FT Cboe Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF (BUFG) belongs to the Options Trading category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with BUFG. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to BUFG
BUFG charges 1.05% annually. There are 153 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.14%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calamos Tax-Aware Collateral ETF | 0.14% | 1.21B | Apr 2026 | BUFG vs CBOX | |
| Parametric Hedged Equity ETF | 0.29% | 139.40M | Oct 2023 | BUFG vs PHEQ | |
| State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Premiu... | 0.35% | 2.87M | Jul 2025 | BUFG vs XLRI | |
| Simplify Hedged Equity ETF | 0.43% | 296.16M | Nov 2021 | BUFG vs HEQT | |
| Castellan Targeted Income ETF | 0.45% | — | Jun 2025 | BUFG vs CTIF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to BUFG
BUFG has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 77. There are 91 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 99 | — | Mar 2024 | BUFG vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 98 | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | BUFG vs APRJ | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | 98 | 199.47M | May 2020 | BUFG vs APRW | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 98 | — | Mar 2024 | BUFG vs XIMR | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer... | 98 | 153.67M | Mar 2023 | BUFG vs XMAR |
Top Performing BUFG Alternatives (YTD)
BUFG is at 7.09% YTD. There are 56 ETFs in the Options Trading category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 87.43%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YieldMax AMD Option Income Strategy ETF | 87.43% | 382.78M | Sep 2023 | BUFG vs AMDY | |
| Defiance Oil Enhanced Options Income ETF | 51.25% | 64.41M | May 2024 | BUFG vs USOY | |
| Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ET... | 15.04% | 6.72M | Apr 2025 | BUFG vs LITL | |
| Horizon Dividend Income ETF | 14.80% | — | Jun 2025 | BUFG vs DIVN | |
| Defiance R2000 Weekly Distribution ETF | 13.35% | 95.57M | Oct 2023 | BUFG vs IWMY |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to BUFG
BUFG has 7.75% 1-year volatility. There are 89 ETFs in the Options Trading category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.30%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | 1.30% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFG vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | 1.57% | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | BUFG vs APRJ | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | 1.57% | 709.87M | Aug 2013 | BUFG vs CAOS | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | 1.68% | 13.68M | Jun 2023 | BUFG vs JULJ | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer & Premium Income ETF - ... | 2.06% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFG vs XIMR |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to BUFG
BUFG has a 1-year max drawdown of -5.74%. There are 89 ETFs in the Options Trading category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.36%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - April | -0.36% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFG vs LAPR | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - April | -0.40% | 32.22M | Mar 2023 | BUFG vs APRJ | |
| Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July | -0.61% | 13.68M | Jun 2023 | BUFG vs JULJ | |
| Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | -0.76% | 709.87M | Aug 2013 | BUFG vs CAOS | |
| AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Apr ETF | -0.89% | 199.47M | May 2020 | BUFG vs APRW |
Other ETFs from FT Vest
The 10 most viewed FT Vest ETFs shown here include RDVI, BGLD, BUFD and span 7 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $4B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Rising Dividend Achievers Target Income ET... | Derivative Income | 87 | 16.92% | 3.59B | Oct 2022 | BUFG vs RDVI | |
| FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Gold, Precious Metals | 28 | -4.01% | 50.90M | Jan 2021 | BUFG vs BGLD | |
| FT Vest Laddered Deep Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome | 89 | 5.83% | 1.97B | Jan 2021 | BUFG vs BUFD | |
| FT Vest Laddered Nasdaq Buffer ETF | Nasdaq-100, Options Trading | 75 | 7.59% | 1.51B | Jun 2022 | BUFG vs BUFQ | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - October | Defined Outcome | 85 | 7.68% | 1.17B | Oct 2020 | BUFG vs FOCT | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September | Options Trading | 79 | 7.68% | 1.22B | Sep 2020 | BUFG vs FSEP | |
| FT Vest Dow Jones Internet & Target Income ETF | Technology Equities | 9 | 0.56% | — | Mar 2024 | BUFG vs FDND | |
| FT Vest DJIA Dogs 10 Target Income ETF | Derivative Income | 76 | 11.04% | 88.80M | Apr 2023 | BUFG vs DOGG | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - February | Defined Outcome | 86 | 8.35% | 1.39B | Feb 2020 | BUFG vs FFEB | |
| FT Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - December | Defined Outcome | 88 | 5.82% | 430.27M | Dec 2020 | BUFG vs DDEC |
Often Compared With BUFG
Investors most often compare BUFG with BUFR, SPY, XAPR. These 20 comparison targets span 4 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare BUFG with Any Fund or Stock
Compare BUFG with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair BUFG with funds that move differently
FT Cboe Vest Buffered Allocation Growth ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to BUFG.
Explore BUFG Diversifiers