iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF (GBF) belongs to the Intermediate Core Bond category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with GBF. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to GBF
GBF charges 0.20% annually. There are 23 ETFs in the Intermediate Core Bond category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.03%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.03% | 1.03B | Dec 2018 | GBF vs BBAG | |
| Vanguard Total Treasury ETF | 0.03% | 122.30M | Jul 2025 | GBF vs VTG | |
| Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index ETF | 0.03% | 52.20B | Apr 2007 | GBF vs BIV | |
| iShares iBonds Dec 2032 Term Treasury ETF | 0.07% | 549.87M | Jul 2022 | GBF vs IBTM | |
| iShares iBonds Dec 2033 Term Treasury ETF | 0.07% | 469.02M | Jun 2023 | GBF vs IBTO |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to GBF
GBF has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 31. There are 38 ETFs in the Intermediate Core Bond category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 96.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGI Enhanced Core ETF | 96 | 364.51M | Feb 2024 | GBF vs USDX | |
| Aptus Enhanced Yield ETF | 83 | 217.59M | Oct 2022 | GBF vs JUCY | |
| State Street My2029 Corporate Bond ETF | 68 | 34.53M | Sep 2024 | GBF vs MYCI | |
| 3EDGE Dynamic Fixed Income ETF | 67 | 236.02M | Oct 2024 | GBF vs EDGF | |
| Hartford Schroders Tax-Aware Bond ETF | 56 | 297.30M | Apr 2018 | GBF vs HTAB |
Top Performing GBF Alternatives (YTD)
GBF is at 0.93% YTD. There are 31 ETFs in the Intermediate Core Bond category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 2.85%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptus Enhanced Yield ETF | 2.85% | 217.59M | Oct 2022 | GBF vs JUCY | |
| Overlay Shares Core Bond ETF | 2.69% | 33.20M | Sep 2019 | GBF vs OVB | |
| Defined Duration 5 ETF | 2.51% | — | Nov 2025 | GBF vs DDV | |
| SGI Enhanced Core ETF | 2.41% | 364.51M | Feb 2024 | GBF vs USDX | |
| Hartford Schroders Tax-Aware Bond ETF | 1.88% | 297.30M | Apr 2018 | GBF vs HTAB |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to GBF
GBF has 3.72% 1-year volatility. There are 22 ETFs in the Intermediate Core Bond category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 1.89%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3EDGE Dynamic Fixed Income ETF | 1.89% | 236.02M | Oct 2024 | GBF vs EDGF | |
| SGI Enhanced Core ETF | 2.07% | 364.51M | Feb 2024 | GBF vs USDX | |
| State Street My2029 Corporate Bond ETF | 2.15% | 34.53M | Sep 2024 | GBF vs MYCI | |
| Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF | 2.33% | 43.77M | Dec 2024 | GBF vs FCBD | |
| ClearShares Piton Intermediate Fixed Income ETF | 2.62% | 98.88M | Oct 2020 | GBF vs PIFI |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to GBF
GBF has a 1-year max drawdown of -2.73%. There are 13 ETFs in the Intermediate Core Bond category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.64%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3EDGE Dynamic Fixed Income ETF | -0.64% | 236.02M | Oct 2024 | GBF vs EDGF | |
| Aptus Enhanced Yield ETF | -0.94% | 217.59M | Oct 2022 | GBF vs JUCY | |
| SGI Enhanced Core ETF | -0.94% | 364.51M | Feb 2024 | GBF vs USDX | |
| Build Bond Innovation ETF | -1.09% | 10.78M | Feb 2022 | GBF vs BFIX | |
| State Street My2029 Corporate Bond ETF | -1.56% | 34.53M | Sep 2024 | GBF vs MYCI |
Other ETFs from iShares
The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, IVV and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $838B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 1.73% | 95.28B | May 2020 | GBF vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 2 | -32.49% | 48.04B | Jan 2024 | GBF vs IBIT | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 63 | 8.10% | 837.93B | May 2000 | GBF vs IVV | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 96 | 107.83% | 46.67B | Jul 2001 | GBF vs SOXX | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 15 | 2.11% | 41.34B | Jul 2002 | GBF vs TLT | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 82 | 9.70% | 41.89B | Jun 2014 | GBF vs DGRO | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 29 | -18.72% | 32.53B | Apr 2006 | GBF vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 22 | -6.73% | 64.29B | Jan 2005 | GBF vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 78 | 21.93% | 81.35B | May 2000 | GBF vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 63 | 10.05% | 32.95B | Mar 2008 | GBF vs ACWI |
Often Compared With GBF
Investors most often compare GBF with GVI, AGZ, CMBS. These 20 comparison targets span 12 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare GBF with Any Fund or Stock
Compare GBF with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair GBF with funds that move differently
iShares Government/Credit Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to GBF.
Explore GBF Diversifiers