11 Best Gold IRA Companies in 2023

For centuries, gold has been considered a great store of value that can both reduce the volatility of an investment portfolio and help investors in protecting the purchasing power of their money, as the value of this precious metal tends to appreciate when inflation is rising.

One interesting alternative to investing in this asset class is via an individual retirement account (IRA) specifically designed for this purpose. These are known as gold IRAs. 

In this article, we share a list of the best gold IRA companies available for investors living in the United States. We will focus on details such as their pricing, credentials, the minimum investment required to open an account, and company reputation so you can pick the provider that suits your preferences the best.

TL;DR

• Best Overall — Augusta Precious Metals
• Best For Customer Service — Goldco
• Best For Low Minimum Purchase — American Hartford Gold
• Best For First-Time Buyers  — Birch Gold Group
• Best For Small Investors — Noble Gold

5 Best GOLD IRA COMPANIES of 2023 | Ranked & Reviewed 🥇👑🏆

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Best Gold IRA Companies

In this section, we analyze each of the providers that have made it to our list and highlight their most appealing features and how much they charge customers for handling their gold investments.

1. Augusta Precious Metals: Best Overall

Headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, this company has over 10 years in the business of providing access to tax-advantaged investment vehicles for buying precious metals. Augusta Precious Metals offers a mix of a pristine track record and top-notch educational resources to help investors in navigating the complex waters of the financial markets. Read our full Augusta Precious Metals review to learn more.

Features

• The company has an extensive library of educational materials that include videos. In addition, they typically host webinars and conferences to educate investors.
• Augusta works with several depositories, including facilities in California, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Texas.
• Augusta Precious Metals offers lifetime assistance for all of its account holders.
• Investors can buy gold and silver products from this provider directly without setting up an IRA.
• This provider offers a wide variety of gold and silver coins along with 1oz, 10oz, and 100oz bars.
• Augusta commercializes a selection of premium gold and silver coins that are highly rare and valuable.

Pros

• They keep investors up-to-date with what’s going on in the financial markets via a news feed.
• This provider does not charge management fees.
• The company boasts hundreds of positive ratings on multiple websites and has been rated AAA by the Business Consumer Alliance.
• One of their supporters is Joe Montana, a famous Hall of Fame NFL quarterback.

Cons

• The minimum deposit required to open an account is much higher than the industry’s average.

Fees & Pricing

Augusta charges annual fees of $180 for all of its precious metal IRA accounts, including the gold IRA. Of that total, $100 is taken by the custodian to cover their storage fee, and the rest is used to cover shipping and other handling costs. The good news is that they do not charge a set-up fee.

2. Goldco: Best For Customer Service

Founded in 2006, Goldco has become a top-rated provider of gold IRAs in the United States, and its positive reviews speak loudly about the company’s commitment to serving customers as they deserve.

Goldco currently offers self-directed gold IRAs that can be easily opened via their official website, and investors can pick among an ample range of pieces they can incorporate into their portfolios, from rare gold coins to bars. Read our full Goldco review to learn more.

Features

• The company offers an ample portfolio of over a dozen IRS-approved gold and silver coins.
• The minimum investment required is $25,000.
• Goldco supports rollovers from 401(k), IRA, 403(b), TSP, savings, and other tax-advantaged accounts.
• The company boasts over 1,000 5-star reviews on multiple sites.
• Investors can opt to buy gold and silver coins directly with this provider without necessarily opening an IRA.

Pros

• Goldco has an extensive track record of satisfied customers, as reflected by thousands of positive reviews.
• The company has been in the business of precious metals IRAs for more than 16 years.
• Investors don’t have to open an IRA to buy IRS-approved gold and silver products through the firm.
• The minimum investment required to open an account is in line with the industry’s average.
• Some of Goldco’s fees can be waived if the investor’s account balance exceeds $50,000.

Cons

• Goldco only supports gold and silver investments. Other precious metals are not currently available with this provider.

Fees & Pricing

The cost of setting up an account with Goldco is $50, while maintenance fees currently stand at $80 per year. In addition, the company charges storage fees of $100 and $150 for non-segregated and segregated accounts, respectively.

