If you are just starting to invest, you have probably heard both terms thrown around. ETFs and mutual funds are both ways to invest in a diversified basket of assets — but they work differently, cost differently, and suit different types of investors.
Here is the honest breakdown so you can make the right call for your situation.
What Is an ETF?
An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is a collection of stocks, bonds, or other assets bundled into a single investment that trades on the stock market like a regular share.
When you buy one share of a broad ETF like VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF), you are instantly invested in 500 of the largest US companies simultaneously.
Key characteristics:
- Trades throughout the day like a stock
- Usually very low fees (0.03% - 0.20% annually)
- No minimum investment beyond one share price
- Highly tax-efficient
What Is a Mutual Fund?
A mutual fund is also a pooled collection of assets, but it works differently. Instead of trading on an exchange, you buy shares directly from the fund company at the end of each trading day at the day's closing price.
Key characteristics:
- Priced once per day after market close
- Can have higher fees (0.5% - 1.5% for actively managed funds)
- Often requires a minimum investment ($1,000 - $3,000)
- Less tax-efficient than ETFs
ETF vs Mutual Fund: Head to Head
Costs
This is where ETFs win clearly. The average ETF expense ratio is around 0.16%. The average actively managed mutual fund charges around 0.66%. On a $50,000 portfolio over 20 years, that difference costs you thousands of dollars.
Index mutual funds (like Vanguard's VTSAX) close the gap significantly — they charge as little as 0.04%. If you are comparing index ETFs to index mutual funds, the cost difference is minimal.
Flexibility
ETFs trade like stocks — you can buy and sell any time the market is open. Mutual funds only trade once per day.
For long-term investors, this difference barely matters. For active traders or people who want precise entry points, ETFs have the edge.
Minimum Investment
ETFs win here too. You can buy a single share of most ETFs for under $500, and many brokers now offer fractional shares for as little as $1.
Most mutual funds require $1,000 - $3,000 to get started, though some index funds at Fidelity have no minimum.
Tax Efficiency
ETFs are structured in a way that generates fewer taxable events than mutual funds. If you are investing in a taxable brokerage account (not a 401k or IRA), this matters a lot.
Inside a tax-advantaged account like a Roth IRA, this difference disappears.
Automation
Mutual funds win here. You can set up automatic monthly investments into a mutual fund for a fixed dollar amount. With ETFs, you need to manually buy shares (though fractional share investing is making this easier).
Which Should Millennials Choose in 2026?
Choose ETFs if:
- You are investing in a taxable brokerage account
- You want to start with a small amount
- You use a platform like Robinhood, Fidelity, or Charles Schwab
- You want the lowest possible fees
Choose index mutual funds if:
- You want fully automated monthly investing
- You are investing inside a 401k or IRA
- You prefer simplicity over flexibility
The honest answer: For most millennials starting out in 2026, a low-cost index ETF like VOO, VTI, or SCHB is the simplest and most effective starting point. Buy it regularly, hold it for decades, and let compound interest do the work.
The 3 ETFs Most Financial Experts Recommend for Beginners
VOO — Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. Tracks the 500 largest US companies. Expense ratio: 0.03%.
VTI — Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF. Covers the entire US market including small and mid-cap companies. Expense ratio: 0.03%.
VXUS — Vanguard Total International Stock ETF. Adds global diversification outside the US. Expense ratio: 0.07%.
A simple portfolio of VTI + VXUS covers virtually the entire global stock market at near-zero cost.
The Bottom Line
ETFs and mutual funds are more similar than different. Both can make you wealthy over time if you invest consistently.
The real enemy is not choosing between them — it is not investing at all. Pick one, start small, and keep going. The best investment is the one you actually make.
The Research Behind the Comparison
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle — Bogle invented the index mutual fund and later endorsed ETFs as equally valid. His framework for choosing between them based on costs and tax efficiency is the definitive guide.
A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel — Malkiel covers both ETFs and mutual funds in depth across multiple editions. The most thorough academic comparison available in a readable format.
Prefer audiobooks? All of these are available on Audible — try it free for 30 days and get your first audiobook included.
Originally published at ZarWealth.
