5 Best ETFs for 2026: Top Picks for Strong Returns

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a diversified and efficient way to grow your portfolio, and choosing the right ETFs can significantly boost your portfolio’s performance.

We’ve rounded up five of the best-performing ETFs this year to help you build your portfolio. Whether you’re looking for growth, income or stability, these ETFs are well-positioned to meet various investment goals.

Our top picks for platforms to trade ETFs

Top pick for banking + investing in one app

SoFi Active Invest

$150 Reward

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T&Cs apply

Plus, get up to $1,000 in stock

• Trade stocks, options, ETFs and mutual funds
• Access to a financial planner
• All-in-one app for banking and investing
• Automated investing available

Important information

The probability of a member receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Members must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. The probability percentage is subject to decrease. Members are only eligible for the Stock Award promotion upon opening their first brokerage account; subsequent cash brokerage accounts are ineligible for the promo, including for members with multiple accounts.

Terms and conditions apply*. For 401k rollovers, existing SoFi IRA members must complete 401k rollovers via this link For SoFi members without a SoFi IRA, a SoFi IRA must first be opened, and 401k rollover must be completed utilizing Capitalize via this link. SoFi and Capitalize will charge no additional fees to process a 401(k) rollover to a SoFi IRA. SoFi is not liable for any costs incurred from the existing 401k provider for rollover. Please check with your 401k provider for any fees or costs associated with the rollover. For IRA contributions, only deposits made via ACH and cash transfer from SoFi Bank accounts are eligible for the match. Click here for the 1% Match terms and conditions.

Must be a SoFi Plus member at the time a recurring deposit is received into your SoFi Active or Automated investing account to qualify. Bonus calculated on net monthly recurring deposits made via ACH and paid out as Rewards Points. See Rewards Terms of Service. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time without notice. See terms and limitations. https://www.sofi.com/sofiplus/invest/ #disclaimers

Top pick for copy trading

etoro

$200 Reward

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• Copy top etoro investors automatically with CopyTrader
• Trade stocks, options, ETFs and crypto in one app
• Use a demo account to practice before investing
• See how top investors build their portfolios

Important information

etoro securities trading offered by etoro USA Securities, Inc. (‘the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. Finder is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the BD.

Top pick for integrated stock & crypto investing

Kraken

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Up to 2% bonus

• Trade US stocks and ETFs with $0 commissions
• Invest alongside crypto in one unified Kraken account
• Fractional shares available for flexible portfolio building
• Access advanced trading tools and real-time analytics with Kraken Pro

Important information

Up to 2% bonus on stock transfers until January 31, 2026. See full terms and conditions here.

Best ETFs for 2026

Below are the five best-performing equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs) ordered by year-to-date (YTD) performance for 2026, with expense ratios of 0.25% or below, at least 3 million average daily share volume and at least $50 billion assets under management (AUM). No leveraged or inverse ETFs are included.

*Market data from ETFDB.com and accurate as of January 15, 2026.

Calculate your ETF gains

How to buy the best ETFs in 5 easy steps

1. Choose an online stock trading platform. Choose from our Top Picks above, use our comparison table below or jump straight to the best ETF brokers of 2026.
2. Sign up for an account. Provide your personal information and sign up.
3. Set up a funding method to pay for the transaction. Deposit funds into your account by linking your banking information.
4. Choose the stocks you want to buy. Search for the ETF by name or ticker symbol.
5. Place your order. Buy the ETF. It’s that simple.

Compare more trading platforms to invest in ETFs

Compare brokers by available asset types, minim deposit requirements, cash sweep APYs and signup bonuses. Select Go to site to sign up for an account or select More Info to read our comprehensive review.

