# VONG alternatives: 8 similar ETFs compared

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

The ETFs most like VONG are IWF, VUG and SCHG. IWF tracks the same index as VONG, so it holds the same stocks. VUG 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 VONG: 1 on the same index, 6 of the same kind and 1 related fund.
- VONG charges 0.06% a year (about $6 on $10,000). The cheapest alternative here, VUG, charges 0.03%.
- IWF moved most like VONG: 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.

## VONG alternatives at a glance

Each fund below can stand in for VONG, closest first. "Same index" funds hold the same stocks as VONG. "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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **VONG** | This fund | 0.06% | $6 | Russell 1000 Growth Index |
| [IWF](https://tactfolio.com/etf/iwf.md) | Same index | 0.18% | $18 | Russell 1000 Growth Index |
| [VUG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vug.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.03% | $3 | Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index |
| [SCHG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schg.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.04% | $4 | Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index |
| [SPYG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/spyg.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.04% | $4 | S&P 500 Growth Index |
| [MGK](https://tactfolio.com/etf/mgk.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.05% | $5 | Morningstar US Mega Cap Growth Index |
| [VOOG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/voog.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.07% | $7 | S&P 500 Growth Index |
| [IVW](https://tactfolio.com/etf/ivw.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.18% | $18 | S&P 500 Growth Index |
| [QQQM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/qqqm.md) | Related fund | 0.15% | $15 | Nasdaq-100 Index |

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

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

Each row measures the alternative and VONG 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 VONG | Per year | VONG per year | Worst drop | VONG worst drop | Since |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [IWF](https://tactfolio.com/etf/iwf.md) | 1.00 | 16.3% | 16.4% | −32.7% | −32.7% | September 2010 |
| [VUG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vug.md) | 0.99 | 16.4% | 16.4% | −35.6% | −32.7% | September 2010 |
| [SCHG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schg.md) | 0.99 | 16.8% | 16.4% | −34.6% | −32.7% | September 2010 |
| [SPYG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/spyg.md) | 0.99 | 16.5% | 16.4% | −32.7% | −32.7% | September 2010 |
| [MGK](https://tactfolio.com/etf/mgk.md) | 0.99 | 17.0% | 16.4% | −36.0% | −32.7% | September 2010 |
| [VOOG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/voog.md) | 0.99 | 16.4% | 16.4% | −32.7% | −32.7% | September 2010 |
| [IVW](https://tactfolio.com/etf/ivw.md) | 0.99 | 16.4% | 16.4% | −32.7% | −32.7% | September 2010 |
| [QQQM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/qqqm.md) | 0.98 | 16.5% | 14.1% | −35.0% | −32.7% | October 2020 |

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 VONG alternative, compared

### IWF: iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF

IWF tracks the same Russell 1000 Growth Index as VONG, so the two hold the same stocks. The main differences are the fee and the fund company.

It charges 0.18% a year, about $18 on $10,000, against $6 for VONG. It held 372 stocks, against 371 for VONG.

From September 2010 to October 2026, IWF returned about 16.3% a year and VONG returned about 16.4% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 1.00).

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

### VUG: Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF

VUG also holds large US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast. It tracks the Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index, while VONG tracks the Russell 1000 Growth Index.

It charges 0.03% a year, about $3 on $10,000, against $6 for VONG. It held 135 stocks, against 371 for VONG.

From September 2010 to October 2026, VUG returned about 16.4% a year and VONG returned about 16.4% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

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

### SCHG: Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF

SCHG also holds large US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, while VONG tracks the Russell 1000 Growth Index.

It charges 0.04% a year, about $4 on $10,000, against $6 for VONG. It held 195 stocks, against 371 for VONG.

From September 2010 to October 2026, SCHG returned about 16.8% a year and VONG returned about 16.4% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

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

### SPYG: State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF

SPYG also holds large US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast. It tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, while VONG tracks the Russell 1000 Growth Index.

It charges 0.04% a year, about $4 on $10,000, against $6 for VONG. It held 152 stocks, against 371 for VONG.

From September 2010 to October 2026, SPYG returned about 16.5% a year and VONG returned about 16.4% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

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

### MGK: Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF

MGK also holds large US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast. It tracks the Morningstar US Mega Cap Growth Index, while VONG tracks the Russell 1000 Growth Index.

It charges 0.05% a year, about $5 on $10,000, against $6 for VONG. It held 52 stocks, against 371 for VONG.

From September 2010 to October 2026, MGK returned about 17.0% a year and VONG returned about 16.4% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

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

### VOOG: Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF

VOOG also holds large US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast. It tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, while VONG tracks the Russell 1000 Growth Index.

It charges 0.07% a year, about $7 on $10,000, against $6 for VONG. It held 152 stocks, against 371 for VONG.

From September 2010 to October 2026, VOOG returned about 16.4% a year and VONG returned about 16.4% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

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

### IVW: iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF

IVW also holds large US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast. It tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, while VONG tracks the Russell 1000 Growth Index.

It charges 0.18% a year, about $18 on $10,000, against $6 for VONG. It held 152 stocks, against 371 for VONG.

From September 2010 to October 2026, IVW returned about 16.4% a year and VONG returned about 16.4% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

Read the [IVW fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/ivw.md) 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 VONG holds large US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast.

It charges 0.15% a year, about $15 on $10,000, against $6 for VONG.

From October 2020 to October 2026, QQQM returned about 16.5% a year and VONG returned about 14.1% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.98).

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

## VONG versions from other fund companies

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

- **iShares (BlackRock):** [IWF](https://tactfolio.com/etf/iwf.md), iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (same index, 0.18% a year)
- **Schwab:** [SCHG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schg.md), Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (same kind of fund, 0.04% a year)
- **SPDR (State Street):** [SPYG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/spyg.md), State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF (same kind of fund, 0.04% a year)
- **Invesco:** [QQQM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/qqqm.md), Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (related fund, 0.15% 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 VONG 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, VONG costs about $6 a year. VUG 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 VONG 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 VUG, SCHG or SPYG, 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 VONG 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 VONG and IWF, 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 VONG. 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 VONG 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 VONG 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 VONG?

IWF is the closest. IWF tracks the same Russell 1000 Growth Index as VONG, so the two hold the same stocks. The main differences are the fee and the fund company. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together.

### Is there a cheaper alternative to VONG?

Yes. VUG charges 0.03% a year, SCHG charges 0.04% a year and SPYG charges 0.04% a year, against 0.06% for VONG. On $10,000 that is about $3 a year instead of $6.

### Is VONG or IWF better?

Neither is better for everyone. From September 2010 to October 2026, VONG returned about 16.4% a year and IWF returned about 16.3% a year. VONG charges 0.06% a year and IWF charges 0.18%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

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

It would have grown to about $51,985 by October 16, 2026, with dividends reinvested. That is about 17.9% a year. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

## Sources

- [Vanguard: Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vong)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239706/ishares-russell-1000-growth-etf)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vug)
- [Schwab: Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF fund page](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1454889/000110465926020693/tm266454-3_497k.htm)
- [SPDR (State Street): State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF fund page](https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/state-street-spdr-portfolio-sp-500-growth-etf-spyg)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/mgk)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/voog)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239725/ishares-s-p-500-growth-etf)
- [Invesco: Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF fund page](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1378872/000119312525325643/d54028d497k.htm)
- [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.