VOO vs VTI
The S&P 500 versus the entire US market — a small but real difference in mid- and small-cap exposure. Here’s how VOO and VTI compare for dividend investors — with a calculator for each so you can model the income yourself.
VOO
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
- Type
- Broad-market index ETF
- Issuer
- Vanguard
- Pays
- quarterly
VOO tracks the S&P 500, giving exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. companies. Its dividend yield is modest because it is a total-market fund rather than an income product, but its dividend has grown over time alongside corporate earnings.
VOO dividend calculatorVTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
- Type
- Broad-market index ETF
- Issuer
- Vanguard
- Pays
- quarterly
VTI holds essentially the entire U.S. equity market — large, mid, and small caps. Like VOO it is a growth-and-income fund rather than a high-yield product, so its dividend is modest but broadly diversified.
VTI dividend calculatorHow VOO and VTI differ
VOO — VOO tracks the S&P 500, giving exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. companies. Its dividend yield is modest because it is a total-market fund rather than an income product, but its dividend has grown over time alongside corporate earnings.
VTI — VTI holds essentially the entire U.S. equity market — large, mid, and small caps. Like VOO it is a growth-and-income fund rather than a high-yield product, so its dividend is modest but broadly diversified.
In practice the choice comes down to your goal. VOO suits an investor who wants simple low-cost total-market growth with dividends as a secondary benefit, while VTI suits one who wants simple low-cost total-market growth with dividends as a secondary benefit. The two are not mutually exclusive — plenty of portfolios hold a growth-oriented fund and an income-oriented one together. What matters is matching each to its job and not judging a fund on its headline yield alone.
Rather than compare a single snapshot yield (which moves daily), open each calculator and enter current figures: the VOO calculator and the VTI calculator. To compare long-term compounding head to head, run the same contributions through the dividend reinvestment calculator with each fund’s assumptions.
VOO vs VTI FAQ
- What's the main difference between VOO and VTI?
- VOO is a broad-market index etf from Vanguard; VTI is a broad-market index etf from Vanguard. The S&P 500 versus the entire US market — a small but real difference in mid- and small-cap exposure.
- Does VOO or VTI pay more dividends?
- It depends on current figures, which change — use the calculators linked below with each fund's live yield rather than a fixed number. As a rule, higher-yield funds pay more today, while dividend-growth funds start lower and raise the payout over time.
- Which is better, VOO or VTI?
- Neither is universally better — they suit different goals. VOO fits an investor who wants simple low-cost total-market growth with dividends as a secondary benefit; VTI fits one who wants simple low-cost total-market growth with dividends as a secondary benefit. Match the fund to your objective, time horizon, and tax situation, and consider a licensed advisor.
- Can I hold both VOO and VTI?
- Many investors do, to blend current income with growth. Just be aware of overlap — if both hold similar large-cap US stocks, you may be less diversified than the two tickers suggest.