S&P 500 ETFs: Comparing IVV/VOO/SPY, CSPX/SPYL & S27 June 16, 2026

While the full list of S&P 500 ETFs is extensive, focusing on the most popular options makes your selection process much easier to navigate.

Most popular S&P 500 ETF on US Market – IVV, VOO & SPY
Save on withholding tax with Ireland domiciled UCITS ETFs – CSPX vs SPYL
Invest in S&P 500 ETF using SRS – S27

Why invest in an S&P 500 ETF?

You can’t invest directly in an index, however, you can buy an ETF that holds the same companies in similar proportions, giving you diversification across 500 companies in a single purchase.

Key Benefits:

Diversification – One share spreads your risk across hundreds of companies and multiple sectors.
Low Cost – S&P 500 ETFs are among the cheapest investments available, with expense ratios often under 0.10%.
Simplicity – No need to research individual stocks or rebalance your portfolio manually.
Liquidity – These ETFs trade millions of shares daily, so you can buy or sell anytime the market is open.

Five S&P 500 ETFs at a Glance

VOO, IVV and SPY are the most popular S&P 500 ETFs. CSPX and SPYL are UCTIS ETFs that have rapidly grown in popularity among international investors due to the structural tax efficiencies offered by its Irish domicile.

While they all track the same index, they differ in areas like fees, trading liquidity, and fund structure — factors that can meaningfully affect your returns over time. Read on:

ETF Ticker	Issuer	Expense Ratio	Assets Under Management	Listed On
SPY	State Street (SPDR)	0.0945%	~$768B USD	NYSE
IVV	BlackRock (iShares)	0.03%	~$831B USD	NYSE
VOO	Vanguard	0.03%	~$1.6T USD	NYSE
CSPX	BlackRock (iShares)	0.07%	~$144B USD	LSE
SPYL	State Street (SPDR)	0.03%	~$18B USD	LSE

(Data as of 26/05/26)

1. SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY)

Launched in 1993, SPY was the first ETF in the United States and remains the most heavily traded. Its massive daily volume makes it the go-to choice for traders, hedge funds, and institutions that need to move large amounts of money quickly.

The downside? Its fees are higher compared to IVV and VOO. It also uses an older structure that does not automatically reinvest dividends.

Best for: Active traders and those who prioritize liquidity above all else.

Not ideal for: Long-term investors focused on keeping costs low.

2. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV)

BlackRock’s iShares Core S&P 500 ETF matches VOO’s rock-bottom expense ratio and immediately reinvests dividends, which can slightly improve long-term returns through compounding. It’s structured as a standard ETF (unlike SPY’s older unit investment structure), giving it a bit more flexibility.

Best for: Long-term investors who want low costs and don’t need SPY’s extreme liquidity.

3. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO)

Vanguard is synonymous with low-cost investing, and VOO delivers exactly that. It’s nearly identical to IVV in structure and cost. For most people, choosing between VOO and IVV usually comes down to personal preference.

Best for: Long-term investors focused on minimizing fees.

4. iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF (CSPX)

iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF is a popular choice for international investors due to its Ireland domicile. Dividend withholding tax is 15%. Since it is an accumulating fund, dividends are reinvested automatically, which enhances long-term compounding.

It has a slightly higher expense ratio and may experience lower liquidity and small tracking differences compared to US-listed S&P 500 ETFs due to trading and market structure differences, but the lower dividend withholding tax and accumulating structure can possibly lead to higher returns over the long term.

Key Consideration: CSPX is listed on London Stock Exchange (LSE), subjected to LSE commission and exchange fees.

5. SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF (SPYL)

SPYL is a much newer offering that is Ireland domiciled and has the same accumulating structure as CSPX. The accumulating share class officially launched on 31 October 2023. It is highly liquid but does not yet match the sheer historical trading volume and fund size of CSPX.

Compared with CSPX, SPYL aggressively captures market share with its lower expense ratio. It is one of the cheapest S&P 500 UCITS ETFs available. SPYL also has a lower nominal share price, making it highly accessible and capital-efficient for frequent Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA), without needing to rely heavily on fractional shares.

Key Consideration: SPYL is listed on London Stock Exchange (LSE), subjected to LSE commission and exchange fees.

Invest in S&P 500 with SRS

You can also invest in S&P 500 ETF on Singapore Stock Exchange as SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (S27), which tracks the same index as the US-listed SPY.

You can buy S27 with your SRS monies through POEMS, do remember to select settlement in SGD!

S27 is not available under CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS), so you cannot use CPF OA/SA to buy it.

The Bottom Line

Over the long run, the S&P 500 has historically returned around 10% annually on average, despite going through events such as wars, recessions, and financial crises. Of course, future returns are never guaranteed but owning a slice of America’s largest companies has generally been a reliable way to build wealth over time.

An S&P 500 ETF won’t make you rich overnight. But for patient investors willing to ride out market ups and downs, it remains one of the simplest and most effective tools available.

Interested in investing in SPY/VOO/IVV/CSPX/SPYL or S27? Just enter the ticker code and add them to your POEMS watchlist!

ETF Ticker	Issuer	Listed On	Payment Method
SPY	State Street (SPDR)	NYSE	Cash
IVV	BlackRock (iShares)	NYSE	Cash
VOO	Vanguard	NYSE	Cash
CSPX	BlackRock (iShares)	LSE	Cash
SPYL	State Street (SPDR)	LSE	Cash
S27	State Street (SPDR)	SGX	Cash & SRS

Looking to dollar-cost average and invest regularly? Explore recurring order and Share Builder Plan.

Subscribe for free US live prices for SPY/VOO/IVV

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Glossary

What is S&P 500?

The S&P 500 (Standard & Poor’s 500) is widely regarded as one of the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities. It tracks the stock performance of roughly 500 of the largest companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges, capturing approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization

What is UCTIS ETF?

A UCITS ETF is a publicly traded investment fund that complies with strict European Union regulations designed to protect retail investors. It ensures high liquidity, asset safety through independent custodian banks, and forced diversification to prevent over-exposure to any single stock. For international investors, it serves as a highly popular, tax-efficient alternative to U.S.-domiciled ETFs, potentially helping to reduce exposure to US withholding and estate tax considerations.

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