Best S&P 500 ETFs

Beginner

Compare the top S&P 500 ETFs to gain exposure to the 500 largest US companies. One of the most popular indices for long-term investing.

Updated 2025-05

Written by Mottalib RadifMBA INSEAD

The S&P 500 is the most widely followed stock market index in the world. It tracks the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the United States, covering roughly 80% of US market capitalisation. It includes giants like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Alphabet and Meta — companies that dominate the global economy.

Historically, the S&P 500 has delivered an annualised return of approximately 10% over the long term (dividends reinvested). This remarkable performance, combined with the depth of the US market, makes it the go-to choice for passive investors. Warren Buffett himself recommends an S&P 500 ETF as the ideal investment for most people.

For European investors, S&P 500 ETFs listed in Europe provide direct exposure to the US market with some of the lowest fees available — some as low as 0.03% TER. This comparison helps you pick the best S&P 500 ETF based on your criteria: fees, fund size, replication method and tax wrapper eligibility.

Avg. TER

0.20%

Avg. 1Y Perf

+16.9%

Total AUM

8559.1B

ETFs available

VTI — CRSP US Total Market

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

View details→

+62.4%

Simulated from available data points. Past returns do not guarantee future results.

How to choose an S&P 500 ETF

The S&P 500 ETF market is highly competitive, which benefits investors. Management fees are extremely low: leaders like iShares Core S&P 500 (CSPX), Vanguard S&P 500 (VUSA) and SPDR S&P 500 (SPY5) charge TERs between 0.03% and 0.09%. At this level, the fee difference between two ETFs is almost negligible — focus instead on AUM, liquidity and actual tracking difference.

Listing currency deserves attention. A USD-denominated ETF exposes you to EUR/USD currency risk, which can amplify or dampen returns. Some ETFs offer currency hedging, but this comes at a cost and isn't recommended for long-term horizons — currency risk tends to neutralise over several decades.

For French residents, PEA eligibility is a key consideration. PEA-eligible S&P 500 ETFs use synthetic replication — Amundi, BNP Paribas and Lyxor offer them with TERs around 0.15%. If you're investing outside the PEA (brokerage account or life insurance), prefer a physically replicated ETF domiciled in Ireland to optimise US dividend withholding tax.

