VAF vs BOND: Which ETF Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.
VAF comes out ahead on 5 of 9 measures. Which matters most depends on you.
The short answer
Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.
A tighter gap between the buy and sell price.
VAF vs BOND side by side
| VAF leads on 5, BOND on 4 | VAFVanguard Australian Fixed Interest Index ETF | BONDState Street SPDR S&P/ASX iBoxx Australian Bond ETF |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Index tracked | Bloomberg AusBond Composite 0+ Yr Index | S&P/ASX iBoxx Australian Fixed Interest Diversified 0+ Index |
| Fund manager | Vanguard | State Street (SPDR) |
| Asset class | Australian bonds | Australian bonds |
| Listed | Oct 2012 | Jul 2012 |
| Cost and size | ||
| MERyearly fee, lower is better | 0.10% | 0.10% |
| AUMfund size | $3.9bn✓ | $52m |
| Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month | $66m✓ | $1.7m |
| Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better | 0.04%✓ | 0.11% |
| Total returns | ||
| 1 month | −0.8% | −0.7%✓ |
| 1 year | −0.4% | −0.0%✓ |
| 3 years p.a. | +3.4% | +3.7%✓ |
| 5 years p.a. | −0.1%✓ | −0.3% |
| $10,000 invested | ||
| 1 year ago | $9,961 | $9,997✓ |
| 5 years ago | $9,931✓ | $9,841 |
✓ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.
VAF vs BOND price chart
Both ETFs on one chart as % change. Use the 1D to All buttons to change the period. Price only, so it leaves out distributions · TradingView
What $10,000 invested is worth now
$10,000 put into VAF 5 years ago is worth $9,931 today, against $9,841 in BOND. That is $90 more in VAF.
Total returns to 30 September 2026, with distributions reinvested, before tax and brokerage. The price chart above leaves out distributions, so it can look worse. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
What the fees cost you
VAF and BOND charge the same fee, so fees make no difference between them.
Total fees paid on a $100,000 investment, assuming a 7% a year return before fees. Illustration only: it ignores tax, brokerage and differences in returns.
VAF and BOND overlap
1 companies appear in both funds. Overlap is the share of the portfolio that is the same in both, counting the smaller weight of each shared company.
| Biggest shared holdings | % of VAF | % of BOND |
|---|---|---|
| 100.00% | 100.00% |
Add more ETFs and see the overlap in Compare ETFs →
Best-endeavours estimate. Built from each issuer's published holdings, which may be weeks or months old, may cover only part of a fund (some publish only their top 10) and are matched by company name. Figures may be incomplete or inaccurate. Check the issuer's website and PDS before relying on them. General information only.
Get the full VAF vs BOND report
- Every holding of each ETF: the top 50 companies, with sectors and countries
- Exactly which companies they share, and how much of each
- Fees in dollars over 10, 20 and 30 years
- Every metric side by side, including the index each tracks
- ★ FREE BONUSIs now a good time to invest? The Market Health-O-Meter
FAQs
Which is better, VAF or BOND?
It depends on what you need. On our numbers VAF wins on 5 measures and BOND on 4. VAF is the larger fund at $3.9bn vs $52m. BOND has the better 1-year return: −0.0% vs −0.4%. BOND has the better 3-year return: +3.7% a year vs +3.4%.
Which is cheaper, VAF or BOND?
VAF charges 0.10% a year and BOND charges 0.10% a year.
Can I hold both VAF and BOND?
You can, but check how much they overlap. VAF is a Australian bonds fund and BOND is a Australian bonds fund.
More comparisons
General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.