QQQ vs VGT: Which ETF Is Better in 2026?
A metric-by-metric comparison of Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares (VGT) — both US Large Cap Growth / Technology funds — using ETFValuer's daily-updated rankings.
Educational content — not financial advice. Data as of July 5, 2026. ~5 minute read.
The Verdict
On ETFValuer's overall model — which blends return, risk-adjusted performance, cost, drawdown, size and volatility — VGT scores higher: 76.7 (Grade B+) versus 76.1 for QQQ. That doesn't make QQQ a bad fund; it means VGT currently edges it out on this specific mix of factors. Read the metric-by-metric breakdown below before deciding which matters more for your own portfolio.
Head-to-Head: Every Metric
| QQQ | VGT | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | US Large Cap Growth | Technology |
| Expense ratio | 0.18% | 0.09% |
| Fund size (AUM) | $494.0B | $170.1B |
| Dividend yield | 0.24% | 0.32% |
| 1-year return | +30.90% | +40.33% |
| 3-year return | +97.90% | +113.35% |
| Volatility | 18.31% | 23.09% |
| Max drawdown | -22.77% | -27.23% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.41 | 1.53 |
| ETFValuer score | 76.1 | 76.7 |
| Grade | B+ | B+ |
| Rank (of ~150) | #18 | #16 |
Bold marks the better value in each row. "Better" is directional only (e.g. lower cost, higher return) — it isn't a recommendation by itself. See the full methodology.
Cost
VGT is the cheaper fund, charging 0.09% a year versus 0.18% for QQQ — a gap of 0.09 percentage points (about $9.00/year on a $10,000 position) that compounds meaningfully over a multi-decade holding period. See the Fee Drag Calculator for the exact dollar impact at your investment size and horizon.
Performance & Risk
Over the trailing 3 years, VGT returned +113.35% versus +97.90% for QQQ — a gap of about 15.4 percentage points. On risk, QQQ has held up better historically, with a shallower max drawdown (-22.77% vs. -27.23%). VGT currently has the better risk-adjusted return (Sharpe ratio of 1.53 vs. 1.41), meaning it delivered more return per unit of volatility taken on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is QQQ or VGT better?
On ETFValuer's overall model — which blends return, risk-adjusted performance, cost, drawdown, size and volatility — VGT scores higher: 76.7 (Grade B+) versus 76.1 for QQQ. That doesn't make QQQ a bad fund; it means VGT currently edges it out on this specific mix of factors. Read the metric-by-metric breakdown below before deciding which matters more for your own portfolio.
Which has the lower expense ratio, QQQ or VGT?
VGT currently has the lower expense ratio (0.09% vs. 0.18%).
Can I hold both QQQ and VGT?
Yes — QQQ (US Large Cap Growth) and VGT (Technology) sit in different categories, so combining them can be a reasonable way to diversify rather than a redundant overlap.
Go deeper on either fund
Full daily-updated metrics, holdings context, and category peers.