Full Comparison

#	Name	TER	AUM	Replication	Distribution	1Y	3Y	5Y
1	VTIVanguard CRSP US Total Market	0.03%	2297.9B	physical	distributing	+17.6%	+18.2%	+10.0%
2	VOOVanguard S&P 500	0.03%	1670.9B	physical	distributing	+17.2%	+18.7%	+11.0%
3	IVViShares S&P 500	0.03%	888.1B	physical	distributing	+17.2%	+18.7%	+11.0%
4	SPYSPDR S&P 500	0.09%	781.2B	physical	distributing	+17.2%	+18.7%	+11.0%
5	VUGVanguard CRSP US Large Cap Growth	0.04%	379.2B	physical	distributing	+11.3%	+21.8%	+11.3%
6	VTVVanguard CRSP US Large Cap Value	0.04%	254.5B	physical	distributing	+23.6%	+15.0%	+9.4%
7	VOVanguard CRSP US Mid Cap	0.04%	224.0B	physical	distributing	+14.2%	+13.3%	+5.9%
8	CSPXiShares S&P 500	0.07%	128.9B	physical	accumulating	+19.2%	+19.8%	+12.5%
9	IWFiShares Russell 1000 Growth	0.19%	128.9B	physical	distributing	+6.1%	+19.7%	+10.8%
10	IJHiShares S&P MidCap 400	0.05%	124.3B	physical	distributing	+20.4%	+12.0%	+6.8%
11	SPLGSPDR S&P 500	0.02%	97.3B	physical	distributing	—	—	—
12	ITOTiShares S&P Total Market	0.03%	94.1B	physical	distributing	+17.7%	+18.3%	+10.0%
13	RSPInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight	0.20%	93.7B	physical	distributing	+17.4%	+12.4%	+6.9%
14	VUAAVanguard S&P 500	0.07%	85.3B	physical	accumulating	+19.2%	+19.8%	+12.5%
15	VUSAVanguard S&P 500	0.07%	85.3B	physical	distributing	+18.1%	+16.4%	+11.8%
16	IWDiShares Russell 1000 Value	0.19%	79.7B	physical	distributing	+28.7%	+16.2%	+9.3%
17	SCHXSchwab Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Total Stock Market	0.03%	71.6B	physical	distributing	+16.8%	+18.6%	+10.5%
18	SCHGSchwab Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market	0.04%	59.1B	physical	distributing	+12.4%	+22.0%	+12.4%
19	VONGVanguard Russell 1000 Growth	0.08%	53.4B	physical	distributing	+6.2%	+19.8%	+10.9%
20	SPYGSPDR S&P 500 Growth	0.04%	53.0B	physical	distributing	+17.9%	+24.2%	+12.2%
21	DFACDimensional Dimensional U.S. Core Equity 2	0.17%	47.4B	physical	distributing	+20.9%	+17.2%	+10.3%
22	QUALiShares MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality	0.15%	45.9B	physical	distributing	+18.1%	+17.1%	+9.6%
23	DIASPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average	0.16%	44.1B	physical	distributing	+18.6%	+14.3%	+8.3%
24	SCHBSchwab Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market	0.03%	43.2B	physical	distributing	+17.6%	+18.3%	+10.1%
25	SPYVSPDR S&P 500 Value	0.04%	35.3B	physical	distributing	+16.4%	+12.3%	+9.1%
26	XLISPDR Industrial Select Sector	0.09%	34.0B	physical	distributing	+19.2%	+18.4%	+11.7%
27	MGKVanguard CRSP US Mega Cap Growth	0.07%	33.3B	physical	distributing	+12.1%	+22.4%	+12.3%
28	IUSGiShares S&P 900 Growth	0.04%	32.2B	physical	distributing	+18.1%	+23.6%	+11.8%
29	MTUMiShares MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant	0.15%	29.0B	physical	distributing	+21.9%	+27.6%	+10.8%
30	MDYSPDR S&P MidCap 400	0.23%	28.1B	physical	distributing	+20.2%	+11.9%	+6.7%
31	IUSViShares S&P 900 Value	0.04%	26.5B	physical	distributing	+16.6%	+12.2%	+8.9%
32	VOOGVanguard S&P 500 Growth	0.10%	26.3B	physical	distributing	+17.9%	+24.2%	+12.2%
33	FNDXSchwab Russell RAFI US Large Company	0.25%	25.9B	physical	distributing	+27.5%	+17.6%	+11.5%
34	USMViShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility	0.15%	23.0B	physical	distributing	+5.5%	+9.6%	+5.1%
35	XLYSPDR Consumer Discretionary Select Sector	0.09%	22.6B	physical	distributing	+3.8%	+10.6%	+5.1%
36	IUSAiShares S&P 500	0.07%	21.9B	physical	distributing	+18.0%	+16.4%	+11.8%
37	IWPiShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth	0.23%	21.6B	physical	distributing	-1.1%	+12.5%	+3.5%
38	VONVVanguard Russell 1000 Value	0.08%	21.5B	physical	distributing	+28.6%	+16.2%	+9.3%
39	IUITiShares S&P 500 Information Technology Sector	0.15%	18.3B	physical	accumulating	+25.4%	+29.7%	+20.1%
40	QDVEiShares S&P 500 Information Technology Sector EUR Hedged	0.20%	18.3B	physical	accumulating	+27.0%	+27.9%	+20.6%
41	SPXSInvesco S&P 500	0.05%	18.0B	synthetic	accumulating	+19.4%	+20.0%	+12.7%
42	ESGUiShares MSCI USA Extended ESG Focus	0.15%	17.7B	physical	distributing	+17.4%	+18.5%	+10.0%
