Best gold IRA companies of 2024

A gold individual retirement account (IRA) is a way to save for retirement with gold coins or bullion. There are many providers, so it can be difficult to know who to use. We analyzed 20 leading companies and identified the 10 best gold IRA providers based on their investment minimums, fees, gold options, and customer service. 

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The 10 best gold IRA companies

Gold could be a useful, long-term investment. According to a 2024 Gallup poll, almost a fifth of Americans believe gold is the best long-term investment option. 

Gold IRAs are a type of self-directed IRA that allows investors to put their money into gold coins or bullions. They have some additional administrative paperwork and tax requirements, so choosing an excellent gold IRA broker-dealer and custodian is key. 

If you’re shopping for a gold IRA, here are the 10 best options. Fees, account minimums, and other details were current as of June 28, 2024, and are subject to change. 

American Hartford Gold

American Hartford Gold was founded in 2015, and it’s based in California. Fittingly, it’s a well-known precious metals dealer that has been endorsed by celebrities like Mike Huckabee and Bill O’Reilly.

American Hartford Gold customer support 

Customer service is reachable via phone or email. Unlike many other precious metal dealers that are only available Monday through Friday, American Hartford Gold does offer customer support on Saturdays too.

American Hartford Gold available gold for IRA investments

American Hartford Gold sells a variety of precious metals. It has 15 IRA-approved gold products, including:

• American Buffalo Gold coins
• Canadian Maple Leaf coins
• Valcambi Gold bars

American Hartford Gold customer reviews

Reviews of American Hartford Gold are generally positive, with customers saying they appreciated the no-pressure customer support, quick and easy transactions, and reliable service.

Silver Gold Bull

Silver Gold Bull is a Canadian company that has been in operation since 2009. It’s a relatively small company, with approximately 50 employees, although it also runs a branch in Las Vegas. 

However, the company has shown promising growth. In 2024, A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc., a precious metals platform that is publicly traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange, acquired an additional 8% of the outstanding equity interest in Silver Gold Bull. It’s now a majority owner, owning 55% of the company.

Silver Gold Bull customer support 

Silver Gold Bull is reachable via phone or email. Its customer support line is reachable Monday through Saturday, but Silver Gold Bull’s offices are closed on Sundays. 

Silver Gold Bull available gold for IRA investments

With a Silver Gold Bull IRA, you can invest your money in any bullion produced by a London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) or Comex-approved mint, including gold, silver, platinum, or palladium.

Silver Gold Bull customer reviews

The company has an excellent reputation. It has a 4.8 TrustScore out of a possible 5, based on over 4,000 customer reviews. Customers praise the company’s responsive customer service and quick shipping times.

JM Bullion

Launched in 2011, JM Bullion is a well-known gold broker-dealer and gold IRA company. As of 2023, the company has processed over $10 billion in total sales. It offers a variety of golf coins and bars, and it partners with TDS Vaults to provide storage for your gold investment. 

JM Bullion customer support

Customer support is available via phone or email. The customer service department is only reachable Monday through Friday.

JM Bullion available gold for IRA investments

Through JM Bullion, you can invest in a broad range of gold bars and coins, including: 

• American Gold Eagle coins
• Australian Gold Kangaroo coins
• Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins
• Gold Panda coins
• Valcambi gold bars

JM Bullion customer reviews

JM Bullion has strong reviews, with a 4.6 TrustScore out of 5. Customers say it’s a reliable source of precious metals and praise its payment options. As one customer said, “I’ve made purchases from JM Bullion over the last two years, and I’m never disappointed about my choices,” the reviewer said. “JM Bullion has great quality pure .999 silver & gold. It’s always a great time buying pieces from JM Bullion, and I will continue to recommend them as a credible company to buy from.”

Allegiance Gold

Based in California, Allegiance Gold is a leading precious metals dealer, and it was named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the country on Inc.’s list. The company is a full-service metal dealer, selling gold, silver, palladium, and platinum. Items are available for both direct purchase and IRA holdings.

Allegiance Gold customer support

Allegiance Gold’s customer support team is available via phone or email. The company only operates Monday through Friday, so you aren’t able to contact customer support or place orders during weekends.

Allegiance Gold available gold for IRA investments

Allegiance Gold has 20 approved products for gold IRAs, including: 

• American Eagle coins
• Gold Canadian Maple Leaf coins
• Gold bars

Allegiance Gold customer reviews

There are a limited number of reviews on Trustpilot. As of June 2024, there were only about 60 reviews on Trustpilot. But those reviews tend to be positive as it has a 4.8 TrustScore out of 5. Customers complimented the customer support staff, particularly in the help they received managing their IRAs. 

“Working with client services at Allegiance has been a savior for me in navigating my way around selling precious metals for my RMD the past couple of years,” one reviewer said. “The staff has made it so easy, and without the stress I have had in trying to work with other brokers. They are efficient, trustworthy, and have helped educate me when I had questions.”

