Best ETFs for Investing After Becoming Debt-Free in 2026

How We Chose These ETFs

Selecting the right ETFs for debt-free investing investors requires a careful evaluation of multiple factors. We analyzed dozens of funds across the industry and narrowed our recommendations based on the following criteria. Each factor was weighted according to its importance for investors in this specific category, ensuring that our picks are truly optimized for your goals.

1. Growth-focused to maximize — Growth-focused to maximize the impact of redirected debt payments
2. Broad diversification for — Broad diversification for building a core portfolio from scratch
3. Low costs to — Low costs to keep more of your newly freed cash flow working
4. Dividend options to — Dividend options to see tangible returns on your debt-free journey

We also factored in our proprietary Beginner Suitability Score, which evaluates each fund on a 1-to-10 scale considering expense ratios, volatility (beta), diversification (holdings count), dividend history, and track record length. Funds that score consistently high across these dimensions earned a spot on our list.

1. Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) — Best Overall

Vanguard • U.S. Total Market

VTI gives you exposure to the entire U.S. stock market in one fund, covering large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap companies. With over 3,600 holdings, it is one of the most diversified U.S. equity ETFs you can buy. Beginners often choose VTI over S&P 500 funds because it includes smaller companies that have historically provided additional growth potential.

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF earns its spot as our best overall pick because it delivers on the metrics that matter most for debt-free investing investors. With an expense ratio of just 0.03%, you keep more of your returns working for you over time. The fund manages $430.0B in total assets, which speaks to its popularity and ensures strong liquidity with tight bid-ask spreads when you buy or sell shares.

Over the past five years, VTI has delivered a total return of 15.20%, outperforming many of its peers and rewarding patient, long-term investors. The fund holds 3,644 individual securities, giving you exceptional diversification across a wide swath of the market. Its beta of 1.00 indicates that the fund is closely aligned with overall market movements, which is expected for a broadly diversified fund.

VTI currently pays a dividend yield of 1.30%, providing investors with a stream of regular income on top of capital appreciation. Dividends are typically distributed quarterly and can be automatically reinvested through most major brokerages, accelerating the compounding process. With a track record stretching back to 2001, VTI has weathered multiple market cycles including the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic, proving its resilience. Our Beginner Suitability Score rates it 9.5/10 (Great for Beginners), reflecting its excellent combination of low costs, manageable volatility, and broad diversification.

2. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) — Runner-Up

Vanguard • U.S. Large-Cap Blend

VOO tracks the S&P 500 index, giving you ownership in 500 of the largest U.S. companies in a single investment. It is one of the most popular ETFs in the world thanks to its ultra-low expense ratio and broad market exposure. For beginners, VOO is often recommended as a core portfolio holding because it provides instant diversification across America's leading businesses.

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF earns its spot as our runner-up pick because it delivers on the metrics that matter most for debt-free investing investors. With an expense ratio of just 0.03%, you keep more of your returns working for you over time. The fund manages $560.0B in total assets, which speaks to its popularity and ensures strong liquidity with tight bid-ask spreads when you buy or sell shares.

Over the past five years, VOO has delivered a total return of 15.80%, outperforming many of its peers and rewarding patient, long-term investors. The fund holds 503 individual securities, giving you exceptional diversification across a wide swath of the market. Its beta of 1.00 indicates that the fund is closely aligned with overall market movements, which is expected for a broadly diversified fund.

VOO currently pays a dividend yield of 1.30%, providing investors with a stream of regular income on top of capital appreciation. Dividends are typically distributed quarterly and can be automatically reinvested through most major brokerages, accelerating the compounding process. With a track record stretching back to 2010, VOO has weathered multiple market cycles including the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic, proving its resilience. Our Beginner Suitability Score rates it 9.5/10 (Great for Beginners), reflecting its excellent combination of low costs, manageable volatility, and broad diversification.

3. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) — Best for Dividends

Charles Schwab • U.S. Large-Cap Dividend

SCHD focuses on high-quality U.S. companies with strong track records of paying and growing dividends. It uses a rules-based approach to select about 100 stocks that have consistently paid dividends for at least 10 years. Beginners who want both income and growth often find SCHD attractive because it combines a solid dividend yield with quality stock selection at a very low cost.

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF earns its spot as our best for dividends pick because it delivers on the metrics that matter most for debt-free investing investors. With an expense ratio of just 0.06%, you keep more of your returns working for you over time. The fund manages $62.0B in total assets, which speaks to its popularity and ensures strong liquidity with tight bid-ask spreads when you buy or sell shares.

Over the past five years, SCHD has delivered a total return of 12.10%, outperforming many of its peers and rewarding patient, long-term investors. The fund holds 103 individual securities, giving you solid diversification across a meaningful number of positions. Its beta of 0.82 indicates that the fund is closely aligned with overall market movements, which is expected for a broadly diversified fund.