43	COWZPacer Pacer US Cash Cows 100	0.49%	17.6B	physical	distributing	+20.4%	+9.7%	+8.7%
44	SCHVSchwab Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Value Total Stock Market	0.04%	15.9B	physical	distributing	+21.7%	+14.5%	+7.9%
45	IWSiShares Russell Mid-Cap Value	0.23%	15.6B	physical	distributing	+24.8%	+14.2%	+7.5%
46	SCHMSchwab Dow Jones U.S. Mid-Cap Total Stock Market	0.04%	15.3B	physical	distributing	+22.4%	+12.9%	+5.7%
47	ITAiShares Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense	0.39%	14.4B	physical	distributing	+22.0%	+27.5%	+17.2%
48	USEAiShares MSCI USA ESG Enhanced Focus CTB	0.07%	14.0B	physical	accumulating	—	—	—
49	XLPSPDR Consumer Staples Select Sector	0.09%	13.6B	physical	distributing	+3.1%	+4.4%	+3.7%
50	XSPSXtrackers S&P 500	0.15%	13.0B	synthetic	accumulating	—	—	—
51	SXRGiShares MSCI USA	0.07%	12.0B	physical	accumulating	—	—	—
52	NOBLProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats	0.35%	11.5B	physical	distributing	+10.4%	+6.2%	+4.2%
53	XMUSXtrackers MSCI USA	0.07%	11.0B	physical	accumulating	+20.4%	+18.2%	+12.6%
54	VLUEiShares MSCI USA Enhanced Value	0.15%	10.6B	physical	distributing	+67.0%	+25.9%	+12.7%
55	VDCVanguard MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Staples 25/50	0.10%	9.2B	physical	distributing	+3.5%	+5.5%	+4.6%
56	VISVanguard MSCI US Investable Market Industrials 25/50	0.10%	9.0B	physical	distributing	+19.7%	+18.4%	+11.8%
57	SUUSiShares MSCI USA ESG Screened	0.07%	8.5B	physical	accumulating	+20.1%	+12.8%	+10.8%
58	SSOProShares S&P 500 2x Leveraged	0.89%	8.0B	synthetic	distributing	+29.9%	+31.7%	+16.1%
59	SPXLDirexion S&P 500 3x Leveraged	0.95%	6.9B	synthetic	distributing	+43.1%	+43.4%	+18.0%
60	VCRVanguard MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Discretionary 25/50	0.10%	6.8B	physical	distributing	+5.4%	+10.6%	+4.3%
61	JRUSJPMorgan JPMorgan Asset Management US REI	0.20%	6.8B	physical	accumulating	—	—	—
62	VOOVVanguard S&P 500 Value	0.10%	6.7B	physical	distributing	+16.4%	+12.3%	+9.0%
63	VNRTVanguard FTSE North America	0.10%	6.4B	physical	distributing	+17.8%	+16.6%	+11.4%
64	USRIXtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Low Carbon ex Tobacco	0.15%	5.5B	physical	accumulating	—	—	—
65	UPROProShares S&P 500 3x Leveraged	0.91%	5.3B	synthetic	distributing	+42.1%	+43.1%	+17.6%
66	IUHCiShares S&P 500 Health Care Sector	0.15%	4.2B	physical	accumulating	+28.0%	+8.5%	+5.7%
67	SUSAiShares MSCI USA ESG Select	0.25%	4.0B	physical	distributing	+18.0%	+17.5%	+9.1%
68	SUASiShares MSCI USA SRI Select Reduced Fossil Fuels	0.20%	3.7B	physical	accumulating	+19.8%	+14.7%	+10.0%
69	CSCAiShares MSCI Canada	0.48%	2.3B	physical	accumulating	+26.7%	+19.3%	+12.5%
70	RPGInvesco S&P 500 Pure Growth	0.35%	2.3B	physical	distributing	+21.9%	+21.6%	+7.3%
71	IUFSiShares S&P 500 Financials Sector	0.15%	2.2B	physical	accumulating	+12.1%	+19.1%	+10.2%
72	IUPRiShares S&P 500 Industrials Sector	0.15%	1.9B	physical	accumulating	—	—	—
73	RPVInvesco S&P 500 Pure Value	0.35%	1.7B	physical	distributing	+28.8%	+14.4%	+9.2%
74	PSP5Amundi S&P 500	0.15%	1.3B	synthetic	accumulating	+20.4%	+17.9%	+12.8%
75	PE500Amundi S&P 500	0.15%	1.3B	synthetic	accumulating	+22.4%	+17.6%	+12.7%
76	IUESiShares S&P 500 Energy Sector	0.15%	1.2B	physical	accumulating	+42.7%	+13.3%	+22.8%
77	XLSRSPDR SSGA US Sector Rotation	0.70%	1.0B	physical	distributing	+14.1%	+13.8%	+7.1%
78	SHProShares S&P 500 -1x Inverse	0.88%	973M	synthetic	distributing	-14.5%	-15.8%	-11.0%
79	IUCDiShares S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary Sector	0.15%	837M	physical	accumulating	+7.9%	+13.3%	+7.0%
80	IUCSiShares S&P 500 Consumer Staples Sector	0.15%	474M	physical	accumulating	+6.3%	+8.2%	+7.3%
81	SDSProShares S&P 500 -2x Inverse	0.89%	398M	synthetic	distributing	-27.8%	-30.6%	-23.0%
82	MOATVanEck Morningstar Wide Moat Focus	0.49%	354M	physical	accumulating	+10.8%	+9.0%	+3.9%
83	UVXYProShares S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures 1.5x	0.95%	234M	synthetic	distributing	-67.9%	-63.6%	-67.5%

