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Security Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF and Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 22, 2026

Best for

  • VTIInvestors who want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.
  • VTSAXInvestors who 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

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings.

VTI has outpaced VTSAX over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.94% total return against 16.86%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTSAX has compounded at 15.03% a year, ahead of VTI at 14.92%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince May 2001Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
VTI14.05%16.94%22.75%12.68%14.92%9.66%15.4%1.051.52-19.3%
VTSAX13.96%16.86%22.64%12.66%15.03%9.68%15.3%1.051.53-19.4%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 22, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since May 2001” measures every fund from May 31, 2001 — the start of shared available history — 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricVTIVTSAX
Full nameVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETFVanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Underlying indexMorningstar US Total Market IndexUS Total Market
Last Close$381.27 as of September 22, 2026$185.49 as of September 21, 2026
Distribution rate1.09%1.02%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.09%1.02%
Expense ratio0.03%0.04%
AUM$692B$1000B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveSeeks to track the Morningstar US Total Market Index.Seeks to track the performance of the CRSP US Total Market Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date05/24/2001—
Beta1.03791.02
Last dividend$1.0437$0.504
Ex-dividend date06/26/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineVTI and VTSAX are both for investors who want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Fees and payouts are close too, so it comes down to which your broker offers commission-free and any share-price or tax-lot preference.

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Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4698B

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

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VTI.

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Quick verdict

VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) is an ETF, while VTSAX (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) is a mutual fund — their trading structures differ.

VTI offers the higher yield at 1.09% vs 1.02% for VTSAX. 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 0.04%.

They have different reference exposures: VTI is linked to Morningstar US Total Market Index while VTSAX is linked to US Total Market, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTSAX is the larger fund by assets ($1000B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VTI would generate roughly $27.25 cash per distribution, while VTSAX would produce $25.50 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VTI yield1.09%
VTSAX yield1.02%
Cash diff on $10K$1.75

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VTI would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $40 for VTSAX (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

VTI ER0.03%
VTSAX ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index, while VTSAX tracks US Total Market with a mutual fund approach. Beta is 1.0379 for VTI and 1.02 for VTSAX — effectively similar market sensitivity.

VTI beta1.0379
VTSAX beta1.02

Fund details

VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $692B in assets. VTSAX is managed by Vanguard with $1000B in assets.

VTI AUM$692B
VTSAX AUM$1000B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for VTI and VTSAX?

VTI currently distributes 1.09% and VTSAX 1.02%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is VTI or VTSAX better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VTI 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 VTI and VTSAX?

VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index, while VTSAX (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares) tracks US Total Market with a mutual fund approach. They are issued by Vanguard and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both VTI and VTSAX?

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.

Is VTI or VTSAX safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: VTI scores 100, VTSAX scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, VTI or VTSAX?

VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VTSAX charges 0.04%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in VTI would generate roughly $27.25 cash per distribution ($109.00 annually). The same in VTSAX would produce about $25.50 cash per distribution ($102.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VTI or VTSAX?

VTI has outpaced VTSAX over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.94% total return against 16.86%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTSAX has compounded at 15.03% a year, ahead of VTI at 14.92%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VTI vs VTSAX — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

VTI and VTSAX are both Vanguard total-market index vehicles tracking the broad U.S. stock universe, but they differ in structure and underlying index. The two indexes are similar in scope but not identical, and the structural difference between ETF and mutual fund affects how you transact and where distributions land. Both cover the full market, but the specific weightings and constituent selection may differ slightly between indexes. VTI's expense ratio is 0.03% versus VTSAX's 0.04%, a trivial 0.01% gap; VTI's distribution rate of 1.09% edges out VTSAX's 1.02% by 9 basis points, though both are quarterly-paid. VTI's beta of 1.0379 is marginally higher than VTSAX's 1.02, suggesting slightly amplified market sensitivity, though both move almost in lockstep with broad equities.

Who each is best for

  • VTI: Investors who value intraday trading flexibility and want to buy or sell at any market price; those comfortable with exchange-traded fund mechanics and potentially tighter bid-ask spreads for smaller trades.
  • VTSAX: Investors planning to deploy capital through dollar-cost averaging or who prefer the traditional mutual fund redemption model; those with large accounts who benefit from Admiral Shares' low expense ratio and may appreciate automatic dividend reinvestment at fund NAV.

Key risks to know

  • Index tracking divergence. VTI and VTSAX track different total-market indexes (Morningstar vs. CRSP). While both aim at the same broad universe, the specific constituent list and weighting scheme may cause relative performance to diverge, particularly in market rotations favoring mid-cap or smaller-cap holdings.
  • Concentration in mega-cap equities. Both funds hold large positions in the "Magnificent Seven" and other mega-cap technology stocks by virtue of their market-cap-weighted structure. A prolonged rotation away from large-cap growth would affect both similarly, limiting any diversification benefit from holding both.
  • Market-cap sensitivity. With a beta near 1.0, both funds amplify broad U.S. equity market swings without dampening. A significant market correction would hit both proportionally hard, regardless of the modest structural differences between them.

Bottom line

If you value intraday trading and flexibility, VTI's ETF structure and slightly higher distribution rate offer modest appeal. If you're building a large, long-term position and prefer mutual fund mechanics with automatic reinvestment, VTSAX's larger asset base and marginally lower expense ratio may align better. Given the negligible cost difference and index overlap, holding both would duplicate exposure unnecessarily; choose based on which structure and trading model fits your workflow. Past performance of these indexes does not predict future results.

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

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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