These fees are typically waived for the first year if the balance of the account exceeds $50,000.

3. American Hartford Gold: Best For Low Minimum Purchase

American Hartford Gold claims to have achieved an incredible milestone for any gold IRA company — shipping over $1 billion worth of gold to its customers since the business was founded.

American Hartford is the preferred gold IRA company of multiple celebrities and influential characters, including Rudy Giuliani, Rick Harrison from the successful TV show “Pawn Stars,” and Bill O’Reilly from The O’Reilly Factor.

The company’s track record is nearly flawless, with an “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot from over 1,000 customer reviews and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Read our full American Hartford Gold review to learn more.

Features

• The minimum deposit required to open an account is $10,000.
• Investors can reach out to the company via live chat, phone, and e-mail.
• Customers can buy gold and silver products, including coins and bars, directly with this provider without necessarily opening an IRA.
• American Hartford offers to buy back customers’ precious metals via a simple three-step liquidation process that can be completed quickly in most instances and without any additional liquidation fees.
• Customers can see the live prices of gold, silver, and other precious metals on the company’s official website.
• The company works with Equity Trust, Brinks, Delaware Depository, and International Depository Services (IDS) to handle and store their customers’ assets.

Pros

• This provider claims to have delivered over $1 billion worth of precious metals delivered to customers.
• American Hartford has received endorsements from several personalities in the business and political world.
• America Hartford Gold offers to waive its annual fees for up to three years if the investor’s precious metals purchases exceed $100,000.

Cons

• Investors cannot complete their registration process online with this provider.

Fees & Pricing

American Hartford Gold charges a $180 annual fee that may be waived for up to three years if an investor’s precious metal purchases exceed $100,000. Storage fees may range between $75 and $125 per year.

4. Birch Gold Group: Best For First-Time Buyers

The Birch Gold Group has been in the business of providing gold IRAs since 2003, and they have since become a powerhouse in this up-and-coming segment of the financial services industry by providing their services to customers in over 50 states.

The company provides access to traditional precious metals via individual retirement accounts (IRA), including a gold IRA account through which investors can choose from an ample selection of gold coins to invest in.

Birch works with the STRATA Trust Company and Equity Trust Company as custodians and several storage providers, including the Delaware Depository. All the metals contained in Birch’s gold IRAs are insured for up to $1 billion. Read our full Birch Gold Group review to learn more.

Features

• This provider offers a large selection of gold coins, bars, and other products to be purchased. They also commercialize products made of other metals such as silver, platinum, and palladium.
• Other metals including silver, palladium, and platinum, can be incorporated into a Birch Gold IRA.
• The Birch Gold Group allows investors to store their assets in four different depositories.
• Investors are permitted to arrange a visit to their depository. However, not all companies participate in this program.
• The minimum purchase required to open a gold IRA with this provider is $10,000.

Pros

• The company has been endorsed by prominent figures in the political and financial world, namely Ron Paul and Ben Shapiro.
• The Birch Gold Group boasts a positive track record of customer satisfaction, as reflected by its online reviews.
• This provider has been in business for over 19 years. 
• All the precious metals held in a gold IRA provided by the Birch Gold Group are insured for up to $1 billion.
• Birch keeps investors up to date with what’s going on in the financial markets and with gold, specifically via a newsletter and news feed found on the company’s official website.

Cons

• Their education section is made up of very brief materials and provides only basic information about the topics related to gold investments and other similar subjects. No videos.

Fees & Pricing

There is a $40 fee for setting up an account with Birch, while annual management fees start at $75 per year. In addition, storage fees start at $100 depending on the custodian. 

5. Noble Gold: Best For Small Investors

With over 20 years in the business, Noble Gold continues to have a clear mission: to provide a safe and easy way for customers to get exposure to precious metals via tax-advantaged investment accounts.

Customers have entrusted Noble with over $200 million in assets, and the company has managed to gain their trust by developing a seamless experience every step of the way. According to the firm, it only takes five minutes to set up a gold IRA, and they take pride in the fact that they are the only company in the state of Texas that stores gold through a partnership with International Depository Services. Read our full Noble Gold Investments review to learn more.

