Peers · etf
QQQ Alternatives
The closest QQQ alternative is SPY (1.00% yield, 7.4/10 safety), followed by VTI and VOO. All 6 sit in the same category as QQQ (0.45% yield, 7.4/10 safety) and are ranked below on how closely they match it.
The closest alternative to QQQ in our universe is SPY — 0.55% higher yield than QQQ (1.00% vs 0.45%) and a 7.4/10 safety score compared to QQQ's 7.4/10. Across all 6 peers, yields range from 1.00% to 1.47% and safety scores range from 6.9 to 7.4/10.
Switching from QQQ to a peer is not always straightforward — a higher yield peer often carries a lower safety score, and vice versa. Tax treatment can diverge too: check whether QQQ dividends are qualified before assuming a peer's headline yield is comparable after tax. The table below ranks each alternative by how closely it matches QQQ on both dimensions simultaneously, so you can see the full yield-vs-safety tradeoff at a glance.
Closest matches
| Ticker | Yield | Safety | How it differs from QQQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPY · State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | 1.00% | 7.4/10 · Solid | 0.55% yield gap (higher) |
| VTI · Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 1.06% | 7.4/10 · Solid | 0.61% yield gap (higher) |
| VOO · Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.07% | 7.4/10 · Solid | 0.62% yield gap (higher) |
| IVV · iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 1.11% | 7.4/10 · Solid | 0.66% yield gap (higher) |
| VIG · Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | 1.47% | 7.2/10 · Solid | 1.02% yield gap (higher) |
| QQQI · NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF | 1.34% | 6.9/10 · Solid | 0.89% yield gap (higher) |
Frequently asked questions
What are the best QQQ alternatives?
The closest QQQ alternatives are SPY, VTI, VOO — all in the same category with comparable yield and dividend safety. SPY is the single closest match at 1.00% yield and 7.4/10 safety, versus 0.45% and 7.4/10 for QQQ.
Is there a higher-yielding alternative to QQQ?
Yes — VIG yields 1.47% versus QQQ's 0.45%. Its safety score is 7.2/10 against QQQ's 7.4/10, so check whether the extra income compensates for the difference in payout durability.
What ETFs are similar to QQQ?
We rank 6 similar ETFs for QQQ: SPY, VTI, VOO, IVV, VIG, QQQI. Each is matched on sector, yield zone, and a 0-10 dividend safety score, then ranked by how closely it tracks QQQ on both dimensions at once.
Which of these do you already own?
Connect your brokerage in 60 seconds — Infnits flags which of these peer tickers duplicate exposure you already have, and which would actually diversify QQQ.