9 of 9 results

Finder Score	Available asset types	Stock trade fee	Minimum deposit	Cash sweep APY
Promoted 9 Excellent SoFi Active Invest	9 Excellent	Stocks, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Alternatives	$0	$0	0.01%	$150 Reward Finder Rewards: Join Finder then open a new SoFi Active Invest account through Finder as a first-time customer, and make an Eligible First Deposit of $1,250 or more within 5 days of clicking the Finder link. Keep your account open to receive a $150 digital Visa gift card. Ends 30 Nov 2026. T&Cs apply. Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account. T&Cs apply.	Trade stocks, ETFs, and options with zero commissions, invest in IPOs or automate your portfolio, with exclusive perks available through SoFi Plus.	Important information INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees. Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org). There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see https://www.sofi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information SoFi Plus members can schedule an unlimited number of appointments with a financial planner during periods in which the SoFi Plus member meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 10(a) of the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions. SoFi members who are not members of SoFi Plus can schedule one (1) appointment with a financial planner. The ability to schedule appointments is subject to financial planner availability. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this benefit at any time with or without notice. Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth's advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth's current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. The probability of a member receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Members must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. The probability percentage is subject to decrease. Members are only eligible for the Stock Award promotion upon opening their first brokerage account; subsequent cash brokerage accounts are ineligible for the promo, including for members with multiple accounts. Terms and conditions apply*. For 401k rollovers, existing SoFi IRA members must complete 401k rollovers via this link For SoFi members without a SoFi IRA, a SoFi IRA must first be opened, and 401k rollover must be completed utilizing Capitalize via this link. SoFi and Capitalize will charge no additional fees to process a 401(k) rollover to a SoFi IRA. SoFi is not liable for any costs incurred from the existing 401k provider for rollover. Please check with your 401k provider for any fees or costs associated with the rollover. For IRA contributions, only deposits made via ACH and cash transfer from SoFi Bank accounts are eligible for the match. Click here for the 1% Match terms and conditions. Must be a SoFi Plus member at the time a recurring deposit is received into your SoFi Active or Automated investing account to qualify. Bonus calculated on net monthly recurring deposits made via ACH and paid out as Rewards Points. See Rewards Terms of Service. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time without notice. See terms and limitations. https://www.sofi.com/sofiplus/invest/#disclaimers	Go to site View details	loading
Promoted 9.4 Excellent Webull	9.4 Excellent	Stocks, Bonds, Options, ETFs, Futures, Money market funds	$0	$0	3.35%	Up to $160 Reward Finder Rewards: Join Finder then open a new Webull account through Finder as a first-time customer. Make a single first deposit of $100–$999.99 to get a $20 digital Visa gift card, or $1,000 or more to get a $160 digital Visa gift card. Keep your deposit in your account until Feb 1, 2027 (you're free to trade with it) to receive up to a $160 digital Visa gift card. Ends 9 Dec 2026. T&Cs apply. Get 12 free shares by joining Webull. Select Go to site, then make a first deposit of $100 or more to get 10+2 free shares, each worth $3-$300, randomly drawn from the pool of NVDA, TSLA, SPCX and AAPL, minimum $36 in the pocket, plus 1-month complimentary Webull premium. T&Cs apply.	Trade stocks, ETFs and equity options commission-free, with access to futures, advanced charting tools, a robo-advisor and event trading powered by Kalshi.	Important information *Free shares will be validated in 10 days and no withdraw is allowed during this period. Partner deal only, sign up and join via non-affiliate link shall only receive 10 free shares	Go to site View details	loading
Promoted 9 Excellent Public.com	9 Excellent	Stocks, Bonds, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Treasury Bills, High-yield cash account	$0	$0	3.30%	Earn a 1% match on IRA contributions and rollovers. Must stay 5 years to avoid a clawback fee	Build a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, ETFs and crypto, with a high-yield cash account and options contract rebates.	Important information High-yield cash account 3.30% APY as of 06/11/2026.	Go to site View details	loading
8.2 Great etoro	8.2 Great	Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Investments	$0	$0	3.25%	$200 Reward Finder Rewards: Join Finder then open a new etoro account through Finder as a first-time customer, deposit at least $1,000 and keep it in your account until January 29, 2027 to receive a $200 digital Visa gift card. Ends 15 Dec 2026. T&Cs apply. Get up to $500 in free assets plus up to $300 in crypto when you open, verify and fund a new account. Bonus amounts depend on your deposit. T&Cs apply.	No commission stock, ETF and options trades, with 3.25% interest on your options account balance and no options contract fees. See full disclosure.	Important information etoro securities trading offered by etoro USA Securities, Inc. (‘the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. Finder is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the BD. etoro USA LLC and etoro USA Securities Inc.; Investing involves risk, including loss of principal; Not a recommendation	Go to site View details	loading
8.2 Great Zacks Trade	8.2 Great	Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, CDs	$0.01	$250	2.83%	Leverage powerful trading tools and low margin rates to trade stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds and bonds.	Go to site View details	loading
8.4 Great J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing	8.4 Great	Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Treasury Bills	$0	$0	0.01%	Get a cash bonus up to $1,000 when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account. T&Cs apply.	Get $0 commission online trades.	Important information INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE	Go to site View details	loading
9 Excellent Wealthfront	9 Excellent	Stocks, ETFs, High-yield cash account	$0	$500	3.30%	Get a $50 bonus when you sign up and fund a taxable automated investing account with at least $500. T&Cs apply.	Automate your stock and bond portfolio or trade individual stocks for as little as $1 apiece. Plus, earn 3.50% APY on your cash.	Go to site View details	loading
9 Excellent Moomoo	9 Excellent	Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency	$0	$0	3.35%	Up to $1,000 in Nvidia stock plus 8.1% APY on uninvested cash for 2 months, then it reverts to 3.35% APY. T&Cs apply.	No commission stock, ETF and options trades, with $0 equity options contract fees, low margin rates and advanced trading tools.	Continue View details	loading
9.4 Excellent Robinhood	9.4 Excellent	Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Event contracts, High-yield cash account	$0	$0	3.60%	Trade stocks, options, crypto and more, with advanced trading tools, fractional shares and exclusive perks for Gold members.	Continue View details	loading

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How we picked these

What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 147 key metrics we collected directly from 18+ brokers and assessed each provider’s performance based on eight different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then scored and ranked each provider to determine the best brokerage accounts.

