BNDX vs VTILX
Vanguard Total International Bond ETF vs Vanguard Total International Bond II Index Fund Class Institutional
Which is better, BNDX or VTILX?
BNDX and VTILX are close on what we can measure.
The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BNDX | VTILX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07%Tie | 0.07%Tie |
| AUM | $82.7B | $141.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.53% | 4.19% |
| Holdings | 6,859 | 7,415 |
| YTD Price Return | -1.78% | -1.77% |
| 1Y Price Return | -3.65% | -3.44% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | -0.57% | -0.58% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -3.75% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.6%Best | 6.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.2% | -15.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Fixed Income |
| Style | Long Term Mid Quality | - |
| Inception | May 31, 2013 | Feb 17, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: $10,000 over 4.9 years, Top 10 Weight.
A price return is not the return of a fund that pays its income out. The coupon or distribution never appears in the price, so the return rows carry no winner here. BNDX currently yields 4.53% and VTILX 4.19%.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 25, 2021 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.9 years).
BNDX vs VTILX Performance
Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Total International Bond II Index Fund Class Institutional (VTILX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BNDX's price moved -3.65% and VTILX's -3.44%, before the income each one paid out.
Over three years, BNDX compounded at -0.57% per year against -0.58% for VTILX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTILX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 6.0% compared with 5.6% for BNDX. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -18.2% for BNDX and -15.3% for VTILX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BNDX charges 0.07% per year while VTILX charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $7 annually. On income, BNDX currently yields 4.53% against 4.19% for VTILX.
Structure and taxes
VTILX is a mutual fund and BNDX is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 943 holdings in BNDX and 1,459 in VTILX, totalling 11.3% and 7.1% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 864 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 273 days apart, BNDX as of Jul 31, 2026 and VTILX as of Oct 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
864 positions in common, counted across the 943 positions we hold weights for in BNDX and 1,459 in VTILX, against full books of 6,859 and 7,415.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BNDX | Weight in VTILX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRTR 2.75 10/25/27 OFrance (Republic Of) 2.75 2027-10-25 | 0.17% | 0.13% | 0.04% |
| CAN 3.25 06/01/35Canadian Government 3.25% 01Jun2035 | 0.08% | 0.10% | 0.02% |
| CAN 3.5 09/01/29Canada (Government Of) Sep 1, 2029 3.5 | 0.08% | 0.09% | 0.01% |
| CAN 2.75 09/01/30Canadian Government 2.75% 01Sep2030 | 0.09% | 0.07% | 0.02% |
| BTPS 5 08/01/39 32YItaly (Republic Of) 5.0 2039-08-01 | 0.04% | 0.10% | 0.06% |
| CAN 3 06/01/34Canada (Government Of) Jun 1, 2034 3.0 | 0.06% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| CAN 3.25 12/01/34Canada (Government Of) Dec 1, 2034 3.25 | 0.08% | 0.06% | 0.02% |
| CAN 2.75 03/01/30Canadian Government Bond 2.75% 01Mar2030 | 0.06% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| CAN 1.5 12/01/31Canadian Government Bond 1.5% 01Dec2031 | 0.06% | 0.07% | 0.01% |
| CAN 2 12/01/51Canadian Government Bond 2 12/01/2051 | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BNDX and VTILX you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BNDX or VTILX?
BNDX has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VTILX charges 0.07%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which is riskier, BNDX or VTILX?
VTILX has been the more volatile fund at 6.0% annualized versus 5.6% for BNDX. Worst drawdown: BNDX -18.2% vs VTILX -15.3%.
Should I hold both BNDX and VTILX?
BNDX and VTILX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BNDX or VTILX?
BNDX yields 4.53% while VTILX yields 4.19%, so BNDX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold VTILX or BNDX in a taxable account?
BNDX is an ETF and VTILX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VTILX better than BNDX?
The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.