Peers · etf
SPY Alternatives
The closest SPY alternative is VTI (1.06% yield, 7.4/10 safety), followed by VOO and IVV. All 6 sit in the same category as SPY (1.00% yield, 7.4/10 safety) and are ranked below on how closely they match it.
The closest alternative to SPY in our universe is VTI — nearly identical yield (1.06% vs 1.00% for SPY) and a 7.4/10 safety score compared to SPY's 7.4/10. Across all 6 peers, yields range from 0.45% to 1.47% and safety scores range from 6.9 to 7.4/10.
Switching from SPY 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 SPY 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 SPY 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 SPY |
|---|---|---|---|
| VTI · Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 1.06% | 7.4/10 · Solid | Very close match on yield and safety |
| VOO · Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 1.07% | 7.4/10 · Solid | Very close match on yield and safety |
| IVV · iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 1.11% | 7.4/10 · Solid | Very close match on yield and safety |
| QQQ · Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 0.45% | 7.4/10 · Solid | 0.55% yield gap (lower) |
| VIG · Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | 1.47% | 7.2/10 · Solid | Very close match on yield and safety |
| QQQI · NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF | 1.34% | 6.9/10 · Solid | 0.5 safety-score gap (riskier) |
Frequently asked questions
What are the best SPY alternatives?
The closest SPY alternatives are VTI, VOO, IVV — all in the same category with comparable yield and dividend safety. VTI is the single closest match at 1.06% yield and 7.4/10 safety, versus 1.00% and 7.4/10 for SPY.
Is there a higher-yielding alternative to SPY?
Yes — VIG yields 1.47% versus SPY's 1.00%. Its safety score is 7.2/10 against SPY's 7.4/10, so check whether the extra income compensates for the difference in payout durability.
What ETFs are similar to SPY?
We rank 6 similar ETFs for SPY: VTI, VOO, IVV, QQQ, VIG, QQQI. Each is matched on sector, yield zone, and a 0-10 dividend safety score, then ranked by how closely it tracks SPY 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 SPY.