S&P 500 ETF Comparison
| ETF | Ticker | Fee | AUM | Yield | YTD | 5Y | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard S&P 500 | VOO | 0.03% | $420B | 1.32% | +94.8% | Buy & Hold | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 | IVV | 0.03% | $385B | 1.32% | +94.5% | Buy & Hold | |
| SPDR S&P 500 | SPY | 0.09% | $530B | 1.30% | +93.1% | Active Trading | |
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 | SPLG | 0.02% | $15B | 1.34% | +94.8% | Lowest Cost |
Detailed Breakdown
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF VOO
The industry standard for S&P 500 investing. Just 0.03% annually ($3/yr on $10K). $420B in assets. Among the most liquid ETFs in the world.
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF IVV
iShares' VOO equivalent. Nearly identical exposure and fees. Often the default S&P 500 choice on Fidelity and other non-Vanguard platforms.
Which One Should You Buy?
Our Recommendation
- Most investors: VOO (lowest fees with Vanguard stewardship)
- Fidelity/non-Vanguard platform: IVV (same cost, may be commission-free)
- Active traders: SPY (unmatched options and day-trading liquidity)
- Smallest budget: SPLG (lowest share price and expense, ideal for DCA)
Frequently Asked Questions
VOO and IVV are the best S&P 500 ETFs for long-term investors. Both charge 0.03% annually, track the S&P 500 with near-perfect precision, and have massive AUM ensuring excellent liquidity.
SPLG (0.02%) is technically the cheapest, followed by VOO and IVV (0.03%). The difference is just $2/year on a $10,000 investment. VOO's superior liquidity makes it worth the extra 0.01% for most.
For buy-and-hold investors, the differences are minimal. All major S&P 500 ETFs track the same index and perform nearly identically. Focus on expense ratio (lower is better), liquidity, and commission-free trading availability.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. It is not financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.