Best International ETFs (2026)
Which fund to use for non-US equity exposure — 40 funds ranked on cost, yield, return, risk and ETFValuer's overall grade.
Every figure on this page is recalculated from market data each day, so the ranking reflects current conditions rather than whenever this page was written. Educational content — not financial advice.
Top Picks Right Now
- scores 80.0 on the overall model (grade B+)
Ranked by ETFValuer's overall score. Recalculated every day from live market data — these positions change as the underlying numbers move.
At a Glance
Each superlative is measured within this group of 40 funds, not across the whole market.
All 40 Funds Ranked
| Fund | Category | Cost | Yield | 1Y | 3Y | Volatility | Max DD | Sharpe | AUM | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 EFViShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF | International Developed | 0.31% | 4.78% | +26.0% | +77.0% | 14.3% | -13.7% | 1.46 | $23.7B | 81.2 | B+ |
| 2 SCHFSchwab International Equity ETF | International Developed | 0.03% | 3.06% | +23.3% | +61.5% | 17.2% | -13.4% | 1.07 | $66.2B | 80.4 | B+ |
| 3 VEAVanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares | International Developed | 0.03% | 2.54% | +22.6% | +60.7% | 17.0% | -13.4% | 1.03 | $316.3B | 80.0 | B+ |
| 4 SPDWState Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF | International Developed | 0.03% | 3.02% | +22.6% | +61.1% | 16.9% | -13.5% | 1.04 | $40.3B | 78.7 | B+ |
| 5 EMXCiShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF | Emerging Markets | 0.25% | 1.88% | +46.2% | +83.0% | 26.9% | -19.1% | 1.53 | $26.1B | 78.6 | B+ |
| 6 VPLVanguard FTSE Pacific Index Fund ETF Shares | International Developed | 0.07% | 0.26% | +33.2% | +65.3% | 23.1% | -16.4% | 1.22 | $13.8B | 78.2 | B+ |
| 7 VXUSVanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares | Global Multi-Region | 0.05% | 2.56% | +20.8% | +56.9% | 16.7% | -13.6% | 0.95 | $650.3B | 76.5 | B+ |
| 8 VTVanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF Shares | Global Multi-Region | 0.06% | 1.58% | +18.8% | +62.4% | 13.8% | -16.5% | 1.00 | $96.8B | 76.2 | B+ |
| 9 AVDEAvantis International Equity ETF | International Developed | 0.23% | 2.47% | +20.9% | +64.6% | 15.2% | -13.5% | 1.05 | $17.2B | 75.6 | B+ |
| 10 IEMGiShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | Emerging Markets | 0.09% | 1.48% | +27.4% | +61.1% | 23.2% | -17.2% | 0.96 | $160.7B | 75.4 | B+ |
| 11 IXUSiShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | Global Multi-Region | 0.07% | 2.94% | +20.9% | +57.5% | 16.9% | -13.8% | 0.94 | $58.5B | 75.3 | B+ |
| 12 DFAXDimensional World ex U.S. Core Equity 2 ETF | International Developed | 0.28% | 2.34% | +22.1% | +61.5% | 16.3% | -13.9% | 1.05 | $11.9B | 73.9 | B |
| 13 IDEViShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF | International Developed | 0.04% | 3.23% | +18.1% | +55.6% | 15.1% | -13.4% | 0.87 | $30.6B | 72.3 | B |
| 14 AVEMAvantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF | Emerging Markets | 0.33% | 1.82% | +28.4% | +69.4% | 23.4% | -18.0% | 1.00 | $26.2B | 72.3 | B |
| 15 ACWIiShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Multi-Region | 0.32% | 1.43% | +18.8% | +63.1% | 13.8% | -16.6% | 1.00 | $33.2B | 71.7 | B |
| 16 IEFAiShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | International Developed | 0.07% | 3.40% | +16.7% | +53.1% | 15.6% | -13.8% | 0.75 | $186.5B | 71.3 | B |
| 17 ACWXiShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF | Global Multi-Region | 0.32% | 2.50% | +21.6% | +57.5% | 17.1% | -13.8% | 0.97 | $11.6B | 71.2 | B |
| 18 FNDESchwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity ETF | Emerging Markets | 0.39% | 3.78% | +22.6% | +63.0% | 16.1% | -18.4% | 1.10 | $9.2B | 70.0 | B |
| 19 CWIState Street SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF | Global Multi-Region | 0.30% | 2.70% | +21.8% | +59.6% | 16.9% | -13.8% | 1.00 | $2.8B | 69.9 | B |
| 20 DFAWDimensional World Equity ETF | Global Multi-Region | 0.24% | 1.28% | +21.2% | — | 12.8% | -16.9% | 1.27 | $1.4B | 69.2 | B |
| 21 EEMiShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | Emerging Markets | 0.72% | 1.18% | +29.3% | +62.1% | 24.0% | -17.3% | 1.01 | $30.3B | 68.8 | B |
| 22 URTHiShares MSCI World ETF | Global Multi-Region | 0.24% | 1.40% | +17.5% | +63.6% | 12.9% | -16.9% | 0.97 | $8.1B | 68.6 | B |
