VTS vs SPY: Which ETF Is Better?
A side-by-side comparison of fees, size, returns and holdings, using data to 30 September 2026.
VTS comes out ahead on 7 of 9 measures. Which matters most depends on you.
The short answer
Worth about $4,294 on $100,000 over 20 years.
Bigger funds usually trade more cheaply and are less likely to close.
VTS vs SPY side by side
| VTS leads on 7, SPY on 2 | VTSVanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF | SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Index tracked | CRSP US Total Market Index | S&P 500 Index |
| Fund manager | Vanguard | State Street (SPDR) |
| Asset class | International shares | International shares |
| Listed | May 2009 | Oct 2014 |
| Cost and size | ||
| MERyearly fee, lower is better | 0.03%✓ | 0.09% |
| AUMfund size | $7.3bn✓ | $403m |
| Net flows (Sep)new money in, last month | $84m✓ | $0.0m |
| Bid/ask spreadtrading cost, lower is better | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Total returns | ||
| 1 month | +2.2%✓ | +0.1% |
| 1 year | +9.8%✓ | +7.4% |
| 3 years p.a. | +18.8%✓ | +18.3% |
| 5 years p.a. | +12.4% | +12.9%✓ |
| $10,000 invested | ||
| 1 year ago | $10,977✓ | $10,742 |
| 5 years ago | $17,920 | $18,334✓ |
✓ marks the better figure on each measure. Returns include distributions, to 30 September 2026.
VTS vs SPY 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 VTS 5 years ago is worth $17,920 today, against $18,334 in SPY. That is $414 more in SPY.
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
VTS's lower fee leaves about $4,294 more in your pocket over 20 years.
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.
VTS and SPY overlap
389 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 VTS | % of SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 8.27% | 7.77% | |
| 7.28% | 7.65% | |
| 5.70% | 5.92% | |
| 5.45% | 4.52% | |
| 3.66% | 3.60% | |
| 2.50% | 2.47% | |
| 2.39% | 2.07% | |
| 1.80% | 1.59% | |
| 1.50% | 1.71% | |
| 1.50% | 1.39% | |
| 1.39% | 1.52% | |
| 1.39% | 1.65% |
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 VTS vs SPY 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, VTS or SPY?
It depends on what you need. On our numbers VTS wins on 7 measures and SPY on 2. VTS is cheaper, with a management fee of 0.03% vs 0.09%. On $100,000 over 20 years that difference is worth about $4,294. VTS is the larger fund at $7.3bn vs $403m. VTS has the better 1-year return: +9.8% vs +7.4%.
Which is cheaper, VTS or SPY?
VTS charges 0.03% a year and SPY charges 0.09% a year.
Can I hold both VTS and SPY?
You can, but check how much they overlap. VTS is a international shares fund and SPY is a international shares fund.
More comparisons
General information only, not a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.