Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) 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 BND. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BND
BND 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 | BND vs SPAB | |
| Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.03% | 10.56B | Jul 2011 | BND vs SCHZ | |
| iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.03% | 138.10B | Sep 2003 | BND vs AGG | |
| iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF | 0.09% | 29.69M | Dec 2025 | BND vs BTOT | |
| F/m Compoundr U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.31% | 144.13M | Aug 2025 | BND vs CPAG |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BND
BND has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 36. There are 2 ETFs in the Total Bond Market category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 37.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 37 | 10.56B | Jul 2011 | BND vs SCHZ | |
| SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 36 | 9.63B | May 2007 | BND vs SPAB | |
| iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 36 | 138.10B | Sep 2003 | BND vs AGG | |
| BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF | 36 | 2.14B | Apr 2020 | BND vs BKAG |
Top Performing BND Alternatives (YTD)
BND is at 1.01% YTD. There are 4 ETFs in the Total Bond Market category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 1.10%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF | 1.10% | 29.69M | Dec 2025 | BND vs BTOT | |
| Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 1.04% | 10.56B | Jul 2011 | BND vs SCHZ | |
| BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF | 1.03% | 2.14B | Apr 2020 | BND vs BKAG | |
| iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 1.02% | 138.10B | Sep 2003 | BND vs AGG | |
| SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 1.00% | 9.63B | May 2007 | BND vs SPAB |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BND
BND has 3.74% 1-year volatility. There are 3 ETFs in the Total Bond Market category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 3.72%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/m Compoundr U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.72% | 144.13M | Aug 2025 | BND vs CPAG | |
| iShares Total USD Fixed Income Market ETF | 3.72% | 29.69M | Dec 2025 | BND vs BTOT | |
| SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.73% | 9.63B | May 2007 | BND vs SPAB | |
| Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.76% | 10.56B | Jul 2011 | BND vs SCHZ | |
| iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 3.82% | 138.10B | Sep 2003 | BND vs AGG |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BND
BND has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.68%. No ETFs in the Total Bond Market category have shallower 1-year drawdowns; the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -2.70%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | -2.70% | 10.56B | Jul 2011 | BND vs SCHZ | |
| SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF | -2.74% | 9.63B | May 2007 | BND vs SPAB | |
| BNY Mellon Core Bond ETF | -2.76% | 2.14B | Apr 2020 | BND vs BKAG | |
| iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | -2.76% | 138.10B | Sep 2003 | BND vs AGG |
Other ETFs from Vanguard
The 10 most viewed Vanguard ETFs shown here include VOO, VTI, VGT and span 8 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $2T.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 63 | 8.09% | 1.70T | Sep 2010 | BND vs VOO | |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 64 | 8.90% | 2.30T | May 2001 | BND vs VTI | |
| Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Technology Equities | 60 | 22.82% | 170.10B | Mar 2004 | BND vs VGT | |
| Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | Global Equities | 62 | 13.40% | 652.30B | Jan 2011 | BND vs VXUS | |
| Vanguard Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 27 | 2.25% | 393.80B | Jan 2004 | BND vs VUG | |
| Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | Global Equities | 65 | 10.43% | 95.30B | Jun 2008 | BND vs VT | |
| Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | Dividend | 83 | 12.09% | 96.10B | Nov 2006 | BND vs VYM | |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | Dividend | 61 | 7.42% | 127.80B | Apr 2006 | BND vs VIG | |
| Vanguard Value ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 91 | 16.08% | 245.00B | Jan 2004 | BND vs VTV | |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | Foreign Large Cap Equities | 65 | 14.71% | 317.30B | Jul 2007 | BND vs VEA |
Often Compared With BND
Investors most often compare BND with BNDX, FXNAX, FBND. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BND with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BND with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BND with funds that move differently
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BND.
Explore BND Diversifiers