VT vs VTI: Which Should You Buy?
Same fund company (Vanguard), 0.03% vs 0.06% fee.
Over the period we can measure, VTI has returned about 2.3% a year more and overlap about 62% by weight. Pick VTI for the tighter 3,598-holding portfolio; pick VT to own 9,773 instead. VTI is the cheaper of the two at 0.03% against 0.06%.
This is purely for informational purposes, not investment advice. Always consult a professional before making investment decisions.
VT wins if...
You want maximum diversification: 9,773 holdings covering the broader market, tracking the FTSE Global All Cap Index.
VTI wins if...
You want the tighter portfolio: 3,598 holdings rather than 9,773, tracking the CRSP US Total Market Index, at a lower 0.03% fee.
VT vs VTI, side by side
The numbers that actually differ are highlighted.
| Metric | VTVanguard Total World Stock ETF | VTIVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Index tracked | FTSE Global All Cap Index | CRSP US Total Market Index |
| Number of holdings | 9,773 | 3,598 |
| Expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Dividend yield | 1.82% | 1.04% |
| AUM | $101.70B | $2.30T |
| Top 10 concentration | 21.3% | 33.5% |
| 10-yr total return | 12.6% | 14.9% |
| 5-yr total return | 11.2% | 12.3% |
| Beta (vs S&P 500) | 0.93 | 1.02 |
| Max drawdown (10yr) | -34.2% | -35.0% |
| Market-cap coverage | Global | Large + mid + small |
| Inception | 2008 | 2001 |
VTI holds 3,598 positions tracking the CRSP US Total Market Index. VT holds 9,773, a broader slice of the same market.
How much do VT and VTI overlap?
The single most decision-relevant fact, and the one most comparisons skip.
- Shared
- 61.9%
- VTI-only
- 39.6%
~62% identical by weight
1,475 weighted positions appear in both funds, and by weight about 62% of the two portfolios is the same exposure. Where a stock sits in both, the shared share is whichever weight is smaller. That is the part of a dollar that behaves identically in either fund.
The difference is VT's remaining 6,175 positions, which VTI does not hold at all. They are smaller by weight, which is why the two track each other closely and drift apart only at the margins.
Growth of $10,000: VT vs VTI
Growth of $10,000
10 years
Which should you choose?
- You want the wider net: 9,773 holdings against 3,598
- You want to track the FTSE Global All Cap Index
- You want the higher yield: 1.82% against 1.04%
- You want concentrated exposure: 3,598 holdings, not 9,773
- You want to track the CRSP US Total Market Index
- You want the lower fee: 0.03% against 0.06%
- You want the larger, more heavily traded fund ($2.3T)
Compare and track all ETFs in your sheet
Type =WISE("VT","dividend yield","ttm") or =WISEFUNDS("VT","expense ratio") in Excel or Google Sheets and the fund's data lands in your sheet, ready to be refreshed when you want.
Get The Add-in - FreeVT vs VTI frequently asked questions
VTI has the stronger record, by about 2.3% a year and they overlap roughly 62% by weight. Compare the fee and the holdings count below and pick the one that matches how broad you want the exposure to be.
VTI holds 3,598 positions tracking the CRSP US Total Market Index. VT holds 9,773, a broader slice of the same market.
Yes, by about 62% by weight. 1,475 weighted positions appear in both funds. Because the largest positions dominate both portfolios, the two behave similarly day to day.
Yes. At about 62% overlap the two hold substantially different positions, so holding both does broaden the exposure.