VOOG vs VUG: Two Vanguard Growth Funds, One Bet
Both buy US large-cap growth, both lean heavily into megacap tech. The differences are the index they track and a few basis points of fee. This is a low-stakes choice.
VOOG and VUG are close enough that the honest answer is they are nearly interchangeable. VOOG (Vanguard S&P 500 Growth) holds the growth-classified portion of the S&P 500, roughly 230 names, for 0.07%. VUG (Vanguard Growth) tracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth index, roughly 180 names, for 0.04%. Both are dominated by the same handful of megacap technology companies, both are about half technology, and both have delivered very similar returns over time because they are expressing the same large-cap growth tilt. The two real differences are small. First, the index: VOOG is confined to S&P 500 constituents, while VUG's CRSP index can include large growth names that sit just outside the S&P 500, making VUG marginally broader. Second, the fee: VUG at 0.04% is a bit cheaper than VOOG at 0.07%, which on a large balance over decades is a real but modest gap. Neither is a core holding on its own, since both double down on the megacaps a total-market or S&P 500 fund already owns at the top. If you are deciding purely between these two, VUG's lower fee and slightly broader index make it the marginal pick, but the difference is small enough that holding whichever your brokerage favors is perfectly reasonable. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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.
📋 VOOG vs VUG — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | VOOG | VUG |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF | Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| Tracks Index | S&P 500 Growth | CRSP US Large Cap Growth |
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% | 0.04% ✓ |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $7.00 | $4.00 |
| AUM | $27B | $365.0B |
| Holdings | 230 | 180 |
| Inception | 2010 | 2004 |
| 1-Year Return | +30.00% | +30.45% |
| 3-Year Return | +10.00% | +27.72% |
| 5-Year Return | +18.00% | +14.91% |
| Dividend Yield | — | 0.40% |
| Holdings Overlap | High. Both are Vanguard large-cap US growth funds dominated by the same megacap technology names. Different indexes, very similar exposure. — see full overlap → | |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread | 0.01% | 0.00% |
Expense ratio, AUM, and returns updated May 25, 2026 from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 VOOG vs VUG — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Should You Buy VOOG or VUG?
- You want tech-heavy large-cap growth exposure via S&P 500 Growth
- You already use Vanguard and prefer staying within their fund family
- You want the lowest fees — saves ~$3/yr per $10K vs VOOG
- You want tech-heavy large-cap growth exposure via CRSP US Large Cap Growth
💰 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.
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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❓ VOOG vs VUG — Frequently Asked Questions
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