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Best Online Gold Dealers of 2026
We compared gold dealers on pricing, reputation, product selection, customer service, and policies to help you choose.
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Expert Reviewed
Our top picks for the best gold dealers include American Hartford Gold Group, Patriot Gold Group, Goldco, and Lear Capital.
American Hartford Gold Group
4.7
- Reliable Guarantees
- Family-owned and operated
- Satisfaction and money-back guarantees
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American Hartford Gold works with families and individual precious metals investors. The gold dealer helps clients strategically use the metal as a hedge, whether they take possession of the gold or hold it in a retirement account. American Hartford Gold offers clients a 100% satisfaction guarantee. They also provide a money-back guarantee within seven days of receiving their gold.
Patriot Gold Group
4.8
- Great Personalized Service
- Serving families and individual investors
- High level of client education
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Patriot Gold Group emphasizes educating clients about gold and precious metals purchases. Customers work directly with the company owners to ensure a consistently high level of satisfaction. Patriot Gold is a full-service gold dealer. They have over 50 years of experience in precious metals investment.
Goldco
4.8
- Great for customer service
- Recommends $10k minimum for IRA transfers and $5k for cash purchases
- Eligible customers may receive up to 10% silver match with a qualified account, with no cap on purchase amount
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Goldco is a precious metals dealer, helping customers convert their current IRA and 401(k) retirement accounts into precious metal IRAs and delivering gold and silver to customers (directly to their home) as a method to protect assets in a cash position.
Lear Capital
4.9
- Great service
- Fees waived depending on investment amount
- Personalized customer service and education
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Lear Capital has been a household name in precious metals IRAs for over 25 years. The company has conducted more than $3 billion in transactions, making them a top pick by consumers for precious metal investments. After taking a deeper look at Lear Capital’s process, we praise the company for its commitment to smooth transactions and dedicated staff who help consumers fully understand their investments. All things considered, Lear Capital gets our “Great Service” award.
Orion Metal Exchange
4.9
- Transparent pricing of IRS-approved precious metals
- Potential for waived fees
- Commission-free buyback policy
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Orion Metal Exchange is a precious metals dealer that helps customers buy and sell metals and establish self-directed precious metals IRAs. It offers an in-house IRA department, online product pricing, insured delivery, and a commission-free buyback program.
Priority Gold
4.4
- Great free storage
- Informative website with investment tips
- Competitive buyback policy
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If you roll over $50,000 or more to a Priority Gold IRA, Priority Gold will waive your storage and administrative fees. It is highly rated by both consumer and business sites, and you’ll be assigned a representative to guide you through the investment process.
Sanctuary Metals
4.9
- Great customer support
- Transparent pricing
- Strong industry reputation
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Sanctuary Metals helps retirement investors protect and grow their retirement savings by offering personalized investment options in gold, silver, platinum, and other precious metals.
Gold and other precious metals are an investment and carry risk. Consumers should be alert to claims about high returns or low risk with precious metals or other assets. As with any investment, you can lose money, and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Consumers should also obtain a clear understanding of the fees associated with any investment before agreeing to buy.
Gold dealers sell physical precious metals, including gold bars and coins, as well as silver, platinum, and palladium. Dealers may offer shipping and buyback programs, while some also help customers purchase eligible precious metals through gold IRAs.
This guide reviews leading online gold dealers and their services. See our methodology below to learn how we selected our top picks.
Best Gold Dealers: Quick Comparison
| Gold Dealer | Best For | Products | Pricing | Buybacks | Gold IRA Services |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Hartford Gold | Price protection | Gold and silver coins, bars, and rounds | 1% to 19.99% bullion; up to 59.99% numismatic coins | No liquidation fees; not guaranteed | $10,000 minimum; storage fees vary |
| Patriot Gold Group | Fee waivers for qualifying IRAs | Gold and silver coins and bars | By quote; qualifying IRA fee waivers | Not confirmed | No annual storage or insurance fees for qualifying IRAs |
| Goldco | Bonus silver offers | Gold and silver coins and bars | By quote; price-match offer | Highest-price guarantee; terms apply | IRA setup and insured depository storage |
| Lear Capital | 24-hour cancellation policy | Bullion, numismatic, and semi-numismatic coins | Published spread range: 2% to 35% | Not guaranteed | IRA setup and storage promotions |
| Orion Metal Exchange | Online pricing transparency | Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium | Live online prices; shipping and insurance included | No commission; market-based pricing | IRA setup and insured storage |
| Priority Gold | Resale options | Four major precious metals | Published spread range: 2% to 34.99% | Open-market sale, liquidation, or consignment | Segregated or non-segregated storage |
| Sanctuary Metals | IRA transfer-cost disclosure | Gold, silver, platinum, palladium | 1% transfer cost for certain IRA transactions | Buyback assistance | IRA setup and rollover assistance |
Best Gold Dealer Reviews
American Hartford Gold Group Review
Reliable Guarantees
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American Hartford Gold offers a Price Protection Guarantee on qualifying precious metals purchases. If its selling price for eligible coins drops within seven calendar days, customers can request one repricing. The price difference is credited toward additional coins, subject to the program’s terms.
