Is there any significant difference between VTIAX and VXUS?

[Threshkin]

I am looking at putting some taxable money into an international fund.  This is FIRE money that I don't anticipate touching for 10 years or longer.

I am looking at two candidates, VTIAX and VXUS.  The former is a mutual fund, the latter is an ETF.  Both have the same expense ratio (0.14) and appear to have the same mix of stocks. 

VTIAX was recommended here but I am not sure why VXUS is not just as good.  VTIAX has a $10,000 minimum initial purchase and is priced once a day.  VXUS trades like a stock, the "minimum purchase" is one share ~$55 and the price fluctuates continuously.  These are the differences I see, but they are of little or no impact to me.  (The $10K minimum may be important to others though.)

Am I missing something?  Is there an advantage in buying one of these funds that I did not notice?

[tarheeldan]

You can buy partial shares of VTIAX so you can set up an automatic transfer plan where exactly $X/period of VTIAX are purchased.

[Threshkin]

Thanks Tarheeldan.  That is a good consideration.

In my case that is unimportant because I plan to make a lump sum investment but i can see how a payment plan option would benefit others.

[TheLazyMan]

They are the same underlying fund.

Here are some considerations about which one to choose. http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/ETFs_vs_mutual_funds

[Threshkin]

Thanks everyone.  I bought VXUS.

I was concerned about the tax consequences but LazyMan's link cleared that up.

For Vanguard ETFs there is no difference.  Other ETFs may be better than their equivalent fund from a tax perspective.

[forummm]

Either choice is a good one. I personally only invest in the mutual funds. It's slightly better in my opinion for my circumstances.

[MVal]

Can you switch from VXUS to VTIAX easily in the future if you wish? VTIAX is not exactly the "admiral" version of VXUS, is it?

[jacoavluha]

Can you switch from VXUS to VTIAX easily in the future if you wish?

No. You can covert mutual fund to ETF as a non taxable event. Not vice versa.