Features

• Noble’s portfolio of IRS-eligible coins includes five gold coins, one gold bar, and six different silver coins.
• Investors can buy products (coins and bars) made up of other precious metals, including platinum and palladium.
• Noble also offers a portfolio of rare coins. 
• This provider is one of the few that stores its precious metals in Texas with a company called International Depository Services (IDS). Its facilities are located in Dallas.
• Noble Gold reportedly requires a minimum investment of $2,000 to open an account.

Pros

• For eligible customers, Noble offers to waive its annual fee for the first year.
• Noble has an outstanding reputation and a lot of experience managing customers’ assets, as reflected by its positive online reviews.
• Setting up an account only takes around five minutes.
• Texas residents can enjoy Noble’s in-state depository to have their holdings stored nearby.
• The company requires a low minimum initial deposit to open an account. 

Cons

• There are no indications that users can track the value of their holdings in real time via an app or web-based platform.

Fees & Pricing

Noble charges annual fees of $80 and storage fees of $150 per year, which include both insurance and housing.

6. Patriot Gold Group: Best For No IRA Fees

The Patriot Gold Group is a top-notch provider of gold IRA accounts with over six years in the business and an amazing track record of satisfied customers. The company allows investors to pick among a large selection of IRS-approved gold coins they can incorporate into their portfolio, and accounts with this provider can be opened with a minimum investment of $25,000. Read our full Patriot Gold Group review to learn more.

Features

• The minimum investment required to open an account is $25,000.
• Investors can reach out to the company by using different channels, including live chat, phone, and e-mail.
• Its official website provides real-time updates on the price of several precious metals.
• Its portfolio of available IRS-eligible products includes over 10 coins for each metal along with 10oz bars.
• The account’s set-up fee is waived if the initial deposit exceeds $30,000.
• An account can be set up in 24 hours or less.

Pros

• The Patriot Gold Group has a positive track record of satisfied customers, as indicated by the 97% “Excellent” ratings it has received on Trustpilot.
• The company offers a no-fee-for-life feature for account balances exceeding $250,000.
• This provider offers free shipping on all precious metals purchases.

Cons

• This provider only offers gold and silver products. No other precious metals are offered at the moment.

Fees & Pricing

The set-up fee with this provider is $225 for investments below $30,000. Meanwhile, there are storage and insurance fees that start at $150 and transaction fees of $40 with their preferred custodian plus the cost of shipping the gold.

7. Advantage Gold: Best For Beginners

Advantage Gold was voted as the best gold IRA company by TrustLink five years in a row, and its online track record validates how much customers appreciate the company’s services as Advantage boasts a 9.9/10 rating on Trustpilot from a total of 680 reviews it has received. Read our full Advantage Gold review to learn more.

In addition, the company has been rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau after eight years in the business.

Advantage Gold relies on the services of Brinks Global Services in Los Angeles and the Delaware Depository in Wilmington for storing customers’ gold, and they work with the STRATA Trust Company as their preferred custodian.

Features

• The company’s learning center includes several educational resources, including videos, charts, and articles about how IRAs work, an overview of the gold market, and other topics.
• Customers can buy other metals with this provider aside from just gold, including palladium, silver, and platinum.
• Advantage offers access to over 10 different gold coins and a selection of bars and rounds produced by NYMEX.
• Other metals, including silver, palladium, and platinum, can be held in an Advantage Gold IRA.
• Advantage Gold lists the STRATA Trust as their preferred custodian and works with Brinks Global Services and the Delaware Depository for storing their assets.
• At any time, customers can sell back their gold to Advantage, and they will, at the minimum, get the spot price at the time of liquidation.

Pros

• The registration process with this provider can be completed online.
• The company’s buy-back policy is pretty straightforward and advantageous for customers.
• Their portfolio of available gold-made products (both IRS-approved and regular) is quite decent. 
• Other precious metals can be incorporated into this provider’s IRA accounts.

Cons

• There is no live chat feature on the company’s official website.

Fees & Pricing

Advantage Gold charges a set-up fee of $50, while annual maintenance fees vary from $95 to $225 or higher depending on which custodian the customer chooses — STRATA or Equity Trust Company. In addition, storage fees start at $150 for segregated precious metals storage and $100 for the non-segregated alternative.

