13 Nov 2026
Free ETF Calculators and Interactive Tools
VistaShares publishes ten free, interactive tools that show how covered call ETFs, buffer ETFs and thematic investing work, and what an ETF costs to own. Each tool runs in the browser, uses hypothetical inputs that you choose, and sits inside a guide that explains the idea behind it. None of them describes any specific fund.
Which tools explain covered call and option income ETFs?
Covered call calculator
See how selling call options changes the outcome of owning an index across falling, flat and rising markets, and how the option premium trades against upside given up. Open the covered call calculator.
Which tools explain buffer ETFs?
Buffer and cap calculator
Pick a buffer and a cap and an index return for the outcome period, and see the buffered result next to the index. Open the buffer calculator.
How a buffer is built from options
Step through the four option positions behind a typical buffer: owning the index, buying a put, selling a lower put and selling a call, and watch the payoff chart change at each step. See how a buffer is built.
Buffer payoff chart
Draw the full payoff of a buffer across index returns from a 40% loss to a 30% gain, for any buffer and cap you choose. Open the payoff chart.
Buying a buffer ETF mid-period
A buffer and cap are set on the first day of the outcome period. Enter how far the index and the fund have moved since then to see the gain left before the cap, the index drop before the buffer starts and the buffer left from today. Open the mid-period calculator.
Loss recovery calculator
Move the slider to see the gain needed to recover from a loss. A 20% loss needs a 25% gain, and a 50% loss needs a 100% gain. Open the loss recovery calculator.
Which tools explain thematic investing?
Where the money goes in each supercycle
Compare where spending goes in five long-term buildouts: the cost of a 1 gigawatt AI data center, global power sector investment, the U.S. defense budget, the global space economy and the bill of materials of a humanoid robot. Every figure links to its primary source. Open the supercycle spending tool.
The AI supply chain, layer by layer
Explore the layers of the AI buildout, from chips and memory to data centers, power and cooling, and what each layer does. Open the AI supply chain map.
Which tools explain ETF costs?
ETF cost of ownership calculator
Enter an amount, an expense ratio, a holding period and a bid-ask spread to see the total cost of owning an ETF. For example, $10,000 held for five years at a 0.75% expense ratio costs about $375 in fees, plus about $10 in trading spread. Open the cost calculator.
Where can I look up ETF terms?
The ETF glossary defines 157 terms in plain English, from net asset value and bid-ask spreads to caps, outcome periods and bills of materials, and links each one to a longer guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are these ETF calculators free?
Yes. All of the tools are free, run in your browser and do not ask for an email address or any personal information.
Do the calculators show the results of a real fund?
No. Every tool uses hypothetical inputs and simplified payoffs before fees and expenses. Real funds differ, so read a fund’s prospectus and its published figures before investing.
How do I calculate what I would get from a buffer ETF bought mid-period?
The gain left before the cap is (1 plus the cap) divided by (1 plus the fund’s change since the period started), minus 1. The mid-period calculator does this for you and also shows how much of the buffer is left.
How much does a 20% loss need to recover?
A 20% loss needs a 25% gain to get back to even, because the gain is earned on a smaller amount. The loss recovery calculator shows the gain needed for any loss from 5% to 60%.
Where do the figures in the supercycle tool come from?
Each view cites a primary source with its date: Epoch AI for data center costs, the International Energy Agency for power investment, the U.S. Department of War budget overview for defense, the Space Foundation for the space economy and McKinsey for humanoid robot costs.
Can I link to a specific tool?
Yes. Each tool has its own page, such as /buffer-etf-mid-period-calculator/, so you can link straight to it. Each tool page also has free embed code for your own website.
Cite this page: Adam Patti, "Free ETF Calculators and Interactive Tools," VistaShares, updated November 13, 2026, https://www.vistashares.com/etf-calculators/. Plain-text version.
This material is provided for educational purposes only. It is not investment, legal or tax advice, and it is not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell any security. The tools use hypothetical inputs and simplified assumptions before fees and expenses and do not represent the performance of any fund. Investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal. ETF shares are bought and sold at market price, which may differ from net asset value, and brokerage commissions and other trading costs may apply.