iShares vs Vanguard
Both providers track indices, so neither "performs" better than the other — what separates them is cost, range and which markets they actually cover. iShares has 64 products in this catalog and Vanguard has 22, overlapping in 9 categories. iShares offers the cheapest fund in 5 of those 9 categories.
iShares
- Products
- 64
- Lowest TER
- 0.07%
- Average TER
- 0.40%
- Categories
- 13
Vanguard
- Products
- 22
- Lowest TER
- 0.07%
- Average TER
- 0.16%
- Categories
- 9
Which one is cheaper, and where
iShares offers the cheapest fund in 5 of the 9 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 | iShares | Vanguard | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global | iShares Core MSCI WorldMSCI World0.20% | Vanguard FTSE Developed WorldFTSE Developed0.12% | €8/year per €10,000 |
| Small Caps | iShares MSCI World Small CapMSCI World Small Cap0.35% | Vanguard Global Small-Cap Index Fund EUR AccMSCI World Small Cap0.29% | €6/year per €10,000 |
| Emerging | iShares Core MSCI EM IMIMSCI Emerging Markets IMI0.18% | Vanguard FTSE Emerging MarketsFTSE Emerging0.22% | €4/year per €10,000 |
| Sustainable | iShares MSCI World SRIMSCI World SRI Select Reduced Fossil Fuel0.20% | Vanguard ESG Global All CapFTSE Global All Cap Choice0.24% | €4/year per €10,000 |
| Fixed income | iShares Core € Govt BondBloomberg Euro Treasury0.07% | Vanguard Global Aggregate Bond EUR-HBloomberg Global Aggregate Float Adjusted0.10% | €3/year per €10,000 |
| Europe | iShares Core FTSE 100FTSE 1000.07% | Vanguard FTSE 100FTSE 1000.09% | €2/year per €10,000 |
| Dividends | iShares MSCI Europe Quality Dividend Advanced (Dist)MSCI Europe High Dividend Yield Advanced Select0.28% | Vanguard FTSE All-World High Dividend YieldFTSE All-World High Dividend Yield0.29% | €1/year per €10,000 |
| USA | iShares Core S&P 500S&P 5000.07% | Vanguard S&P 500S&P 5000.07% | Same cost |
| Japan | iShares Core MSCI Japan IMIMSCI Japan IMI0.15% | Vanguard FTSE JapanFTSE Japan0.15% | Same cost |
What each one covers
Only at iShares
Only at Vanguard
—
Structural differences
iShares
- Accumulating
- 41%
- Physical replication
- 100%
- Are ETFs
- 97%
- Domicile
- Ireland, Germany
Vanguard
- Accumulating
- 55%
- Physical replication
- 100%
- Are ETFs
- 68%
- Domicile
- Ireland
Other provider comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Is iShares or Vanguard cheaper?+
iShares offers the cheapest fund in 5 of the 9 categories both cover, against 2 for Vanguard. 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 iShares and Vanguard biggest?+
In global equities: iShares Core MSCI World charges 0.20% against 0.12% for Vanguard FTSE Developed World. On €10,000 invested that is a €8.00 difference every year, in favour of Vanguard.
Which one has the wider range?+
iShares, with 64 products against 22. Coverage is not identical either: iShares covers the technology sector, listed real estate, gold, a specific thematic sector where Vanguard does not.
Are there structural differences beyond fees?+
Yes. iShares's products in this catalog are 41% accumulating and 100% physically replicated, domiciled in Ireland, Germany. Vanguard's are 55% accumulating and 100% physical, domiciled in Ireland. 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.