First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund (FXL) Alternatives

First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund (FXL) belongs to the Technology Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with FXL. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or funds that fit a different role in your portfolio.

Cheapest Alternatives to FXL

FXL charges 0.61% annually. Among ETFs in the Technology Equities category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among FXL alternatives.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	Inception
FTEC	Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF	0.08%	Oct 21, 2013	FXL vs FTEC
XLK	State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF	0.08%	Dec 16, 1998	FXL vs XLK
VGT	Vanguard Information Technology ETF	0.09%	Mar 25, 2004	FXL vs VGT
VOX	Vanguard Communication Services ETF	0.10%	Sep 23, 2004	FXL vs VOX
TRUT	Vaneck Technology Trusector ETF	0.13%	Aug 20, 2025	FXL vs TRUT

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to FXL

Among ETFs in the Technology Equities category, these options rank highest on PortfoliosLab's risk-adjusted score, which accounts for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency over a 1-year period.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	Inception
CHPS	Xtrackers Semiconductor Select Equity ETF	96	Jul 12, 2023	FXL vs CHPS
AIS	VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF	95	Dec 3, 2024	FXL vs AIS
CHAT	Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF	95	May 17, 2023	FXL vs CHAT
FTXL	First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF	95	Sep 20, 2016	FXL vs FTXL
SMH	VanEck Semiconductor ETF	95	Dec 20, 2011	FXL vs SMH

Top Performing FXL Alternatives (YTD)

FXL alternatives from the Technology Equities category, sorted by year-to-date return.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	Inception
ARMH	Arm Holdings PLC ADRhedged ETF	39.97%	Mar 13, 2025	FXL vs ARMH
ASMH	ASML Holding NV ADR Hedged ETF	25.77%	Mar 13, 2025	FXL vs ASMH
PSI	Invesco Semiconductors ETF	19.68%	Jun 23, 2005	FXL vs PSI
TCAI	Tortoise AI Infrastructure ETF	16.67%	Aug 4, 2025	FXL vs TCAI
IDGT	iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estat...	15.26%	Jul 10, 2001	FXL vs IDGT

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to FXL

FXL alternatives from the Technology Equities category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	Inception
TIME	Clockwise Core Equity & Innovation ETF	15.02%	Jan 27, 2022	FXL vs TIME
XLKI	State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR Premium...	17.22%	Jul 29, 2025	FXL vs XLKI
KROP	Global X AgTech & Food Innovation ETF	19.32%	Jul 12, 2021	FXL vs KROP
NXTG	First Trust IndXX NextG ETF	19.87%	Feb 17, 2011	FXL vs NXTG
VOX	Vanguard Communication Services ETF	20.34%	Sep 23, 2004	FXL vs VOX

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to FXL

FXL alternatives from the Technology Equities category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	Inception
KROP	Global X AgTech & Food Innovation ETF	-11.29%	Jul 12, 2021	FXL vs KROP
IDGT	iShares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estat...	-12.23%	Jul 10, 2001	FXL vs IDGT
NXTG	First Trust IndXX NextG ETF	-12.49%	Feb 17, 2011	FXL vs NXTG
FEPI	REX FANG & Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF	-12.91%	Oct 11, 2023	FXL vs FEPI
PXQ	Invesco Dynamic Networking ETF	-12.94%	Jun 23, 2005	FXL vs PXQ

Other ETFs from First Trust

Most popular First Trust ETFs on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
CIBR	First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF	Technology Equities, Cybersecurity	12	-12.12%	Jul 7, 2015	FXL vs CIBR
NFTY	First Trust India NIFTY 50 Equal Weight ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	5	-11.19%	Feb 14, 2012	FXL vs NFTY
GRID	First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastru...	Alternative Energy Equities	94	6.96%	Nov 17, 2009	FXL vs GRID
FDL	First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fun...	Large Cap Value Equities, Dividend	79	15.49%	Mar 9, 2006	FXL vs FDL
AIRR	First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ET...	Building & Construction	95	12.74%	Mar 10, 2014	FXL vs AIRR
IGLD	FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	Precious Metals, Gold	84	5.99%	Mar 2, 2021	FXL vs IGLD
TDIV	First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund	Technology Equities, Dividend	77	-2.96%	Aug 14, 2012	FXL vs TDIV
KNG	FT Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target I...	Dividend, S&P 500	25	1.24%	Mar 26, 2018	FXL vs KNG
ROBT	First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot...	Technology Equities, Robotics	28	-11.00%	Feb 21, 2018	FXL vs ROBT
QCLN	First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index F...	Alternative Energy Equities	87	4.23%	Feb 8, 2007	FXL vs QCLN

Often Compared With FXL

What investors most often compare with FXL, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
VUG	Vanguard Growth ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	50	-10.37%	Nov 13, 2000	FXL vs VUG
QQQ	Invesco QQQ ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	69	-5.93%	Mar 10, 1999	FXL vs QQQ
QQQM	Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	70	-5.92%	Oct 13, 2020	FXL vs QQQM
IYW	iShares U.S. Technology ETF	Technology Equities	66	-9.11%	May 19, 2000	FXL vs IYW
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	65	-4.42%	Sep 7, 2010	FXL vs VOO
VTI	Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	65	-4.01%	Jun 27, 2016	FXL vs VTI
QTEC	First Trust NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector Index Fun...	Technology Equities	54	-6.18%	Apr 19, 2006	FXL vs QTEC
TCHP	T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities, Actively Managed	40	-11.39%	Aug 4, 2020	FXL vs TCHP
ARES	Ares Management Corporation		22	-31.58%	—	FXL vs ARES
IVV	iShares Core S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	65	-4.38%	May 15, 2000	FXL vs IVV
SCHB	Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	65	-4.05%	Nov 3, 2009	FXL vs SCHB
XNTK	SPDR NYSE Technology ETF	Technology Equities	71	-8.10%	Sep 25, 2000	FXL vs XNTK
BK	The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation		89	2.64%	—	FXL vs BK
IDV	iShares International Select Dividend ETF	Global Equities, Dividend	97	8.40%	Jun 11, 2007	FXL vs IDV
IGM	iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF	Technology Equities	71	-8.21%	Mar 13, 2001	FXL vs IGM
SPMO	Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF	S&P 500	66	-5.78%	Oct 9, 2015	FXL vs SPMO
VO	Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF	Mid Cap Growth Equities	46	-0.68%	Jan 26, 2004	FXL vs VO
VXUS	Vanguard Total International Stock ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	86	2.32%	Jan 26, 2011	FXL vs VXUS

Compare FXL with Any Fund or Stock

Compare FXL with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

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First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund

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