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ETF Comparison

VT vs VTI: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard Total World Stock ETF and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 21, 2026

Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4488B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VT and VTI.

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Side-by-side snapshot

VTVTI
Full nameVanguard Total World Stock ETFVanguard Total Stock Market ETF
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Last Close$154.29 as of July 21, 2026$366.25 as of July 21, 2026
Distribution yield1.46%1.14%
Distribution Safety Score™ 93100
Expense ratio0.07%0.03%
AUM$77.7B$660B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexFTSE Global All Cap IndexCRSP US Total Market Index
ObjectiveTrack the FTSE Global All Cap Index, covering developed and emerging markets.Track the CRSP US Total Market Index, representing the broad U.S. equity market.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date06/24/200805/24/2001
Beta0.981.0379
Last dividend$0.5630$1.0437
Ex-dividend date06/18/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose VT if you want broad equity exposure. Choose VTI if you want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

VT has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.59% total return against 19.74%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTI has compounded at 14.55% a year, ahead of VT at 12.32%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Jun 2008Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
VT9.23%20.59%18.13%10.94%12.32%8.76%14.5%0.851.22-16.5%
VTI9.56%19.74%19.09%12.37%14.55%12.10%15.4%0.851.22-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 20, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jun 2008” measures every fund from June 26, 2008 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Quick verdict

VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) and VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VT offers the higher yield at 1.46% vs 1.14% for VTI. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VTI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.07%.

They track different benchmarks: VT is linked to FTSE Global All Cap Index while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($660B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VT would generate roughly $12.17/month, while VTI would produce $9.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VT yield1.46%
VTI yield1.14%
Monthly diff on $10K$2.67

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VT would cost approximately $70 in fees vs $30 for VTI (simplified, not compounded). The $40.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

VT ER0.07%
VTI ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

VT tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index with an international approach, while VTI tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. Beta is 0.98 for VT and 1.0379 for VTI, indicating VT is less volatile relative to the market.

VT beta0.98
VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

VT is managed by Vanguard (launched 06/24/2008) with $77.7B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $660B in assets.

VT AUM$77.7B
VTI AUM$660B
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Frequently asked questions

Is VT or VTI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VT currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between VT and VTI?

VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) tracks FTSE Global All Cap Index with an international approach, while VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) tracks CRSP US Total Market Index. They are issued by Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both VT and VTI?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, VT or VTI?

VT has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VTI charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in VT vs VTI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in VT would generate roughly $12.17 per month ($146.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.50 per month ($114.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VT or VTI?

VT has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.59% total return against 19.74%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTI has compounded at 14.55% a year, ahead of VT at 12.32%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VT vs VTI — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

VT and VTI are both Vanguard equity index ETFs that track distinct markets: VT covers global equities (developed and emerging markets via the FTSE Global All Cap Index), while VTI covers only U.S. stocks (via the CRSP US Total Market Index). The choice between them hinges on geographic exposure—whether you want international diversification built in or U.S.-only exposure.

How they differ

The fundamental difference is scope: VT gives you developed and emerging markets worldwide, while VTI is pure U.S. market. VT carries a 1.43% distribution rate versus VTI's 1.12%, reflecting higher yields in some international markets and VT's broader exposure mix. VTI dominates in scale ($654B in AUM versus VT's $74.1B) and offers a fractionally lower expense ratio at 0.03% versus VT's 0.07%—a small gap, but meaningful at scale. VTI's beta of 1.0379 tracks the broad U.S. market tightly, while VT's 0.98 beta suggests slightly lower volatility than its global benchmark, possibly due to diversification across regions and market caps.

Who each is best for

  • VT: Fits investors seeking one-fund global diversification who want developed and emerging market exposure without the need to separately allocate to international equity. Works well for those building a core holding that already includes geographic spread.
  • VTI: Fits investors who already own international equity separately or prefer a U.S.-only core position. Ideal for those pairing it with a dedicated emerging or international fund, or those who believe U.S. equities deserve a larger weighting in their allocation.

Key risks to know

  • Currency risk in VT: Movements in exchange rates—particularly the dollar against the euro, yen, and emerging market currencies—will affect returns for U.S.-based investors in ways VTI avoids entirely.
  • Emerging market volatility in VT: The inclusion of emerging markets introduces regulatory, liquidity, and political risk that VTI's U.S.-only mandate sidesteps. EM valuations and growth also tend to diverge sharply from developed markets.
  • U.S. concentration in VTI: VTI has no geographic diversification; a prolonged period of U.S. equity underperformance or dollar strength could leave returns behind a globally diversified portfolio.
  • Valuation and cyclicality mismatch: VT and VTI may trade at different valuations and cycle differently. A shift in investor preference away from U.S. equities—or toward them—can create meaningful relative performance divergence over years.

Bottom line

If you want one global fund and don't want to manage separate international allocations, VT delivers that in a low-cost wrapper; if you prefer to build international exposure separately or believe U.S. equities merit outsized weight, VTI offers slightly lower costs and deeper liquidity with a simpler U.S.-only mandate. Neither approach is inherently superior—it depends on your broader portfolio architecture and views on geographic allocation. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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