Ultra-Low Cost ETFs Under 0.10%
The cheapest ETFs available with expense ratios under 0.10% — covering stocks, bonds, and international markets for cost-conscious investors.
Best Ultra-Low Cost ETFs for 2026
Expense ratios are the most reliable predictor of future returns — lower costs mean more of your money stays invested and compounds over time. These ETFs charge less than 0.10% annually.
U.S. Stock Market
VTI (0.03%): Total U.S. stock market. VOO (0.03%): S&P 500. SPLG (0.02%): State Street ultra-cheap S&P 500. SCHB (0.03%): Schwab broad U.S. market.
International Stocks
VXUS (0.07%): Total international. VEA (0.05%): Developed international. VWO (0.08%): Emerging markets. IPAC (0.09%): Asia-Pacific developed.
Bond Market
BND (0.03%): Total U.S. bond market. BNDX (0.07%): Total international bond. GOVT (0.05%): U.S. Treasury bonds. SPAB (0.03%): U.S. aggregate bond.
The Impact of Low Costs
On a $100,000 portfolio over 30 years at 8% annual returns: a 0.03% fee costs $9,000 total vs. a 0.50% fee costing $147,000. That is a $138,000 difference — more than the original investment — just from fee savings.
Frequently asked questions
What are ultra-low cost ETFs?
Ultra-low cost ETFs are funds with very low expense ratios, typically under 0.10% annually, allowing more of your investment to stay invested and compound over time.
Why are expense ratios important?
Expense ratios directly reduce investor returns. Lower fees mean more of your money remains invested, leading to higher long-term compounding and portfolio growth.
Which are the top ultra-low cost U.S. stock ETFs?
Top U.S. stock ETFs include VTI (0.03%), VOO (0.03%), SPLG (0.02%), and SCHB (0.03%). They provide broad U.S. market exposure at minimal cost.
What does VTI track?
VTI — Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF — tracks the performance of the entire U.S. stock market, including large, mid, and small-cap stocks.
What does VOO track?
VOO — Vanguard S&P 500 ETF — tracks the S&P 500 Index, representing the 500 largest U.S. companies.
What is SPLG?
SPLG is State Street’s ultra-low-cost ETF that tracks the S&P 500 at just 0.02% expense ratio, making it one of the cheapest S&P 500 options.
Which ultra-low cost ETFs cover international stocks?
VXUS (0.07%) covers total international equities, VEA (0.05%) covers developed markets, VWO (0.08%) covers emerging markets, and IPAC (0.09%) covers developed Asia-Pacific.
What does VXUS include?
VXUS — Vanguard Total International Stock ETF — includes equities from developed and emerging markets outside the U.S.
Which ETFs cover international developed markets?
VEA and IPAC are top options for developed international markets, with very low expense ratios of 0.05% and 0.09%, respectively.
Which ETFs cover emerging markets?
VWO provides broad exposure to emerging market equities with an ultra-low expense ratio of 0.08%.
Which are the top ultra-low cost bond ETFs?
BND (0.03%), BNDX (0.07%), GOVT (0.05%), and SPAB (0.03%) offer low-cost exposure to U.S. bonds, international bonds, Treasury bonds, and U.S. aggregate bonds.
What does BND track?
BND — Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF — tracks the broad U.S. investment-grade bond market, including Treasuries, government agency bonds, and corporate bonds.
What is BNDX?
BNDX — Vanguard Total International Bond ETF — provides broad exposure to investment-grade bonds outside the U.S., hedged for currency risk, at 0.07% expense ratio.
What does GOVT ETF track?
GOVT — iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF — provides exposure to U.S. Treasuries across all maturities at a very low expense ratio of 0.05%.
What is SPAB?
SPAB — SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF — tracks the broad U.S. investment-grade bond market with an ultra-low 0.03% expense ratio.
How much can low-cost ETFs impact long-term returns?
On a $100,000 portfolio over 30 years at 8% annual returns, a 0.03% fee costs $9,000 versus a 0.50% fee costing $147,000 — a $138,000 difference purely from fees.
Why are ultra-low cost ETFs recommended for long-term investing?
Because fees compound over time, minimizing costs maximizes wealth accumulation, making ultra-low cost ETFs ideal for buy-and-hold investors.
Are ultra-low cost ETFs risk-free?
No, they still carry market risk. Low costs improve net returns, but portfolio performance still depends on the underlying asset performance.
Can investors combine ultra-low cost ETFs for diversification?
Yes, combining U.S., international, and bond ETFs allows broad diversification while keeping total portfolio expenses minimal.
Where can investors buy ultra-low cost ETFs?
These ETFs are available through most major brokerage accounts, including Vanguard, Schwab, Fidelity, and other online brokers, without special accounts.