VXUS alternatives and similar ETFs

VXUS alternatives at a glance#

Each fund below can stand in for VXUS, 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.

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

How VXUS and its alternatives did over the same dates#

Each row measures the alternative and VXUS 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.

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 VXUS alternative, compared#

VEU: Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF#

VEU also holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging. It tracks the FTSE All-World ex US Index, while VXUS tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index.

It charges 0.04% a year, about $4 on $10,000, against $5 for VXUS. It held 3,810 stocks, against 8,740 for VXUS.

From January 2011 to October 2026, VEU returned about 6.6% a year and VXUS returned about 6.5% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 1.00).

Read the VEU fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.

IXUS: iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF#

IXUS also holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging. It tracks the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index (Net), while VXUS tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index.

It charges 0.07% a year, about $7 on $10,000, against $5 for VXUS. It held 4,584 stocks, against 8,740 for VXUS.

From October 2012 to October 2026, IXUS returned about 7.7% a year and VXUS returned about 7.8% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 1.00).

Read the IXUS fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.

VEA: Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF#

VEA is a looser match. It holds stocks in developed countries outside the US, such as Japan, the UK and Europe, while VXUS holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.03% a year, about $3 on $10,000, against $5 for VXUS. It held 3,903 stocks, against 8,740 for VXUS.

From January 2011 to October 2026, VEA returned about 7.3% a year and VXUS returned about 6.5% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

Read the VEA fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.

SCHF: Schwab International Equity ETF#

SCHF is a looser match. It holds stocks in developed countries outside the US, such as Japan, the UK and Europe, while VXUS holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.03% a year, about $3 on $10,000, against $5 for VXUS. It held 1,480 stocks, against 8,740 for VXUS.

From January 2011 to October 2026, SCHF returned about 7.1% a year and VXUS returned about 6.5% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.98).

Read the SCHF fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.

IEFA: iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF#

IEFA is a looser match. It holds stocks in developed countries outside the US, such as Japan, the UK and Europe, while VXUS holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.07% a year, about $7 on $10,000, against $5 for VXUS. It held 2,626 stocks, against 8,740 for VXUS.

From October 2012 to October 2026, IEFA returned about 8.3% a year and VXUS returned about 7.8% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.97).

Read the IEFA fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.

EFA: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF#

EFA is a looser match. It holds stocks in developed countries outside the US, such as Japan, the UK and Europe, while VXUS holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.32% a year, about $32 on $10,000, against $5 for VXUS. It held 657 stocks, against 8,740 for VXUS.

From January 2011 to October 2026, EFA returned about 6.8% a year and VXUS returned about 6.5% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.97).

Read the EFA fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.

VT: Vanguard Total World Stock ETF#

VT is a looser match. It holds stocks all over the world, the US included, while VXUS holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.06% a year, about $6 on $10,000, against $5 for VXUS. It held 10,185 stocks, against 8,740 for VXUS.

From January 2011 to October 2026, VT returned about 10.2% a year and VXUS returned about 6.5% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.92).

Read the VT fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.

AVGE: Avantis All Equity Markets ETF#

AVGE is a looser match. It holds stocks all over the world, the US included, while VXUS holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.23% a year, about $23 on $10,000, against $5 for VXUS. It held 14 stocks, against 8,740 for VXUS.

From September 2022 to October 2026, AVGE returned about 20.3% a year and VXUS returned about 19.4% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.89).

Read the AVGE fund page for its returns by year and worst drop.

VXUS versions from other fund companies#

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

• iShares (BlackRock): IXUS, iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (same kind of fund, 0.07% a year)
• Schwab: SCHF, Schwab International Equity ETF (related fund, 0.03% a year)
• Avantis Investors (American Century): AVGE, Avantis All Equity Markets ETF (related fund, 0.23% 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 VXUS 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, VXUS costs about $5 a year. VEA 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 VXUS 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 VEU, IXUS or VEA, are less likely to.

Ask a tax professional before you rely on this. Read the IRS rules in Publication 550.

Test VXUS 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 VXUS and VEU, 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 VXUS. 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 VXUS 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 VXUS only on days both traded. Read what a backtest simulates for more on these measures.