8. Lear Capital: Best For Free Setup

Since 1997, Lear Capital has been providing its services to a wide range of customers within the United States by offering an easy way through which they can diversify their retirement portfolio by adding gold and other precious metals.

Lear prides itself on providing transparent pricing, fast execution, and reliable services. For the gold IRA specifically, customers can choose between an ample portfolio of premium rare gold coins and bullion, and they may be eligible for fee waivers depending on the amount they invest. Read our full Lear Capital review to learn more.

Features

• Set-up and storage fees are waived for customers who deposit over $25,000. In addition, customers who invest over $75,000 with this provider will enjoy a three-year fee waiver.
• A gold IRA can be opened with this provider for as little as $7,500.
• Gold products available with this provider include several coins and 10oz, 1oz, and 1kl bars.
• The Lear Advantage IRA comes with a free gold and silver guide and a free silver coin.
• Set-up and storage fees are way for those who open a Lear Advantage Gold IRA.
• This provider offers a Price Match Guarantee if customers can find a better price in the market 24 hours after Lear sends its order invoice.
• Lear stores its precious metals at the Delaware Depository.

Pros

• The minimum deposit required by this provider is below the industry’s average.
• Lear offers to waive certain fees depending on the customer’s initial investment.
• This provider offers several attractive features, such as a 24-hour risk-free purchase guarantee and a 24-hour price-match guarantee.
• Lear claims to have processed over $3 billion in transactions for its customers.

Cons

• An account with this provider cannot be opened online.
• Lear does not offer other precious metals aside from gold and silver.

Fees & Pricing

The set-up fee with Lear Capital is $50, while the annual management fee is $260 for the first year. For the second year and forward, the fee is lowered to $180 per year.

9. Oxford Gold Group: Best For Educational Resources

The Oxford Gold Group is a California-based gold IRA company that allows investors to purchase precious metals in a wide variety of forms, including coins and bars. 

This provider has a positive track record of customer satisfaction boasting an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and an “Excellent” rating from nearly 200 customers who have left their feedback on Trustpilot.

To set up an account, customers must reach out to a representative so they can be walked through the different alternatives they have. This gives the process a human touch that some online portals just can’t match. Read our full Oxford Gold Group review to learn more.

Features

• Oxford offers investors the possibility of buying gold, silver, platinum, and palladium-made products such as coins and bars.
• Oxford’s metals are stored by Brink’s Global Services and the Delaware Depository.
• This provider offers a learning center that features several educational materials in the form of videos, e-books, blog posts, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about gold IRAs and other topics.
• Oxford regularly updates investors via its news feed about the state of the market and predictions for gold and other precious metals.
• The minimum investment required to open an account is $7,500.
• Three types of accounts are offered by Oxford (Traditional Gold IRA, Roth Gold IRA, and Simplified Employee Pension Gold IRA).

Pros

• Oxford makes available an extensive library of educational materials for investors.
• This provider commercializes other metals aside from just gold. 
• The minimum investment required to open a gold IRA account is below the industry’s average.
• This provider offers three types of tax-advantaged accounts.
• Customers can buy metals directly with this provider without necessarily opening an IRA account.

Cons

• An account with Oxford cannot be opened online.
• Their website does not support live chat to reach out to the company.

Fees & Pricing

Setting up an account with this provider is free, but annual fees in the first year are relatively high compared to other gold IRA companies at $325. After that, the annual fee goes down to $180 per year.

10. Orion Metal Exchange: Best For Small Balance Accounts

Orion Metal Exchange is based in California and was rated at some point by Retirement Living as the Best-in-Class gold IRA company in the United States. 

Fee waivers, an ample portfolio of gold coins, and a positive track record of satisfied customers, as reflected by the company’s online feedback on Trustpilot and Google Reviews, are some of the characteristics that make this provider stand out from its peers. Read our full Orion Metal Exchange review to learn more.

