Alternatives
Best IAUI Alternatives in 2026
Gold income and bullion ETFs to consider alongside the NEOS Gold High Income ETF.
Data updated August 2026 · 8 ETFs
Who this page is for
Best for
- IAUI holders comparing similar funds, fees, payouts, and strategy design
- Gold investors deciding how much metal upside to exchange for monthly income
- Investors who will compare total return and NAV trend alongside distribution rate
Not a fit for
- Investors expecting an option-income fund to track spot gold without an upside cap
- Anyone treating a current distribution rate as guaranteed future income
- Investors choosing from headline yield alone without reviewing the underlying exposure
Analysis
IAUI pairs gold exposure with a call-options strategy intended to produce monthly income. KGLD, GLDI, IGLD, YGLD, GLDX, GOLI, and GLDY use different gold vehicles and option rules, so their payouts and upside capture can diverge. GLD, IAU, and GLDM are useful bullion benchmarks because they seek gold-price exposure without an income overlay. The key choice is whether current cash flow compensates for fees, capped rallies, distribution composition, and possible tracking differences. Total return against a bullion fund helps reveal that trade-off.
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Top picks
Top 3 IAUI alternatives by assets under management.
Yield distribution
Expense ratio distribution
Income projection
Estimated income if the current average distribution rate of 8.50% held for a full year with share prices unchanged. Distribution rate is not total return—a fund can pay a large distribution while its share price falls—so treat these as an upper-bound illustration, not a forecast.
| Investment | Annual income | Monthly income | Weekly income |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $850 | $71 | $16 |
| $25,000 | $2,125 | $177 | $41 |
| $50,000 | $4,249 | $354 | $82 |
| $100,000 | $8,499 | $708 | $163 |
Issuer breakdown
Distribution of ETFs by fund issuer. Larger issuers often offer lower expense ratios and higher liquidity.
All 8 ETFs
| Ticker | Name | Issuer | Yield | Expense ratio | AUM | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLD | SPDR Gold Shares | State Street | — | 0.40% | $133.2B | None |
| IAU | iShares Gold Trust | iShares | — | 0.25% | $61.0B | None |
| GLDM | SPDR Gold Minishares Trust of beneficial interest | State Street | — | 0.10% | $27.2B | None |
| IGLD | FT Cboe Vest Gold Target Income ETF | First Trust | 8.17% | 0.85% | $508M | Monthly |
| KGLD | Kurv Gold Enhanced Income ETF | Kurv | 16.04% | 1.00% | $113M | Monthly |
| YGLD | Simplify Gold Strategy PLUS Income ETF | Simplify ETFs | 10.78% | 0.53% | $34M | Monthly |
| GOLI | Defiance Gold Enhanced Options Income ETF | Defiance ETFs | 29.86% | 1.04% | $25M | Weekly |
| GLDX | USCF Gold Strategy Plus Income Fund | USCF Investments | 3.14% | 0.47% | $9M | Quarterly |
Frequently asked questions
What are the best iaui alternatives?
This page lists the top 8 ETFs in this category ranked by key metrics. The list includes funds from issuers like State Street, iShares, First Trust, Kurv and more.
How often is this list updated?
The data on this page is refreshed regularly using the latest available distribution rates, expense ratios, and AUM figures. Last updated August 2026.
What is the average yield of these ETFs?
The average distribution yield across the 8 ETFs on this list is 8.50%. Individual yields range from 3.14% to 29.86%.
What is the closest alternative to IAUI?
KGLD and GLDI are direct gold option-income comparisons, although GLDI is an ETN rather than an ETF. IGLD and YGLD provide other income-overlay designs.
What should I compare when choosing a IAUI alternative?
Compare the gold exposure vehicle, option coverage and tenor, issuer or counterparty risk, fees, distribution composition, upside capture, NAV trend, and total return versus gold.
Does a higher-yielding IAUI alternative produce a better return?
Not necessarily. Distribution rate measures cash paid, not wealth created. Compare total return, NAV trend, fees, distribution composition, and the amount of upside surrendered by any options overlay.
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Learn the method
The metrics and risks behind this list, explained in the Academy.
From the blog
Put this list to work in your portfolio
Import or build a portfolio to see income forecasts, upcoming distributions, income concentration, and risk across everything you own — and where a fund's yield and total return diverge.
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