VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) belongs to the Gold category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with GDX. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to GDX
GDX charges 0.51% annually. There are 14 ETFs in the Gold category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.09%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Gold Trust Micro | 0.09% | 7.18B | Jun 2021 | GDX vs IAUM | |
| SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | 0.10% | 30.87B | Jun 2018 | GDX vs GLDM | |
| abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | 0.17% | 7.51B | Sep 2009 | GDX vs SGOL | |
| GraniteShares Gold Trust | 0.17% | 1.49B | Aug 2017 | GDX vs BAR | |
| Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF | 0.18% | 2.68B | Jul 2018 | GDX vs AAAU |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to GDX
GDX has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 35. There are 2 ETFs in the Gold category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 49.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fun... | 49 | 576.93M | Mar 2022 | GDX vs GDE | |
| iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF | 39 | 2.79B | Jan 2012 | GDX vs RING | |
| Sprott Active Gold & Silver Miners ETF | 35 | 166.17M | Feb 2025 | GDX vs GBUG | |
| WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Gold Miners Strateg... | 34 | 197.59M | Dec 2021 | GDX vs GDMN | |
| Invesco DB Precious Metals Fund | 34 | 275.21M | Jan 2007 | GDX vs DBP |
Top Performing GDX Alternatives (YTD)
GDX is at -0.90% YTD. There are 18 ETFs in the Gold category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 9.79%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fun... | 9.79% | 576.93M | Mar 2022 | GDX vs GDE | |
| VanEck Merk Gold Trust | 3.01% | 2.82B | May 2014 | GDX vs OUNZ | |
| iShares Gold Trust Micro | 3.00% | 7.18B | Jun 2021 | GDX vs IAUM | |
| SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | 3.00% | 30.87B | Jun 2018 | GDX vs GLDM | |
| Kurv Gold Enhanced Income ETF | 2.99% | 90.82M | Jul 2025 | GDX vs KGLD |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to GDX
GDX has 45.49% 1-year volatility. There are 16 ETFs in the Gold category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 11.90%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | 11.90% | 51.28M | Jan 2021 | GDX vs BGLD | |
| Defiance Gold Enhanced Options Income ETF | 19.87% | 32.32M | Apr 2025 | GDX vs GLDY | |
| NEOS Gold High Income ETF | 20.31% | 462.95M | Jun 2025 | GDX vs IAUI | |
| FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF | 23.24% | 591.41M | Mar 2021 | GDX vs IGLD | |
| iShares Gold Trust Micro | 26.31% | 7.18B | Jun 2021 | GDX vs IAUM |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to GDX
GDX has a 1-year max drawdown of -30.84%. There are 14 ETFs in the Gold category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -11.11%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Gold Strategy Quarterly Buffer ETF | -11.11% | 51.28M | Jan 2021 | GDX vs BGLD | |
| Defiance Gold Enhanced Options Income ETF | -13.43% | 32.32M | Apr 2025 | GDX vs GLDY | |
| FT Cboe Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF | -17.56% | 591.41M | Mar 2021 | GDX vs IGLD | |
| Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF | -19.13% | 2.68B | Jul 2018 | GDX vs AAAU | |
| abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF | -19.14% | 7.51B | Sep 2009 | GDX vs SGOL |
Other ETFs from VanEck
The 10 most viewed VanEck ETFs shown here include SMH, NLR, GDXJ and span 9 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $68B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VanEck Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 96 | 77.13% | 67.82B | Dec 2011 | GDX vs SMH | |
| VanEck Vectors Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF | Alternative Energy Equities | 25 | 6.14% | 4.87B | Aug 2007 | GDX vs NLR | |
| VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF | Materials | 35 | -2.55% | 8.65B | Nov 2009 | GDX vs GDXJ | |
| VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 27 | -0.94% | 11.84B | Apr 2012 | GDX vs MOAT | |
| VanEck Fabless Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 93 | 78.44% | 271.12M | Aug 2024 | GDX vs SMHX | |
| VanEck Vectors Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF | Materials | 87 | 33.01% | 3.01B | Oct 2010 | GDX vs REMX | |
| VanEck BDC Income ETF | Financials Equities | 3 | -8.99% | 1.57B | Feb 2013 | GDX vs BIZD | |
| VanEck Bitcoin Trust | Cryptocurrency | 2 | -25.27% | 1.22B | Jan 2024 | GDX vs HODL | |
| VanEck Vectors Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF | Corporate Bonds | 99 | 1.91% | 2.75B | Apr 2011 | GDX vs FLTR | |
| VanEck Digital Transformation ETF | Technology Equities, Blockchain | 25 | 33.03% | 499.52M | Apr 2021 | GDX vs DAPP |
Often Compared With GDX
Investors most often compare GDX with GLD, GOLD, IAU. These 20 comparison targets span 8 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare GDX with Any Fund or Stock
Compare GDX with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair GDX with funds that move differently
VanEck Gold Miners ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to GDX.
Explore GDX Diversifiers