- Products: Gold and silver coins, bars, and rounds from various mints and refiners.
- Pricing and fees: Spreads of 1% to 19.99% for bullion, up to 39.99% for exclusive and semi-numismatic coins, and up to 59.99% for certain numismatic coins.
- Buyback policy: Buyback quotes available; no additional liquidation fees. Repurchases aren’t guaranteed.
- Shipping: Free, insured shipping with tracking and discreet packaging.
- Gold IRA services: $10,000 minimum initial order. Approved-depository storage required; fees vary, with free storage available in some cases.
For more information, read our full American Hartford Gold review.
Patriot Gold Group Review
Great Personalized Service
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Patriot Gold Group highlights its “No Fees for Life” program for qualifying precious metals IRAs and offers customers direct access to company owners. It also promotes 24-hour IRA account setup.
- Products: Gold and silver coins and bars for direct purchases and precious metals IRAs.
- Pricing and fees: Prices are available by quote. Qualifying IRAs have no annual storage or insurance fees under the No Fees for Life program.
- Gold IRA services: Assistance with account setup, transfers, and rollovers, plus storage in insured, segregated vaults.
For more information, read our full Patriot Gold Group review.
Goldco Review
Great for customer service
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Goldco offers a bonus silver promotion on qualifying purchases of its premium coins. Orders of $50,000 to $99,999 qualify for 5% in bonus silver, while orders of $100,000 or more qualify for 10%, subject to the offer’s terms and exclusions.
- Products: Gold and silver coins and bars for direct purchases and eligible precious metals IRAs.
- Pricing and fees: Prices available by quote. Goldco offers price matching on the same coin and, if its conditions are met, a 5-gram silver bar if it can’t match a lower price.
- Buyback policy: Highest-price buyback guarantee and no liquidation fees, subject to program terms.
- Shipping: Direct delivery or shipment to an independent insured depository. Customers paying by check can get a free FedEx shipping label.
- Gold IRA services: Assistance with account setup, transfers, and rollovers. Metals are stored at an independent, insured depository.
For more information, read our full Goldco review.
Lear Capital Review
Great service
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Lear Capital offers a 24-hour purchase cancellation policy and a price-match guarantee. Customers can cancel an order within 24 hours without penalty, subject to applicable terms, or request a lower price on comparable metals.
- Products: Gold and silver bullion, numismatic and semi-numismatic coins, and precious metals IRA options that include gold, silver, and platinum.
- Pricing and fees: Published spreads generally range from 2% to 35% of the quoted purchase price, depending on the metal, customer, transaction, and timing.
- Buyback policy: Buybacks aren’t guaranteed, but Lear hasn’t refused a buyback request from a customer who purchased metals from the company.
- Shipping: Gold and platinum orders cost $24 plus $1 per $1,000 of value; silver orders cost $24 plus $13 per $1,000. Shipments are insured and require a signature.
- Gold IRA services: IRA setup and storage promotions are available for qualifying purchases. Metals are stored at an IRS-approved depository, with options for physical delivery or cash liquidation.
For more information, read our full Lear Capital review.
Orion Metal Exchange Review
Transparent pricing of IRS-approved precious metals
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Orion Metal Exchange publishes precious metals prices online and lets customers confirm transaction pricing by phone before payment. The company provides an invoice before payment, so customers can review the agreed price.
- Products: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars.
- Pricing and fees: Live prices online; shipping and insurance included.
- Buyback policy: No commission on buybacks. The resale price is based on market value at the time of liquidation.
- Shipping: Insured, discreet delivery with tracking and signature confirmation.
