Top 5 Gold IRA Companies With the Lowest Fees (And Strongest Reputation!)

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Here’s a fact:

Since 1971, the dollar has lost 86% of its purchasing power, while gold has increased over 4600%.

To put that in perspective, what cost $1 in 1971 now costs $7.33. While $1 of gold in 1971 would be worth $46 today.

Investing in gold would have not only protected your buying power but also increased it by six times.

For that reason, many people are turning to precious metals to protect the value of their retirement savings during the time of rising inflation.

And with changes in IRS regulations, it’s easier than ever to diversify with gold and silver in your IRA account.

However, gold IRA fees are fixed, unlike mutual funds that charge a percentage of your account value.

And there can be a significant variation between gold IRA companies, making it a challenge to find one you can trust and that also has low fees.

But we’re here to help.

Below you’ll find the top 5 gold IRA firms with the lowest fees in 2023, so you can get started with gold investing right away.

We focused not only on the fees but also on reputation, management experience, third-party reviews and ratings, and competitive pricing.

In a hurry? Here is the top Gold IRA company today:

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1. Augusta Precious Metals

”Best Overall Gold IRA Firm With the Lowest Fees”

Since its beginning in 2012, Augusta Precious Metals has become the country’s largest and most reputable gold IRA company.

Headquartered in Casper, Wyoming, APM has worked with thousands of customers wanting to reduce their portfolio risk by diversifying with physical gold and silver.

So not only is Augusta a trustworthy company, but it is one of the lowest-cost options when getting into precious metal investing for your retirement account.

First and foremost, APM is committed to customer education.

Their educational videos are the best in the industry. Designed by Harvard economists, they go beyond the basics to ensure that their customers can make the best-informed decisions.

Under CEO Isaac Nuriani, the company has set a high standard for ethics and professionalism.

Their goals are transparency, simplicity, low fees, and excellent customer service – not only during, but before and after the purchase.

This commitment to excellence is reflected in the thousands of positive customer reviews.

Augusta has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

In addition, they have a Triple-A rating with Business Consumer Alliance and a perfect 5-star rating with TrustLink.

All without a single complaint being filed against them in over a decade. Impressive!

It gets better:

In 2022, Money Magazine named Augusta Precious Metals as the “Best Overall Gold IRA Company.”

And on top of that, this firm has won not one but two Stevie Awards for excellence in customer service and sales.

The process of opening an account with them

Augusta’s trained team of professionals makes opening a gold IRA easy and painless.

First, you will receive a call from one of their trained agents.

During this call, your specialist will answer all your questions and ensure you understand the benefits and risks when diversifying with precious metals without any sales pressure.

When you’re ready to open your gold IRA, Augusta is with you every step of the way, from application to funding.

They handle all the paperwork and will ensure that any rollovers or transfers are done correctly and quickly.

Once funded, you will get gold & silver portfolio-building assistance from Augusta’s product professionals.

Just so you know, Augusta doesn’t accept online orders – all of them are confirmed by their confirmation department on a recorded phone line for extra security.

They will then ship your metals to an IRS-approved depository. And although you can’t take possession, you can make arrangements to visit and inspect your goods.

And after your purchase, you gain access to Augusta’s award-winning account lifetime support.

So no matter what the future brings, you can rest assured knowing that their specialist is just a phone call away.

Augusta Precious Metals gold IRA fees

When it comes to fees, Augusta charges a one-time set-up fee of $50. Annual custodial fees are $100 and another $100 for storage – a total of $200/year.

That’s it, no more fees.

Even if you buy a substantial amount of gold, let’s say worth a couple million dollars, you’ll still be paying only $200/year.

That is why it’s actually in your favour to invest more because regardless of your order amount, the fees are fixed.

The products offered

Augusta is known for offering some of the industry’s purest gold and silver products. They are divided into bullion and premium products.

Gold bullion comes as either coins or bars.

Gold coins are offered in one-ounce, half-ounce, quarter-ounce, and tenth-ounce sizes, while you can purchase either 10-ounce or 1-ounce 99.9% pure gold bars.

Silver bullion comes in coins, rounds, and bars.

Coins range from one-ounce to five-ounce sizes. Rounds come in face value bags, starting at $100, and bars are offered in 99.9% pure 100-oz and 10-oz sizes.

