Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

VIG vs VOO

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF versus Vanguard S&P 500 ETF — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

VOO wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but VIG can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

VOO wins this comparison 2–1 across 6 dimensions. VOO yields 1.04% — lower than VIG's 1.48% — and carries a 7.4/10 dividend safety score (Solid) vs 7.2/10 for VIG (Solid). VOO wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but VIG can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

On yield alone, VIG generates 1.48% vs 1.04% — a 0.44% difference that translates to $440 more per year on a $100,000 investment.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	VIG	VOO	Winner
Yield	1.48%	1.04%	VIG wins
Dividend safety	7.2/10	7.4/10	Tie
Growth trend	—	—	Tie
Expense ratio	4.00%	3.00%	VOO wins
Scale	$132.4B	$1.8T	VOO wins
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	1 wins	2 wins	VOO wins

Dimension by dimension

VIG wins on yield (1.48% vs 1.04%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $44 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

VIG's higher yield (1.48%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus VOO's 1.04% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

VIG: 1.48%VOO: 1.04%

Safety scores are too close to call (7.2/10 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.

VIG: 7.2/10VOO: 7.4/10

Yield-trend comparison unavailable

One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.

VIG: —VOO: —

VOO is cheaper (3.00% vs 4.00%)

On a $10,000 position the lower expense ratio saves about $100/year — small annually but compounds significantly over 20+ years.

VIG: 4.00%VOO: 3.00%

VOO is 13.3× larger by AUM

Larger funds tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.

VIG: $132.4BVOO: $1.8T

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.

VIG: Qualified-eligibleVOO: Qualified-eligible

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

Which is better for income, VIG or VOO?

VOO wins 2–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but VIG can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

VIG vs VOO: which has a higher dividend yield?

VIG yields 1.48% and VOO yields 1.04%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $44 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is VIG or VOO a safer dividend in 2026?

VIG scores 7.2/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. VOO scores 7.4/10 (Solid). VOO is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, VIG or VOO?