Best ASX 200 ETF in Australia (2026)
Every ASX 200 (and ASX 300) index ETF holds almost the same companies, so the real differences are fees, size and trading costs.
Of the 5 ETFs we compared, A300 has the lowest fee (0.03% a year) and VAS is the largest ($26.7bn). A200 had the best five-year return, +6.9% a year. Over 5 years, A200 tracked its index most closely after fees. The right one depends on your goals: read what to consider below.
Data to 30 September 2026 from the TMX Australia funds report. Returns include distributions. General information only, not a recommendation.
All the options compared
Broad Australian share index ETFs
These track the S&P/ASX 200 or a similar broad index of the biggest Australian companies.
| Code | ETF | Fee | Size | 1Y | 5Y a year | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAS | Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETFLargest | 0.07% | $26.7bn | +2.2% | +6.5% | 0.02% |
| A200 | Betashares Australia 200 ETFBest 5Y | 0.04% | $11.1bn | +2.9% | +6.9% | 0.02% |
| IOZ | iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF | 0.05% | $9.7bn | +2.6% | +6.8% | 0.04% |
| STW | SPDR S&P/ASX 200 ETF | 0.05% | $6.5bn | +2.6% | +6.7% | 0.03% |
| A300 | Global X Australia 300 ETFLowest fee | 0.03% | $23m | +3.2% | – | 0.10% |
Compare the biggest side by side → · Check how much they overlap →
Spread is the average gap between the buy and sell price: lower is cheaper to trade. 5Y a year is the average yearly total return over five years. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
How closely each ASX 200 ETF tracks its index
An index fund should return its index, less its fee. The gap below is each fund's return after fees minus its own benchmark. A gap close to zero means it has done its job well. Over 5 years, A200 tracked its index most closely, trailing it by only 0.04% a year.
| ETF and benchmark | Fee | 1Y gap | 3Y gap a year | 5Y gap a year | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A200Solactive Australia 200 Index | 0.04% | +0.07% | -0.02% | -0.04% | Tracking well |
| VASS&P/ASX 300 Index | 0.07% | -0.05% | -0.04% | -0.04% | Tracking well |
| STWS&P/ASX 200 Index | 0.05% | -0.03% | -0.04% | -0.06% | Tracking well |
| IOZS&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index | 0.05% | -0.06% | -0.09% | -0.07% | Tracking well |
| A300FTSE Australia 300 Index | 0.03% | +0.03% | – | – | Tracking well |
Gap = fund return after fees minus its benchmark. Issuer figures to November 2026. Hedged funds are measured against the hedged version of their index. Funds without published benchmark figures are left out. See every ETF vs its benchmark →
What to consider
- Fees matter most. When the holdings are near identical, a lower fee goes straight to your return.
- ASX 200 vs ASX 300. VAS and A300 add about 100 smaller companies. Over time the difference in returns has been small.
- Franking credits. All of these pass on franking credits, which are especially valuable in a low-tax or pension-phase account.
- Bigger is usually safer. Large funds have tighter bid/ask spreads and are less likely to close.
