Discover the best way to invest in gold IRAs and secure your future. Compare top rated gold IRA companies to find the one that fits your needs.
Edited by Gold IRA Planet Editorial Team
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1Offers, guarantees, endorsements and review counts shown on these cards are the companies' own advertised claims; terms, minimum purchase amounts and eligibility apply. Confirm current terms with the company in writing before you invest.
Approximate figures from third-party reviews and company materials, checked October 2026. Fees vary by custodian and account size - always confirm in writing with the company.
| Company | Minimum investment | Setup fee | Yearly fees | Storage | Buyback | Current promotion | In business since |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. American Hartford Gold | $10,000 | ~$230 | ~$225-$275/yr (custodian + storage) | Approved US depositories | No buy-back fees (advertised) | Up to $25k in free silver on qualifying orders | 2015 |
| 2. Goldco | $25,000 (reported) | ~$50 | ~$225-$275/yr (custodian + storage) | Delaware Depository, Brink's | Buy back guarantee (advertised) | Up to 10% in bonus silver | 2006 |
| 3. Augusta Precious Metals | $50,000 | ~$50 (sources vary up to ~$275) | ~$225-$275/yr (custodian + storage) | Delaware Depository (reported) | Buys back; no written guarantee | Fee waivers on qualifying accounts (varies) | 2012 |
| 4. American Gold and Silver Group | Ask the company (not published) | Set by custodian (ask for a quote) | Set by custodian (ask for a quote) | Approved US depositories | No buy-back fees (advertised) | Up to $15,000 in free silver | Not published |
To compare gold IRA companies, we put the same facts side by side for every company: the minimum it accepts, the setup and yearly fees, where your metal is stored, what it says about buying the metal back, how long it has been in business, its BBB, BCA and Trustpilot ratings, and any regulator actions we could find. We also explain the cost most rankings leave out - the markup on the coins and bars themselves.
This page is a plain-English overview of what a gold IRA is, what it really costs, how a rollover works and the warning signs to watch for. Want the company details? Read our reviews of American Hartford Gold, Goldco, Augusta Precious Metals and American Gold and Silver Group, or see all reviews.
A gold IRA is a self-directed individual retirement account that holds physical precious metals - gold, and often silver, platinum or palladium - instead of (or as well as) stocks and funds. It follows the same tax rules and contribution limits as any other IRA. For 2026 the IRA limit is $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up if you are 50 or older.
Three parties are involved: a dealer (the gold IRA company) sells you the metal, a custodian (a trust company the IRS allows to hold IRA assets) administers the account, and an approved depositorystores the metal. The companies on this page are dealers. The IRS does not "approve" dealers, so be wary of any company that says it is "IRS-approved".
A gold IRA can be either traditional (pre-tax) or Roth (after-tax). Start with what is a gold IRA? and, if you are deciding between the two, our Roth gold IRA guide.
We collect the same fact sheet for every company:
Some companies pay us when you request a kit or open an account, and our editors set the ranking order. The facts and warnings we publish are the same for every company, whether it pays us or not. Read how we rank for the full method.
Minimums vary widely, and they are the quickest way to narrow the list. As reported by third-party reviews in October 2026, American Hartford Gold's minimum is about $10,000, Goldco's about $25,000 and Augusta Precious Metals' about $50,000. Minimums change, and some apply to the IRA balance while others apply to a single purchase - confirm with the company before you start paperwork.
If your balance is below a company's minimum, it is usually a sign that company is built for larger accounts, not a reason to stretch. Check each company's minimum in our comparison before you start.
Yearly gold IRA fees are usually flat dollar amounts, not a percentage of your balance - roughly $175 to $300 a year for custody and storage combined. On a large account that is a small share; on a $10,000 account it adds up quickly.
| Cost | Typical range (approx.) | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Setup / application fee | About $0-$275, one time | Is it charged by the company or the custodian? Is it waived for my amount? |
| Yearly custodian / admin fee | Flat, often bundled with storage - roughly $175-$300 a year all-in | Is it flat or a percentage of my balance? Does it rise as my balance grows? |
| Storage fee | Often about $100-$150 a year; segregated storage usually costs more than commingled | Which depository, segregated or commingled, and is insurance included? |
| Markup (spread) on the metal | Roughly 5-10% on common bullion; 30-130% on 'premium' or proof coins in enforcement cases | What is your markup on this exact product, in writing, before I pay? |
| Buyback spread | The gap between what you pay and what the company will pay you to buy it back | What would you pay me for these coins today if I sold them back? |
The biggest cost is often the markup on the metal itself, and few dealers publish it. In the enforcement cases we cover, buyers of "premium" or proof coins paid markups of 30% to 130%. Ask for the markup in writing on the exact product before you pay. See gold IRA fees explained or estimate your own costs with our gold IRA fee calculator.
Most people fund a gold IRA by moving money from an existing 401(k), IRA or TSP rather than with new contributions. How the money moves matters:
| Factor | Direct transfer | 60-day indirect rollover | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| How the money moves | Straight from your old plan or IRA to the new custodian | Paid to you first; you must deposit it within 60 days | Direct is the safer default |
| Taxes withheld | None | A 401(k) that pays you directly withholds 20% | You must replace the 20% from other savings or it counts as a distribution |
| How often | No limit | Once per 12 months for IRA-to-IRA rollovers | A second indirect rollover in a year can be taxed |
| Risk if something goes wrong | Low - the custodians handle the paperwork | Miss the 60-day deadline and it is treated as a taxable distribution | Ask the new custodian to request the transfer for you |
A 401(k) from a current employer may not allow a rollover until you leave or reach the plan's in-service age; the TSP allows an in-service withdrawal at 59½ or after you separate from service. Step-by-step guides: 401(k) to gold IRA rollover and TSP to gold IRA rollover.
Under the tax code (26 U.S.C. 408(m)), collectibles bought in an IRA are treated as distributions. The exceptions are certain US-minted coins such as the American Gold Eagle, and bullion that meets minimum fineness - .995 for gold and .999 for silver. Commonly eligible products include the American Gold Eagle and Gold Buffalo, the Canadian Maple Leaf, the Austrian Philharmonic and the American Silver Eagle. Krugerrands and most proof or "rare" numismatic coins do not qualify. See IRS-approved precious metals and the silver IRA guide.
IRA metal must be held by a trustee or custodian in an approved depository. Home storage is not allowed - in McNulty v. Commissioner(2021) the Tax Court treated metal kept at home through an "IRA LLC" as a taxable distribution. Read can you store IRA gold at home? before you believe any "home storage IRA" pitch.
These are not hypothetical. In 2023 the CFTC, SEC and state regulators sued Red Rock Secured, alleging it took about $61.8 million from roughly 950 customers - much of it from IRAs, 401(k)s and TSPs - with average markups of 100-130% against the 4-29% it disclosed. Read gold IRA scams and red flags for the questions regulators recommend asking.
A traditional gold IRA follows the normal required minimum distribution rules - RMDs start at age 73 under SECURE 2.0. You can sell metal to take the RMD in cash, or take the metal itself "in kind", which is taxed at its fair market value. Roth IRAs have no RMDs for the original owner. Details in gold IRA taxes and RMDs.
For general education on sizing, see how much gold to hold in a retirement portfolio. For advice on your own situation, talk to a fee-only financial planner or tax professional.
General information, not financial, tax or legal advice.Gold IRA Planet is not a broker, dealer or custodian. Fees, minimums, promotions and ratings are approximate third-party snapshots (October 2026) that change often and vary by account size and custodian. The company's and custodian's written terms - not our summary - determine what you pay. Precious metals can lose value, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
