iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG) belongs to the Total Bond Market category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with AGG. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to AGG
AGG charges 0.03% annually. No ETFs in the Total Bond Market category have lower expense ratios; the lowest-cost alternatives shown here go as low as 0.03%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.03% | 9.63B | May 2007 | AGG vs SPAB | |
| Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.03% | 10.56B | Jul 2011 | AGG vs SCHZ | |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 0.03% | 394.40B | Apr 2007 | AGG vs BND | |
| iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF | 0.09% | 29.69M | Dec 2025 | AGG vs BTOT | |
| F/m Compoundr U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.31% | 144.13M | Aug 2025 | AGG vs CPAG |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to AGG
AGG has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 32. There are 3 ETFs in the Total Bond Market category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 33.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 33 | 9.63B | May 2007 | AGG vs SPAB | |
| Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 32 | 10.56B | Jul 2011 | AGG vs SCHZ | |
| BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF | 32 | 2.14B | Apr 2020 | AGG vs BKAG | |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 32 | 394.40B | Apr 2007 | AGG vs BND |
Top Performing AGG Alternatives (YTD)
AGG is at 0.47% YTD. There are 4 ETFs in the Total Bond Market category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 0.62%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF | 0.62% | 29.69M | Dec 2025 | AGG vs BTOT | |
| BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF | 0.55% | 2.14B | Apr 2020 | AGG vs BKAG | |
| SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.49% | 9.63B | May 2007 | AGG vs SPAB | |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 0.49% | 394.40B | Apr 2007 | AGG vs BND | |
| Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.47% | 10.56B | Jul 2011 | AGG vs SCHZ |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to AGG
AGG has 3.81% 1-year volatility. There are 5 ETFs in the Total Bond Market category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 3.70%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF | 3.70% | 29.69M | Dec 2025 | AGG vs BTOT | |
| F/m Compoundr U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.70% | 144.13M | Aug 2025 | AGG vs CPAG | |
| SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.73% | 9.63B | May 2007 | AGG vs SPAB | |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 3.74% | 394.40B | Apr 2007 | AGG vs BND | |
| Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.76% | 10.56B | Jul 2011 | AGG vs SCHZ |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to AGG
AGG has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.76%. There are 3 ETFs in the Total Bond Market category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -2.68%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | -2.68% | 394.40B | Apr 2007 | AGG vs BND | |
| Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | -2.70% | 10.56B | Jul 2011 | AGG vs SCHZ | |
| SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | -2.74% | 9.63B | May 2007 | AGG vs SPAB | |
| BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF | -2.76% | 2.14B | Apr 2020 | AGG vs BKAG |
Other ETFs from iShares
The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, IVV and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $838B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.71% | 95.28B | May 2020 | AGG vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 2 | -28.88% | 48.04B | Jan 2024 | AGG vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 59 | 8.20% | 837.93B | May 2000 | AGG vs IVV | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 95 | 100.58% | 46.67B | Jul 2001 | AGG vs SOXX | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 14 | 0.77% | 41.34B | Jul 2002 | AGG vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 75 | 9.19% | 41.89B | Jun 2014 | AGG vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 31 | -13.49% | 32.53B | Apr 2006 | AGG vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 22 | -4.73% | 64.29B | Jan 2005 | AGG vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 67 | 20.47% | 81.35B | May 2000 | AGG vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 58 | 9.86% | 32.95B | Mar 2008 | AGG vs ACWI |
Often Compared With AGG
Investors most often compare AGG with HYG, FBND, PIMIX. These 19 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare AGG with Any Fund or Stock
Compare AGG with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair AGG with funds that move differently
iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to AGG.
Explore AGG Diversifiers