⚖️ VTI vs ITOT Comparison · Free & No Signup

VTI vs ITOT: Two Total Market ETFs That Are Nearly Identical

Both cover the full US stock market at the same 0.03% fee. The choice between them comes down to index methodology and which brokerage you use — not performance.

🔬 Compare top 10 holdings → 💡 Plain-English verdict

🤝 BFF Take

Near-Perfect Twins — VTI Has a Slight Edge in Track Record and AUM

VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) and ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF) are functionally identical for most investors. Both charge 0.03% and cover the entire US stock market including large, mid, and small-cap stocks. VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index with ~3,700 holdings while ITOT tracks the S&P Total Market Index with ~2,400 holdings — the difference in holding count reflects index construction methodology, not a meaningful difference in exposure. VTI has a larger asset base ($480B+ vs $75B) and a slightly longer track record, which gives it a marginal edge in liquidity. If you already use Vanguard, go VTI. Fidelity or iShares user? ITOT is perfectly fine.

📋 Quick Takeaways

🔄Same 0.03% expense ratio and nearly identical US total market exposure — functionally interchangeable

📊VTI holds ~3,700 stocks (CRSP index); ITOT holds ~2,400 (S&P Total Market) — small-cap coverage differs slightly

🏦VTI has 6x more assets ($480B vs $75B) — marginally better liquidity, though both are extremely liquid

📊 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

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

ITOT

iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF

Expense Ratio

0.03%

1-Year Return

+21.0%

AUM

$94.1B

Holdings

2,400

📋 VTI vs ITOT — Key Facts Side by Side

Metric	VTI	ITOT
Fund Name	Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares	iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF
Issuer	Vanguard	iShares
Tracks Index	CRSP US Total Market	S&P Total Market
Expense Ratio	0.03%	0.03%
Cost per $10K/yr	$3.00	$3.00
AUM	$2,202.6B	$94.1B
Holdings	3,700	2,400
Inception	2001	2004
1-Year Return	+21.11%	+21.04%
3-Year Return	+20.97%	+21.02%
5-Year Return	+12.10%	+12.03%
Dividend Yield	1.05%	1.00%
Holdings Overlap	~98% — both track the US total stock market — see full overlap →
Avg Bid-Ask Spread	0.00%	0.00%

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

📊 VTI vs ITOT — Annualised Returns

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

🎯 Which Fund Fits Which Investor?

Often fits investors who...

VTI

want broader diversification (3,700 holdings vs 2,400)
want the entire US stock market: large, mid, and small cap in one fund

Often fits investors who...

ITOT

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

💰 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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❓ VTI vs ITOT — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between VTI and ITOT?

VTI and ITOT are nearly identical US total market ETFs with the same 0.03% expense ratio. The main differences are the underlying index (VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market with ~3,700 stocks; ITOT tracks S&P Total Market with ~2,400 stocks) and fund size (VTI has ~$480B in assets vs ITOT's ~$75B). For practical purposes, both provide complete US market coverage and will have nearly identical performance over time.

Is VTI or ITOT better?

For most investors, either works fine. VTI has a slight advantage in AUM, track record length (launched 2001 vs 2004), and slightly broader small-cap coverage through the CRSP index. ITOT is a fine choice if you prefer iShares or invest at a brokerage where iShares ETFs trade commission-free with additional benefits. The performance difference over any meaningful time period is negligible.

Do VTI and ITOT hold the same stocks?

Mostly yes, with minor differences at the small-cap end. Both hold all the same mega-cap, large-cap, and mid-cap US stocks. Where they differ is the exact small-cap cutoff and weighting — VTI's CRSP index captures more micro-cap names than ITOT's S&P Total Market index. This difference has virtually zero impact on performance since these tiny companies represent less than 1% of total assets.

Can I hold both VTI and ITOT?

You could, but there's no diversification benefit — you'd just be paying two sets of (admittedly very low) fees for essentially the same exposure. Pick one and stick with it. If you find yourself holding both from different accounts, that's harmless but unnecessary.

Should I use VTI or ITOT in my Fidelity account?

Both trade on major exchanges and are available at Fidelity. If Fidelity offers commission-free trading on either (check current promotions), that's a factor. Otherwise, you might also consider FSKAX (Fidelity's own zero-fee total market index fund) or SCHB (Schwab's 0.03% total market ETF) as alternatives — all provide essentially the same exposure.

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

📄 VTI & ITOT Fact Sheets

VTI Fact Sheet→ ITOT 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.