VOO vs VTI: fees, holdings and returns
VOO holds the about 500 large US companies in the S&P 500. VTI holds nearly every US stock, about 3,500 companies, so it also owns mid-size and small companies. Large companies make up most of both, so they tend to move almost together. Over the same dates since September 2010, VOO returned about 14.8% a year and VTI returned about 14.4% a year.
Written by the Tactfolio research team. Fund facts checked October 16, 2026. Prices through October 16, 2026.
Key points
- Both charge 0.03% a year.
- VOO started trading in September 2010. VTI started in May 2001.
- Worst drops since 2010: VOO −34.0%, VTI −35.0%.
- Daily correlation: 1.00 (1 means they always move together).
What is the difference between VOO and VTI?#
The difference is the smaller companies. VOO stops at the S&P 500. VTI adds about 3,000 mid-size and small companies on top. Because VTI weights each company by its size, those smaller companies are only a small slice of the fund. That is why the two usually finish close to each other, and why the gap grows in years when small companies do much better or much worse than big ones.
| Fact | VOO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% a year | 0.03% a year |
| Started trading | September 7, 2010 | May 24, 2001 |
| Tracks | S&P 500 Index | Morningstar US Total Market Index |
| Holdings | 505 holdings as of September 30, 2026 | 3,519 holdings as of September 30, 2026 |
| Type | US stocks, ETF | US stocks, ETF |
Fund facts checked on the Vanguard VOO page and the Vanguard VTI page.
Is VOO or VTI cheaper?#
Both charge 0.03% a year. On $10,000, that is about $3 a year for VOO and $3 for VTI. The fund takes its fee out of its own value a little each day, so you never get a bill.
VOO vs VTI performance over the same dates#
Both funds are measured from September 2010 to October 2026, the dates both traded. VOO returned about 14.8% a year and VTI returned about 14.4% a year. VOO came out ahead over this period, which does not mean it will again.
| Measure | VOO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 grew to | $92,175 | $87,846 |
| Total return | 821.7% | 778.5% |
| Return per year (CAGR) | 14.8% | 14.4% |
| Worst drop from a high | −34.0% | −35.0% |
| Volatility (how much it swings) | 16.9% | 17.3% |
| Last 12 months | 16.8% | 16.1% |
| Last 3 years, per year | 22.1% | 21.6% |
| Last 5 years, per year | 12.9% | 11.7% |
| Last 10 years, per year | 15.5% | 14.9% |
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.
VOO and VTI returns by year#
| Year | VOO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (part of the year) | 12.8% | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 17.8% | 17.1% |
| 2024 | 25.0% | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 26.3% | 26.1% |
| 2022 | −18.2% | −19.5% |
| 2021 | 28.8% | 25.7% |
| 2020 | 18.3% | 21.1% |
| 2019 | 31.4% | 30.7% |
| 2018 | −4.5% | −5.2% |
| 2017 | 21.8% | 21.2% |
| 2016 | 12.2% | 12.8% |
| 2015 | 1.3% | 0.4% |
| 2014 | 12.9% | 12.6% |
| 2013 | 32.4% | 33.5% |
| 2012 | 16.0% | 16.4% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | 1.0% |
| 2010 (part of the year) | 14.8% | 16.2% |
Which fell further in bad times?#
A drawdown is how far a fund falls from its last high point. VOO’s worst fall was −34.0%, from February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on August 10, 2020.
VTI’s worst fall was −35.0%, from February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on August 12, 2020.
Their daily moves had a correlation of 1.00. A correlation of 1 means two funds always move up and down together. Near 0 means they move on their own. So holding both adds little variety.
Why people choose VOO or VTI#
VOO. People who want the S&P 500, the index most often quoted for “the market”, tend to pick VOO. Many investors also compare their results against the S&P 500.
VTI. People who want to own the whole US market in one fund tend to pick VTI, so they do not miss out when smaller companies lead.
Strategies that hold VOO or VTI#
These classic strategies hold one or both at least some of the time. Each is a set of written rules you can open, test and copy.
- Baby Bear Portfolio (Muscular Portfolios), by Brian Livingston, 2018 (holds VTI)
- All Weather Portfolio (Ray Dalio’s All Seasons), by Ray Dalio and Tony Robbins, 2014 (holds VTI)
- Harry Browne’s Permanent Portfolio, by Harry Browne, 1999 (holds VTI)
- Golden Butterfly Portfolio, by Tyler (Portfolio Charts), 2015 (holds VTI)
- Three-Fund Portfolio (Taylor Larimore, Bogleheads), by Taylor Larimore, 2018 (holds VTI)
Other funds like VOO and VTI#
Each fund has more funds that hold the same kind of investments, ranked by how closely they move with it: VOO alternatives and VTI alternatives.
Test a mix of VOO and VTI#
Open the builder, add VOO and VTI, and give each a weight, such as 50% and 50%. The backtest shows how the mix would have done, with its worst drop, on daily prices. You can also add a rule, for example to switch between them, and compare. Read the full pages for VOO and VTI, or see more ETF comparisons.
The details#
Both funds use Tactfolio’s stored daily prices, adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They are compared only on days both traded, starting the later fund’s first day, so neither gets a head start. Correlation uses daily returns over the same days. Read what a backtest simulates for more on these measures.
Common questions#
Does VTI hold the same stocks as VOO?#
Mostly. VTI holds nearly all of the S&P 500 companies that VOO holds, plus about 3,000 smaller ones. The big companies make up most of VTI by value.
Should I hold both VOO and VTI?#
Holding both mostly doubles up on the same large companies. People who hold both usually do it on purpose, for example to add a little more weight to large companies. This page does not tell you what to buy.
Which is cheaper, VOO or VTI?#
Both charge 0.03% a year. Fees come from each issuer and were checked on October 16, 2026.
Which did better, VOO or VTI?#
From September 2010 to October 2026, VOO returned about 14.8% a year and VTI returned about 14.4% a year, with dividends reinvested. Their worst drops were −34.0% and −35.0%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.