Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (VGLT) belongs to the Government Bonds category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with VGLT. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to VGLT
VGLT charges 0.03% annually. No ETFs in the Government Bonds category have lower expense ratios; the lowest-cost alternatives shown here go as low as 0.03%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF | 0.03% | 33.80B | Nov 2009 | VGLT vs VGSH | |
| Vanguard Intermediate-Term Treasury ETF | 0.03% | 50.40B | Nov 2009 | VGLT vs VGIT | |
| Schwab Long-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 0.03% | 793.42M | Oct 2019 | VGLT vs SCHQ | |
| Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF | 0.03% | 12.86B | Aug 2010 | VGLT vs SCHO | |
| BondBloxx Bloomberg Six Month Target Duration US T... | 0.03% | 1.94B | Sep 2022 | VGLT vs XHLF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to VGLT
VGLT has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 8. There are 63 ETFs in the Government Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 100.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF | 100 | 47.03B | May 2007 | VGLT vs BIL | |
| Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF | 100 | 7.59B | Sep 2016 | VGLT vs GBIL | |
| iShares 0-1 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 100 | 20.70B | Jan 2007 | VGLT vs SHV | |
| WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund | 100 | 18.13B | Feb 2014 | VGLT vs USFR | |
| iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF | 100 | 6.70B | Feb 2014 | VGLT vs TFLO |
Top Performing VGLT Alternatives (YTD)
VGLT is at -1.98% YTD. There are 63 ETFs in the Government Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 2.81%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadratic Deflation ETF | 2.81% | 20.75M | Sep 2021 | VGLT vs BNDD | |
| iShares Global Government Bond USD Hedged Active E... | 2.79% | 2.97B | Jun 2025 | VGLT vs GGOV | |
| Simplify Treasury Option Income ETF | 2.36% | 489.70M | Oct 2022 | VGLT vs BUCK | |
| WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund | 2.31% | 18.13B | Feb 2014 | VGLT vs USFR | |
| iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF | 2.26% | 6.70B | Feb 2014 | VGLT vs TFLO |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to VGLT
VGLT has 8.41% 1-year volatility. There are 69 ETFs in the Government Bonds category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 0.20%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF | 0.20% | 47.03B | May 2007 | VGLT vs BIL | |
| iShares 0-1 Year Treasury Bond ETF | 0.20% | 20.70B | Jan 2007 | VGLT vs SHV | |
| Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF | 0.21% | 7.59B | Sep 2016 | VGLT vs GBIL | |
| WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund | 0.27% | 18.13B | Feb 2014 | VGLT vs USFR | |
| iShares iBonds Dec 2025 Term Treasury ETF | 0.28% | 1.42B | Feb 2020 | VGLT vs IBTF |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to VGLT
VGLT has a 1-year max drawdown of -7.03%. There are 64 ETFs in the Government Bonds category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -0.01%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF | -0.01% | 47.03B | May 2007 | VGLT vs BIL | |
| iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF | -0.02% | 6.70B | Feb 2014 | VGLT vs TFLO | |
| WisdomTree Floating Rate Treasury Fund | -0.02% | 18.13B | Feb 2014 | VGLT vs USFR | |
| Goldman Sachs Access Treasury 0-1 Year ETF | -0.02% | 7.59B | Sep 2016 | VGLT vs GBIL | |
| iShares 0-1 Year Treasury Bond ETF | -0.03% | 20.70B | Jan 2007 | VGLT vs SHV |
Other ETFs from Vanguard
The 10 most viewed Vanguard ETFs shown here include VOO, VTI, VGT and span 8 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $2T.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 72 | 13.52% | 1.70T | Sep 2010 | VGLT vs VOO | |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 71 | 13.92% | 2.30T | May 2001 | VGLT vs VTI | |
| Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Technology Equities | 57 | 27.34% | 169.20B | Mar 2004 | VGLT vs VGT | |
| Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | Global Equities | 64 | 15.31% | 651.00B | Jan 2011 | VGLT vs VXUS | |
| Vanguard Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 35 | 9.37% | 378.80B | Jan 2004 | VGLT vs VUG | |
| Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | Global Equities | 70 | 14.23% | 97.00B | Jun 2008 | VGLT vs VT | |
| Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | Dividend | 90 | 16.45% | 96.20B | Nov 2006 | VGLT vs VYM | |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | Total Bond Market | 24 | 0.13% | 398.10B | Apr 2007 | VGLT vs BND | |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | Dividend | 76 | 12.10% | 129.60B | Apr 2006 | VGLT vs VIG | |
| Vanguard Value ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 93 | 18.51% | 254.20B | Jan 2004 | VGLT vs VTV |
Often Compared With VGLT
Investors most often compare VGLT with TLT, EDV, VCLT. These 18 comparison targets span 9 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare VGLT with Any Fund or Stock
Compare VGLT with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair VGLT with funds that move differently
Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to VGLT.
Explore VGLT Diversifiers