Best ETFs by category
Every ETF listed in the US, overall and by category, ranked by total return (net of fees). The risk-return chart plots each list’s top 25.
| Data | Series | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Fund snapshot and yields | Trailing 12-month cash distributions and price | Yahoo Finance |
| Trend-line intercept | 3-month T-bill rate, DGS3MO | FRED |
| Tax treatment of distributions | Publication 550 | IRS |
The trend line fits the plotted points with its intercept fixed at the latest T-bill rate; at least three eligible points are required, and fixed-period charts exclude securities without that period of returns. Gross yield is trailing 12-month cash distributions divided by price, before investor taxes and after fund expenses; after-tax yield is an estimate using gross yield × (1 − the selected effective tax rate), with the same rate applied to every fund, so set 0% when comparing exempt income or tax-free accounts. Actual tax treatment varies with qualified dividends, exempt-interest income, capital gains and return of capital. Performance colours follow percentile rank from red to gold to green within the selected category, before search or pagination.
About this tool
Looking for the best ETFs starts with choosing the exposure you want. Top ETFs helps you browse the US-listed fund directory by category, sort available returns and risk measures, and filter a shortlist by fund size, fees and history.
The table combines stored fund metrics with refreshed price-history calculations where available. The risk-return chart shows a subset of funds from the selected group; rankings describe past results and are not a recommendation.
Use ETF & Stock Compare to place selected tickers side by side. ETF Analyzer examines one fund's holdings, fees and benchmark, while Portfolio Backtester tests how funds work together at weights you choose.
How do I find the best ETFs for a category?
Choose a category, narrow the investment universe and sort the measures that matter to your research. Compare funds with similar exposure before interpreting a high return or yield as an advantage.
Is Top ETFs a free ETF screener?
Yes, the category browser and investment-universe filters are available without an account. Use the search and filters to narrow the list, then inspect individual candidates in ETF Analyzer.
Can I filter ETFs by expense ratio and fund size?
Yes, the investment-universe controls include expense ratio and assets under management, along with available history and other measures. Fund size provides context but does not by itself establish trading liquidity or investment quality.
Does the highest past return identify the best ETF?
No, different funds take different risks and may have different lengths of history. Read the category, drawdown and volatility alongside returns; a historical ranking does not forecast the next period.
Can I research dividend and bond ETFs here?
Yes, the category tabs include income-focused funds and fixed income. Yield and return measure different things, so check the fund's exposure and risk as well as its distributions.
Why can a fund be missing a return or risk value?
A fund may not have enough history for the selected period, or the available dataset may not supply that field. A blank value does not mean a zero return or no risk.