- Gold IRA services: In-house assistance with account setup and transfers. IRA metals are held at an insured depository, with Lloyd’s of London coverage.
For more information, read our full Orion Metal Exchange review.
Priority Gold Review
Great free storage
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Priority Gold sells gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Its catalog includes modern bullion and pre-1933 U.S. gold coins. Customers can filter products by metal, mint, condition, and IRA eligibility.
- Products: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars, including modern bullion and collectible coins.
- Pricing and fees: Published spreads range from 2% to 34.99%. IRA and storage fees vary.
- Buyback policy: Three resale options: open-market sale, immediate liquidation, or consignment. Consignment carries an 18% fee and requires eligible products to be held for at least 60 months.
- Shipping: Insured delivery with tracking and signature confirmation. Cash orders typically ship within 5 to 10 business days.
- Gold IRA services: Account setup and rollover assistance. IRS-approved depository storage is available in segregated or non-segregated options.
For more information, read our full Priority Gold review.
Sanctuary Metals Review
Great customer support
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Sanctuary Metals highlights its upfront disclosure of a 1% transfer cost for precious metals IRA transactions. It offers direct purchases of physical metals as well as retirement-account options.
- Products: Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars.
- Pricing and fees: Custodian and storage fees vary.
- Buyback policy: Buyback assistance is available.
- Shipping: Free, insured delivery for eligible purchases.
- Gold IRA services: IRA setup and rollover assistance, with storage at approved depositories, including Delaware Depository.
For more information, read our full Sanctuary Metals review.
Other Companies We Considered
- Advantage Gold
- APMEX
- Birch Gold Group
- Cash for Gold USA
- JM Bullion
- Metalsmart
- Monetary Gold
- Monex
- OneGold
- Preserve Gold
- Rosland Capital
- Universal Coin & Bullion
- U.S. Gold Bureau
- VaultUS Gold
American Hartford Gold Group
Reliable Guarantees
Family-owned and operated
Satisfaction and money-back guarantees
Patriot Gold Group
Great Personalized Service
Serving families and individual investors
High level of client education
Goldco
Great for customer service
Recommends $10k minimum for IRA transfers and $5k for cash purchases
Eligible customers may receive up to 10% silver match with a qualified account, with no cap on purchase amount
Methodology: How We Chose the Best Gold Dealers
We evaluated 30 gold dealers and selected seven based on pricing, products, services, reputation, and customer support.
We considered:
- Pricing and fees: Product prices, premiums above the spot price, shipping, storage, IRA fees, and minimum purchase requirements
- Products and services: Gold bars, gold coins, bullion, platinum, palladium, precious metals IRAs, and other offerings
- Customer support: Availability, communication channels, and access to knowledgeable representatives
- Education and guidance: Investment resources, buying guidance, and information about precious metals
- Buyback policies: How dealers assist customers who want to sell their metals and whether they disclose buyback terms
- Reputation and customer satisfaction: Ratings, review counts, complaint records, and relevant industry information from sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, and ConsumerAffairs
- Transparency: How clearly each company explains its pricing, fees, policies, and purchasing process
We favored companies with transparent pricing, clear policies, and helpful customer support. We excluded dealers that lacked transparency about key prices, policies, or procedures.
Gold Dealers Buying Guide
Investing in gold starts with choosing the right dealer. Compare dealer types, products, pricing, storage options, and resale policies before buying gold.
Know Your Gold Dealer Options
Gold dealers vary in how they sell precious metals.
- Online bullion retailers: Let customers browse products and prices online. APMEX and JM Bullion are examples.
- Advisor-led precious metals dealers: Provide quotes and guidance through representatives. Some also help customers purchase eligible metals through gold IRAs.
- Coin and numismatic dealers: Sell collectible coins whose value can depend on rarity, condition, and demand, as well as gold content.
- Local coin shops: Offer in-person buying and selling, with inventory and services that vary by shop.
- Jewelry and pawn shops: Often focus on jewelry and secondhand items rather than investment-grade bullion.
Understand the Differences Between Gold Products
Gold comes in several forms, each with different costs and resale considerations.
- Gold bars: Usually valued mainly for their gold content and premium above the spot price. Compare weight, purity, and manufacturer, and check whether assay documentation is available.
- Government-minted bullion coins: Coins such as American Gold Eagles and Canadian Gold Maple Leafs are produced by government mints. Eligible coins have a face value and legal-tender status, but their gold value can be much higher.
