VTI vs VTSAX: Which Should You Buy?
Same fund company (Vanguard), same 0.03% fee, about 100% the same holdings.
For most investors it barely matters. VTI and VTSAX have returned effectively the same amount per year and overlap about 100% by weight. Pick VTSAX for the tighter 3,516-holding portfolio; pick VTI to own 3,598 instead. Both cost 0.03% per year.
This is purely for informational purposes, not investment advice. Always consult a professional before making investment decisions.
VTI wins if...
You want maximum diversification: 3,598 holdings covering the broader market, tracking the CRSP US Total Market Index.
VTSAX wins if...
You want the tighter portfolio: 3,516 holdings rather than 3,598, tracking the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index.
VTI vs VTSAX, side by side
The numbers that actually differ are highlighted.
| Metric | VTIVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | VTSAXVanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares |
|---|---|---|
| Index tracked | CRSP US Total Market Index | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index |
| Number of holdings | 3,598 | 3,516 |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Dividend yield | 1.04% | 1.03% |
| AUM | $2.30T | $2.30T |
| Top 10 concentration | 33.5% | 33.5% |
| 10-yr total return | 14.9% | 14.9% |
| 5-yr total return | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| Beta (vs S&P 500) | 1.02 | 1.02 |
| Max drawdown (10yr) | -35.0% | -35.0% |
| Market-cap coverage | Large + mid + small | Large + mid + small |
| Inception | 2001 | 2000 |
VTSAX holds 3,516 positions tracking the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index. VTI holds 3,598, a broader slice of the same market.
How much do VTI and VTSAX overlap?
The single most decision-relevant fact, and the one most comparisons skip.
- Shared
- 100.0%
- VTSAX-only
- 0.0%
~100% identical by weight
2,318 weighted positions appear in both funds, and by weight about 100% 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 VTI's remaining 82 positions, which VTSAX 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: VTI vs VTSAX
Growth of $10,000
10 years
Which should you choose?
- You want the wider net: 3,598 holdings against 3,516
- You want to track the CRSP US Total Market Index
- You want the higher yield: 1.04% against 1.03%
- You want concentrated exposure: 3,516 holdings, not 3,598
- You want to track the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index
Compare and track all ETFs in your sheet
Type =WISE("VTI","dividend yield","ttm") or =WISEFUNDS("VTI","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 - FreeVTI vs VTSAX frequently asked questions
For most investors the choice barely matters: VTI and VTSAX have returned effectively the same amount per year and they overlap roughly 100% by weight. Both charge 0.03%, so cost is not the deciding factor.
VTSAX holds 3,516 positions tracking the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index. VTI holds 3,598, a broader slice of the same market.
Yes, by about 100% by weight. 2,318 weighted positions appear in both funds. Because the largest positions dominate both portfolios, the two behave similarly day to day.
You can, but there is little reason to. At about 100% overlap, owning both mostly duplicates the same positions and adds little diversification.