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VTI vs VOO vs VT (2026): How Much of the Market Do You Want to Own?
- VOO: ~500 large US companies (S&P 500). 0% non-US. 0.03%.
- VTI: the entire US market, ~3,500 stocks including small and mid caps. 0% non-US. 0.03%.
- VT: the whole world, ~10,000 stocks in developed and emerging markets. Roughly 35%–40% non-US. 0.06%.
- VOO and VTI have moved almost in lockstep for years. The bigger choice is VTI/VOO (US only) vs VT (global).
VTI vs VOO vs VT at a glance
| VOO | VTI | VT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it holds | S&P 500: large US companies | Entire US stock market | Entire global stock market |
| Number of stocks | ~500 | ~3,500 | ~10,000 |
| Share in non-US stocks | 0% | 0% | ~35%–40% |
| Small and mid caps | No | Yes | Yes |
| Emerging markets | No | No | Yes |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Index | S&P 500 | CRSP US Total Market | FTSE Global All Cap |
| Best for | US large-cap core | Whole US market in one fund | One-fund global portfolio |
Holdings counts and regional weights change; check Vanguard's fund pages for current figures.
Picture it as three circles
- VOO is the inner circle: the 500 biggest US companies, about 80% of the US market's value.
- VTI adds the outer ring of US small and mid-sized companies.
- VT adds everyone else: Japan, the UK, Europe, Canada, emerging markets and more.
Because the biggest companies dominate by weight, VOO and VTI have tracked each other closely. The real difference shows up when you add the rest of the world.
The real decision: US-only or global?
| US only (VOO or VTI) | Global (VT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Recent decade | US has led | Lagged the US |
| Diversification | One country, one currency | ~50 countries |
| Valuation risk | Concentrated in today's largest US tech companies | Spread across regions |
| Cost | 0.03% | 0.06% |
A 0.03% extra fee on VT costs $3 a year per $10,000. The bigger risk isn't the fee; it's choosing based only on the last ten years of returns.
A simple way to choose
- You want one fund, forever: VT.
- You want US-only and the simplest possible holding: VOO.
- You want the whole US market, including small caps: VTI.
- You want to control the split: VTI plus an international fund like VXUS.
For Canadian investors
In an RRSP, US-listed VTI, VOO or VT avoid US withholding tax on dividends at the fund level. In a TFSA, Canadian-listed all-in-one ETFs are often simpler and avoid currency conversion. See best all-in-one ETFs in Canada and CDRs vs USD vs hedged ETFs.
The bottom line
VOO and VTI are almost the same bet on the US. VT is a bet on the whole world. Pick the amount of the market you want to own, then keep buying. For the S&P 500 funds side by side, read VOO vs IVV vs SPYM.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between VTI, VOO and VT?
VOO tracks the S&P 500 (about 500 large US companies). VTI tracks the entire US stock market (thousands of large, mid and small companies). VT tracks the global stock market, with roughly 60%–65% in the US and the rest in other developed and emerging markets.
Is VTI or VOO better?
They've performed very similarly because the S&P 500 makes up roughly 80% of the US market's value. VTI adds small and mid-cap stocks for slightly broader diversification. Both charge 0.03%.
Is VT a good one-fund portfolio?
Yes. VT holds thousands of stocks across nearly 50 countries in one fund for 0.06%. It doesn't hold bonds, so it's a 100% stock portfolio.
Why would I want international stocks?
Different regions lead at different times. US stocks led for most of the 2010s and 2020s, but there have been long stretches, such as the 2000s, when international stocks did better. Owning both reduces the risk of betting on one country.
Should Canadians buy VT?
Canadians can, but a Canadian-listed all-in-one ETF such as XEQT or VEQT usually makes more sense in a TFSA. It adds Canadian stocks, avoids currency conversion and holds global stocks in a simpler package.
Primary sources
Data & disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial or investment advice. Figures reflect data available as of Nov 11, 2026, and conditions change — always confirm current pricing, rates and rules with the provider before you act. Written by Elizabeta Dimoska. See our editorial standards and disclosure.
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