Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - August (BAUG) belongs to the Defined Outcome category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with BAUG. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BAUG
BAUG charges 0.79% annually. There are 92 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.25%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptus October Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BAUG vs OCTB | |
| Aptus April Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BAUG vs APRB | |
| Aptus January Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BAUG vs JANB | |
| Aptus July Buffer ETF | 0.25% | — | Oct 2025 | BAUG vs JULB | |
| Fidelity Dynamic Buffered Equity ETF | 0.48% | — | Apr 2024 | BAUG vs FBUF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BAUG
BAUG has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 83. There are 140 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2025 | BAUG vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 98 | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | BAUG vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 98 | — | Mar 2025 | BAUG vs MMAX | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | 98 | — | Apr 2025 | BAUG vs ZAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated 9 Buffer ETF - A... | 98 | 134.85M | Mar 2021 | BAUG vs XBAP |
Top Performing BAUG Alternatives (YTD)
BAUG is at 7.62% YTD. There are 58 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 16.35%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage Shares 2x Capped Accelerated NVDA Monthly... | 16.35% | — | Aug 2025 | BAUG vs NVDO | |
| Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Februa... | 13.34% | — | Jan 2025 | BAUG vs KFEB | |
| Innovator Russell 2000 Power Buffer ETF - April | 12.71% | 214.51M | Mar 2020 | BAUG vs KAPR | |
| FT Cboe Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - March | 12.33% | 568.10M | Mar 2021 | BAUG vs QMAR | |
| ProShares Nasdaq-100 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 12.15% | 2.84M | Jun 2025 | BAUG vs QB |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BAUG
BAUG has 7.64% 1-year volatility. There are 210 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.16%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.16% | — | Mar 2025 | BAUG vs PMAP | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April | 1.24% | — | Apr 2025 | BAUG vs APXM | |
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - May | 1.31% | — | Apr 2025 | BAUG vs PMMY | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | 1.34% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | BAUG vs CPSP | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | 1.42% | — | Mar 2025 | BAUG vs MMAX |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BAUG
BAUG has a 1-year max drawdown of -5.66%. There are 185 ETFs in the Defined Outcome category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - April | -0.35% | — | Mar 2025 | BAUG vs PMAP | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ap... | -0.37% | 19.60M | Apr 2025 | BAUG vs CPSP | |
| Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr Apr... | -0.40% | — | Apr 2025 | BAUG vs ZAPR | |
| iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF | -0.46% | — | Mar 2025 | BAUG vs MMAX | |
| Calamos S&P 500 Structured Alt Protection ETF - Ma... | -0.49% | 56.60M | May 2024 | BAUG vs CPSM |
Other ETFs from Innovator
The 10 most viewed Innovator ETFs shown here include BALT, FFTY, BUFF and span 6 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Defined Wealth Shield ETF | Defined Outcome | 95 | 2.57% | 2.68B | Jun 2021 | BAUG vs BALT | |
| Innovator IBD 50 ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 26 | 12.47% | 89.40M | Apr 2015 | BAUG vs FFTY | |
| Innovator Laddered Allocation Power Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 89 | 5.94% | 891.58M | Oct 2016 | BAUG vs BUFF | |
| Innovator Equity Managed Floor ETF | Options Trading | 56 | 5.15% | 2.12B | Nov 2022 | BAUG vs SFLR | |
| Innovator Deepwater Frontier Tech ETF | Technology Equities | 58 | 20.34% | 221.95M | Jul 2018 | BAUG vs LOUP | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - January | Defined Outcome | 83 | 5.59% | 1.47B | Jan 2019 | BAUG vs PJAN | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Accelerated Plus ETF | Leveraged Equities | 98 | 11.77% | 22.82M | Apr 2021 | BAUG vs XTAP | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - April | Defined Outcome | 97 | 11.27% | 404.39M | Mar 2019 | BAUG vs BAPR | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - July | Defined Outcome | 87 | 5.32% | 1.12B | Aug 2018 | BAUG vs PJUL | |
| Innovator Nasdaq-100 Managed Floor ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 55 | 4.38% | 543.68M | Jan 2024 | BAUG vs QFLR |
Often Compared With BAUG
Investors most often compare BAUG with PAUG, BJUL, UAUG. These 19 comparison targets span 5 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BAUG with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BAUG with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BAUG with funds that move differently
Innovator U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - August alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BAUG.
Explore BAUG Diversifiers