VT vs VTI: One Fund for the World vs One Fund for America
VT gives you every investable company on earth in a single ETF. VTI gives you just the US — which has been the stronger market but isn't guaranteed to stay that way.
VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) and VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) represent two fundamentally different investment philosophies. VTI gives you the entire US market — roughly 3,700 stocks — at a rock-bottom 0.03% fee. It has dramatically outperformed VT over the past 10-15 years because the US has been the dominant market. VT owns approximately 9,900 stocks across 49 countries at 0.07%, with about 63% in the US and 37% in international markets. The honest argument for VT: no one knows whether the US will continue to outperform, and a globally diversified portfolio removes that bet entirely. The argument for VTI: lower fees and the US has the world's most innovative economy. Many serious investors add VXUS alongside VTI to build a VT-equivalent with fee flexibility.
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.
📋 VT vs VTI — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | VT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| Tracks Index | FTSE Global All Cap | CRSP US Total Market |
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% | 0.03% ✓ |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $7.00 | $3.00 |
| AUM | $96.8B | $2,202.6B |
| Holdings | 9,900 | 3,700 |
| Inception | 2008 | 2001 |
| 1-Year Return | +21.75% | +21.11% |
| 3-Year Return | +20.21% | +20.97% |
| 5-Year Return | +10.78% | +12.10% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.58% | 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.
📊 VT vs VTI — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Which Fund Fits Which Investor?
- want broader diversification (9,900 holdings vs 3,700)
- want geographic diversification beyond US stocks
- want the lowest fees: saves ~$4/yr per $10K vs VT
- 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.
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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❓ VT vs VTI — Frequently Asked Questions
New to ETF investing? See answers to the most common ETF questions →