VDAL vs DHHF — Which “All-in-One” Aussie ETF Should You Pick in 2025?

 

Welcome community 💓

If you want a single ASX traded ETF that gives you a 100% all-growth portfolio, two big names are standing out in 2025 in the Australian Stock Exchange:

• Vanguard Diversified all growth ETF (VDAL) and 
• BetaShares Diversified all growth ETF (DHHF)

 

Both promise broad equity exposure in one ETF, low ongoing costs, simple construct, and a Fund of Fund nature. In this post I break them down simplistically — fees, size, what is their portfolio and the real differences that should matter to retail investors.

Sources used:

Item	Link
Vanguard personal Investor	ETF | Vanguard Australia Personal Investor
VDAL factsheet	ETF-Vanguard_Diversified_All_Growth_Index_ETF_F100_FS_VDAL
BetaShares	DHHF ASX | Diversified All Growth ETF | Betashares
DHHF factsheet	DHHF-Factsheet.pdf

 

Quick snapshot — the facts side-by-side

Ticker	VDAL	DHHF
Provider	Vanguard Australia	BetaShares
Inception	4-Mar-25	3-Dec-19
Management Fee (p.a.)	0.27%	0.19%
Fund size (approx. A$)	$120m	$873.33m
Allocation	100% growth assets (Australian + international shares)	100% growth assets (passive blend of ETFs)
1-Year Return (to 31 Jul 2025)	Not applicable as Incepted on 4-Mar-25	14.36%
Distribution	Quarterly	Quarterly

Portfolio composition:

• VDAL (Vanguard)
• Targets a 100% allocation to growth assets. That means a mix of Australian shares, international developed shares, international hedged exposure, international small companies, and emerging markets.
• Vanguard lists a target mix and ranges (Australian shares ~40%, international ~29–30%, international hedged ~17–18%, international smaller companies ~5-9%, Emerging market shares ~3.5-7.5%).

  

• DHHF (BetaShares)

o    DHHF is 100% growth asset.

o    DHHF provides exposure to around ~8000 equity securities listed on a wide range of global exchanges. It is basically a passive ETF-of-ETFs.

o    Australian equities ~ 37% , US equities ~41% , Developed markets ex-US ~16% and Emerging markets ~6%.

 

Takeaway: Both VDAL and DHHF aim for broad equity exposure — the main difference is the underlying construction: Vanguard uses its own index-weighted sector allocation model; BetaShares blends low-cost ETFs (open approach) but they are very similar in their asset allocation strategy.

Fees and cost: small but important

• VDAL fee: 0.27% p.a. (management fee).  
• DHHF fee: 0.19% p.a. (management fee).

A difference of 0.08% might look small, but over decades that adds up. For investors wanting the absolute lowest ongoing cost, DHHF is cheaper on headline fee. (Always check total costs — transaction costs and underlying ETF costs can change the real number) but should factor the “tax drag” in the long run where VDAL may turn more efficient than DHHF.

 

Performance history

• DHHF shows a solid multi-year track record (the factsheet lists a 1-year return of ~14.36% to 31 July 2025 and multi-year figures since its strategy inception).
• VDAL launched in March 2025, so it does not yet have a full 1-year public history. Its “inception” returns are shown only since launch but the underlying ETFs used in this index have been present for long duration.

  

Liquidity & fund size notes

• VDAL has fund size ~ A$90.6m in the July 2025 fact sheet. That is a decent starting size for a new ETF.  
• DHHF is an established product with longer trading history and broader use by retail investors. The fund size has been $870 million plus since inception which is pretty good.

 

Considerations to go which way?

• If you want the lowest headline management fee and an ETF-of-ETFs approach that is proven: DHHF is attractive (0.19% p.a., large footprint, performance history).
• If you prefer Vanguard’s index/composite allocation model, and do not mind the slightly higher fee, or want to stick with Vanguard’s family of ETFs: VDAL is a valid new entrant (targets 100% growth assets and uses Vanguard’s established index methodology).  

• Need to check distributions, tax treatment (franking credits for Aussie holdings), and how each fund aligns with your tolerance for volatility.

 

How to use this in a portfolio

• A retail investor like myself, may consider either as a single “set-and-forget” growth strategy if you’re long-term and can stomach volatility.
• Or may consider splitting: one portion into a diversified all-growth ETF (DHHF/VDAL) + one portion into an income or balanced ETF for smoother returns.

Now, would love to hear your thoughts - Would you pick cheaper DHHF or new-kid VDAL? 🙋

 

Disclaimer

This post is for general information and education purposes only. It is not financial advice and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Always do your own research and consider speaking with a licensed financial adviser before making investment decisions. This is all my personal analysis for knowledge sharing purposes only!