HSBC vs iShares
Both providers track indices, so neither "performs" better than the other — what separates them is cost, range and which markets they actually cover. HSBC has 6 products in this catalog and iShares has 64, overlapping in 3 categories. HSBC offers the cheapest fund in 2 of those 3 categories.
HSBC
- Products
- 6
- Lowest TER
- 0.09%
- Average TER
- 0.16%
- Categories
- 3
iShares
- Products
- 64
- Lowest TER
- 0.07%
- Average TER
- 0.40%
- Categories
- 13
Which one is cheaper, and where
HSBC offers the cheapest fund in 2 of the 3 categories both cover.
The cheapest fund from each, category by category
Each provider’s lowest-fee product within every shared category, head to head. The index each one tracks is shown too, because two funds in the same category do not always track the same thing.
| Category | HSBC | iShares | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global | HSBC FTSE All-WorldFTSE All-World0.13% | iShares Core MSCI WorldMSCI World0.20% | €7/year per €10,000 |
| Emerging | HSBC MSCI Emerging MarketsMSCI Emerging Markets0.15% | iShares Core MSCI EM IMIMSCI Emerging Markets IMI0.18% | €3/year per €10,000 |
| USA | HSBC S&P 500S&P 5000.09% | iShares Core S&P 500S&P 5000.07% | €2/year per €10,000 |
What each one covers
Only at HSBC
—
Structural differences
HSBC
- Accumulating
- 83%
- Physical replication
- 100%
- Are ETFs
- 83%
- Domicile
- Ireland, United Kingdom
iShares
- Accumulating
- 41%
- Physical replication
- 100%
- Are ETFs
- 97%
- Domicile
- Ireland, Germany
Other provider comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Is HSBC or iShares cheaper?+
HSBC offers the cheapest fund in 2 of the 3 categories both cover, against 1 for iShares. But "cheaper overall" is the wrong question: what matters is which is cheaper in the category you are actually buying.
Where is the difference between HSBC and iShares biggest?+
In global equities: HSBC FTSE All-World charges 0.13% against 0.20% for iShares Core MSCI World. On €10,000 invested that is a €7.00 difference every year, in favour of HSBC.
Which one has the wider range?+
iShares, with 64 products against 6. Coverage is not identical either: iShares covers European equities, the technology sector, the Japanese market, sustainable (ESG) criteria, fixed income, listed real estate, gold, small-cap companies, a specific thematic sector, high-dividend companies where HSBC does not.
Are there structural differences beyond fees?+
Yes. HSBC's products in this catalog are 83% accumulating and 100% physically replicated, domiciled in Ireland, United Kingdom. iShares's are 41% accumulating and 100% physical, domiciled in Ireland, Germany. For a Spanish investor the accumulating/distributing split matters for tax, and domicile matters for dividend withholding.
Does this comparison look at past performance?+
No, deliberately. Two funds tracking the same index deliver almost identical returns before fees, so comparing their past returns tells you about the index, not about the provider. The fee is the part the provider actually controls, and the only one you know for certain the day you invest.
Cost and coverage comparison computed over this site’s catalog, which is a sample and not each provider’s full product range. Returns are not compared: two funds tracking the same index perform almost identically before fees, so past performance tells you about the index, not the provider. Educational content, not a recommendation.