# SCHA alternatives: 8 similar ETFs compared

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

The ETFs most like SCHA are VB, IWM and IJR. VB, IWM and IJR hold small US companies, like SCHA.

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 SCHA: 3 of the same kind and 5 related funds.
- SCHA charges 0.03% a year (about $3 on $10,000).
- VB moved most like SCHA: 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.

## SCHA alternatives at a glance

Each fund below can stand in for SCHA, 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **SCHA** | This 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 |
| [IJR](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJR.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.06% | $6 | S&P SmallCap 600 Index |
| [IJT](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJT.md) | Related fund | 0.18% | $18 | S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index |
| [IWN](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWN.md) | Related fund | 0.24% | $24 | Russell 2000 Value Index |
| [VBR](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VBR.md) | Related fund | 0.05% | $5 | Morningstar US Small Cap Value Index |
| [IJS](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJS.md) | Related fund | 0.18% | $18 | S&P SmallCap 600 Value 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 SCHA and its alternatives did over the same dates

Each row measures the alternative and SCHA 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 SCHA | Per year | SCHA per year | Worst drop | SCHA worst drop | Since |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [VB](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VB.md) | 0.99 | 12.1% | 11.8% | −42.0% | −42.4% | November 2009 |
| [IWM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWM.md) | 0.99 | 11.1% | 11.8% | −41.1% | −42.4% | November 2009 |
| [IJR](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJR.md) | 0.97 | 12.1% | 11.8% | −44.4% | −42.4% | November 2009 |
| [IJT](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJT.md) | 0.98 | 12.3% | 11.8% | −42.0% | −42.4% | November 2009 |
| [IWN](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWN.md) | 0.96 | 10.5% | 11.8% | −46.1% | −42.4% | November 2009 |
| [VBR](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VBR.md) | 0.95 | 11.9% | 11.8% | −45.3% | −42.4% | November 2009 |
| [IJS](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJS.md) | 0.94 | 11.5% | 11.8% | −47.7% | −42.4% | November 2009 |
| [AVUV](https://tactfolio.com/etf/AVUV.md) | 0.93 | 15.0% | 10.4% | −49.4% | −42.4% | 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 SCHA alternative, compared

### VB: Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF

VB also holds small US companies. It tracks the Morningstar US Small Cap Index, while SCHA tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index.

It charges 0.03% a year, about $3 on $10,000, against $3 for SCHA. It held 1,301 stocks, against 1,721 for SCHA.

From November 2009 to October 2026, VB returned about 12.1% a year and SCHA returned about 11.8% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

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 SCHA tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index.

It charges 0.19% a year, about $19 on $10,000, against $3 for SCHA. It held 1,983 stocks, against 1,721 for SCHA.

From November 2009 to October 2026, IWM returned about 11.1% a year and SCHA returned about 11.8% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

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

### IJR: iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

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

It charges 0.06% a year, about $6 on $10,000, against $3 for SCHA. It held 643 stocks, against 1,721 for SCHA.

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

Read the [IJR fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJR.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 SCHA holds small US companies.

It charges 0.18% a year, about $18 on $10,000, against $3 for SCHA. It held 372 stocks, against 1,721 for SCHA.

From November 2009 to October 2026, IJT returned about 12.3% a year and SCHA returned about 11.8% 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.

### 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 SCHA holds small US companies.

It charges 0.24% a year, about $24 on $10,000, against $3 for SCHA. It held 1,410 stocks, against 1,721 for SCHA.

From November 2009 to October 2026, IWN returned about 10.5% a year and SCHA returned about 11.8% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.96).

Read the [IWN fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWN.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 SCHA holds small US companies.

It charges 0.05% a year, about $5 on $10,000, against $3 for SCHA. It held 820 stocks, against 1,721 for SCHA.

From November 2009 to October 2026, VBR returned about 11.9% a year and SCHA returned about 11.8% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.95).

Read the [VBR fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VBR.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 SCHA holds small US companies.

It charges 0.18% a year, about $18 on $10,000, against $3 for SCHA. It held 480 stocks, against 1,721 for SCHA.

From November 2009 to October 2026, IJS returned about 11.5% a year and SCHA returned about 11.8% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.94).

Read the [IJS fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IJS.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 SCHA holds small US companies.

It charges 0.25% a year, about $25 on $10,000, against $3 for SCHA. It held 794 stocks, against 1,721 for SCHA.

From September 2019 to October 2026, AVUV returned about 15.0% a year and SCHA returned about 10.4% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.93).

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

## SCHA versions from other fund companies

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

- **Vanguard:** [VB](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VB.md), Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF (same kind of fund, 0.03% a year)
- **iShares (BlackRock):** [IWM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/IWM.md), iShares Russell 2000 ETF (same kind of fund, 0.19% 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 SCHA 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, SCHA costs about $3 a year.
- **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 SCHA 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 VB, IWM or IJR, 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 SCHA 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 SCHA and VB, 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 SCHA. 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 SCHA 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 SCHA 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 SCHA?

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

### Is there a cheaper alternative to SCHA?

Not among the funds here. SCHA charges 0.03% a year, about $3 on $10,000, which is as low as or lower than each alternative listed.

### Is SCHA or VB better?

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

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

It would have grown to about $26,269 by October 16, 2026, with dividends reinvested. That is about 10.1% a year. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

## Sources

- [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 Core S&P Small-Cap ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239774/ishares-core-s-p-small-cap-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)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239712/ishares-russell-2000-value-etf)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vbr)
- [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)
- [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.