In addition, Augusta has a large selection of premium gold and silver coins available.

And should you ever want to sell your goods in the future, APM has a competitive buyback program available to all its customers.

To get started, visit their website to request the free gold IRA guide that convinced Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana to diversify his retirement with precious metals.

Lastly, while it’s important to make sure you’re not paying large amounts on fees every year, you should mainly consider how reputable and trustworthy your gold IRA provider is.

With Augusta, you’re getting the best of both worlds:

• it is one with the lowest fees in the industry,
• and it has an outstanding reputation.

With its thousands of excellent customer reviews, award-winning service, and lifetime customer support, it’s easy to see why Augusta is overall our #1 pick as the best gold IRA company.

Pros

• Free one-on-one web conference call
• Award-winning customer service
• Named “Best Overall Gold IRA Company” by Money Magazine
• Account lifetime support
• Competitive prices with no hidden fees or commissions
• Two-time Stevie Award winner for customer service and sales excellence

Cons

• Higher minimum investment of $50,000
• No online purchases

LEARN MORE

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2. Goldco

”Best Overall Runner-Up”

Goldco is a reputable gold IRA company located in the greater Los Angeles area.

They have over ten years of experience helping investors diversify their portfolios with high-quality precious metal coins and bars.

This firm has a Triple-A rating from Business Consumer Alliance based on their positive customer reviews for service, dependability, and ethical practice.

Similar to Augusta, they also have a long tradition of high ethical standards and customer service, and offer one of the lowest fees in the industry.

Because of that, they earn a #2 spot on this list.

Recommended by both Sean Hannity and Chuck Norris, Goldco received the coveted Stevie Silver Medal Award winner for Business Excellence in 2022, and they have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

For the past six years, they have been named to Inc’s 500 Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies list.

In addition, they recently reached the milestone of placing over $1 billion in precious metals.

The process of opening an account with them

Goldco makes this process simple and guides you through every step in the process.

First, you’ll sign an agreement outlining the terms and conditions of your individual retirement account. If you’ll have any questions, your specialist is there to answer them.

Next, they assist you in funding your account, including any rollovers from other retirement plans.

Then, they’ll help you select IRS-eligible precious metals for your IRA account.

Goldco IRA fees

The required minimum purchase at Goldco to start a gold IRA is $25,000.

Goldco’s preferred Custodian charges a flat annual account service fee which includes a one-time IRA account set-up fee of $50, as well as a $30 wire fee.

Annual maintenance is $100, and storage is $150 for segregated storage or $100 for non-segregated storage.

Fees for gold storage and custodianship can vary depending on the company you select to handle these services (required by the IRS, as all IRA assets must be managed by a custodian).

Depending on the Custodian, storage fees can range from $10 to $60 per month, or as a percentage of assets, from 0.35% to 1% annually.

Goldco does not charge any storage fees for cash transactions over $25,000.

We also recommend that you check with your representative because this firm periodically offers promotions to reimburse or waive your fees.

The products offered

This company works with mints worldwide to ensure the highest quality gold and silver coins and bars.

For this reason, Goldco offers the highest buyback price through their Buyback Guarantee.

They have a large selection of gold coins available, and many are offered in one-ounce, half-ounce, quarter-ounce, and tenth-ounce sizes.

They also offer 99.9% pure gold bars in various sizes.

Or, if you prefer silver, they have many coin and silver bar options.

Coins range from 0.5-ounce to 2-ounce sizes. Silver bars are 99.9% pure and come in various sizes.

In addition, your qualified orders with Goldco’s premium products may be eligible for a 10% rebate in free silver.

(Again, speak with the agent assigned to you for all the current deals and offers.)

Also, check out their FREE comprehensive kit here.

This kit includes a printed guide, an audio file, and a video, and it will answer some of the most common questions you might have about investing in precious metals.

More importantly, you’ll learn how you can do it 100% tax and penalty free.

All in all, it is a reliable gold IRA company that provides excellent customer service and a wide range of gold and silver products.

