3 Total Stock Market ETFs to Buy With $500 and Hold Forever

By David Dierking – Mar 5, 2026 at 7:15AM ESTKey PointsVanguard, State Street (iShares), and Schwab offer three of the best total stock market ETFs.The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF provides slightly broader coverage and better liquidity.In reality though, all three are terrific choices and you can't really go wrong with any of them.2026's major rotation away from U.S. tech and toward other stock market sectors should provide a good lesson for investors. Sometimes, it pays to own the whole market instead of trying to pick winners and losers. Sure, you'll end up owning some underperformers, but you'll also own the leaders. That makes the entire ride smoother and helps you capture the whole U.S. economic growth story. Three of the best total U.S. stock market exchange-traded funds (ETFs) share two important traits -- they're ultra-cheap (each has an expense ratio of just 0.03%) and they're incredibly diversified. That makes them perfect to buy and hold forever. Image source: Getty Images. 1.

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI +0.73%) is the most diversified of these three ETFs, at least based on the number of securities held. It holds roughly 3,500 individual stocks, comprising nearly the entirety of the investable U.S. stock market. ExpandNYSEMKT: VTIVanguard Total Stock Market ETFToday's Change(0.73%) $2.46Current Price$338.19Key Data PointsDay's Range$335.34 - $339.0652wk Range$236.42 - $344.42Volume4.7K The 1,000 or so companies that this fund owns that the next two don't are very small micro-cap stocks. That means that even though there are more companies being held, the difference is negligible to overall performance. This portfolio is market cap-weighted, so we're talking tiny allocations. 2. iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF The iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT +0.72%) takes a similar approach, but holds a comparatively smaller 2,500 stocks. In terms of overall sector and individual weightings, it's virtually the same as the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF. ExpandNYSEMKT: ITOTiShares Trust - iShares Core S&P Total U.s. Stock Market ETFToday's Change(0.72%) $1.07Current Price$149.90Key Data PointsDay's Range$148.65 - $150.3052wk Range$105.00 - $152.71Volume201 3. Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF The Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB +0.72%) is more similar to the iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF than the Vanguard ETF. It also targets around 2,500 stocks and omits a lot of the micro-caps that iShares ETF also does. ExpandNYSEMKT: SCHBSchwab Strategic Trust - Schwab U.s. Broad Market ETFToday's Change(0.72%) $0.19Current Price$26.44Key Data PointsDay's Range$26.22 - $26.5252wk Range$18.52 - $26.94Volume371 Vanguard vs. iShares vs. Schwab: Which total stock market ETF to choose? In terms of performance and behavior, the three ETFs will be almost identical. The differences between them are minor enough that you probably wouldn't even notice them unless you knew they were there. The most important characteristics of these funds are common to all three. The razor-thin expense ratios mean they cost next to nothing to own. They're incredibly diversified and own nearly the entire U.S. stock market. They're highly liquid and highly tradable, which means you also lose next to nothing in terms of trading spreads. If you're looking for maximum diversification, choose Vanguard. If you're looking for maximum liquidity, Vanguard is probably also the best choice based on sheer size and the number of shares traded daily. In reality though, all three are terrific choices and you can't really go wrong with any of them over the long term. Whether you have just a few hundred dollars to put to work or major capital to invest, all three of these ETFs make for ideal core holdings that you can buy and let grow forever.Read NextMar 4, 2026 •By Matt Frankel, CFPMeet The ETF That Tracks Everything and Costs Almost NothingMar 4, 2026 •By David DierkingPortfolio Managers Rarely Beat This Simple Strategy.

The Data Keeps Proving It.Feb 27, 2026 •By Selena MaranjianFor Long-Term Growth, Buy These 3,511 Stocks NowFeb 26, 2026 •By David Dierking5 Simple ETFs to Buy With $1,000 and Hold for a LifetimeFeb 25, 2026 •By David DierkingA Beginner-Friendly ETF Portfolio That Requires Almost No MaintenanceFeb 25, 2026 •By Dana GeorgeIf You Like Money, This ETF Could Be What You're Looking ForStocks MentionedVanguard Total Stock Market ETFNYSEMKT: VTI$338.38(+0.79%)+$2.65Schwab Strategic Trust - Schwab U.s. Broad Market ETFNYSEMKT: SCHB$26.44(+0.72%)+$0.19iShares Trust - iShares Core S&P Total U.s. Stock Market ETFNYSEMKT: ITOT$149.90(+0.72%)+$1.07*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.