# VUG alternatives: 8 similar ETFs compared

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

The ETFs most like VUG are MGK, SCHG and SPYG. MGK, SCHG and SPYG hold large US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast, like VUG.

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 VUG: 7 of the same kind and 1 related fund.
- VUG charges 0.03% a year (about $3 on $10,000).
- MGK moved most like VUG: 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.

## VUG alternatives at a glance

Each fund below can stand in for VUG, 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **VUG** | This fund | 0.03% | $3 | Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index |
| [MGK](https://tactfolio.com/etf/mgk.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.05% | $5 | Morningstar US Mega 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 |
| [VONG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vong.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.06% | $6 | Russell 1000 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 |
| [IWF](https://tactfolio.com/etf/iwf.md) | Same kind of fund | 0.18% | $18 | Russell 1000 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 VUG and its alternatives did over the same dates

Each row measures the alternative and VUG 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 VUG | Per year | VUG per year | Worst drop | VUG worst drop | Since |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [MGK](https://tactfolio.com/etf/mgk.md) | 1.00 | 13.5% | 12.9% | −48.0% | −49.5% | December 2007 |
| [SCHG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/schg.md) | 0.99 | 16.1% | 15.7% | −34.6% | −35.6% | January 2010 |
| [SPYG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/spyg.md) | 0.99 | 12.0% | 12.1% | −51.3% | −50.7% | January 2004 |
| [VONG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vong.md) | 0.99 | 16.4% | 16.4% | −32.7% | −35.6% | September 2010 |
| [VOOG](https://tactfolio.com/etf/voog.md) | 0.99 | 16.6% | 16.6% | −32.7% | −35.6% | September 2010 |
| [IVW](https://tactfolio.com/etf/ivw.md) | 0.99 | 12.0% | 12.1% | −49.2% | −50.7% | January 2004 |
| [IWF](https://tactfolio.com/etf/iwf.md) | 0.99 | 11.9% | 12.1% | −51.3% | −50.7% | January 2004 |
| [QQQM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/qqqm.md) | 0.98 | 16.5% | 14.6% | −35.0% | −35.6% | 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 VUG alternative, compared

### 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 VUG tracks the Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index.

It charges 0.05% a year, about $5 on $10,000, against $3 for VUG. It held 52 stocks, against 135 for VUG.

From December 2007 to October 2026, MGK returned about 13.5% a year and VUG returned about 12.9% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 1.00).

Read the [MGK fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/mgk.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 VUG tracks the Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index.

It charges 0.04% a year, about $4 on $10,000, against $3 for VUG. It held 195 stocks, against 135 for VUG.

From January 2010 to October 2026, SCHG returned about 16.1% a year and VUG returned about 15.7% 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 VUG tracks the Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index.

It charges 0.04% a year, about $4 on $10,000, against $3 for VUG. It held 152 stocks, against 135 for VUG.

From January 2004 to October 2026, SPYG returned about 12.0% a year and VUG returned about 12.1% 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.

### VONG: Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF

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

It charges 0.06% a year, about $6 on $10,000, against $3 for VUG. It held 371 stocks, against 135 for VUG.

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

Read the [VONG fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/vong.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 VUG tracks the Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index.

It charges 0.07% a year, about $7 on $10,000, against $3 for VUG. It held 152 stocks, against 135 for VUG.

From September 2010 to October 2026, VOOG returned about 16.6% a year and VUG returned about 16.6% 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 VUG tracks the Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index.

It charges 0.18% a year, about $18 on $10,000, against $3 for VUG. It held 152 stocks, against 135 for VUG.

From January 2004 to October 2026, IVW returned about 12.0% a year and VUG returned about 12.1% 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.

### IWF: iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF

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

It charges 0.18% a year, about $18 on $10,000, against $3 for VUG. It held 372 stocks, against 135 for VUG.

From January 2004 to October 2026, IWF returned about 11.9% a year and VUG returned about 12.1% a year. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together (correlation 0.99).

Read the [IWF fund page](https://tactfolio.com/etf/iwf.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 VUG holds large US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast.

It charges 0.15% a year, about $15 on $10,000, against $3 for VUG.

From October 2020 to October 2026, QQQM returned about 16.5% a year and VUG returned about 14.6% 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.

## VUG versions from other fund companies

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

- **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)
- **iShares (BlackRock):** [IVW](https://tactfolio.com/etf/ivw.md), iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (same kind of fund, 0.18% 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 VUG 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, VUG 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 VUG 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 MGK, 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 VUG 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 VUG and MGK, 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 VUG. 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 VUG 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 VUG 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 VUG?

MGK is the closest. MGK also holds large US companies whose sales and profits are growing fast. It tracks the Morningstar US Mega Cap Growth Index, while VUG tracks the Morningstar US Large Cap Growth Index. Over about the last five years they moved almost exactly together.

### Is there a cheaper alternative to VUG?

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

### Is VUG or MGK better?

Neither is better for everyone. From December 2007 to October 2026, VUG returned about 12.9% a year and MGK returned about 13.5% a year. VUG charges 0.03% a year and MGK charges 0.05%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

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

It would have grown to about $51,809 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 Morningstar Growth ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vug)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/mgk)
- [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 Russell 1000 Growth ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vong)
- [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)
- [iShares (BlackRock): iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF fund page](https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239706/ishares-russell-1000-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.