- Privately minted rounds: Typically contain a specified amount of gold but have no monetary face value or legal-tender status. Their value generally depends on gold content and premium.
- Fractional gold: Smaller products, such as one-tenth-ounce coins, cost less upfront than full-ounce products but often carry higher premiums per ounce.
No format is always the best choice. Compare the total price, gold content, premium, and potential resale market before buying.
From Our Expert
“As a tangible, hard asset you can hold in your hand, gold can provide peace of mind during times of market volatility.”
Ryan Sullivan, PE
Investment Advisor
What to Look for In a Gold Dealer
Compare these factors when choosing a gold dealer:
- Reputation: Check customer reviews and complaint records on the BBB, Trustpilot, and ConsumerAffairs. Look for recurring issues and how the company responds.
- Price transparency: Check the gold price, premium over spot price, and any additional fees before buying.
- Product selection: Compare gold bars, coins, and rounds across dealers, including product specifications and available options.
- Buyback policy: Check whether the dealer repurchases metals, how it sets buyback prices, and whether fees or restrictions apply.
- Shipping and insurance: For online orders, check delivery timelines, tracking, transit insurance, and signature requirements.
- Storage: Compare depository fees, insurance, and storage arrangements. Allocated storage attributes specific metal holdings to you, while segregated storage keeps them separate from other customers’ property. Check ownership records, available serial numbers, and withdrawal or delivery terms.
- Gold IRA vs. direct purchases: A gold IRA requires an approved custodian and eligible depository. With a direct purchase, you can generally have gold delivered or store it privately. Compare fees and minimum purchase requirements before deciding.
Understand the Price You Pay
Gold dealers sell physical gold above the spot price, which is the current market price. The difference between a product’s selling price and its gold value is called the premium. Premiums vary by dealer, product, and payment method.
For example, suppose gold’s spot price is $4,120 per ounce and a dealer sells a one-ounce coin for $4,326. The $206 difference equals a 5% premium.
How to Avoid Scams When Buying Gold Online
Gold scams often rely on pressure, unrealistic promises, or unclear pricing. Be cautious if a dealer:
- Guarantees returns or claims gold is risk-free.
- Uses fear, urgency, or exaggerated economic warnings to pressure you into buying.
- Refuses to explain the total price or premium over spot.
- Markets ordinary bullion as rare or collectible without explaining why.
- Won’t provide clear details about the gold’s weight, purity, mint, or refiner.
- Gives vague answers about storage arrangements or access to your gold.
- Requests payment before providing clear purchase terms.
Consider What Happens When You Sell the Gold
When you’re ready to sell gold, request a buyback quote from your original dealer and compare it with offers from other online dealers and local coin shops. Check for liquidation fees and whether the buyer guarantees a price or simply offers to purchase your gold.
Before accepting an offer, confirm the final amount you’ll receive and the payment process. If you sell by mail, check shipping, insurance, and inspection requirements before sending your metals.
From Our Expert
“Before buying gold or other precious metals, it’s wise to check the current spot price online and compare it to the dealer’s asking price,” says Sullivan. “If there’s a significant difference, an unusually high premium, it could be a red flag. Reputable dealers are typically transparent and consistent with market pricing.”
Ryan Sullivan, PE
Investment Advisor
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Best Gold Dealers
A buyback guarantee describes a dealer’s commitment to repurchase eligible precious metals under specified terms. Check which products qualify, how the resale value of gold is calculated, and whether fees or conditions apply. A buyback guarantee doesn’t necessarily guarantee a profit or a fixed resale price.
No. Dealers generally set their own buyback policies, and you shouldn’t assume they will repurchase every product they sell. Check the dealer’s written policy before buying to understand its obligations and any restrictions.
The IRS isn’t automatically notified every time you buy physical gold. However, certain cash payments over $10,000 require dealers to file Form 8300, and some precious metals sales may trigger Form 1099-B reporting. Requirements depend on the transaction and product, so keep your records and consult a tax professional about your situation.
Concluding Thoughts on the Best Gold Dealers
The best gold dealer for you depends on your priorities, whether that’s straightforward online purchasing, help with a gold IRA, transparent pricing, or flexible resale options. Each of our top picks has different strengths, so the right choice comes down to which services matter most for your needs.
Use our comparison table to shortlist suitable dealers, then read their individual reviews to understand what each company offers. Choose the one that best matches your goals and gives you confidence in your purchase.