VOX alternatives and similar ETFs
The ETFs most like VOX are XLC, ONEQ and QQQM. XLC holds US phone, media, internet and entertainment companies, like VOX. XLC costs less: 0.08% a year against 0.09%.
Written by the Tactfolio research team. Fund facts checked October 17, 2026. Prices through October 16, 2026.
Key points
- 8 funds can stand in for VOX: 1 of the same kind and 7 related funds.
- VOX charges 0.09% a year (about $9 on $10,000). The cheapest alternative here, XLC, charges 0.08%.
- XLC moved most like VOX: a daily correlation of 0.98 over about the last five years.
- Returns and drops for each pair use the same dates for both funds.
VOX alternatives at a glance#
Each fund below can stand in for VOX, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VOX | This fund | 0.09% | $9 | MSCI US Investable Market Communication Services 25/50 Index |
| XLC | Same kind of fund | 0.08% | $8 | Communication Services Select Sector Index |
| ONEQ | Related fund | 0.21% | $21 | Nasdaq Composite Index |
| QQQM | Related fund | 0.15% | $15 | Nasdaq-100 Index |
| QQQ | Related fund | 0.18% | $18 | Nasdaq-100 Index |
| IYW | Related fund | 0.37% | $37 | Russell 1000 Technology RIC 22.5/45 Capped Index |
| FTEC | Related fund | 0.084% | $8.40 | MSCI USA IMI Information Technology 25/50 Index |
| VGT | Related fund | 0.09% | $9 | MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index |
| XLK | Related fund | 0.08% | $8 | Technology Select Sector Index |
Fees come from each fund company, checked on the dates shown on each fund’s page.
How VOX and its alternatives did over the same dates#
Each row measures the alternative and VOX 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 VOX | Per year | VOX per year | Worst drop | VOX worst drop | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLC | 0.98 | 11.1% | 11.0% | −46.7% | −46.8% | June 2018 |
| ONEQ | 0.85 | 13.6% | 8.6% | −55.1% | −57.2% | September 2004 |
| QQQM | 0.83 | 16.5% | 11.1% | −35.0% | −46.8% | October 2020 |
| QQQ | 0.83 | 15.5% | 8.6% | −53.4% | −57.2% | September 2004 |
| IYW | 0.80 | 16.2% | 8.6% | −54.9% | −57.2% | September 2004 |
| FTEC | 0.75 | 21.7% | 8.3% | −34.9% | −46.8% | October 2013 |
| VGT | 0.75 | 16.2% | 8.6% | −54.6% | −57.2% | September 2004 |
| XLK | 0.72 | 15.9% | 8.6% | −53.0% | −57.2% | September 2004 |
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 VOX alternative, compared#
XLC: State Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF#
XLC also holds US phone, media, internet and entertainment companies. It tracks the Communication Services Select Sector Index, while VOX tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Communication Services 25/50 Index.
It charges 0.08% a year, about $8 on $10,000, against $9 for VOX. It held 22 stocks, against 111 for VOX.
From June 2018 to October 2026, XLC returned about 11.1% a year and VOX returned about 11.0% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.98).
Read the XLC fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.
ONEQ: Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF#
ONEQ is a looser match. It holds the 100 biggest companies on the Nasdaq outside finance, many of them in technology, while VOX holds US phone, media, internet and entertainment companies.
It charges 0.21% a year, about $21 on $10,000, against $9 for VOX. It held 1,032 stocks, against 111 for VOX.
From September 2004 to October 2026, ONEQ returned about 13.6% a year and VOX returned about 8.6% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.85).
Read the ONEQ fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.
QQQM: Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF#
QQQM is a looser match. It holds the 100 biggest companies on the Nasdaq outside finance, many of them in technology, while VOX holds US phone, media, internet and entertainment companies.
It charges 0.15% a year, about $15 on $10,000, against $9 for VOX.
From October 2020 to October 2026, QQQM returned about 16.5% a year and VOX returned about 11.1% a year. Over about the last five years they often moved together, but not always (correlation 0.83).
Read the QQQM fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.
QQQ: Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1#
QQQ is a looser match. It holds the 100 biggest companies on the Nasdaq outside finance, many of them in technology, while VOX holds US phone, media, internet and entertainment companies.
It charges 0.18% a year, about $18 on $10,000, against $9 for VOX.
