ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (ROBO) belongs to the Robotics category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with ROBO. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to ROBO
ROBO charges 0.95% annually. There are 6 ETFs in the Robotics category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Themes Humanoid Robotics ETF | 0.35% | 61.27M | Apr 2024 | ROBO vs BOTT | |
| VanEck Robotics ETF | 0.47% | 97.57M | Apr 2023 | ROBO vs IBOT | |
| First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot... | 0.65% | 784.37M | Feb 2018 | ROBO vs ROBT | |
| Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Themat... | 0.68% | 3.54B | Sep 2016 | ROBO vs BOTZ | |
| ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF | 0.75% | 2.41B | Sep 2014 | ROBO vs ARKQ |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to ROBO
ROBO has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 56. There is 1 ETF in the Robotics category with a higher risk-adjusted rank, going as high as 66.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VanEck Robotics ETF | 66 | 97.57M | Apr 2023 | ROBO vs IBOT | |
| Themes Humanoid Robotics ETF | 48 | 61.27M | Apr 2024 | ROBO vs BOTT | |
| ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF | 43 | 2.41B | Sep 2014 | ROBO vs ARKQ | |
| Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Themat... | 23 | 3.54B | Sep 2016 | ROBO vs BOTZ | |
| First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot... | 20 | 784.37M | Feb 2018 | ROBO vs ROBT |
Top Performing ROBO Alternatives (YTD)
ROBO is at 19.46% YTD. There is 1 ETF in the Robotics category with a higher YTD return, going as high as 24.93%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VanEck Robotics ETF | 24.93% | 97.57M | Apr 2023 | ROBO vs IBOT | |
| Themes Humanoid Robotics ETF | 14.95% | 61.27M | Apr 2024 | ROBO vs BOTT | |
| Roundhill Humanoid Robotics ETF | 12.89% | 86.09M | Jun 2025 | ROBO vs HUMN | |
| ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF | 10.20% | 2.41B | Sep 2014 | ROBO vs ARKQ | |
| First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot... | 3.51% | 784.37M | Feb 2018 | ROBO vs ROBT |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to ROBO
ROBO has 25.07% 1-year volatility. There are 2 ETFs in the Robotics category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 23.70%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VanEck Robotics ETF | 23.70% | 97.57M | Apr 2023 | ROBO vs IBOT | |
| First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot... | 24.76% | 784.37M | Feb 2018 | ROBO vs ROBT | |
| Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Themat... | 25.54% | 3.54B | Sep 2016 | ROBO vs BOTZ | |
| Roundhill Humanoid Robotics ETF | 31.37% | 86.09M | Jun 2025 | ROBO vs HUMN | |
| ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF | 33.93% | 2.41B | Sep 2014 | ROBO vs ARKQ |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to ROBO
ROBO has a 1-year max drawdown of -17.35%. There is 1 ETF in the Robotics category with a shallower 1-year drawdown, going as shallow as -16.74%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VanEck Robotics ETF | -16.74% | 97.57M | Apr 2023 | ROBO vs IBOT | |
| Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Themat... | -19.34% | 3.54B | Sep 2016 | ROBO vs BOTZ | |
| ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF | -20.58% | 2.41B | Sep 2014 | ROBO vs ARKQ | |
| First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robot... | -21.66% | 784.37M | Feb 2018 | ROBO vs ROBT | |
| Themes Humanoid Robotics ETF | -30.74% | 61.27M | Apr 2024 | ROBO vs BOTT |
Other ETFs from Exchange Traded Concepts
The 10 most viewed Exchange Traded Concepts ETFs shown here include NUKZ, CEFS, HYLD and span 11 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $832M.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range Nuclear Renaissance ETF | Energy Equities | 29 | 9.01% | 832.38M | Jan 2024 | ROBO vs NUKZ | |
| Saba Closed-End Funds ETF | Event Driven, Actively Managed | 86 | 15.16% | 332.90M | Mar 2017 | ROBO vs CEFS | |
| High Yield ETF | High Yield Bonds | — | — | 95.91M | Nov 2010 | ROBO vs HYLD | |
| ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETF | Technology Equities | 70 | 36.10% | 451.01M | May 2020 | ROBO vs THNQ | |
| Hull Tactical US ETF | Long-Short | 68 | 8.95% | 137.43M | Jun 2015 | ROBO vs HTUS | |
| QRAFT AI-Enhanced U.S. Large Cap Momentum ETF | Momentum, Large Cap Growth Equities | 55 | 26.78% | 33.44M | May 2019 | ROBO vs AMOM | |
| EMQQ The Emerging Markets Internet ETF | Emerging Markets Equities | 2 | -24.03% | 273.19M | Nov 2014 | ROBO vs EMQQ | |
| Nifty India Financials ETF | Financials Equities | — | — | 10.83M | Oct 2020 | ROBO vs INDF | |
| ROBO Global Healthcare Technology and Innovation E... | Health & Biotech Equities | 38 | -0.55% | 49.62M | Jun 2019 | ROBO vs HTEC | |
| QRAFT AI Enhanced U.S. Large Cap ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 58 | 9.72% | 15.70M | May 2019 | ROBO vs QRFT |
Often Compared With ROBO
Investors most often compare ROBO with IRBO, AIQ, QQQ. These 20 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare ROBO with Any Fund or Stock
Compare ROBO with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair ROBO with funds that move differently
ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to ROBO.
Explore ROBO Diversifiers