We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

How to pick the best ETFs for you

Thousands of ETFs are available to choose from, so you’ll need to consider a wide range of factors when deciding where to invest your money. These include:

• Your investment time frame. How long are you planning to invest your money? Some ETFs adopt a high-risk strategy to target high short-term growth, while others are designed for long-term growth to suit investors who plan to buy and hold for a long time.
• Your investment strategy. What do you want to achieve by investing in an ETF? Will you take a conservative approach in the hope of earning steady long-term gains, or will you adopt a high-risk/high-reward strategy to target quick gains? If you prefer lower risk, you could also consider index funds.
• How the fund works. Make sure you understand the nature of the product and the risks involved before you invest in an ETF. Download the fund’s prospectus and read through the details. Is it a passive ETF or is it actively managed? Which index, sector or industry is its core theme?
• Check the returns. Look at the returns the ETF has provided, after fees, over different periods of time. How has it performed over a one-year period? How has it performed over several years? How does this performance compare to the competition?
• Fees. Fees strongly influence your return on investment. Read the fine print to find out the management fee that applies to the ETF, and remember that you’ll also need to factor brokerage fees into your calculations when buying and selling ETFs.
• Talk to a financial advisor. If you’re unclear about an investment, how it works or its returns, contact a financial advisor to help you learn more.

ETF fees to consider

High fees can make a big dent in your overall investment returns. There are two main costs involved when investing in listed funds: brokerage and management fees.

• Management fee. This is often displayed as the management expense ratio (MER), which is the percentage of your return charged as fees by the ETF’s fund manager. Normally, the more work a fund manager has to do to keep the ETF profitable, the higher the fee — though this won’t always be the case. This is why many active ETFs charge higher fees than index ETFs, which passively track an index. As a general guide, ETF management fees range from about 0.05% to 2.5%.
• Brokerage fees. Like with stocks, your broker may charge a transaction fee every time you invest money into an ETF. This fee comes down to which trading platform or brokerage you use, and it could be a flat fee or calculated based on your trade value. As a general guide, expect brokerage fees to range from around $0 to $5 per transaction.

To find the trading platform that offers the lowest fees, you’ll first need to decide how much you want to invest and how many lump sums you’ll be investing over a year. If it’s just a single lump sum, finding a platform that doesn’t charge an inactivity fee will be key. If you plan on frequently buying small amounts, the brokerage fee itself will be more important.

What are the risks of investing in ETFs?

Before deciding whether ETFs are the best investment solution for you, make sure you’re fully aware of how they work and have an in-depth understanding of all the risks involved. These include:

• You could lose money. The value of ETFs and other types of listed funds rise and fall like any listed stock, which means there are similar risks involved.
• Single-asset ETFs. Some ETFs bundle together a diverse range of securities that protect the investor from market falls; others focus on one asset class. For example, a commodity ETF that invests in a particular metal will do well when that metal’s price goes up, but it will also fall quickly if prices don’t have the protection of other asset classes.
• Tracking errors. Fees, taxes and other factors can sometimes mean that an ETF doesn’t accurately track the performance of an index.
• Leveraged and inverse ETFs. Leveraged ETFs are designed to provide higher short-term returns than traditional ETFs, but they’re a high-risk option with higher fees. Inverse ETFs allow you to hedge against falling markets, but they can be confusing for novice investors and come with their own unique risks.
• Currency risks and international taxes. If you invest in a global ETF, changes in the value of the US dollar will have a direct impact on the value of your investment. You may also need to pay foreign taxes, so make sure you’re aware of all tax implications of an ETF before you commit any funds.
• Synthetic ETFs. These have all the same risks as physical ETFs, but they also expose you to other potential risks such as counterparty risks. There’s also the possibility that the price of futures will differ from the price of an underlying asset.

Our expert says

"ETF investing is a no-brainer if you’re a beginner investor who’s unfamiliar with the markets or you just don’t have the time or interest to pick and choose individual stocks. If you want to do no research, total stock market ETFs are available. If you’re keen to invest in the Oil and Gas industry, consider an energy sector ETF. You’ve got plenty of options for low-cost ETFs to help you build the foundation of your portfolio."

Matt Miczulski

Investments editor and market analyst

Where can I view ETF fund facts?

Basic details about a fund can be found in its prospectus, which (in most cases) must be filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) before an ETF can be publicly traded. The prospectus breaks down key information about a fund including:

• Fees and costs
• Investment objectives
• Risk level
• Performance

View all public filings related to ETFs and other regulated US securities on the SEC website. You can also access an ETF’s prospectus by visiting the issuing company’s website.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best ETF to buy?

There’s no single best ETF for everyone, as it largely depends on your investing objectives.

What ETFs should a beginner invest in?

One of the best ETFs for beginners is an S&P 500 like the the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO).

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

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Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 20-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

Tim's expertise

Tim has written 26 Finder guides across topics including:

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• Personal Loans
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Co-written by

Matt Miczulski

Investments editor and market analyst

Matt Miczulski is an investments editor and market analyst at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions. Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on Yahoo Finance, CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio

Matt's expertise

Matt has written 295 Finder guides across topics including:

• Trading and investing
• Broker and trading platform reviews
• Money management