From September 2004 to October 2026, QQQ returned about 15.5% a year and VOX returned about 8.6% a year. Over about the last five years they often moved together, but not always (correlation 0.83).
Read the QQQ fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.
IYW: iShares U.S. Technology ETF#
IYW is a looser match. It holds US technology companies, such as makers of chips, software and computers, while VOX holds US phone, media, internet and entertainment companies.
It charges 0.37% a year, about $37 on $10,000, against $9 for VOX. It held 148 stocks, against 111 for VOX.
From September 2004 to October 2026, IYW returned about 16.2% a year and VOX returned about 8.6% a year. Over about the last five years they often moved together, but not always (correlation 0.80).
Read the IYW fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.
FTEC: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF#
FTEC is a looser match. It holds US technology companies, such as makers of chips, software and computers, while VOX holds US phone, media, internet and entertainment companies.
It charges 0.084% a year, about $8.40 on $10,000, against $9 for VOX. It held 282 stocks, against 111 for VOX.
From October 2013 to October 2026, FTEC returned about 21.7% a year and VOX returned about 8.3% a year. Over about the last five years they often moved together, but not always (correlation 0.75).
Read the FTEC fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.
VGT: Vanguard Information Technology ETF#
VGT is a looser match. It holds US technology companies, such as makers of chips, software and computers, while VOX holds US phone, media, internet and entertainment companies.
It charges 0.09% a year, about $9 on $10,000, against $9 for VOX. It held 318 stocks, against 111 for VOX.
From September 2004 to October 2026, VGT returned about 16.2% a year and VOX returned about 8.6% a year. Over about the last five years they often moved together, but not always (correlation 0.75).
Read the VGT fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.
XLK: State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF#
XLK is a looser match. It holds US technology companies, such as makers of chips, software and computers, while VOX holds US phone, media, internet and entertainment companies.
It charges 0.08% a year, about $8 on $10,000, against $9 for VOX. It held 75 stocks, against 111 for VOX.
From September 2004 to October 2026, XLK returned about 15.9% a year and VOX returned about 8.6% a year. Over about the last five years they often moved together, but not always (correlation 0.72).
Read the XLK fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.
VOX versions from other fund companies#
Some people keep all their funds with one company. Here is the closest fund to VOX from each other company on this page:
- SPDR (State Street): XLC, State Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF (same kind of fund, 0.08% a year)
- Fidelity: ONEQ, Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF (related fund, 0.21% a year)
- Invesco: QQQM, Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (related fund, 0.15% a year)
- iShares (BlackRock): IYW, iShares U.S. Technology ETF (related fund, 0.37% 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 VOX 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, VOX costs about $9 a year. XLC costs about $8.
- 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 VOX 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 XLC, ONEQ or QQQM, are less likely to.
Ask a tax professional before you rely on this. Read the IRS rules in Publication 550.
Test VOX 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, add VOX and XLC, 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 VOX. 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 VOX 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 VOX only on days both traded. Read what a backtest simulates for more on these measures.
Common questions#
What ETF is most similar to VOX?#
XLC is the closest. XLC also holds US phone, media, internet and entertainment companies. It tracks the Communication Services Select Sector Index, while VOX tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Communication Services 25/50 Index. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together.
Is there a cheaper alternative to VOX?#
Yes. XLC charges 0.08% a year, XLK charges 0.08% a year and FTEC charges 0.084% a year, against 0.09% for VOX. On $10,000 that is about $8 a year instead of $9.
Is VOX or XLC better?#
Neither is better for everyone. From June 2018 to October 2026, VOX returned about 11.0% a year and XLC returned about 11.1% a year. VOX charges 0.09% a year and XLC charges 0.08%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.
What if I had put $10,000 in VOX 10 years ago?#
It would have grown to about $23,565 by October 16, 2026, with dividends reinvested. That is about 8.9% a year. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.
Sources#
- Vanguard: Vanguard Communication Services ETF fund page
- SPDR (State Street): State Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF fund page
- Fidelity: Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF fund page
- Invesco: Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF fund page
- Invesco: Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 fund page
- iShares (BlackRock): iShares U.S. Technology ETF fund page
- Fidelity: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF fund page
- Vanguard: Vanguard Information Technology ETF fund page
- SPDR (State Street): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF fund page
- IRS Publication 550: wash sales