Global Index FundCheat Sheet

A comparison of the top global index funds for UK investors.

Data last updated: 25 August 2026

⚠️ This is not financial advice

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What is an Index? An index tracks a basket of companies (e.g. FTSE All-World). See the indices breakdown below for what each one tracks.

What is a Fund? A fund is provided by a fund manager (e.g. Vanguard, iShares, etc.) that tracks an index. Multiple funds can track the same index, e.g. both VWRP and FWRG track the FTSE All-World index.

ETF vs Mutual Fund ETFs and Mutual Funds can both track an index, e.g. VWRP (ETF) and HSBC FTSE All-World (Mutual Fund) both track the FTSE All-World index. ETFs are more widely available across platforms, so most people will use these.

Key considerations 💸 Fees (OCF/TER) The ongoing charge you pay to invest in a fund. 🌍 Diversification More stocks = more diversification. Truly global funds include developed markets and emerging markets.

Other considerations

Bid/ask spreads
Tracking error
Replication method
Fund domicile
Fund availability on your platform
Currency denomination
Share price (if the platform you're using doesn't offer fractional shares)

🌍Own the world in one fund

A single global fund lets you "own the world" - thousands of stocks across every country, sector and industry. It includes 85%+ of the total investible world (depending on the fund), all within one simple investment. Global index funds charge as little as 0.07% per year.

🔄It follows the money automatically

The best performing country, industry and companies regularly changes. For example, Japan made up 45% of the global stock market in 1989. Now it's only 6%. A global fund takes all guesswork out of the equation. It self-cleanses as countries, industries and companies perform well or poorly over time.

😴Set it and forget it

Build your wealth slowly, passively and on autopilot as the global stock market grows over time. Passive investing, where you simply track an index, usually gives better returns than active investing or stock picking the large majority of the time. No need to read financial reports, try to pick stocks or try to time the market.

✅Key criteria to look for in a global fund

Well-established fund manager
Diversification. The more stocks, the better
Low total fund fees (ongoing fee + transaction fee)
Minimum $1bn AUM
Accumulation share class - to auto-reinvest dividends (my personal preference)

FTSE All-World 🌍 Truly Global

Covers stocks across developed and emerging markets. One of the most popular indices for global investing.

Developed + EmergingLarge & Mid Cap
Funds: VWRP, FWRG, ALLG, FTAW, HSBC FTSE All World (Mutual Fund)

FTSE Global All Cap 🌍 Truly Global

The broadest FTSE index - extends FTSE All-World to also include small-cap stocks.

Developed + EmergingLarge, Mid & Small Cap
Funds: VALL, Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap (Mutual Fund)

FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield ⚠️ Not truly global

A subset of FTSE All-World screening for above-average dividend paying stocks. As it actively selects for dividends rather than tracking the full market, it is not a pure passive index fund.

Developed + EmergingLarge & Mid Cap
Funds: VHYG

FTSE Developed World ⚠️ Not truly global

FTSE index that just tracks developed markets, no emerging markets exposure.

Developed onlyLarge & Mid Cap
Funds: VHVG

MSCI ACWI 🌍 Truly Global

MSCI's equivalent of FTSE All-World. One of the most popular indices for global investing.

Developed + EmergingLarge & Mid Cap
Funds: SSAC, ACWI

MSCI ACWI IMI 🌍 Truly Global

The broadest MSCI index and similar to the FTSE Global All Cap - extends ACWI to include small-cap stocks. IMI = Investable Market Index. Currently no GBP-listed version available.

Developed + EmergingLarge, Mid & Small Cap
Funds: No GBP-listed fund available yet

MSCI World ⚠️ Not truly global

Despite the name, developed markets only - no emerging markets exposure.

Developed onlyLarge & Mid Cap
Funds: SWDA, HMWS, WRDA, Fidelity Index World (Mutual Fund)

Solactive GBS Global Markets Large & Mid Cap 🌍 Truly Global

A lower-cost alternative to FTSE All-World/MSCI ACWI. Solactive's cheaper licensing costs allow funds to track this index at a lower fee.

Developed + EmergingLarge & Mid Cap
Funds: PACW

Solactive Core Developed Markets Large & Mid Cap ⚠️ Not truly global

Solactive's developed-markets-only index. No emerging markets.