Features

• Orion offers an extensive selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium-made products.
• Their gold IRA also supports IRS-approved physical silver, palladium, and platinum.
• A minimum investment of $30,000 is recommended to open an account and enjoy all the benefits Orion has to offer.
• The assets purchased and incorporated into this provider’s gold IRA are stored by Brinks and the Delaware Depository.
• Orion’s portfolio of gold coins includes 20 different specimens along with IRA-approved gold bars.

Pros

• Orion Metal Exchange offers to waive its storage fees for up to three years to eligible clients.
• This provider does not charge set-up fees or transfer fees for customers looking to roll over their current retirement accounts.
• Orion claims to have over 50 years of experience in the precious metal industry. 
• The company has been voted Best in Class for its services by Retirement Living.

Cons

• There is no live chat feature available on the company’s official website.
• The registration process cannot be completed online.

Fees & Pricing

Orion Metal Exchange charges a $150 annual fee to accounts with a balance equal to or higher than $200,000 and $225 per year for accounts with a lower balance. Annual storage fees range from $75 to $100 depending on where the metals are stored.

11. Monetary Gold: Best For Expert Support

Monetary Gold has over 50 years of combined experience within its leadership team, providing services to an ample range of customers who would like to invest in gold via a tax-advantaged account.

The company offers access to an ample selection of gold coins for users to choose from, and they require one of the lowest minimum investments in the market at $5,000 with one of their preferred custodians. 

Monetary Gold works with the Delaware Depository to store all its gold investments.

Features

• Monetary Gold claims to be the only provider that offers direct purchases of the precious metal. 
• This provider offers free shipping on all precious metal purchases from new clients. 
• They require a minimum investment of $5,000 to open a gold IRA account.
• The customer support department is available 24/7 for customers.
• Monetary Gold offers workshops and other educational materials for investors to learn more about gold investing. 
• The portfolio of available coins includes several options for gold but just one coin for palladium and two for platinum.
• This provider’s gold IRA supports the incorporation of other IRS-approved precious metals aside from just gold.
• Monetary Gold works with the Delaware Depository to store the assets purchased by its customers.

Pros

• The company has been providing these services for 22 years.
• Their pricing structure is very straightforward. Other gold IRA providers tend to hide all of this information from the public until a customer reaches out to them.
• Monetary Gold offers to waive shipping fees for new customers.
• The minimum investment required to open an account is below the industry’s average.
• A representative from the company can be contacted via live chat.

Cons

• Gold bars are not available with this provider.

Fees & Pricing

Monetary Gold charges a $50 set-up fee if investors choose the Gold Star Trust as custodian. The annual maintenance fee with this provider is estimated at $1 per every $1,000 invested with a $75 minimum.

Meanwhile, the annual storage fee with the Delaware Depository starts at $100 and goes up $1 per every additional $1,000. The company offers to waive the delivery fee for new customers. However, existing customers must pay a $30 fee for every new order delivered.

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Methodology

In this section, we will be discussing the key variables that we considered when analyzing the services provided by the companies included in this list. The goal is to be transparent with our readers, so they know what kind of characteristics we focused on to hand-pick these businesses.

Annual Fees

Gold IRA companies charge different types of fees as part of their business due to how the service works. The most common one is the set-up fee, which is the cost of opening an IRA with these providers.

After that, there are transaction fees that vary from one provider to the other. These include the cost of shipping the gold coins or bars to the selected depository.

Some companies may offer to waive some of their fees for a few years, while others may also opt to charge no fees if the account balance exceeds a certain threshold. 

Investment Selection

Gold IRA companies typically offer access to other similar products such as precious metal IRAs and silver IRAs. The ampler the portfolio of accounts that are offered by a provider, the better, as investors will have more alternatives in case they want to switch strategies along the way, such as not focusing entirely on gold but, instead, creating a diversified portfolio of precious metals. 

Educational Resources

Even though investing in gold may sound easy at first glance, the complex dynamics that dominate the commodity markets and the forces that affect the price of this precious metal are not that easy to understand for people without a background in finance or expertise in this particular industry.

With this in mind, a provider that can offer educational resources such as videos, tutorials, e-books, and easy-to-understand blog posts stands out as a top choice for beginners. 

These materials can deal with some of the topics mentioned above and others related to the way gold IRA accounts work their tax implications, and methods to make the most out of them.