Lear Capital

Lear Capital is a precious metals dealer that has been in operation since 1997. It’s based in Los Angeles, and it’s been endorsed by celebrities like Glenn Beck. The company boasts free setup and storage for some coins, and its annual fees and maintenance fees are on the lower end. 

Lear Capital customer support 

Lear Capital’s customer service team is accessible via phone. The company also has a mobile app you can use to monitor gold prices and manage your account.

Lear Capital available gold for IRA investments

There are a variety of coins and precious metals available through Lear Capital, including: 

• American Gold Eagle coins
• Gold Canadian Maple Leaf coins
• Gold Buffalo coins

Lear Capital customer reviews

Reviews of Lear Capital are mixed; on the BBB, there are several complaints about its fees. On Trustpilot, reviews tend to be more positive, and it has a 4.8 out of 5 rating based on over 2,000 reviews. 

Orion Metal Exchange

Orion Metal Exchange is a highly rated precious metals dealer in California. It was founded in 2017, and it sells gold, silver, palladium, and platinum. It has a relatively high investment minimum, but it has a lower-than-usual premium over the spot price of American Gold Eagle coins. 

Orion Metal Exchange customer support 

Customer support is available via phone, email, or online chat. However, the company doesn’t disclose its operational hours online.

Orion Metal Exchange available gold for IRA investments

Orion Metal Exchange has over 20 gold investment options. However, not all of its coins are approved for IRAs. Its gold options include:

• American Gold Eagle coins
• Gold Canadian Maple Leaf coins
• Gold Rose Crown Guinea

Orion Metal Exchange customer reviews

Orion Metal Exchange has a strong reputation for customer service. It has a 4.9 TrustScore out of 5 based on over 200 reviews, and customers praise the company’s simple IRA process, professional service, and competitive prices.

“Because of the uncertainty of the stock market, I decided to roll over my 401(k) into precious metals,” one customer said. “I did reach out to several precious metals companies, but when I talked to Michael Charles at Orion, I had a very good feeling that I would be in very capable hands. He answered all of my questions and is very good at explaining everything. He didn’t rush me or try to make a hard sale. He made sure I was comfortable in making a decision.”

American Bullion

American Bullion is a California-based company that was launched in 2009. It sells coins directly to consumers, and it also offers gold and other precious metal IRAs. 

American Bullion customer support 

Customer support is reachable via phone or email, from Monday through Friday. 

American Bullion available gold for IRA investments

Multiple coins are available, including the following IRA-approved investments: 

• American Gold Buffalo coins
• American Gold Eagle coins
• Canadian Maple Leaf coins
• Credit Suisse gold bars

American Bullion customer reviews

American Bullion has outstanding customer reviews. On Trustpilot, it has a 4.9 TrustScore out of 5 based on over 200 reviews. Reviews highlight the company’s knowledgeable customer support staff and low fees:

“[I] looked at various IRA precious metal companies, [and] American Bullion had the lowest fee structures of any by far, including the set-up fees for Strata Trust Co., the IRA Custodian,” said one reviewer.

Birch Gold Group

Birch Gold Group has endorsements from celebrities and politicians like Ron Paul, Kirk Cameron, and Ben Shapiro. The Iowa-based company was founded in 2003, and the company has served over 31,000 customers since its inception. 

Birch Gold Group customer support 

You can contact Birch Gold Group via email, phone, or online chat. Customer support is only available Monday through Friday.

Birch Gold Group available gold for IRA investments

Birch Gold Group sells gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Its IRA-approved gold products include: 

• American Gold Eagle coins
• Britannia Gold coins
• Canadian Maple Leaf coins
• Gold Gyrfalcon coins

Birch Gold Group customer reviews

Customer reviews are mostly positive, with customers saying they appreciated Birch Gold Group’s courteous customer support team. 

“Birch Gold representatives were all pleasant and very helpful,” said one reviewer. “They answered every question (even some I did not think to ask). The experience instilled confidence and minimized any apprehension. I would recommend this company without reservation.”

Apmex

Apmex is an older and more established precious metals company. It opened its doors in 2000, and it has served over 1.7 million customers and managed over $18 billion in sales. It allows customers to invest in a wide range of IRA-approved gold products as well as silver, platinum, and antique or collectible coins.

Apmex customer support 

You can contact customer support via live chat, secure online message or phone. Apmex’s customer service team is available Monday through Friday. 

Apmex available gold for IRA investments

Apmex sells several IRA-approved gold coins, bullions, and bars, including: 

• American Gold Eagle coins
• Canadian Maple Leaf coins
• Gold Buffalo coins
• Gold bars from the Canadian Mint

Apmex customer reviews

Apmex’s customer reviews are less than positive. It has a 4.2 out of 5 rating with the BBB but reviews on Trustpilot are more critical. It has a 1.8 rating out of five based on over 7,000 reviews. Reviews complain about difficulty reaching a live person via customer support, long delays to receive refunds, and unreliable order deliveries.

