Christian ETFs combine the tax efficiency and low costs of exchange-traded funds with biblically responsible investing (BRI) screening. For investors who want their portfolios to reflect their faith without paying the higher fees typically associated with actively managed Christian mutual funds, these ETFs offer a compelling solution. This comprehensive guide reviews every major Christian ETF on the market, compares their screening methodologies, expense ratios, and performance data, and helps you determine which funds belong in your faith-aligned portfolio.
What Makes Christian ETFs Different
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have revolutionized investing by offering diversified, low-cost exposure to broad markets. Christian ETFs apply this same efficient structure while filtering out companies whose business practices conflict with biblical values. The result is a growing category of investment products that let believers participate in market growth without funding activities that violate their convictions.
Christian ETFs differ from ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ETFs in important ways. While both apply values-based screening, ESG funds focus on environmental sustainability, social justice metrics, and corporate governance standards—criteria that may or may not align with biblical priorities. Christian ETFs specifically screen based on biblical principles, excluding companies involved in abortion, pornography, gambling, and other activities that Scripture identifies as harmful. Some Christian screening categories—such as corporate activism on sexual ethics—are unique to BRI funds and not found in standard ESG frameworks.
The faith-based ETF market has grown rapidly. As of mid-2024, approximately 31 Christian ETFs were available with combined assets contributing to the broader $130 billion faith-based fund market—a 14% increase over just 15 months. This growth reflects both increasing investor demand for values-aligned investing and the natural migration from higher-cost mutual funds to more efficient ETF structures.
How Biblical Screening Works in ETFs
Christian ETFs typically apply screening across eight core categories: abortion (companies producing abortifacient drugs, operating or funding abortion facilities, or engaging in fetal tissue research), pornography and adult entertainment (production, distribution, and related services), gambling (casinos, lottery systems, online betting platforms), alcohol (production and major distribution), tobacco (manufacturing and retail), human rights violations (child labor, forced labor, exploitative practices), cannabis (cultivation, processing, and retail), and in many funds, corporate advocacy on issues of sexual ethics and gender ideology that conflict with traditional biblical teaching.
The screening process varies by provider. Some ETF families use proprietary scoring systems that evaluate companies on a scale—Inspire Investing, for example, assigns each company an “Inspire Impact Score” from -100 to +100, investing only in companies scoring zero or above. Others use binary exclusion lists maintained by screening committees that meet quarterly. The key for investors is understanding not just which categories a fund screens but how strictly those screens are applied and how frequently holdings are monitored for compliance.
Inspire Investing: The Dominant Christian ETF Provider
Inspire Investing is the world’s largest faith-based ETF provider, managing approximately $2.5 billion in Christian ETF assets as of December 2025 across nine ETFs. Founded with the mission of making biblically responsible investing accessible and affordable, Inspire has become the dominant name in Christian ETFs through competitive pricing, strong marketing, and a comprehensive product lineup.
Inspire Impact Score Methodology. Inspire’s proprietary screening system assigns every company a score from -100 to +100. Companies receive negative scores for involvement in abortion, pornography, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, human rights violations, cannabis, and LGBT activism. Companies receive positive scores for biblical virtues including ethical governance, community investment, environmental stewardship, fair labor practices, and charitable giving. Only companies scoring zero or above are eligible for inclusion in Inspire’s portfolios. This scoring approach aims to not just avoid harmful companies but to actively identify companies whose operations align with biblical principles of justice, stewardship, and human flourishing.
The Full Inspire ETF Lineup:
Inspire 500 ETF (PTL) is Inspire’s lowest-cost offering and largest fund with approximately $646 million in assets. With an expense ratio of just 0.09%, PTL provides broad exposure to the 500 largest U.S. companies that pass Inspire’s biblical screening—making it the Christian equivalent of an S&P 500 index fund. For cost-conscious investors seeking broad U.S. large-cap exposure with faith-based screening, PTL is the most compelling option on the market.
Inspire 100 ETF (BIBL) holds approximately $363.6 million in assets and concentrates on 100 large-cap U.S. companies with the highest Inspire Impact Scores. With an expense ratio of 0.35%, BIBL provides more concentrated exposure to companies that score highest on biblical alignment. Performance has been strong: BIBL posted a 29.3% one-year return and 18.6% annualized three-year return. Notably, BIBL has maintained performance competitive with the S&P 500 despite not holding any of the “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks—demonstrating that biblical screening need not sacrifice returns.
Inspire International ETF (WWJD) provides international developed market exposure with approximately $419.6 million in assets and a 0.66% expense ratio. WWJD invests in large-cap companies outside the United States that pass Inspire’s screening. In 2025, WWJD delivered a remarkable 29.27% return—significantly outperforming the MSCI World Index’s 21.63% return over the same period.