Pros

• Easy account set-up
• Excellent third-party reviews and ratings
• Up to 10% back on money for qualified orders
• Large selection of gold and silver coins

Cons

• Higher minimum investment of $25,000
• Doesn’t offer platinum or palladium products

LEARN MORE

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3. Birch Gold Group

”Most Established Precious Metal IRA Specialists”

Located across from Warner Studios in Burbank, California, Birch Gold Group has been in business since 2003.

They are one of the largest precious metals IRA specialists in the United States.

Over the past two decades, they have helped over 13,000 customers diversify their retirement savings with gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

The company is dedicated to empowering customers to take control of their financial futures while charging minimal fees for their services.

Birch Gold Group has an A+ rating with the BBB.

In addition, it maintains a Triple-A rating with BCA based on its excellent customer reviews and high business standards.

They also have a 4.9 out of 5-star rating with Trust Pilot based on 125 reviews.

This firm wants to ensure that you understand the benefits and risks of investing in precious metals.

One of the best ways to get this knowledge is through frequent updates on their website and the direct communication with the team.

When you work with Birch Gold, you’ll be assigned a specialist who will be with you for your entire relationship with the company.

They will take the time to get to know you and understand your needs and goals.

In addition to your specialist, their in-house retirement team makes it easy to open a precious metals IRA. They’ll walk you through every step of the process.

First, they’ll talk to you about your current retirement account and help to confirm rollover eligibility.

If you’re eligible to convert existing retirement funds into a Precious Metals IRA, they’ll help you select a custodian.

(For example, you may be suggested Equity Trust or Strata Trust custodians, who are capable of handling self-directed IRAs.)

Next, they’ll assist in funding your new account, including any rollovers from your 401k or another retirement account.

And when you’re ready, they’ll guide you through selecting and adding precious metals to your account based on your financial goals.

Lastly, Birch Gold Group will oversee the shipping and storage of your purchased goods to one of their preferred storage facilities – Delaware Depository or Brink’s and International Services.

Birch Gold IRA fees

This can vary by custodian, but here are fees for the one that most of Birch Gold customers use:

• $50 setup and $30 wire transfer (one-time fees)
• $100 storage and $100 management (annual fees)

You might want to take advantage of their ongoing promotions, such as:

• First year fees waived on IRAs over $50,000
• Free shipping for cash purchases over $10,000
• Up to $10,000 in free precious metals on qualified purchases

(Please always confirm with their team on what the current promos are.)

The products offered:

Birch Gold Group sells a wide selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins.

In addition, they offer bars and rounds in all four precious metals. Your specialist will ensure that your selections meet IRS-eligibility requirements to be included in your IRA.

However, their selection rotates over time, so always double check if you’re interested in a particular product.

Just like Augusta and Goldco, Birch Group also has a buyback program, and they will buy back anything you bought from them, at zero additional charge.

You can grab their free information kit here to learn more about the benefits of diversifying your retirement portfolio with precious metals.

All in all, Birch Gold Group is a good choice for investors looking for a greater selection of precious metals from an ethical and knowledgeable team of professionals.

They’ll help you understand how you can purchase for physical possession or rollover an eligible tax-deferred retirement account into a Gold IRA – with zero tax implications or penalties.

Pros

• Personal specialist for the life of your account
• Excellent third-party ratings and reviews
• Over 20 years of experience and 13,000+ customers
• In-depth educational resources and tools
• You can take advantage of their on-going promotions

Cons

• Higher set-up fees than other companies on our list
• No online purchases

LEARN MORE

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4. Advantage Gold

”Honorable Mention #1”

Located in Los Angeles, California, Advantage Gold was founded by Adam Baratta and Kirill Zagalsky in 2014.

Both owners have extensive experience with Roth IRAs.

They are now focused on providing the best experience for investors looking to diversify specifically with precious metals.

Advantage Gold’s number one priority is providing the best information so their customers can make informed decisions about whether a precious metals IRA is the right option.

Over the past nine years, they have helped thousands of customers open precious metal IRAs, receiving hundreds of positive reviews.

They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. In addition, they have a 5-star rating on TrustLink based on 478 reviews and a 4.9 out of 5-star rating on TrustPilot.

Advantage Gold is committed to educating you on your options without undue pressure to invest with them.

And when you’re ready, AG makes opening a gold IRA a quick and painless process.