Goldco

Goldco is a privately held company based in California. It’s endorsed by well-known celebrities and television personalities like Chuck Norris and Sean Hannity. It offers both gold IRAs and direct-to-customer sales of precious metals. 

Goldco customer support

Goldco’s customer support team is available via phone, email, or online chat. However, the company doesn’t list its hours of operation online. 

Goldco available gold for IRA investments

Unlike other companies, Goldco doesn’t list the coins or bars it sells. To find out what coins or bullions are available and their prices, you must call customer support. 

Goldco customer reviews

Goldco has excellent reviews from investors. It has a 4.8 TrustScore out of 5 based on over 1,400 reviews. Customers say Goldco makes the process of setting up a gold IRA simple, as evidenced in this review: 

“The process was quick and easy to follow,” said one reviewer. “I dealt with them to create a Precious Metals IRA some time back and liked that process.”

What to know about investing in gold IRAs

A self-directed IRA is a special kind of IRA that is held by a custodian that allows you to invest in a broader range of assets, such as cryptocurrency, precious metals, and artwork. Gold IRAs are one of the forms of self-directed IRA for gold investors. Like traditional IRAs, gold IRAs benefit from tax incentives.  However, the fee structures between the two types of accounts vary. Investors typically pay a management fee of 1% to 2% with traditional IRAs. Gold IRA investors will instead pay to have the physical gold stored as well as annual maintenance fees.

How to choose a gold IRA company

If you’re convinced opening a gold IRA account is right for you, it is important to partner with a company that meets your investment needs. But before you evaluate the terms, make sure the company has a positive track record and many years in business that gives you the confidence you need to invest your money with them. Unfortunately, over the years, there have been a number of gold and silver IRA scams that are designed to drain users of their wealth. 

It is also important to understand the gold IRA company’s fees and minimums. Such terms should be transparent to the investor. In some cases, the companies will waive fees depending on the amount of investment, which is worth inquiring about. 

Alternatives to Gold IRAs

If you enjoy the benefits of a self-directed IRA, gold isn’t the only IRS-approved investment option. You can also invest in other precious metals like silver and palladium. The IRS also allows self-directed IRAs to be used to invest in real estate and certain cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin).

Aside from self-directed IRAs, investors can always opt for a more common route such as traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs.

Frequently asked questions

How do I open a gold IRA account?

Opening a gold IRA isn’t the same as opening a traditional IRA. First, you need to decide on a company and custodian. Then, fund your account, and decide what types of metals to invest in. There are many types of gold, such as bullion and coins, and other metals to choose from that are eligible within the IRA rules. Lastly, choose the location where your gold will be stored. Your gold IRA company and/or custodian may have a couple of options for you to choose from.

Where is the physical gold stored in a gold IRA?

You cannot store the gold at your home or other locations of your choice. Instead, the gold you’re investing in must be stored in an approved depository. Your custodian will likely offer you a number of approved locations to choose from.

Can I withdraw the physical gold from a gold IRA?

Once you reach the approved penalty-free age of 59 years and six months, you can withdraw physical gold from your IRA.

Our methodology

Consumer reviews and years in business (30%): There are many gold IRA companies, but some are riddled with customer complaints. We evaluate each of the company’s track records across a combination of BBB, Trustpilot, and Consumer Affairs. Because the gold IRA industry has seen companies shut down by the government or receive complaints from consumers, we gave higher scores to companies who have been in business longer. 

Discloses price of metals and fees on its website (25%): Transparency is a key factor in deciding which gold IRA company to choose. Companies benefited in our rankings if they publicize the price of metals, including gold, on their websites. Although much of the fees are passed down through the custodians, gold IRA companies benefited in our ranking if they are upfront about those fees.

Premium over spot price for American Eagle 1-ounce gold coin (20%): There are many types of gold that are eligible for investment in a gold IRA account, and many companies differ in what they have available, which creates a challenge in understanding who offers gold at a better price. To create a baseline, we chose the American Eagle 1-ounce gold coin because it is one of the most widely available types of gold, and it is minted by the government. We compared the price that the gold IRA company is offering the coin for against the spot price (or the current price of gold on the international market).

Minimum investment needed to start an account and fee discounts (20%): Because the amount investors may want to start an account with will vary, we gave higher scores to gold IRA companies with no or low minimums needed to open an account. On the flip side, some companies incentivize investors to open accounts with large investments with discounts or waivers on fees. We gave those companies higher scores.

Number of custodians to choose from (5%): Some gold IRA companies have exclusivity with one custodian limiting flexibility for an investor. However, most companies do allow investors to choose from several approved custodians, which received higher scores in our rankings.