Key takeaways

1The cheapest European S&P 500 ETFs go as low as 0.03% TER — among the lowest in the entire industry.
2Tracking difference is more telling than the listed TER: compare the fund's actual performance versus the index over 3 and 5 years.
3For a PEA, synthetic S&P 500 ETFs from Amundi or BNP Paribas offer a strong trade-off between fees and tax benefits.
4Irish domiciliation reduces US withholding tax from 30% to 15%, improving net performance by roughly 0.3% per year.
5An S&P 500 ETF concentrates risk on a single country — complement it with a Europe or emerging markets ETF for better geographic diversification.
6Over 30 years, a monthly €300 investment in an S&P 500 ETF at 10% annual return grows to approximately €680,000.

Frequently asked questions

Is an S&P 500 ETF or an MSCI World ETF a better choice?

Both are excellent options. The S&P 500 offers concentrated US exposure with ultra-low fees, while the MSCI World diversifies across 23 developed countries. Historically, the S&P 500 has outperformed the MSCI World thanks to the dominance of US big tech, but past performance doesn't guarantee future results. If you can only pick one ETF, the MSCI World offers superior geographic diversification.

Are S&P 500 ETFs eligible for the PEA?

Yes, through synthetic replication. Several PEA-eligible S&P 500 ETFs exist, notably from Amundi (PE500) and BNP Paribas Easy. The fund physically holds European stocks and uses a swap to replicate S&P 500 performance. Fees are slightly higher (0.12-0.15%) than physical ETFs, but the PEA tax advantage more than compensates for this extra cost.

What are the risks of an S&P 500 ETF?

The main risk is geographic concentration: 100% exposure is to the United States. If the US economy underperforms for an extended period, your investment will suffer. Drawdowns can be significant — the S&P 500 lost 34% in 2020 (COVID) and 57% in 2008-2009 (financial crisis). There's also EUR/USD currency risk for eurozone investors. These risks are normal for equity investing and are managed through a long horizon (10+ years) and complementary diversification.

What is the difference between S&P 500 and S&P 500 Equal Weight?

The standard S&P 500 is cap-weighted — the top 10 stocks represent ~35% of the index. The Equal Weight version assigns the same weight to each company (~0.2%), reducing tech concentration.

Is an S&P 500 ETF eligible for a PEA?

Yes, through synthetic replication. ETFs such as BNP Paribas Easy S&P 500 or Amundi PEA S&P 500 ESG are eligible for the French PEA, allowing you to invest in US stocks with a tax advantage.

Should I hedge the EUR/USD currency risk on an S&P 500 ETF?

Over a long-term horizon (10+ years), currency hedging is generally unnecessary and costly (0.05–0.10% in additional fees). EUR/USD fluctuations tend to even out over extended periods.

Data sourced from fund factsheets. Last updated 2025-05.

Search

Best S&P 500 ETFs

VTI — CRSP US Total Market

Best Performance

Lowest Cost

Largest Funds

How to choose an S&P 500 ETF

Full Comparison

Key takeaways

Frequently asked questions