# VEU alternatives: 8 similar ETFs compared

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

The ETFs most like VEU are VXUS, IXUS and VEA. VXUS and IXUS hold stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging, like VEU.

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 VEU: 2 of the same kind and 6 related funds.
- VEU charges 0.04% a year (about $4 on $10,000). The cheapest alternative here, VEA, charges 0.03%.
- VXUS moved most like VEU: a daily correlation of 1.00 over about the last five years.
- Returns and drops for each pair use the same dates for both funds.

## VEU alternatives at a glance

Each fund below can stand in for VEU, 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **VEU** | This fund | 0.04% | $4 | FTSE All-World ex US Index |
| [VXUS](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vxus.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.05% | $5 | FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index |
| [IXUS](https://tactfolio.com/etf/ixus.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.07% | $7 | MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index (Net) |
| [VEA](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vea.md) | Related fund | 0.03% | $3 | FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index |
| [SCHF](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schf.md) | Related fund | 0.03% | $3 | FTSE Developed ex US Index |
| [IEFA](https://tactfolio.com/etf/iefa.md) | Related fund | 0.07% | $7 | MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net) |
| [EFA](https://tactfolio.com/etf/efa.md) | Related fund | 0.32% | $32 | MSCI EAFE Index (Net) |
| [VT](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vt.md) | Related fund | 0.06% | $6 | FTSE Global All Cap Index |
| [AVGE](https://tactfolio.com/etf/avge.md) | Related fund | 0.23% | $23 | No index |

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

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

Each row measures the alternative and VEU 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 VEU | Per year | VEU per year | Worst drop | VEU worst drop | Since |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [VXUS](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vxus.md) | 1.00 | 6.5% | 6.6% | −36.0% | −35.0% | January 2011 |
| [IXUS](https://tactfolio.com/etf/ixus.md) | 1.00 | 7.7% | 7.8% | −36.2% | −35.0% | October 2012 |
| [VEA](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vea.md) | 0.99 | 5.1% | 4.9% | −60.7% | −61.5% | July 2007 |
| [SCHF](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schf.md) | 0.98 | 7.5% | 7.1% | −34.9% | −35.0% | November 2009 |
| [IEFA](https://tactfolio.com/etf/iefa.md) | 0.97 | 8.3% | 7.8% | −34.8% | −35.0% | October 2012 |
| [EFA](https://tactfolio.com/etf/efa.md) | 0.97 | 4.8% | 5.3% | −61.0% | −61.5% | March 2007 |
| [VT](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vt.md) | 0.92 | 8.8% | 5.4% | −50.3% | −54.4% | June 2008 |
| [AVGE](https://tactfolio.com/etf/avge.md) | 0.89 | 20.3% | 19.6% | −17.1% | −13.7% | September 2022 |

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 VEU alternative, compared

### VXUS: Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

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

It charges 0.05% a year, about $5 on $10,000, against $4 for VEU. It held 8,740 stocks, against 3,810 for VEU.

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

Read the [VXUS fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vxus.md) 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 VEU tracks the FTSE All-World ex US Index.

It charges 0.07% a year, about $7 on $10,000, against $4 for VEU. It held 4,584 stocks, against 3,810 for VEU.

From October 2012 to October 2026, IXUS returned about 7.7% a year and VEU 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](https://tactfolio.com/etf/ixus.md) 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 VEU holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.03% a year, about $3 on $10,000, against $4 for VEU. It held 3,903 stocks, against 3,810 for VEU.

From July 2007 to October 2026, VEA returned about 5.1% a year and VEU returned about 4.9% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

Read the [VEA fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vea.md) 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 VEU holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.03% a year, about $3 on $10,000, against $4 for VEU. It held 1,480 stocks, against 3,810 for VEU.

From November 2009 to October 2026, SCHF returned about 7.5% a year and VEU returned about 7.1% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.98).

Read the [SCHF fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schf.md) 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 VEU holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.07% a year, about $7 on $10,000, against $4 for VEU. It held 2,626 stocks, against 3,810 for VEU.

From October 2012 to October 2026, IEFA returned about 8.3% a year and VEU 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](https://tactfolio.com/etf/iefa.md) 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 VEU holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.32% a year, about $32 on $10,000, against $4 for VEU. It held 657 stocks, against 3,810 for VEU.

From March 2007 to October 2026, EFA returned about 4.8% a year and VEU returned about 5.3% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.97).

Read the [EFA fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/efa.md) 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 VEU holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.06% a year, about $6 on $10,000, against $4 for VEU. It held 10,185 stocks, against 3,810 for VEU.

From June 2008 to October 2026, VT returned about 8.8% a year and VEU returned about 5.4% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.92).

Read the [VT fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vt.md) 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 VEU holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging.

It charges 0.23% a year, about $23 on $10,000, against $4 for VEU. It held 14 stocks, against 3,810 for VEU.

From September 2022 to October 2026, AVGE returned about 20.3% a year and VEU returned about 19.6% a year. Over about the last five years they moved together on most days (correlation 0.89).

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

## VEU versions from other fund companies

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

- **iShares (BlackRock):** [IXUS](https://tactfolio.com/etf/ixus.md), iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (same kind of fund, 0.07% a year)
- **Schwab:** [SCHF](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schf.md), Schwab International Equity ETF (related fund, 0.03% a year)
- **Avantis Investors (American Century):** [AVGE](https://tactfolio.com/etf/avge.md), 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 VEU 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, VEU costs about $4 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 VEU 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 VXUS, IXUS or VEA, 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 VEU 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 VEU and VXUS, 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 VEU. 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 VEU 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 VEU 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

- [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.
- [Momentum strategy](https://tactfolio.com/learn/momentum-strategy): A momentum strategy buys recent winners by a written rule.
- [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 VEU?

VXUS is the closest. VXUS also holds stocks in almost every country outside the US, rich and emerging. It tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, while VEU tracks the FTSE All-World ex US Index. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together.

### Is there a cheaper alternative to VEU?

Yes. VEA charges 0.03% a year and SCHF charges 0.03% a year, against 0.04% for VEU. On $10,000 that is about $3 a year instead of $4.

### Is VEU or VXUS better?

Neither is better for everyone. From January 2011 to October 2026, VEU returned about 6.6% a year and VXUS returned about 6.5% a year. VEU charges 0.04% a year and VXUS charges 0.05%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

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

It would have grown to about $24,534 by October 16, 2026, with dividends reinvested. That is about 9.4% a year. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

## Sources

- [Vanguard: Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/veu)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard Total International Stock ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vxus)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/244048/ishares-core-msci-total-international-stock-etf)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vea)
- [Schwab: Schwab International Equity ETF fund page](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1454889/000110465926020707/tm266454-7_497k.htm)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/244049/ishares-core-msci-eafe-etf)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares MSCI EAFE ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239623/ishares-msci-eafe-etf)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard Total World Stock ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vt)
- [Avantis Investors (American Century): Avantis All Equity Markets ETF fund page](https://www.avantisinvestors.com/avantis-investments/en-us/avantis-all-equity-markets-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.