First, you can request a free information kit from their website. It will outline how the process works and provide key benefits to consider when diversifying with precious metals.

Next, one of their verified specialists will contact you by phone.

They will answer any remaining questions and discuss your financial goals. Finally, they’ll help you create the perfect strategy to invest in precious metals.

When you are ready to open an IRA, you can use the Advantage Gold website or ask your specialist to guide you through the process.

And when it comes time to fund your new account, they will contact your current retirement plan and take care of all the details to transfer your funds to your gold IRA.

Then your specialist will help you buy your gold and other precious metals based on your financial goals. Finally, Advantage Gold will ship your order to your depository to safeguard your precious metals.

Their preferred storage facility is Delaware Depository, but you can use any IRA-approved facility.

With their pledge to be with you for the life of your account, your Advantage Gold IRA specialist is there to help you make the best decisions to protect your wealth over the long term.

Advantage Gold charges a one-time set-up fee of $50. After that, custodian fees will run between $50 and $100 a year, depending on your account size. Annual storage fees are variable and run from $95 to $250. You need to contact Advantage Gold directly to get exact amounts based on your situation.

Advantage Gold offers a wide selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins. However, according to their website, they don’t provide any bars or rounds.

And should you ever want to sell your precious metals, Advantage Gold offers a competitive buyback program to all its customers.

Advantage Gold is a good option for investors who want a full-service gold IRA company and a large selection of precious metal coins.

Pros

• Excellent third-party reviews and ratings
• Suitable for first-time IRA investors
• Competitive buyback program
• Excellent education and customer service

Cons

• No online pricing
• Limited to buying coins, no bars or rounds available

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5. Orion Metal Exchange

”Honorable Mention #2”

Founded in 2017, Orion Metal Exchange is the newest company on our list. Though they don’t have the longevity of other gold IRA companies, their owners have over 40 years of experience in the precious metals industry.

Orion Metal Exchange is a full-service precious metal company located in Los Angeles. They have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot based on 150 reviews.

However, they are not a member of the Business Consumer Alliance.

Their commitment to complete transparency extends to their website, where they post live, competitive prices, including spot prices for all four precious metals.

In addition, their minimum order size of $5000 is lower than other companies on our list.

With Orion Metal Exchange, it’s easy to open a gold IRA.

Customers can set up a gold IRA account over the phone in just a few minutes. They work with every IRS-approved custodian and storage facility in the country. Their in-house IRA department will help you find the best option to suit your needs, including finding those with the lowest fees.

And when you’re ready to fund your new account, they will assist you with any transfers, including rollovers from an existing retirement plan.

Their online platform makes it easy to buy gold and other precious metals for your IRA. They provide up-to-the-minute pricing for all their products on their website. You can quickly and easily select your desired products and add them to your cart.

And once your order is confirmed, they will ship it directly to the approved storage facility of your choosing.

Orion Metal Exchange doesn’t charge any IRA fees. Instead, your IRS custodian and depository determine set-up and annual fees – They state that they don’t charge any additional set-up or transfer fees, and storage fees may be waived for up to three years.

Orion Metal Exchange offers a wide selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars. Most coins come in one-ounce, half-ounce, quarter-ounce, and tenth-ounce sizes, with some larger sizes available for silver coins.

However, if you’re interested in precious metal bars, you will need to speak with your account representative, as sizes and types are based on availability, and prices aren’t available online.

And suppose your investment objectives change, and you wish to sell your precious metals. In that case, Orion Metal Exchange offers a fee-free buyback program.

At the time of this article, Orion Metal Exchange was offering up to $30,000 in free gold and silver for qualified purchases. Check with your representative for details.

For more information, you can request a free investors’ kit from their website. Your kit will include valuable information on protecting your retirement savings from rising inflation by diversifying with precious metals.

We like Orion Metal Exchange for its low fees, flexibility, and online pricing. However, we found their tactics more aggressive than other companies on our list, which may be a turn-off for some investors.

Pros

• Wide selection of coins and bars
• Up to three years of free storage
• Online, competitive pricing
• Works with all IRS-approved custodians and depositories

Cons

• Doesn’t provide fees online
• Fewer third-party reviews and ratings are available.

How Much Do Gold IRAs Cost?