How to Compare Two Funds or ETFs Before You Buy
Before you pick between two similar funds, put them on the same chart. Ten years of history settles most arguments in a glance.
Choosing between two similar funds — say two global trackers, or an accumulating versus income version — is easier when you can see them side by side rather than guessing from a factsheet.
The overlay trick
- Open the chart for the first fund.
- Use the Compare or + Symbol button at the top of the chart.
- Add the second fund. Both lines now sit on the same axis, rebased so you compare growth, not price.
- Switch the range to five or ten years — long enough to mean something.
What actually matters
Do not over-read small gaps. Two funds tracking the same index will look almost identical — and where they differ over years, the cause is usually cost, not skill. So pair this with the one number that decides it: the ongoing charge. A cheaper fund that lags its rival by a hair on the chart will often win once you count the fee compounding over decades.
Use our own side-by-side comparisons and the KC Score as a second opinion, then make the decision once and move on. Comparing is a one-time job, not a weekly hobby.