Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
SPY vs VOO
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust versus Vanguard S&P 500 ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
VOO wins 3–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
SPY or VOO — which is better?
VOO wins this comparison 3–0 across 6 dimensions. VOO yields 1.06% — higher than SPY's 0.99% — and carries a 7.4/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 7.4/10 for SPY (Solid). VOO wins 3–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, VOO generates 1.06% vs 0.99% — a 0.07% difference that translates to $70 more per year on a $100,000 investment.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | SPY | VOO | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.99% | 1.06% | VOO wins |
| Dividend safety | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | Tie |
| Growth trend | — | — | Tie |
| Expense ratio | 9.45% | 3.00% | VOO wins |
| Scale | $809.2B | $1.7T | VOO wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 0 wins | 3 wins | VOO wins |
Dimension by dimension
VOO wins on yield (1.06% vs 0.99%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $7 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Safety scores are too close to call (7.4/10 vs 7.4/10)
Both score within 0.3 points on our 0-10 dividend safety scale — comparable risk profiles on the signals we measure.
Yield-trend comparison unavailable
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
VOO is cheaper (3.00% vs 9.45%)
On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $645/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.
On $10,000 invested, VOO's lower expense ratio saves roughly $6/year in fees versus SPY. Over 20 years that compounds to a meaningful drag — expense ratios are one of the few costs investors fully control.
VOO is 2.1× larger by AUM
Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
Full breakdown per ticker: are SPY dividends qualified and are VOO dividends qualified — each with the after-tax income at every federal bracket.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice. Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
SPY or VOO — which is better?
VOO is better on our scoring, winning 3–0 across six dimensions: yield, dividend safety, growth, cost, scale, and tax treatment. VOO wins 3–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
Which is better for income, SPY or VOO?
VOO wins 3–0 on our six-dimension comparison, but SPY can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
SPY vs VOO: which has a higher dividend yield?
SPY yields 0.99% and VOO yields 1.06%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $7 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is SPY or VOO a safer dividend in 2026?
SPY scores 7.4/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. VOO scores 7.4/10 (Solid). Both have comparable safety scores.
Which has better dividend growth, SPY or VOO?
One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.
SPY vs VOO: which is more tax-efficient?
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
Get emailed when SPY vs VOO data updates.
Compare both against your actual holdings
Put SPY and VOO into the free analyzer with the rest of your portfolio. You'll see what each one contributes to your annual income, your weighted safety score, and whether adding VOO diversifies you or just duplicates what you hold. No account, no download.