5 best low-cost index ETFs to buy and hold for long-term investors

There’s a misconception that people need thousands and thousands of dollars before they can start investing. But in today’s world, brokerage accounts can be opened with no initial deposit required, and you can start by buying just one share. That means in many cases your investing journey can start with less than the cost of a DoorDash delivery!

Whether you’re looking to get started or add to an existing portfolio, ultra-low-cost index ETFs are usually the best choice. Many of these give you broad market coverage and make for great core long-term portfolio holdings.

Here are five of my favorites that combine low fees, diversification, smart index construction, and solid long-term track records.

COULD THE VANGUARD S&P 500 ETF BE YOUR TICKET TO BECOMING A STOCK MARKET MILLIONAIRE?

A trader works at his post on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, on June 1, 2026.  (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

1. Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF is perhaps the best core ETF you can buy. It tracks an index that covers virtually the entire investable U.S. equity market. That’s roughly 3,500 stocks in total across all sizes and industries.

Many investors like to use the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF as the centerpiece of their portfolios. I prefer the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF because I want coverage of the entire U.S. stock market. Mid- and small-cap stocks have different sector compositions and economic influences, along with higher growth potential. That works great from a diversification standpoint.

2. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF is my choice for the best dividend ETF because of its robust selection strategy that targets stocks with the best combination of balance sheet quality, long-term dividend growth, and yield.

1 UNDER-THE-RADAR ETF TO INVEST $1,000 IN RIGHT NOW THAT’S OUTPERFORMING MAJOR INDEXES THIS YEAR

A futures-options trader works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange’s NYSE American (AMEX) in New York City, on June 8, 2026. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters / Reuters)

This fund holds the stocks of many durable companies built to withstand and thrive across multiple economic environments. Plus, its current yield of 3.3% is triple that of the S&P 500 right now and will appeal to folks seeking to draw income from their portfolios.

3. Invesco Nasdaq-100 ETF

The Invesco Nasdaq-100 ETF is one of the more commonly used proxies for the U.S. tech sector. While it’s actually only about two-thirds tech stocks, it includes all of the major tech and artificial intelligence (AI) names that are in favor right now.

Tech and growth stocks are obviously playing a major role in what’s driving U.S. stock market returns. But this segment of the market is usually where the…