Long-Term ETF Fee Comparison Tool

Long-Term ETF Expense Ratio Comparison: A vs B

Compare ETF A and ETF B expense ratios, estimate long-term fee drag, compare projected ending values, and see 10, 20 and 30-year differences. Results are hypothetical projections based on your assumptions, not predictions of actual ETF performance.

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ETF Return Calculator

Estimate your ETF portfolio value

Enter a starting balance, monthly investment, annual ETF return, expense ratio and years invested. Results update instantly.

Estimated ETF Portfolio Value

$0 After ETF fees

ETF Fee Impact

Compare the same investment assumptions with the entered ETF fee and with a zero expense ratio.

Estimated fee drag is the projected difference between these simplified scenarios, including lost compounding. It is not a statement of actual fees paid.

ETF A / ETF B Fee Comparison

Compare two expense ratios while keeping the investment amount, contributions, return and time horizon identical.

ETF A Projected Final Value $0 0.03% expense ratio
ETF B Projected Final Value $0 0.50% expense ratio
Projected Dollar Difference $0 Absolute difference between the two ending values
Projected Percentage Difference 0.00% Difference divided by the lower ending value

Projected Growth Curves

ETF A ETF B

10 / 20 / 30 Year Comparison

Hypothetical scenario only—not an investment forecast, recommendation or statement of actual ETF performance. Both projections use identical assumptions except for the entered expense ratio.

Expense Ratio Cost Comparison

Four fee scenarios use the same investment amount, contributions, return and time horizon.

Ending values are nominal estimates. Wealth lost to fees compares each scenario with a 0% expense ratio and includes lost compounding; it is not a record of actual fees paid.

ETF Growth Chart

Portfolio value, contributions and investment gains over time.

Why this is different from a compound interest calculator

A general compound interest calculator typically models principal, contributions, an assumed return and time. This ETF calculator keeps those planning inputs and also accounts for an ETF expense ratio, estimates fee drag, and compares ETF A with ETF B using two expense ratios.

The comparison holds the starting investment, monthly contributions, return assumption and time horizon constant. It then shows each projected ending value, the dollar and percentage difference, and 10, 20 and 30-year checkpoints so the long-term fee effect is easier to interpret. If you only need a projection without ETF fee comparisons, use the Compound Interest Calculator.

Calculation Methodology, Assumptions and Limitations

After-fee return and monthly contributions

Expected Annual Return is a nominal annual total-return assumption before the ETF expense ratio. Dividends are assumed to be included and reinvested; the calculator does not project dividends separately. The model subtracts the annual expense ratio from the annual return assumption to calculate the after-fee annual return, then divides that result by 12 to create the monthly rate.

The starting balance is projected month by month. Each monthly contribution is added at the beginning of the month before that month’s return is applied. The calculator records a year-end balance after every 12 months. Negative returns and returns below the expense ratio remain negative; they are not reset to zero.

Fee Drag and ETF A/B comparison

Estimated Fee Drag is the difference between the projected ending value using the entered expense ratio and the projected ending value using a 0% expense ratio, with all other inputs unchanged. The ETF A/B comparison projects both entered expense ratios with identical principal, contributions, return and time assumptions. Its dollar difference is the absolute difference between the two ending values; its percentage difference is that dollar difference divided by the lower ending value.

Learn what ETF fee drag means and why it grows over time, or compare ETF expense ratio costs over 30 years.

Assumptions, limitations and responsibility

The model uses a constant annual return assumption and does not simulate market volatility or the sequence of actual returns. Inflation adjustment translates only the final projected value into today’s purchasing power. Results do not include taxes, brokerage fees, bid-ask spreads, tracking differences, changes in fund expenses or investor behavior.

All results are hypothetical projections, not forecasts, recommendations, guaranteed returns or statements of actual fees paid. WealthCalc maintains this page and is responsible for its calculator interface, methodology description and explanatory content. No professional financial review or regulatory approval is claimed.

Last reviewed and updated: August 28, 2026.

For the underlying projection without ETF-specific fee comparisons, see the Compound Interest Calculator.

Example Assumptions

Two ways contributions and fees can change an estimate

These simplified examples show why assumptions matter. Use the calculator above for your own scenario.

Monthly ETF investing example $222,825

A $10,000 starting investment plus $300 per month for 20 years at an estimated 7.90% after fees could grow to about $222,825.

ETF expense ratio example $80,281 gap

A $100,000 portfolio over 25 years at 8.00% before fees could reach about $728,569 with a 0.03% fee, versus about $648,288 with a 0.50% fee.

ETF Calculator FAQ

How do ETF expense ratios affect long-term projections?

This calculator subtracts the entered annual expense ratio from the assumed annual total return before applying the resulting monthly rate. Over longer periods, the lower after-fee rate can create a larger difference because less value remains available to compound.

What is estimated ETF fee drag?

Estimated fee drag is the projected ending-value difference between the entered expense-ratio scenario and an otherwise identical 0% expense-ratio scenario. It includes the modeled effect of lost compounding and is not a statement of actual fees paid.

Why compare two ETF expense ratios?

Holding the starting investment, monthly contributions, return assumption and time horizon constant helps isolate the projected effect of the two entered expense ratios on ending value.

Is this calculator predicting actual ETF returns?

No. Results are hypothetical projections based on constant user-entered assumptions. They do not predict market returns and do not include market volatility, taxes, trading costs, bid-ask spreads or tracking differences.

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