Singapore ETF List 2026: The Complete Guide to Every ETF Type You Can Buy

STI, global equity, S-REIT, gold, bond, and thematic ETFs — categorised in one place, with TER, CPF/SRS eligibility, and links to the full guide for each.

Singapore investors can buy ETFs across five main categories: SGX-listed STI and REIT ETFs, LSE-listed global equity ETFs like CSPX and VWRA, gold and bond ETFs, and dozens of thematic funds covering AI, semiconductors, and defence. Each category has different tax treatment, CPFIS eligibility, and cost structures. This guide sorts every ETF type available in 2026 into one place so you know exactly where to start.

Not financial advice. All figures are for educational reference only. Data verified as at August 2026 unless otherwise noted.

Table of Contents

What Counts as an ETF for Singapore Investors?

An ETF, or exchange-traded fund, is a basket of stocks, bonds, or commodities that trades on a stock exchange just like a single share. You buy ETFs for one simple reason: instant diversification without picking individual stocks yourself.

You have three main places to buy ETFs from Singapore. First, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) lists around 15 ETFs covering the Straits Times Index (STI), Singapore REITs, gold, and government bonds. Second, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) lists dozens of UCITS ETFs — Ireland-domiciled funds like CSPX and VWRA that track global and US markets. Third, US exchanges like NYSE and NASDAQ list thousands of ETFs, including familiar names like VOO and QQQ.

Here’s why that third option matters less than you’d think. US-listed ETFs charge non-resident investors a 30% withholding tax on dividends, and expose your estate to US estate tax above USD 60,000 if you pass away while holding them. LSE-listed UCITS ETFs cut that withholding tax to 15% and remove US estate tax exposure entirely, because they’re domiciled in Ireland instead. That’s why almost every serious guide for Singapore investors — including this one — points you toward SGX or LSE listings, not US ones.

For the full breakdown of why this matters and how much it can cost you, read our guide to why Singapore investors buy ETFs on the London Stock Exchange. This guide sorts every ETF category available to you in 2026 into one place: what it is, roughly what it costs, whether your CPF or SRS money can go into it, and where to read the full guide.

Why does a “list” article matter here? Most guides jump straight into “how to buy CSPX” without first mapping out what else exists. If you only read the CSPX guide, you might never realise a CPFIS-eligible bond ETF could round out your portfolio, or that a dedicated defence ETF exists for the geopolitics-driven part of your thesis. This page is the map, not the destination — use it to find the category you need, then click through to the deep-dive guide.

SGX-Listed ETFs: The Full List

If you want to invest using CPF or SRS funds, SGX-listed ETFs are your starting point. Trades settle in Singapore dollars, and most of the CPFIS-approved fund list sits on this exchange. As a Singapore investor with, say, SGD 20,000 in your CPF Ordinary Account, this is the shelf you’d shop from first.

The table below covers the main SGX ETF categories as at August 2026: STI index-tracking, S-REIT dividend, gold, and government bond funds.

Source: SGX, Lion Global Investors & Amova AM (formerly Nikko AM) fund factsheets; CPF Board CPFIS product list, August 2026.

Here’s a worked example. Say you split SGD 30,000 of SRS money evenly between SPDR STI ETF and Lion-Phillip S-REIT ETF — SGD 15,000 each. At 0.28% and 0.60% TER respectively, you’d pay roughly SGD 42 and SGD 90 a year in fund fees, or about SGD 132 combined. That’s the cost of the diversification across index and REIT exposure, before brokerage commissions.

Notice something? Only two of these six are true CPFIS-OA-and-SA-eligible index funds — the STI pair. If you’re building a globally diversified portfolio with CPF money, SGX-listed options alone won’t get you there. That’s a real limitation, and one reason many investors pair CPF-held STI/bond ETFs with cash-funded global ETFs on the LSE.

LSE-Listed Global ETFs: The Full List

The London Stock Exchange is where you go for globally diversified, low-cost core holdings. These are UCITS ETFs — funds domiciled in Ireland and regulated under EU rules, which is exactly what gives them the lower 15% US withholding tax rate over 30% for US-domiciled funds.

Most of these are accumulating share classes, meaning dividends are reinvested automatically inside the fund instead of paid out to you. That matters for Singapore investors because reinvested dividends aren’t taxed here the way a cash payout might trigger reporting elsewhere. If you’re unsure which structure suits you, our guide to accumulating vs distributing ETFs breaks down the difference.

Source: iShares & Vanguard fund factsheets, justETF, August 2026.

Here’s the trade-off, though. CSPX’s razor-thin fee comes with 100% US large-cap exposure, while VWRA and IWDA spread your money across dozens of countries. A Singapore investor holding SGD 50,000 in VWRA at 0.14% TER pays roughly SGD 70 a year in fund fees — cheap for the diversification you get.

Thematic and Sector ETFs

Thematic ETFs let you tilt part of your portfolio toward a specific trend — AI, semiconductors, defence spending — without picking individual stocks. Think of these as the satellite around your core CSPX or VWRA holding, not a replacement for it. They carry higher TER and higher concentration risk, so most guides (including ours) suggest capping thematic exposure at 5–10% of your total portfolio.

Here’s the full list of thematic and sector categories we’ve covered, each with its own dedicated guide and comparison of the actual funds available:

Source: The Kopi Notes ETF guide catalogue, fund provider factsheets, August 2026.

How to Choose the Right ETF Category

Don’t start by picking a ticker. Start by picking a goal, then narrow down to the category that fits it.

Retirement income first? Lean on CPFIS-eligible STI and bond ETFs alongside your existing CPF savings. Read our CPF investment strategy guide before committing OA or SA funds, and run your numbers through our retirement calculator to see if you’re on track.

Long-term growth first? CSPX, VWRA, or IWDA as your core — pick one, not all three, since they overlap heavily. VWRA gives you the broadest single-fund diversification.

Diversification or inflation hedge? A small gold ETF allocation, typically 5–10% of your portfolio, smooths out equity drawdowns without dragging down long-term returns too much.

Tactical tilt or higher risk tolerance? Thematic ETFs — AI, semiconductors, defence — as a satellite position, capped at 5–10% of your total portfolio so a sector downturn doesn’t sink your whole plan.

How to Buy Any ETF on This List

The mechanics are the same whether you’re buying ES3 on SGX or CSPX on the LSE — fund your account, search the ticker, select the right exchange, and place your order.

For SGX-listed ETFs (STI, S-REIT, gold, bond), most Singapore brokers work fine, including MooMoo, Tiger Brokers, and DBS Vickers. If you’re funding through CPF or SRS, check with your broker that the specific fund is CPFIS or SRS-approved before you transfer money in.

For LSE-listed ETFs (CSPX, VWRA, IWDA, and most thematic funds), you’ll need a broker with UK market access. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the most cost-effective for larger portfolios thanks to low FX spreads. Syfe and FSMOne are simpler starting points if you’re newer to investing and want a more guided interface, though check their fee schedules against your expected trade size first. See our full broker comparison for ETF investing for a side-by-side breakdown of fees.

Not financial advice. Every broker and fund carries fees, risks, and eligibility rules that can change — always check the current factsheet and your broker’s platform before you invest.

Frequently Asked Questions

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