Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) Alternatives

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) belongs to the Emerging Markets Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with VWO. 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 VWO

VWO charges 0.08% annually. Among ETFs in the Emerging Markets Equities category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among VWO alternatives.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	Inception
VEXC	Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF	0.07%	Sep 30, 2025	VWO vs VEXC
SPEM	SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF	0.11%	Mar 19, 2007	VWO vs SPEM
SCHE	Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF	0.11%	Jan 14, 2010	VWO vs SCHE
EMCR	Xtrackers Emerging Markets Carbon Reduction and Cl...	0.15%	Dec 6, 2018	VWO vs EMCR
LDEM	iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF	0.16%	Feb 5, 2020	VWO vs LDEM

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to VWO

Among ETFs in the Emerging Markets 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
EMIF	iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF	94	Jun 16, 2009	VWO vs EMIF
EMXC	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF	93	Jul 19, 2017	VWO vs EMXC
ROAM	Hartford Multifactor Emerging Markets ETF	92	Feb 26, 2015	VWO vs ROAM
ECOW	Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF	91	May 2, 2019	VWO vs ECOW
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	91	Mar 17, 2015	VWO vs SDEM

Top Performing VWO Alternatives (YTD)

VWO alternatives from the Emerging Markets Equities category, sorted by year-to-date return.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	Inception
TUR	iShares MSCI Turkey ETF	12.41%	Mar 26, 2008	VWO vs TUR
PIE	Invesco DWA Emerging Markets Momentum ETF	12.21%	Dec 28, 2007	VWO vs PIE
FEM	First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund	10.91%	Apr 18, 2011	VWO vs FEM
DVYE	iShares Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	10.54%	Feb 23, 2012	VWO vs DVYE
EMOP	AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF	9.93%	Jun 17, 2025	VWO vs EMOP

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to VWO

VWO alternatives from the Emerging Markets Equities category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	Inception
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	11.95%	Jan 25, 2016	VWO vs EMDV
QAT	iShares MSCI Qatar ETF	13.22%	Apr 29, 2014	VWO vs QAT
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	13.76%	Feb 23, 2011	VWO vs EDIV
JPEM	J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq...	14.07%	Jan 7, 2015	VWO vs JPEM
DEM	WisdomTree Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund	15.05%	Jul 13, 2007	VWO vs DEM

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to VWO

VWO alternatives from the Emerging Markets Equities category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	Inception
EMDV	ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers E...	-7.48%	Jan 25, 2016	VWO vs EMDV
SDEM	Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF	-9.78%	Mar 17, 2015	VWO vs SDEM
JPEM	J.P. Morgan Diversified Return Emerging Markets Eq...	-10.32%	Jan 7, 2015	VWO vs JPEM
EDOG	ALPS Emerging Sector Dividend Dogs ETF	-10.35%	Mar 28, 2014	VWO vs EDOG
EDIV	SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF	-10.36%	Feb 23, 2011	VWO vs EDIV

Other ETFs from Vanguard

Most popular Vanguard ETFs on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
VOO	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	60	-3.66%	Sep 7, 2010	VWO vs VOO
VTI	Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	59	-3.29%	Jun 27, 2016	VWO vs VTI
VGT	Vanguard Information Technology ETF	Technology Equities	62	-6.16%	Mar 25, 2004	VWO vs VGT
VXUS	Vanguard Total International Stock ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	85	3.51%	Jan 26, 2011	VWO vs VXUS
VUG	Vanguard Growth ETF	Large Cap Growth Equities	44	-9.39%	Nov 13, 2000	VWO vs VUG
VT	Vanguard Total World Stock ETF	Global Equities	74	-0.74%	Jun 24, 2008	VWO vs VT
VYM	Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF	Dividend	65	3.69%	Feb 7, 2019	VWO vs VYM
BND	Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF	Total Bond Market	50	0.09%	Apr 3, 2007	VWO vs BND
VIG	Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF	Dividend	47	-1.48%	Dec 19, 2013	VWO vs VIG
VTV	Vanguard Value ETF	Large Cap Value Equities	60	3.54%	Jan 26, 2004	VWO vs VTV

Often Compared With VWO

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

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	Inception
VEA	Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	87	4.45%	Jul 20, 2007	VWO vs VEA
IEMG	iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	84	4.55%	Oct 18, 2012	VWO vs IEMG
EEM	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF	Emerging Markets Diversified	83	4.61%	Apr 11, 2003	VWO vs EEM
VEMAX	Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund Admiral...	Emerging Markets Equities	76	-0.22%	Jun 23, 2006	VWO vs VEMAX
SPY	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	S&P 500	59	-3.65%	Jan 22, 1993	VWO vs SPY
VEU	Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	84	3.60%	Mar 2, 2007	VWO vs VEU
AVEM	Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	88	5.61%	Sep 17, 2019	VWO vs AVEM
VFEM.DE	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF Distribut...	Emerging Markets Equities	47	2.27%	May 22, 2012	VWO vs VFEM.DE
EIMI.L	iShares Core MSCI EM IMI UCITS ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	85	4.48%	May 30, 2014	VWO vs EIMI.L
FPADX	Fidelity Emerging Markets Index Fund	Emerging Markets Diversified	88	3.44%	Sep 8, 2011	VWO vs FPADX
VWOB	Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF	Emerging Markets Bonds	73	-1.27%	May 31, 2013	VWO vs VWOB
VWCE.DE	Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF	Global Equities	52	-0.36%	Jul 23, 2019	VWO vs VWCE.DE
FEMKX	Fidelity Emerging Markets	Emerging Markets Equities	86	0.94%	Nov 1, 1990	VWO vs FEMKX
VPL	Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	91	10.38%	Mar 4, 2005	VWO vs VPL
AVES	Avantis Emerging Markets Value ETF	Emerging Markets Equities, Actively Managed	83	3.23%	Sep 28, 2021	VWO vs AVES
FNDE	Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company ...	Emerging Markets Equities	81	5.77%	Aug 15, 2013	VWO vs FNDE
INDA	iShares MSCI India ETF	Asia Pacific Equities	3	-13.58%	Feb 2, 2012	VWO vs INDA
VSS	Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF	Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities	89	3.27%	Apr 2, 2009	VWO vs VSS
FDEM	Fidelity Emerging Markets Multifactor ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	80	3.95%	Feb 26, 2019	VWO vs FDEM
DFAE	Dimensional Emerging Core Equity Market ETF	Actively Managed, Emerging Markets Equities	86	4.95%	Dec 2, 2020	VWO vs DFAE

Compare VWO with Any Fund or Stock

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

Symbol name

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF

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