Best iShares (BlackRock) ETFs

iShares: The Biggest ETF Family in the World

iShares (owned by BlackRock) manages over $3 trillion in ETF assets across 400+ funds. They offer ETFs for virtually every market, sector, and strategy. For most core positions, iShares and Vanguard ETFs are interchangeable — same indices, same expense ratios, same long-term performance.

The main reason to choose iShares over Vanguard: your broker may offer iShares-specific perks, or you prefer the iShares fund structure for a particular index. If you use Fidelity, iShares ETFs trade commission-free and integrate smoothly with the platform.

Best iShares ETFs Ranked

IVV is the most direct VOO competitor — identical S&P 500 holdings at the same 0.03% fee. ITOT is the VTI equivalent. For any Vanguard ETF you would buy, there is an iShares version at a similar or identical cost.

iShares vs Vanguard: Does It Matter?

For core index funds (S&P 500, total market, total bond), there is no meaningful difference. IVV and VOO charge the same fee and hold the same stocks. The performance gap is measured in hundredths of a percent. Pick the brand available at your broker with the smoothest purchasing experience.

Where iShares has an edge: niche and sector ETFs. iShares offers more specialty funds (thematic, factor, ESG, fixed income) than Vanguard. If you want a specific sector or strategy ETF, iShares likely has an option. For core portfolio positions, the choice is a coin flip.