Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund
Figures last verified October 31, 2026
Tracks the Dow Jones US Total Stock Market Index — about 3,400 stocks covering the full US market.
SWTSX completes the holy trinity of total-market funds — VTSAX, FZROX, SWTSX — and like its siblings it makes the case that this product category is finished evolving: the whole US market, 0.03%, no minimum, tracking error you'd need a magnifying glass to find. Schwab was a discount pioneer before index funds were cool, and this fund is that heritage distilled.
Choosing among the big three total-market funds is purely a question of where you bank: the funds are interchangeable, transaction fees apply if you buy one family's mutual funds at another's brokerage, and no rational person should pay a transaction fee to get 0.03% instead of 0.04%. One Schwab-specific note: it pays distributions annually rather than quarterly, a minor cash-drag quirk that matters less than almost anything else about your plan.
Total-market indexing for investors whose home base is Schwab.
SWTSX alternatives & comparable funds
If you’re weighing SWTSX against the field, these are the funds most investors line it up against — same job, different provider, slightly different terms.
| Fund | Family | Expense Ratio | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWTSX — Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund | Schwab | 0.03% | $0 |
| VTSAX — Vanguard Total Stock Marke… | Vanguard | 0.04% | $3,000 |
| FZROX — Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund | Fidelity | 0.00% | $0 |
| FSKAX — Fidelity Total Market Index Fund | Fidelity | 0.015% | $0 |
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the expense ratio of SWTSX?
SWTSX (Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund) has an expense ratio of 0.03%, which works out to roughly $3 per year for every $10,000 invested. That is very low by industry standards, where the average fund still charges well over 0.40%.
What is the minimum investment for SWTSX?
SWTSX has no minimum initial investment — you can start with any amount.
What does SWTSX invest in?
Tracks the Dow Jones US Total Stock Market Index — about 3,400 stocks covering the full US market. It falls in the total us market category and is an index fund.
What are good alternatives to SWTSX?
The funds most often compared with SWTSX are VTSAX, FZROX, FSKAX — broadly similar exposure from different providers, with small differences in fee, minimum, and portability that usually come down to which brokerage holds your account.
Expense ratio and minimum for SWTSX drawn from Schwab fund documentation; last verified October 31, 2026. Figures change — confirm against the official prospectus before investing. This review is editorial opinion, not investment advice.