Alternatives
Best IWMI Alternatives in 2026
Russell 2000 income ETFs to compare with the NEOS Russell 2000 High Income ETF.
Data updated August 2026 · 12 ETFs
Who this page is for
Best for
- IWMI holders comparing similar funds, fees, payouts, and strategy design
- Small-cap investors balancing current income against Russell 2000 upside
- Investors who will compare total return and NAV trend alongside distribution rate
Not a fit for
- Investors who want uncapped small-cap participation or large-cap stability
- Anyone treating a current distribution rate as guaranteed future income
- Investors choosing from headline yield alone without reviewing the underlying exposure
Analysis
IWMI applies a tax-aware options overlay to Russell 2000 exposure. RYLD uses a systematic buy-write approach, RDTE resets short-dated options and pays weekly, and IWMY, IWMW, RDTY, and RYLG vary their option and payout rules. VTWO, IWO, and IWN are useful plain small-cap benchmarks. Compare upside capture, costs, NAV trend, and total return with yield.
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A ranked list is a starting point. Dividend Vision turns it into a plan — forecasting the income your holdings actually generate and putting each fund's yield next to its total return and risk.
- Income forecasting — know what your holdings pay monthly, quarterly, and yearly
- Yield vs. total return — weigh each distribution against price performance, not the headline rate
- Screen & compare — line up any income ETFs side by side on yield, cost, and strategy
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- AI ETF comparison — ask plain-language questions to compare yield, risk, and income potential
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Top picks
Top 3 IWMI alternatives by assets under management.
Yield distribution
Expense ratio distribution
Income projection
Estimated income if the current average distribution rate of 13.63% 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 | $1,363 | $114 | $26 |
| $25,000 | $3,407 | $284 | $66 |
| $50,000 | $6,814 | $568 | $131 |
| $100,000 | $13,627 | $1,136 | $262 |
Issuer breakdown
Distribution of ETFs by fund issuer. Larger issuers often offer lower expense ratios and higher liquidity.
All 12 ETFs
| Ticker | Name | Issuer | Yield | Expense ratio | AUM | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VTWO | Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard | 1.02% | 0.10% | $16.9B | Quarterly |
| IWO | iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF | iShares | 0.49% | 0.24% | $14.4B | Quarterly |
| IWN | iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF | iShares | 1.42% | 0.24% | $14.3B | Quarterly |
| VTWG | Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard | 0.63% | 0.15% | $1.5B | Quarterly |
| RYLD | Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call ETF | Global X | 12.03% | 0.60% | $1.4B | Monthly |
| URTY | ProShares UltraPro Russell2000 | ProShares | 0.87% | 0.95% | $331M | Quarterly |
| ITWO | ProShares Russell 2000 High Income ETF | ProShares | 6.49% | 0.55% | $198M | Monthly |
| RDTE | Roundhill RDTE Russell 2000 0DTE Covered Call Strategy | Roundhill Investments | 42.18% | 0.97% | $175M | Weekly |
| IWMY | Defiance R2000 Enchanced Options Income ETF | Defiance ETFs | 30.47% | 0.99% | $96M | Weekly |
| IWMW | iShares Russell 2000 BuyWrite ETF | iShares | 19.00% | 0.39% | $58M | Monthly |
| RDTY | YieldMax R2000 0DTE Covered Strategy ETF | YieldMax | 41.79% | 1.73% | $31M | Weekly |
| RYLG | Global X Russell 2000 Covered Call & Growth ETF | Global X | 7.14% | 0.60% | $8M | Monthly |
Frequently asked questions
What are the best iwmi alternatives?
This page lists the top 12 ETFs in this category ranked by key metrics. The list includes funds from issuers like Vanguard, iShares, Global X 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 12 ETFs on this list is 13.63%. Individual yields range from 0.49% to 42.18%.
What is the closest alternative to IWMI?
RYLD and RDTE are direct Russell 2000 income comparisons, with different option tenors and distribution schedules.
What should I compare when choosing a IWMI alternative?
Compare Russell 2000 exposure, option tenor and coverage, upside capture, fees, payout composition, liquidity, NAV trend, volatility, and total return.
Does a higher-yielding IWMI 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
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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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