Inspire Small/Mid Cap Impact ETF (ISMD) covers U.S. small and mid-cap companies with approximately $229.9 million in assets and a 0.57% expense ratio. ISMD provides exposure to smaller companies that score well on Inspire’s biblical screening criteria, offering diversification beyond the large-cap focus of PTL and BIBL. Performance has been more mixed in the small-cap space, with a 2025 return of 4.13% compared to the Russell 2000’s 12.79%.
Inspire Corporate Bond ETF (IBD) offers fixed income exposure through investment-grade corporate bonds issued by companies meeting Inspire’s screening standards. IBD’s 2025 return of 7.69% tracked closely with the Bloomberg Corporate Bond Index’s 7.77%, demonstrating that faith-based bond screening produces returns comparable to conventional fixed income benchmarks.
Additional Inspire ETFs include the Inspire Tactical Balanced ETF (RISN), which actively manages allocation between U.S. stocks and bonds with a 0.84% expense ratio; the Inspire Fidelis Multi Factor ETF (FDLS), a small-cap multi-factor fund that earned a 5-star Morningstar rating for its 3-year period and returned 22.47% in 2025; and the Inspire Growth ETF (GLRY), a growth-oriented fund that returned 16.50% in 2025.
Important Disclosure. Investors should be aware that Inspire settled with the SEC in 2024 for a $300,000 penalty related to misrepresenting aspects of its research process and inconsistent application of screening criteria. Inspire agreed to hire an independent compliance consultant and improve its disclosures. While the settlement doesn’t invalidate Inspire’s products, it underscores the importance of verifying that any fund consistently applies its stated screening methodology.
For a detailed analysis of Inspire’s complete product suite, advisory services, and suitability for different investors, see our Inspire Investing review.
Timothy Plan ETFs
Timothy Plan, the pioneer of biblically responsible mutual fund investing since 1994, offers four ETFs that extend their strict screening methodology into the ETF format. Timothy Plan’s biblical screening is widely considered the most comprehensive in the industry, applying broader exclusionary criteria than most competitors.
Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF (TPLC) provides exposure to large and mid-cap U.S. companies screened through Timothy Plan’s rigorous biblical criteria. The fund uses a volatility-weighted methodology rather than traditional market-cap weighting, which can reduce concentration in the largest stocks and potentially smooth returns.
Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF (TPHD) focuses on high-dividend U.S. stocks with an expense ratio of 0.52%. For income-seeking investors who want strict biblical screening, TPHD provides a focused dividend strategy.
Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock Enhanced ETF (TPHE) is a similar high-dividend strategy with enhanced features, also carrying a 0.52% expense ratio.
Timothy Plan International ETF (TPIF) provides international equity exposure with Timothy Plan’s biblical screening applied to companies outside the United States.
Timothy Plan ETFs average approximately 0.55% in expense ratios—higher than Inspire’s lowest-cost offerings but lower than Timothy Plan’s own mutual fund lineup. The primary appeal of Timothy Plan ETFs is access to the industry’s strictest screening methodology in a more tax-efficient and cost-effective ETF wrapper.
Eventide ETFs
Eventide Asset Management, known primarily for its actively managed mutual funds, offers two ETFs that bring their distinctive “investing that makes the world rejoice” philosophy to the ETF format.
Eventide US Market ETF (EUSM) provides broadly diversified U.S. equity exposure with Eventide’s “Avoid, Embrace, and Engage” screening at a competitive 0.39% expense ratio. This fund excludes companies involved in harmful activities while actively seeking companies whose products and services contribute to human flourishing.
Eventide High Dividend ETF (ELCV) is an actively managed high-dividend fund with a 0.49% expense ratio, targeting U.S. companies with strong dividend profiles that also meet Eventide’s biblical screening and positive impact criteria.
Eventide’s ETF expense ratios are notably lower than their mutual fund fees (the flagship Gilead mutual fund charges 1.18%), making their ETFs an attractive option for investors who appreciate Eventide’s impact-focused philosophy but prefer lower costs. Eventide also provides a free screening tool at GoodInvestor.com where any investor can check stocks against biblical screening criteria for abortion, alcohol, gambling, pornography, and tobacco.
For a full review of Eventide’s investment philosophy and product lineup, see our Eventide Asset Management review.
Global X Christian Values ETFs
Global X, a well-known ETF provider, entered the faith-based space with two values-based ETFs that apply different Christian screening frameworks.
Global X S&P 500 Catholic Values ETF (CATH) launched in 2016 and screens the S&P 500 according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines. With a 0.29% expense ratio, CATH offers Catholic-specific screening at a competitive price point. The fund excludes companies involved in abortion, contraception, weapons of mass destruction, and other activities contrary to Catholic teaching.
