Start investing with core ETFs

Build a diversified investment portfolio with simple, low-cost ETFs designed for long-term investing.

Explore the full core ETFs range

Why include core ETFs in your investment portfolio?

Core ETFs are often used as the foundation of a long-term investment portfolio. They offer a simple and cost-efficient way to invest in markets through a single trade. By tracking broad market indices, core ETFs provide instant diversification across countries, sectors, companies or bonds. This helps spread risk and can reduce the impact of individual market movements on your portfolio.

Core ETFs can form the foundation of a portfolio and be combined with other investments to reflect different investment goals, time horizons and risk tolerances.

Diversification does not fully protect against market risks.

Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.
SWDA

iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF

Provides exposure to large and mid-cap companies across developed markets, helping investors access global equities in a single investment.

View EUNL
CXPS

iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF

Follows an index that tracks the performance of the 500 largest companies in the US.

View SXR8
STT6

iShares STOXX Europe 600 UCITS ETF

Provides exposure to a broad index of companies across developed European markets in a single investment.

View EXSA

Why choose iShares for core ETFs?

ETFs.

One investment, wide access to markets

By tracking global and regional indices, iShares core ETFs provide broad, efficient access to a wide universe of equities of fixed income securities within a single vehicle.
Quality.

Leading provider of ETFs globally1

For more than 20 years, iShares has been helping investors access markets through ETFs. As part of BlackRock, our products are built by seasoned investment professionals.
Choice.

Long-term approach to investing

Designed to be foundational portfolio building blocks, iShares core ETFs provide transparent exposure to broad market indices and can be used as part of a long-term investment strategy.

How to buy core ETFs

You can’t invest directly on iShares.com, but these simple steps explain how to start investing in ETFs.

01.

Open a brokerage account

To invest in ETFs, you need a brokerage account with a bank or online investment platform. Opening an account is usually done online and is similar to setting up a bank account.
02.

Choose your ETFs

Compare ETFs based on their investment objective, index, and costs. Once chosen, you can find the ETF on your platform using its name, ticker, or ISIN.
03.

Decide how much to invest

Choose whether to invest a lump sum or set up a regular investment plan. Many investors use savings plans to invest consistently over time.
Start investing

Core ETFs FAQs

A core ETF is an exchange traded fund designed to give broad market exposure through a single investment. It typically tracks a well-known index and is often used as the foundation of a long-term investment portfolio because it offers built-in diversification, transparency and cost efficiency.

Core ETFs provide access to many companies or bonds in a single investment. This makes it easier to start investing without choosing individual securities. Core ETFs can also be used in a regular savings plan to support long-term investing goals.

Core ETFs usually aim to track the performance of an index, such as a global or regional equity or bond index. Active ETFs, by contrast, are managed by investment professionals who select securities with the aim of outperforming a benchmark or achieving a specific investment objective.

Investors typically compare core ETFs based on:

  • the index or market the ETF tracks
  • ongoing costs and charges
  • the size and liquidity of the fund
  • whether the ETF invests in equities, bonds or a combination of both

These factors can help you decide how a core ETF fits within your overall portfolio and long-term investment plan.

1ETFGI Global ETF Industry Insights, as at 10 June 2026