Customer Support

Any company that deals with somebody else’s money should have a pristine customer support infrastructure that can assure investors that their holdings are in good hands. This is no different for a gold IRA company as they typically manage accounts worth several thousands of dollars, and investors may feel at any given point anxious about their investments — especially during market downturns.

Other customers’ reviews, such as those displayed on websites such as Trustpilot and the company’s rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), were used to assess how good the provider is when dealing with complaints.

Track Record

Gold IRA companies are not licensed businesses. They are not broker-dealers, and they are not the custodians of the gold that investors buy. Therefore, the best way to analyze if a company is good is through its track record of satisfied customers and the absence of legal claims against it.

The number of years in business is relevant as well when assessing a gold IRA company, as the veterans in the industry have reached that status by providing top-notch services throughout their journey. In addition, we also look at the custodians they work with, whether the investment is insured or not, and who the leadership team is.

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What to Look for in A Gold IRA Company

Even though we have provided a list of the best candidates you can choose from, you will ultimately decide who you go with. Therefore, in this section, we share some of the characteristics you should focus on whenever it is time to take your pick.

Transfer & Setup Fees

The set-up fee is a one-time cost. However, the higher it is, the longer it will take to make up the money spent. In addition, you may have to roll over an existing retirement account from another provider, whether that is a 401(k) or a Roth IRA. In any case, the lower these fees are, the faster your account balance will return to its original state.

Keep in mind that if your account balance is high enough, you may have an edge to negotiate better terms. Don’t rush and settle with the first provider that comes knocking; get yourself the best deal possible by leveraging the fact that there is a lot of competition in this market.

Annual Management Fees

The management fees charged by a gold IRA company vary depending on the custodian the customer chooses and other similar factors. Some providers offer no-fee-for-life accounts, which is a great alternative. However, this type of account is typically reserved for high-net-worth individuals.

If your account balance is less than $100,000, the best approach is to shop around and go with the provider that offers a balance between competitive fees, outstanding customer service, and a sufficiently ample portfolio of gold coins and bars to choose from. 

Storage Fees

Gold IRA companies are intermediaries that offer accounts that can be used to invest in precious metals. However, they are not the custodians of these assets as they rely on other companies that are authorized to provide this service.

Storage fees are charged by gold IRA companies but are determined by the custodian. These fees can vary from $50 to $300 per year, depending on how much gold is stored. Other usual costs are shipping and insurance.

Customer Support

Entrusting your money to a third party is a big deal, and it is important to know you can reach out to them at any given point if something goes wrong or you have questions about the service.

The best gold IRA companies offer various channels through which investors can speak to a representative. They include live chat, support tickets, phone, and e-mail. The easier it is to get in touch with someone, the better.

In addition, it is important to gauge how trained the representatives of these companies are to answer the most complex questions about the service, as that would give investors a good sense of how easy it would be to solve whatever problem they face if they enroll for the service.

Educational Resources for Investors

Not everyone is familiar with how the commodities market works, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed if you plan to learn by looking up random information on the internet. The best gold IRA companies understand this need and typically create materials that are easy to understand so investors can enrich their knowledge.

Some topics discussed in these materials may include how IRAs are taxed, what kind of returns can be expected from gold investments, how to react during a market downturn, and what drives the price of the precious metal.

Track Record

Gold IRA companies handle thousands of dollars on behalf of their investors; this demands a high degree of credibility and transparency. The best companies can demonstrate that they have served their customers well via online reviews. 

In addition, prospective investors can look up the status of these businesses on websites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if they have received any complaints from previous customers and, more importantly, how they have handled them.

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FAQs About Best Gold IRA Companies

In this section, we provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get in regard to what the best gold IRA companies are.

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Final Thoughts

Gold IRAs are a great alternative to investing in this precious metal as a way to diversify an investment portfolio. Even though they are not the cheapest option, they allow investors to save money on taxes by deferring the payment of these obligations until they have reached retirement age.

In addition, investors may feel more comfortable knowing that they own a physical asset stored by a custodian. This, for some people, remains one of the most appealing features of gold IRAs.