Global X S&P 500 Christian Values ETF (CHRI) launched in September 2025, applying Bountiful Financial’s Christian Evangelical Framework to the S&P 500. Also priced at 0.29%, CHRI screens from a broadly evangelical Christian perspective rather than specifically Catholic criteria. As a newer fund, CHRI has a limited track record but offers an interesting option for evangelical investors seeking S&P 500-based exposure with faith-based screening at a competitive cost.
Other Christian ETF Options
FIS Biblically Responsible Risk Managed ETF (PRAY) takes an actively managed approach, applying Growth at Reasonable Price (GARP) investment methodology alongside biblical screening. PRAY excludes companies involved in abortion, human rights violations, pornography, alcohol, armaments, gambling, and other activities contrary to Christian values. As an actively managed fund, PRAY may appeal to investors seeking biblical screening combined with active risk management rather than passive index tracking.
ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: Which Is Better for Christian Investors?
Christian investors choosing between ETFs and mutual funds should consider several key differences that affect both costs and after-tax returns.
Tax Efficiency. ETFs hold a significant structural advantage in taxable accounts. Due to their in-kind creation and redemption mechanism, ETFs rarely distribute capital gains to shareholders—only 7% of ETFs distributed capital gains in recent data, compared to 52% of mutual funds. For long-term investors in taxable accounts, this tax efficiency can add approximately 1.05% per year in after-tax returns. However, in tax-advantaged accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s), this advantage disappears since capital gains aren’t taxed regardless.
Cost Comparison. Christian ETFs generally offer lower expense ratios than Christian mutual funds. Inspire’s PTL charges just 0.09% compared to most Christian mutual funds ranging from 0.47% to 1.34%. However, the gap isn’t universal—CBIS’s CRI Equity Index mutual fund also charges 0.09%, and Praxis’s index funds are competitive at 0.47-0.49%.
Trading Flexibility. ETFs trade throughout the day like stocks, while mutual funds trade once daily at the closing net asset value. For most long-term investors, this difference is irrelevant. However, ETFs also have no minimum investment beyond the share price (often $25-$75 per share), while some mutual funds require minimums of $1,000-$5,000.
Available Screening Options. The mutual fund space currently offers broader screening variety—with fund families covering Catholic, evangelical, Mennonite, and impact-focused perspectives. The ETF space is dominated by Inspire’s evangelical screening approach, with Catholic options from Global X and strict evangelical options from Timothy Plan. Investors with specific denominational preferences may find more targeted options in the mutual fund space.
Retirement Account Access. Both Christian ETFs and mutual funds are available in IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, and most brokerage accounts. Availability in employer-sponsored 401(k) and 403(b) plans depends on the plan administrator’s fund offerings. GuideStone’s mutual funds have particular strength in 403(b) plans for church and ministry employees.
The bottom line: for taxable investing, Christian ETFs generally offer better value due to tax efficiency and lower costs. For tax-advantaged retirement accounts, the choice between ETFs and mutual funds should be driven by screening preferences, fund selection, and available options within your plan.
Building a Christian ETF Portfolio
A well-diversified Christian ETF portfolio should cover the major asset classes while maintaining biblical screening throughout. Here’s how the available Christian ETFs can be combined into a comprehensive portfolio.
Core U.S. Equity. Inspire’s PTL (0.09% expense ratio, 500 stocks) provides the broadest and most cost-effective U.S. large-cap exposure. Alternatively, BIBL offers more concentrated exposure to the 100 highest-scoring companies, while Global X’s CHRI or CATH provide S&P 500-based options at 0.29%.
International Equity. WWJD from Inspire (0.66%) or TPIF from Timothy Plan provide international diversification with biblical screening. International exposure is important for diversification since U.S. and international markets often perform differently in any given year—as demonstrated by WWJD’s strong 29.27% return in 2025.
Small/Mid Cap. ISMD from Inspire (0.57%) or FDLS (Inspire’s multi-factor small-cap fund) add exposure to smaller companies, which historically provide higher long-term returns with greater volatility.
Fixed Income. Inspire’s IBD provides corporate bond exposure with biblical screening. For investors needing broader fixed income allocation, combining IBD with a conventional Treasury ETF (which doesn’t require faith-based screening since government bonds don’t involve corporate activities) can provide a complete fixed income allocation.
Income Focus. For investors prioritizing dividend income, TPHD or TPHE from Timothy Plan, ELCV from Eventide, or a combination provides income-oriented equity exposure with biblical screening.
Whatever portfolio construction approach you choose, the same biblical investing principles that apply to any investment strategy remain essential: diversify across asset classes, match your risk level to your time horizon, rebalance regularly, and integrate your investments with your broader stewardship plan including budgeting, debt management, and generous giving. Christian ETFs are powerful tools for faithful investing—but they work best as part of a comprehensive, prayerful approach to managing the resources God has entrusted to you.