VTI vs VTSAX: which is better for you?
VTI and VTSAX own the same total U.S. stock market. One is an ETF and one is a Vanguard mutual fund.
The short answer
They're the same investment. VTI is cheaper (0.03% vs 0.04%) and works at any broker. VTSAX makes automatic investing easy at Vanguard.
VTI vs VTSAX at a glance
| VTI | VTSAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| Type | ETF | mutual fund |
| Follows | CRSP U.S. Total Market | CRSP U.S. Total Market |
| What it owns | thousands of U.S. companies of all sizes | thousands of U.S. companies of all sizes |
| Yearly fee | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Dividend yield (approx.) | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| 10-year yearly return (approx.) | 13.0% | 13.0% |
| Typical swings | Medium | Medium |
Returns and yields are rounded estimates through mid-2026. Fees are each fund's yearly expense ratio.
What is VTI?
VTI owns nearly the whole U.S. stock market: big, medium and small companies. Because big companies make up most of its value, it moves a lot like the S&P 500.
What is VTSAX?
VTSAX is the mutual fund version of VTI. It owns the same total U.S. market. It needs $3,000 to start and trades once a day.
Growth: $200 every paycheck
Here's what $200 every two weeks could grow to at each fund's approximate 10-year yearly return:
| After | VTI | VTSAX |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | $101,643 | $101,643 |
| 20 years | $446,675 | $446,675 |
| 30 years | $1,617,910 | $1,617,910 |
Because they follow the same index, their returns are almost identical. Small gaps come from fees and rounding.
Fees
| Yearly fee | VTI | VTSAX |
|---|---|---|
| Per $10,000 invested | $3 | $4 |
| On the 30-year balance | $485 | $647 |
Lower fees leave more money growing for you. See why small fees add up.
Dividends
| VTI | VTSAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Dividends a year on the 30-year balance | $21,033 | $21,033 |
Risk
VTI's typical swings are medium, and VTSAX's are medium. Funds that hold fewer kinds of companies tend to rise and fall more. The best fund is one you can hold through a bad year without selling.
Which one fits you?
- Pick VTI if you want an ETF you can buy at any broker with no minimum.
- Pick VTSAX if you invest at Vanguard and want automatic dollar-amount investing.
Put VTI and VTSAX side by side with your own paycheck amount.
Compare themQuick answers
Is VTI better than VTSAX?
They're the same investment. VTI is cheaper (0.03% vs 0.04%) and works at any broker. VTSAX makes automatic investing easy at Vanguard.
Which has lower fees, VTI or VTSAX?
VTI charges 0.03% a year and VTSAX charges 0.04%. VTI is cheaper.
Which pays more dividends, VTI or VTSAX?
VTI has paid about 1.3% a year and VTSAX about 1.3%. Yields change over time.
What's the minimum for VTSAX?
VTSAX needs $3,000 to start. VTI has no minimum beyond one share, or less with fractional shares.
Keep learning
This article is for learning only. It is not financial, tax or legal advice. Example returns are not promises. Talk to a licensed professional about your own situation.