| 23 EFAiShares MSCI EAFE ETF | International Developed | 0.32% | 1.71% | +16.8% | +52.6% | 15.7% | -14.1% | 0.76 | $77.2B | 68.1 | B |
| 24 IPACiShares Core MSCI Pacific ETF | International Developed | 0.09% | 3.90% | +20.9% | +52.8% | 17.3% | -15.5% | 0.92 | $2.6B | 68.0 | B |
| 25 VGKVanguard FTSE Europe ETF | International Developed | 0.06% | 2.03% | +14.5% | +53.1% | 15.9% | -14.3% | 0.60 | $37.9B | 67.4 | B |
| 26 DFEMDimensional Emerging Markets Core Equity 2 ETF | Emerging Markets | 0.39% | 1.85% | +25.5% | +59.7% | 22.0% | -18.1% | 0.93 | $9.3B | 66.2 | B |
| 27 VWOVanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund | Emerging Markets | 0.06% | 1.93% | +15.8% | +47.0% | 17.4% | -17.4% | 0.62 | $163.3B | 65.5 | B |
| 28 IEURiShares Core MSCI Europe ETF | International Developed | 0.10% | 3.19% | +14.1% | +52.4% | 15.8% | -14.2% | 0.57 | $8.6B | 64.3 | C |
| 29 AAXJiShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF | International Developed | 0.72% | 1.29% | +29.7% | +65.0% | 24.8% | -19.7% | 1.00 | $4.0B | 63.8 | C |
| 30 SPEMState Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF | Emerging Markets | 0.07% | 2.53% | +16.5% | +49.8% | 17.5% | -17.6% | 0.66 | $17.3B | 63.5 | C |
| 31 SCHESchwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF | Emerging Markets | 0.06% | 2.66% | +16.3% | +48.8% | 17.8% | -17.1% | 0.64 | $12.5B | 62.9 | C |
| 32 SCHCSchwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF | International Developed | 0.06% | 3.51% | +13.3% | +50.0% | 16.4% | -15.3% | 0.51 | $5.3B | 61.9 | C |
| 33 SCZiShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF | International Developed | 0.40% | 3.22% | +13.9% | +48.4% | 15.1% | -14.6% | 0.59 | $14.4B | 61.4 | C |
| 34 VSSVanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares | International Developed | 0.06% | 3.23% | +12.6% | +42.9% | 16.1% | -15.7% | 0.47 | $13.8B | 61.3 | C |
| 35 EZUiShares MSCI Eurozone ETF | International Developed | 0.50% | 1.64% | +14.7% | +57.2% | 17.7% | -15.0% | 0.55 | $9.6B | 59.8 | C |
| 36 FEZState Street SPDR EURO STOXX 50 ETF | International Developed | 0.29% | 1.21% | +14.2% | +56.1% | 18.4% | -15.8% | 0.50 | $4.3B | 59.1 | C |
| 37 GWXState Street SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF | International Developed | 0.40% | 2.74% | +15.8% | +47.4% | 16.7% | -14.7% | 0.65 | $869M | 57.1 | C |
| 38 IEViShares Europe ETF | International Developed | 0.60% | 1.69% | +15.0% | +52.0% | 16.0% | -14.6% | 0.62 | $1.6B | 56.8 | C |
| 39 EFGiShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF | International Developed | 0.34% | 2.24% | +7.9% | +30.5% | 18.5% | -16.9% | 0.16 | $16.9B | 53.7 | C |
| 40 DGSWisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund | Emerging Markets | 0.58% | 3.75% | +12.4% | +37.3% | 17.3% | -19.3% | 0.43 | $1.8B | 48.5 | D |
Max DD is the deepest peak-to-trough fall over the measurement window. Sharpe ratio measures return per unit of volatility — higher is better. Every figure is recalculated daily.
What Makes a Good Fund Here
The main decision is coverage, not cost: some funds hold developed markets only, others add emerging markets, and a few hold the entire world including the US. Picking two that overlap is the most common mistake in this category.
The ETFValuer score blends trailing return, risk-adjusted return, expense ratio, maximum drawdown, fund size and volatility, each percentile-ranked against the full tracked universe, into a single 0-100 figure graded A+ to F. It is a systematic summary of past data, not a forecast — read it alongside the individual columns rather than instead of them.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Full metric-by-metric breakdowns for the closest calls in this group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best international ETF?
EFV ranks highest of the 40 international funds tracked, scoring 81.2 (B+). SCHF is the cheapest at 0.03%.
Do I need international exposure at all?
Non-US markets are roughly 40% of global market capitalisation, and US and international stocks have traded leadership in long cycles. Holding some international exposure is a diversification decision rather than a bet, though reasonable investors disagree on the right proportion.
Compare any of these funds directly
Side-by-side metrics, holdings overlap and return correlation for any pair.