AB Core Plus Bond ETF (CPLS) belongs to the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with CPLS. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to CPLS
CPLS charges 0.33% annually. There are 14 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.05%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Core-Plus Bond Index ETF | 0.05% | 117.00M | Dec 2025 | CPLS vs BNDP | |
| iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF | 0.06% | 42.71B | Jun 2014 | CPLS vs IUSB | |
| iShares Core 5-10 Year USD Bond ETF | 0.06% | 276.82M | Nov 2016 | CPLS vs IMTB | |
| iShares ESG Advanced Total USD Bond Market ETF | 0.12% | 714.90M | Jun 2020 | CPLS vs EUSB | |
| iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF | 0.17% | 450.15M | Apr 2014 | CPLS vs BYLD |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to CPLS
CPLS has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 29. There are 46 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 91.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | 91 | 46.19M | Sep 2023 | CPLS vs ZHOG | |
| Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF | 89 | 17.73M | Jan 2025 | CPLS vs BNDS | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 74 | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | CPLS vs MBS | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | 64 | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | CPLS vs SJCP | |
| Cambria Fixed Income Trend ETF | 59 | — | Mar 2025 | CPLS vs CFIT |
Top Performing CPLS Alternatives (YTD)
CPLS is at -0.21% YTD. There are 40 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 4.73%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure Capital Bond Income ETF | 4.73% | 17.73M | Jan 2025 | CPLS vs BNDS | |
| Cambria Fixed Income Trend ETF | 4.23% | — | Mar 2025 | CPLS vs CFIT | |
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | 1.00% | 46.19M | Sep 2023 | CPLS vs ZHOG | |
| Neos Enhanced Income Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.97% | 186.26M | Aug 2022 | CPLS vs BNDI | |
| iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF | 0.96% | 450.15M | Apr 2014 | CPLS vs BYLD |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to CPLS
CPLS has 3.84% 1-year volatility. There are 36 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.58%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | 1.58% | 46.19M | Sep 2023 | CPLS vs ZHOG | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | 2.53% | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | CPLS vs SJCP | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | 2.76% | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | CPLS vs MBS | |
| First Trust Commercial Mortgage Opportunities ETF | 3.09% | 35.44M | Feb 2024 | CPLS vs CAAA | |
| DoubleLine Opportunistic Bond ETF | 3.23% | 733.52M | Mar 2022 | CPLS vs DBND |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to CPLS
CPLS has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.47%. There are 5 ETFs in the Intermediate Core-Plus Bond category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -1.31%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F/m Opportunistic Income ETF | -1.31% | 46.19M | Sep 2023 | CPLS vs ZHOG | |
| Kingsbarn Tactical Bond ETF | -1.77% | 1.18M | Dec 2021 | CPLS vs KDRN | |
| SanJac Alpha Core Plus Bond ETF | -2.01% | 2.28M | Sep 2024 | CPLS vs SJCP | |
| First Trust Commercial Mortgage Opportunities ETF | -2.08% | 35.44M | Feb 2024 | CPLS vs CAAA | |
| Angel Oak Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF | -2.20% | 154.00M | Jun 2021 | CPLS vs MBS |
Other ETFs from AllianceBernstein
The 10 most viewed AllianceBernstein ETFs shown here include FWD, LOWV, YEAR and span 9 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB Disruptors ETF | Global Equities | 72 | 27.74% | 3.13B | Mar 2023 | CPLS vs FWD | |
| AB US Low Volatility Equity ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 28 | 3.83% | 199.62M | Mar 2023 | CPLS vs LOWV | |
| AB Ultra Short Income ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 98 | 1.42% | 1.49B | Sep 2022 | CPLS vs YEAR | |
| AB US High Dividend ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 69 | 11.63% | 211.19M | Mar 2023 | CPLS vs HIDV | |
| AB Tax-Aware Short Duration ETF | Municipal Bonds | 82 | 1.32% | 1.37B | Sep 2022 | CPLS vs TAFI | |
| AB High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | 68 | 2.13% | 327.24M | Jul 2016 | CPLS vs HYFI | |
| AB Corporate Bond ETF | Corporate Bonds | 28 | -0.49% | 26.19M | Dec 2023 | CPLS vs EYEG | |
| AB US Large Cap Strategic Equities ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 51 | 8.82% | 1.30B | Sep 2023 | CPLS vs LRGC | |
| AB International Buffer ETF | Defined Outcome, Foreign Large Cap Equities | 54 | 5.31% | 122.81M | Dec 2024 | CPLS vs BUFI | |
| AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF | Foreign Large Cap Equities | 31 | 6.53% | 1.80B | Jul 2024 | CPLS vs ILOW |
Often Compared With CPLS
Investors most often compare CPLS with VPLS, APCB, BUFC. These 20 comparison targets span 7 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare CPLS with Any Fund or Stock
Compare CPLS with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair CPLS with funds that move differently
AB Core Plus Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to CPLS.
Explore CPLS Diversifiers