⚖️ SCHB vs VTI Comparison · Free & No Signup

SCHB vs VTI: Schwab vs Vanguard in the Total Market Race

Both charge 0.03% and own the entire US stock market. The index methodology differs slightly — but practically speaking, these are interchangeable.

🔬 Compare top 10 holdings → 💡 Plain-English verdict

🤝 BFF Take

A True Toss-Up — VTI Has More Assets, SCHB Covers More Stocks

SCHB (Schwab US Broad Market ETF) and VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) are both exceptional total US market ETFs at the same 0.03% expense ratio. VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index (~3,700 stocks) and has roughly $480B in assets. SCHB tracks the Dow Jones US Broad Stock Market Index (~2,500 stocks) with about $30B in assets. Both cover large, mid, small, and micro-cap US stocks. The slight differences in holding count reflect index construction methodology — not a meaningful difference in exposure. VTI's larger AUM gives it a liquidity edge; SCHB is the natural pick for Schwab users. Neither choice is wrong.

📋 Quick Takeaways

🔄Same 0.03% expense ratio, same total US market concept — functionally interchangeable for most investors

📊SCHB tracks Dow Jones US Broad Market (~2,500 stocks); VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market (~3,700 stocks)

🏦VTI has $480B+ AUM vs SCHB's $30B — VTI has significantly higher liquidity and trading volume

📊 Data-Based Take: VTI has the lower fee

Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.

✓ Reviewed by a CFA® Charterholder · Data as of Jul 14, 2026 · Educational only, not financial advice

SCHB

Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF

Expense Ratio

0.03%

1-Year Return

+20.9%

AUM

$43.2B

Holdings

2,500

VTI

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares

Expense Ratio

0.03%

1-Year Return

+21.1%

AUM

$2,202.6B

Holdings

3,700

📋 SCHB vs VTI — Key Facts Side by Side

Metric	SCHB	VTI
Fund Name	Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF	Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares
Issuer	Schwab	Vanguard
Tracks Index	Dow Jones US Broad Stock Market	CRSP US Total Market
Expense Ratio	0.03%	0.03%
Cost per $10K/yr	$3.00	$3.00
AUM	$43.2B	$2,202.6B
Holdings	2,500	3,700
Inception	2009	2001
1-Year Return	+20.93%	+21.11%
3-Year Return	+21.01%	+20.97%
5-Year Return	+12.08%	+12.10%
Dividend Yield	1.04%	1.05%
Holdings Overlap	See holdings overlap →
Avg Bid-Ask Spread	0.01%	0.00%

Expense ratio, AUM, and returns updated Jul 14, 2026 from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.

📊 SCHB vs VTI — Annualised Returns

Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.

🎯 Which Fund Fits Which Investor?

Often fits investors who...

SCHB

want the entire US stock market: large, mid, and small cap in one fund
already use Schwab and prefer staying within one fund family

Often fits investors who...

VTI

want broader diversification (3,700 holdings vs 2,500)
want the entire US stock market: large, mid, and small cap in one fund

💰 What the Fee Difference Actually Costs

Adjust the numbers for your situation. This models each fund's expense ratio compounding against your balance over time.

Investment amount$ Years held Expected annual return%

Assumes a constant annual return reinvested, with each fund's expense ratio deducted yearly. Illustrative only; actual returns vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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❓ SCHB vs VTI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is SCHB or VTI a better investment?

For practical purposes, SCHB and VTI are equivalent investments. Both provide complete US market exposure at 0.03%. The main decision factors are your brokerage (Schwab users may prefer SCHB; Vanguard users VTI) and AUM/liquidity preference (VTI is 16x larger). Over any 5-10 year period, the return difference will be less than 0.05% — driven almost entirely by index construction differences at the micro-cap end.

Does SCHB or VTI cover more stocks?

VTI covers more stocks — roughly 3,700 vs SCHB's 2,500. VTI's CRSP index goes deeper into the micro-cap space. However, the additional micro-cap stocks in VTI represent less than 1% of total assets and have virtually no impact on performance. Both provide effective exposure to US large, mid, and small-cap companies.

Can I use SCHB instead of VTI in a three-fund portfolio?

Absolutely. SCHB is a direct substitute for VTI in the classic three-fund portfolio (Total US Market / Total International / Total Bond). Schwab's versions would be SCHB + SCHF (international) + SCHZ (bonds) — all at very low cost. The three-fund concept works with any low-cost total market funds, regardless of the specific issuer.

Should I switch from SCHB to VTI?

There's no meaningful reason to switch. If you're in a taxable account and have capital gains in SCHB, switching would trigger a tax event for essentially zero investment benefit. If you're starting fresh, pick based on your brokerage. Both are excellent long-term holds.

How does SCHB compare to FZROX (Fidelity Zero Total Market)?

FZROX is a zero-expense-ratio total market fund available exclusively at Fidelity. If you use Fidelity, FZROX eliminates the 0.03% fee entirely — but you cannot transfer shares out or trade on any exchange (it's a Fidelity-only fund). SCHB's 0.03% is very small but FZROX's zero fee is technically lower. The portability of SCHB (tradeable anywhere) is a real advantage.

New to ETF investing? See answers to the most common ETF questions →

📄 SCHB & VTI Fact Sheets

SCHB Fact Sheet→ VTI Fact Sheet→

ℹ️ Data shown is for educational purposes and may not reflect the most current figures. Returns are trailing price-based and exclude dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. ETF BFF is not a licensed financial advisor — this is not personalized financial advice.