Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF (VWOB) belongs to the Emerging Markets Bonds category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with VWOB. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to VWOB
VWOB charges 0.15% annually. No ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category have lower expense ratios; the lowest-cost alternatives shown here go as low as 0.18%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon... | 0.18% | 42.78M | Feb 2023 | VWOB vs BEMB | |
| SPDR Bloomberg Emerging Markets USD Bond ETF | 0.23% | 266.45M | Apr 2021 | VWOB vs EMHC | |
| BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year... | 0.29% | 948.98M | Jun 2022 | VWOB vs XEMD | |
| VanEck Vectors J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ... | 0.30% | 4.87B | Jul 2010 | VWOB vs EMLC | |
| iShares J.P. Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF | 0.30% | 720.34M | Oct 2011 | VWOB vs LEMB |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to VWOB
VWOB has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 61. There are 12 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 91.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo... | 91 | 27.50M | Dec 2022 | VWOB vs VEMY | |
| VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF | 88 | 23.78M | Nov 2014 | VWOB vs CBON | |
| Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF | 86 | 41.32M | Aug 2024 | VWOB vs GAEM | |
| BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year... | 80 | 948.98M | Jun 2022 | VWOB vs XEMD | |
| KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF | 78 | 15.78M | Jun 2018 | VWOB vs KHYB |
Top Performing VWOB Alternatives (YTD)
VWOB is at 2.09% YTD. There are 15 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 6.35%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets High Yield Bo... | 6.35% | 27.50M | Dec 2022 | VWOB vs VEMY | |
| VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF | 5.02% | 23.78M | Nov 2014 | VWOB vs CBON | |
| Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF | 4.12% | 41.32M | Aug 2024 | VWOB vs GAEM | |
| iShares Emerging Markets Bond Active ETF | 3.99% | 38.74M | Oct 2025 | VWOB vs BREM | |
| VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF | 3.68% | 239.29M | Oct 2025 | VWOB vs EMBX |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to VWOB
VWOB has 5.29% 1-year volatility. There are 7 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 2.25%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF | 2.25% | 80.27M | Apr 2016 | VWOB vs EMTL | |
| KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income Bond ETF | 3.44% | 15.78M | Jun 2018 | VWOB vs KHYB | |
| VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF | 3.44% | 23.78M | Nov 2014 | VWOB vs CBON | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund | 3.79% | 99.72M | Mar 2012 | VWOB vs EMCB | |
| Ishares J.P. Morgan Broad USD Emerging Markets Bon... | 4.35% | 42.78M | Feb 2023 | VWOB vs BEMB |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to VWOB
VWOB has a 1-year max drawdown of -4.48%. There are 11 ETFs in the Emerging Markets Bonds category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -1.34%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VanEck Vectors ChinaAMC China Bond ETF | -1.34% | 23.78M | Nov 2014 | VWOB vs CBON | |
| SPDR DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Income ETF | -2.00% | 80.27M | Apr 2016 | VWOB vs EMTL | |
| WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund | -3.07% | 99.72M | Mar 2012 | VWOB vs EMCB | |
| BondBloxx JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets 1-10 Year... | -3.52% | 948.98M | Jun 2022 | VWOB vs XEMD | |
| Simplify Gamma Emerging Market Bond ETF | -3.61% | 41.32M | Aug 2024 | VWOB vs GAEM |
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 | 68 | 9.75% | 1.70T | Sep 2010 | VWOB vs VOO | |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 68 | 10.35% | 2.30T | May 2001 | VWOB vs VTI | |
| Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Technology Equities | 69 | 28.03% | 170.10B | Mar 2004 | VWOB vs VGT | |
| Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | Global Equities | 67 | 16.04% | 652.30B | Jan 2011 | VWOB vs VXUS | |
| Vanguard Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 37 | 5.76% | 393.80B | Jan 2004 | VWOB vs VUG | |
| Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | Global Equities | 70 | 12.36% | 95.30B | Jun 2008 | VWOB vs VT | |
| Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | Dividend | 78 | 11.70% | 96.10B | Nov 2006 | VWOB vs VYM | |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | Total Bond Market | 33 | 0.38% | 394.40B | Apr 2007 | VWOB vs BND | |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | Dividend | 61 | 7.53% | 127.80B | Apr 2006 | VWOB vs VIG | |
| Vanguard Value ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 87 | 15.12% | 245.00B | Jan 2004 | VWOB vs VTV |
Often Compared With VWOB
Investors most often compare VWOB with EMB, BNDX, VWO. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare VWOB with Any Fund or Stock
Compare VWOB with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair VWOB with funds that move differently
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to VWOB.
Explore VWOB Diversifiers