Alternatives
Best SCHD Alternatives in 2026
Top dividend and quality ETFs to consider alongside or instead of Schwab US Dividend Equity (SCHD).
Data updated August 2026 · 14 ETFs
Who this page is for
Best for
- SCHD holders looking to diversify their dividend sleeve or reduce single-fund concentration
- Investors who like SCHD's quality-and-value tilt but want higher yield or more growth
- Anyone comparing low-cost dividend ETFs before committing new money
Not a fit for
- Investors who specifically want SCHD's Dow Jones US Dividend 100 methodology — no fund replicates it exactly
- Those seeking high current income — these are 2-4% yielders, not covered-call funds
- Traders — dividend ETFs reward multi-year holding, not short-term moves
Analysis
SCHD is the default low-cost dividend ETF for good reason — a quality-and-value screen, a ~3.5% yield, a rock-bottom expense ratio, and a strong record of dividend growth. But no single fund should anchor an entire income strategy, and several ETFs make excellent complements or substitutes. If you want a broader net, VYM holds far more names at a similar low cost. For faster dividend growth and a lower starting yield, DGRO and VIG screen for companies that consistently raise payouts. For more current income, HDV and SPYD tilt toward higher-yielding value names. And FDVV and DGRW blend yield with quality and growth factors. The key differences come down to methodology, yield, and how much growth versus current income you want. None replicates SCHD's exact index, so the right "alternative" depends on which lever — yield, growth, diversification, or cost — matters most to you.
See this list inside your portfolio
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
- Portfolio risk — see income concentration, issuer overlap, and volatility across your holdings
- AI ETF comparison — ask plain-language questions to compare yield, risk, and income potential
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How these alternatives are selected
- Universe: a hand-curated peer set of same-strategy funds, maintained editorially so an off-strategy fund never appears; SCHD itself is excluded.
- Eligibility: active ETFs only — liquidated, delisted, and renamed funds drop out automatically.
- Ranking: assets under management, a size-and-liquidity proxy. Never ranked by yield — yields are shown as data, not used to order the list.
- Fit: how each fund's strategy differs from SCHD — and who each one suits — is covered in the strategy notes and FAQ below.
Top picks
Top 3 SCHD alternatives by assets under management.
Yield distribution
Expense ratio distribution
Income projection
Estimated income if the current average distribution rate of 2.79% 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 | $279 | $23 | $5 |
| $25,000 | $696 | $58 | $13 |
| $50,000 | $1,393 | $116 | $27 |
| $100,000 | $2,786 | $232 | $54 |
Issuer breakdown
Distribution of ETFs by fund issuer. Larger issuers often offer lower expense ratios and higher liquidity.
All 14 ETFs
| Ticker | Name | Issuer | Yield | Expense ratio | AUM | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VTV | Vanguard Value ETF | Vanguard | 1.93% | 0.03% | $191.4B | Quarterly |
| VIG | Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard | 1.63% | 0.06% | $113.6B | Quarterly |
| VYM | Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard | 2.37% | 0.06% | $83.4B | Quarterly |
| DGRO | iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | iShares | 1.67% | 0.08% | $43.4B | Quarterly |
| CGDV | Capital Group Dividend Value ETF | Capital Group | 1.15% | 0.33% | $37.4B | Quarterly |
| SDY | SPDR S&P Dividend ETF | State Street | 2.45% | 0.35% | $22.0B | Quarterly |
| VYMI | Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF | Vanguard | 4.79% | 0.07% | $21.1B | Quarterly |
| DGRW | WisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund | WisdomTree | 0.78% | 0.28% | $17.2B | Monthly |
| HDV | iShares Core High Dividend ETF | iShares | 1.21% | 0.08% | $14.9B | Quarterly |
| NOBL | ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF | ProShares | 2.08% | 0.35% | $11.9B | Quarterly |
| FDVV | Fidelity High Dividend ETF | Fidelity Investments | 3.23% | 0.15% | $10.4B | Quarterly |
| SPYD | SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF | State Street | 4.35% | 0.07% | $7.7B | Quarterly |
| SPHD | Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF | Invesco | 4.90% | 0.30% | $3.4B | Monthly |
| DIV | Global X SuperDividend U.S. ETF | Global X | 6.46% | 0.45% | $786M | Monthly |
Frequently asked questions
What are the best schd alternatives?
This page lists the top 14 ETFs in this category ranked by key metrics. The list includes funds from issuers like Vanguard, iShares, Capital Group 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 14 ETFs on this list is 2.79%. Individual yields range from 0.78% to 6.46%.
What is the closest alternative to SCHD?
VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield) is the most common substitute — it is broad, low-cost, and dividend-focused, though it holds many more stocks and screens purely for yield rather than SCHD's quality-and-value blend. For dividend growth instead of yield, DGRO and VIG are the closest in spirit.
Why hold an SCHD alternative instead of just SCHD?
Diversification and fit. Pairing SCHD with a growth-tilted fund (DGRO, VIG) or a higher-yield fund (SPYD, HDV) reduces reliance on one methodology and lets you tune your blend of current income versus dividend growth. Some investors also want broader holdings than SCHD's concentrated 100-stock portfolio.
Do any of these yield more than SCHD?
Yes. SPYD and HDV typically yield more than SCHD by tilting harder toward high-yield value names, though they sacrifice some of SCHD's quality screen and dividend-growth track record. Higher yield usually means slower dividend growth — that's the core trade-off across this list.
Explore more
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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