Guide · International Total
Best total international stock ETFs
Ex-US stocks are about 40% of world market cap. One ticker (VXUS, IXUS) holds developed and emerging together; two tickers (VEA + VWO, or IEFA + IEMG) let you set the emerging weight yourself. FTSE and MSCI still disagree about South Korea, which is the one country mix-up worth checking before you pair funds from different vendors.
Published May 17, 2026 · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Fund data as of Oct 24, 2026
Why the ranking looks like this
VXUS and IXUS are all-cap. VEU's FTSE All-World ex-US stops at mid-cap, which is the first real holdings difference among the one-ticker funds. The table also pulls in VEA / IEFA (developed) and VWO / IEMG (emerging), which reconstruct the same exposure in two funds.
See the methodology for the full formula behind each sub-score.
The funds
This order is editorial. The composite on each card is live. The full score-ranked table is on the category page.
-
93
composite / 100
Vanguard's total international fund. Tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, which uses a different developed/emerging definition than MSCI (notably classifies South Korea as developed). The standard international leg in a 3-fund portfolio.
- Expense
- 0.050%
- AUM
- $649.29B†
- Issuer
- Vanguard
- Detail
- VXUS page →
-
92
composite / 100
iShares' total international fund. Tracks MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI, which classifies South Korea as emerging. Otherwise nearly identical exposure to VXUS; works as a TLH partner.
- Expense
- 0.070%
- AUM
- $58.76B
- Issuer
- iShares
- Detail
- IXUS page →
-
94
composite / 100
Vanguard developed-markets-only fund (FTSE Developed All Cap ex US). Paired with VWO, replicates VXUS-style total-international exposure at finer control over the emerging-markets weight.
- Expense
- 0.030%
- AUM
- $313.54B†
- Issuer
- Vanguard
- Detail
- VEA page →
-
89
composite / 100
Vanguard emerging-markets fund (FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index). Higher volatility and slightly higher tax cost than developed-only funds — separates cleanly from VEA for investors who want to dial emerging exposure independently.
- Expense
- 0.060%
- AUM
- $164.66B†
- Issuer
- Vanguard
- Detail
- VWO page →
† Whole fund: this ETF is one share class of a fund that also sells mutual-fund shares, and the figure covers all of them. Our sources don't report the ETF class on its own.
Also in the category
Other funds in the same category, ranked by composite score.
How much international is enough
Market-cap weight outside the US is currently around 40% of global equity. Most US-domiciled three-fund portfolios run a smaller international weight — 20-30% of equity is common — citing currency risk, home-country expense familiarity, and the fact that S&P 500 companies already derive ~40% of revenue overseas. There is no methodological answer; this is a personal-preference dial that should be set before the funds are picked.
Foreign tax credit and account placement
International equity funds pay foreign withholding taxes on dividends; in a taxable account these can be claimed back via the foreign tax credit. In a tax-advantaged account (IRA, 401k) the withholding is simply lost. The standard recommendation is to hold international equity in a taxable account when possible — opposite the usual "bonds in tax-advantaged" placement rule.
Funds are pulled from the live composite for this category. Notes are editorial and refresh with the catalog.
PlainIndex publishes data and editorial commentary — nothing here is personalized investment advice. Read the methodology for how the scores referenced here are computed.