CompareOctober 7, 2026

SPY vs VOO vs IVV: Which S&P 500 ETF?

SPY, VOO and IVV all track the S&P 500. See what is actually different: structure, issuer, launch date, trading and what to check on cost.

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SPY, VOO and IVV follow the same index, the S&P 500, so they hold almost the same roughly 500 large US companies in almost the same proportions. Their stock-market returns are very close. The differences lie in how each fund is built and run.

That makes the choice less about performance and more about structure, cost and how you plan to use it.

At a glance

	State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY	Vanguard S&P 500 ETF VOO	iShares Core S&P 500 ETF IVV
Exchange	NYSE Arca	NYSE Arca	NYSE Arca
Issuer	State Street	Vanguard	BlackRock (iShares)
Category	US large-cap blend	US large-cap blend	US large-cap blend
Tracks	S&P 500	S&P 500	S&P 500
Launched	1993	2010	2000
Regular dividend	Yes	Yes	Yes
Full profile	Read the profile →	Read the profile →	Read the profile →

Price chart

Live data by TradingView

Key differences

Structure

SPY is a unit investment trust, an older legal form that cannot lend out its shares for extra income or reinvest dividends between payment dates. VOO and IVV are open-ended funds without those limits.

Issuer

SPY comes from State Street, VOO from Vanguard and IVV from BlackRock's iShares range.

Age

SPY launched in 1993 and was the first ETF in the US. IVV followed in 2000 and VOO in 2010.

Cost

Fees differ slightly between the three, and SPY's has historically been higher than the other two. Compare each fund's current expense ratio on its issuer's website.

Trading

SPY has the heaviest trading volume and a very large options market, which is why traders and institutions often use it. For long-term holders this rarely matters.

What to check before choosing

Do you plan to hold for years, or trade in and out?
What does your broker charge, and does it offer commission-free trades or fractional shares for each fund?
What is each fund's current expense ratio?

This is general education, not a recommendation. Fees, yields and prices change, so check current figures with the issuer or your broker.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, SPY, VOO or IVV?

They track the same index, so returns are very close. Long-term investors usually focus on cost and structure, while traders may prefer SPY for its liquidity.

Do SPY, VOO and IVV hold the same stocks?

Almost. Each aims to match the S&P 500, so the holdings and weights are nearly identical.

Can I own more than one of them?

You can, but there is little point: you would own the same companies twice and add no diversification.

Investment Disclaimer

All information and tools on this website are provided for informational purposes only. The calculations, examples, and projections are simplified estimates and may not reflect real-world investment results.

Nothing on this website should be interpreted as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and any outcomes resulting from them.

Past performance and projected returns do not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.