Summit Showdown|
4 min
Updated December 2025
VOO vs SPLG: Which Low-Cost S&P 500 ETF in 2025?
Comparing Vanguard vs SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 for the most cost-effective index investing.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Metric
VOO
SPLG
Expense Ratio
0.03%
0.02%
Dividend Yield
1.32%
1.30%
5Y Total Return
15.20%
15.18%
Volatility
17.5%
17.5%
Distribution
Quarterly
Quarterly
Tax Efficiency
High
High
The Verdict by Scenario
Scenario
Absolute lowest cost
SPLG
SPLG's 0.02% expense ratio is the lowest of any S&P 500 ETF, saving $10/year per $100k vs VOO.
Scenario
Trading volume & liquidity
VOO
VOO has significantly higher daily volume, providing tighter bid-ask spreads for larger trades.
Scenario
Long-term buy and hold
SPLG
For investors who rarely trade, SPLG's lower expense ratio compounds to meaningful savings over decades.
In This Showdown
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LaunchSection 1The Race to Zero
SPLG is State Street's low-cost answer to Vanguard's VOO, undercutting it by 0.01%. Both track the S&P 500 identically. The difference is measured in single basis points and dollars per $100k. For most investors, this is a rounding error, but for cost purists, SPLG wins.
Section 2VOO: The Established Leader
VOO has $400B+ in assets and is one of the most traded ETFs globally. Its massive scale provides excellent liquidity and tight bid-ask spreads. Vanguard's reputation and investor-owned structure give many investors confidence. The 0.01% difference amounts to $10/year per $100k.
Section 3SPLG: The Cost Leader
SPLG (formerly SPDR Portfolio S&P 500) lowered its expense ratio to 0.02% to compete with Vanguard. Lower trading volume means slightly wider spreads, but for long-term holders who buy and never sell, that doesn't matter. SPLG is the purest expression of cost minimization.
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Updated December 2025