab: Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF fund page](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1454889/000088454626000252/c497k.htm)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vb)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Russell 2000 ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239710/ishares-russell-2000-etf)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239775/ishares-s-p-small-cap-600-value-etf)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vbr)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239712/ishares-russell-2000-value-etf)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239773/ishares-s-p-small-cap-600-growth-etf)
- [Avantis Investors (American Century): Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF fund page](https://www.avantisinvestors.com/avantis-investments/avantis-us-small-cap-value-etf/)
- [IRS Publication 550: wash sales](https://www.irs.gov/publications/p550)

> Not financial advice. Tactfolio is a research and automation tool. It is not a broker or a financial adviser. This page is for education only. Backtests are hypothetical. They show how rules would have done on past prices, not how they will do. All investing involves risk, including losing the money you put in.