Developed onlyLarge & Mid Cap
Funds: LGGG

Not financial advice

💡 How to use this table

Filter by 🌍 Truly Global if you want developed + emerging markets in one fund
Sort by Fee to find the cheapest option
Sort by Holdings to find the most diversified option
Use both together to land on the fund that best matches what you care about most

Index ETFs

Exchange-traded funds - available on most platforms

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Ticker	Provider	Share Class	Index	Fee (OCF)	Holdings	AUM (USD)	Fund Page	Notes
VALL	Vanguard	Accumulation	FTSE Global All Cap	0.07%	-	-	View ↗	Brand new ETF. Most diversified global fund as invests in small cap stocks
VWRP	Vanguard	Accumulation Income: VWRL	FTSE All-World	0.14%	3,782	$53.4bn	View ↗	Fee reduced from 0.22% to 0.19% in October 2025, then to 0.14% in July 2026
FWRG	Invesco	Accumulation Income: FTWG	FTSE All-World	0.15%	2,294	$4.95bn	View ↗	Another FTSE All-World ETF. But a shorter track record, ETF launched in June 2023
ALLG	Xtrackers	Accumulation	FTSE All-World	0.07%	1,871	$93m	View ↗	Joint lowest fee global ETF. Launched in April 2026
FTAW	iShares	Accumulation Income: FTSA	FTSE All-World	0.12%	2,617	$30m	View ↗	Launched in May 2026
VHYG	Vanguard	Accumulation Income: VHYL	FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield	0.29%	2,368	$3.3bn	View ↗	Specifically invests in dividend-paying stocks
VHVG	Vanguard	Accumulation Income: VEVE	FTSE Developed World	0.12%	1,977	$6.6bn	View ↗	⚠️ Not truly global - excludes emerging market stocks
ACWI	State Street	Accumulation	MSCI ACWI	0.12%	2,288	$19.8bn	View ↗	Not to be confused with 'iShares MSCI ACWI ETF' (ticker is also ACWI) listed on the Nasdaq
SSAC	iShares	Accumulation	MSCI ACWI	0.20%	1,774	$36.5bn	View ↗	Another ETF that tracks MSCI ACWI. But 'ACWI' (by State Street) is cheaper
SWDA	iShares	Accumulation Income: IWRD	MSCI World	0.20%	1,325	$151.8bn	View ↗	⚠️ Not truly global - excludes emerging market stocks
HMWS	HSBC	Accumulation Income: HMWO	MSCI World	0.15%	1,252	$19.1bn	View ↗	⚠️ Not truly global - excludes emerging market stocks
WRDA	UBS	Accumulation	MSCI World	0.06%	1,281	$2.3bn	View ↗	⚠️ Not truly global - excludes emerging market stocks
PACW	Amundi	Income	Solactive GBS Global Mkts L&M Cap	0.07%	3,457	$8.5bn	View ↗	Joint lowest fee global ETF. No accumulation share class available
LGGG	L&G	Accumulation	Solactive Core Dev. Mkts L&M Cap	0.10%	1,359	$1.9bn	View ↗	⚠️ Not truly global - excludes emerging market stocks

No ETFs match this filter.

Mutual Index Funds

Traditional mutual funds - generally available on fewer platforms

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Fund Name	Provider	Share Class	Index	Fee (OCF)	Holdings	AUM (USD)	Fund Page	Notes
FTSE Global All Cap	Vanguard	Accumulation Income available	FTSE Global All Cap	0.23%	7,493	$12.9bn	View ↗	Most diversified global fund as invests in small cap stocks
HSBC FTSE All World	HSBC	Accumulation Income available	FTSE All-World	0.13%	3,428	$10.4bn	View ↗	Another FTSE All-World ETF. But a mutual fund, rather than an ETF.
Fidelity Index World	Fidelity	Accumulation Income available	MSCI World	0.12%	1,284	$21.8bn	View ↗	⚠️ Not truly global - excludes emerging market stocks

No mutual funds match this filter.

Key

Accumulation = auto-reinvests dividends into the fund

Income = pays dividends out to you

🌍 Truly Global = Developed and emerging markets stocks

⚠️ Not truly global = Excludes emerging markets