SCHD currently pays a dividend yield of 3.40%, providing investors with a stream of regular income on top of capital appreciation. Dividends are typically distributed quarterly and can be automatically reinvested through most major brokerages, accelerating the compounding process. With a track record stretching back to 2011, SCHD has weathered multiple market cycles including the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic, proving its resilience. Our Beginner Suitability Score rates it 9/10 (Great for Beginners), reflecting its excellent combination of low costs, manageable volatility, and broad diversification.

4. Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) — Best for International Exposure

Vanguard • International Equity

VXUS provides exposure to stocks from developed and emerging markets outside the United States, covering over 8,000 companies across Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world. It is the most popular way to add international diversification to a U.S.-focused portfolio. Beginners building a globally diversified portfolio often pair VXUS with VTI to own virtually every publicly traded stock in the world.

Vanguard Total International Stock ETF earns its spot as our best for international exposure pick because it delivers on the metrics that matter most for debt-free investing investors. With an expense ratio of just 0.07%, you keep more of your returns working for you over time. The fund manages $74.0B in total assets, which speaks to its popularity and ensures strong liquidity with tight bid-ask spreads when you buy or sell shares.

Over the past five years, VXUS has delivered a total return of 5.50%, providing steady growth for investors who stayed the course through market volatility. The fund holds 8,537 individual securities, giving you exceptional diversification across a wide swath of the market. Its beta of 0.85 indicates that the fund is closely aligned with overall market movements, which is expected for a broadly diversified fund.

VXUS currently pays a dividend yield of 3.10%, providing investors with a stream of regular income on top of capital appreciation. Dividends are typically distributed quarterly and can be automatically reinvested through most major brokerages, accelerating the compounding process. With a track record stretching back to 2011, VXUS has weathered multiple market cycles including the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic, proving its resilience. Our Beginner Suitability Score rates it 9.5/10 (Great for Beginners), reflecting its excellent combination of low costs, manageable volatility, and broad diversification.

5. Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) — Best for Income

Vanguard • U.S. Intermediate-Term Bond

BND provides exposure to the entire U.S. investment-grade bond market, including government, corporate, and mortgage-backed bonds. Bonds generally provide stability and income to a portfolio, acting as a cushion when stocks decline. Beginners often add BND to their portfolio to reduce overall volatility and provide steady income, with the typical rule of thumb being to hold your age in bonds as a percentage of your portfolio.

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF earns its spot as our best for income pick because it delivers on the metrics that matter most for debt-free investing investors. With an expense ratio of just 0.03%, you keep more of your returns working for you over time. The fund manages $116.0B in total assets, which speaks to its popularity and ensures strong liquidity with tight bid-ask spreads when you buy or sell shares.

Over the past five years, BND has delivered a total return of -0.50%, reflecting challenging market conditions, though the fund remains well-positioned for recovery. The fund holds 11,286 individual securities, giving you exceptional diversification across a wide swath of the market. Its beta of 0.03 indicates that the fund is significantly less volatile than the broader market, making it a more stable choice for conservative investors.

BND currently pays a dividend yield of 4.30%, providing investors with a stream of regular income on top of capital appreciation. Dividends are typically distributed quarterly and can be automatically reinvested through most major brokerages, accelerating the compounding process. With a track record stretching back to 2007, BND has weathered multiple market cycles including the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic, proving its resilience. Our Beginner Suitability Score rates it 10/10 (Great for Beginners), reflecting its excellent combination of low costs, manageable volatility, and broad diversification.

Comparison Table

Here is a side-by-side comparison of all 5 ETFs in our debt-free investing category. This table highlights the key metrics you should evaluate when choosing between these funds. Pay close attention to expense ratios and beginner scores, as these are the most impactful factors for long-term investment success.

*Beginner Score is calculated based on expense ratio, beta, holdings count, dividend yield, and fund inception year. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Common Mistakes Debt-Free Investing Investors Make

Even with a solid selection of ETFs, investors in the debt-free investing category can undermine their results by falling into avoidable traps. Understanding these common pitfalls will help you stay on track and avoid costly errors that could set back your financial progress by years or even decades.

• 1

  Not investing the full: Not investing the full amount previously allocated to debt payments

• 2

  Going from zero debt: Going from zero debt to taking on investment margin debt

• 3

  Starting with speculative investments: Starting with speculative investments instead of building a diversified core

• 4

  Neglecting to build an: Neglecting to build an emergency fund alongside investment contributions

The best defense against these mistakes is a simple, written investment plan that you commit to following regardless of market conditions. Define your target allocation, set up automatic contributions, and schedule a review only once or twice per year. This removes emotion from the process and keeps you focused on long-term wealth building rather than short-term noise.

Frequently Asked Questions