Buying and dealing gold is nearly as old as time — gold was believed to be valuable as early as 2450 B.C. And as the world has shifted to a digital landscape, so have gold dealers.
This article takes a look at the best online gold dealers. Whether you’re a new investor wanting to diversify your portfolio with gold or an experienced gold dealer hunting for the best deals, this blog will help you find the best options according to your needs and goals.
Best Online Gold Dealers
Want to know some of the top players in the market of online gold trading right now? Here are the industry leaders.
Best for Transparent Pricing: American Hartford Gold Group
- Best For:Gold IRAs with On Going PromotionsVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through American Hartford Gold's website
American Hartford Gold, founded in 2015, is a market leader and family-owned company that offers gold, silver, platinum and palladium bars and coins. This company requires a minimum investment of $10,000. With a combination of their industry experience, customer service, product offering, and competitive pricing American Hartford Gold a reputable and trustworthy option if you're looking to invest in a Gold IRA.
Why We Picked It: American Hartford Gold provides precious metals in bars or coins, which can be delivered to your home free of charge or stored in secure partner depositories like Delaware Depository or Brinks. A gold IRA requires storage at a partner depository per IRS rules, with an easy sign-up process assisted by company consultants. Investors can also receive a free gold IRA kit, regular updates and educational materials. The company also offers a buyback guarantee with no fees, allowing you to sell their metals back easily, including for retirement distributions.
Best for Fast Account Opening: Priority Gold
- Best For:Precious Metals and CoinsVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through Priority Gold's website
Founded in 2015, Priority Gold has built a reputation as a trusted precious metals dealer by offering tailored investment options. Pricing is reasonable, customer service is more than accessible and there’s even an unconditional precious metals buyback guarantee if you aren’t completely satisfied. Platinum and palladium are not available, but there’s plenty of gold and silver to choose from that come with insured and expedite shipping.
Why We Picked It: Priority Gold offers gold buyers a reputation for reliability, reasonable pricing and expert customer care. You can acquire gold and silver through direct purchases of coins, bars, and rounds or by transferring existing retirement savings into a precious metals IRA. The company is dedicated to guiding investors through the precious metals market to help them diversify their portfolios in a volatile economy.
Best for Experience Precious Metals Investors: Preserve Gold
- Best For:Experienced Precious Metals InvestorsVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through Preserve Gold's website
Preserve Gold offers direct purchases of precious metals and investment through self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) backed by physical metals. The company collaborates with IRS-approved custodians and provides storage options through reputable depositories such as Texas Precious Metal Depository, International Depository Services, and Delaware Depository. Clients receive lifetime account support from dedicated precious metals specialists and have access to educational resources like e-books and market outlooks to stay informed about precious metals investing.
Why We Picked It: Preserve Gold provides a hassle-free experience and emphasizes a customer-centric approach, offering a 24-hour satisfaction guarantee, competitive pricing with a price-match policy, and a buyback program with zero liquidation fees for existing clients. Their expert advisors are readily available to guide you through the investment process, helping you determine the right amount to allocate. Beyond gold, Preserve Gold also offers silver, platinum, and palladium, allowing investors to diversify their portfolios with confidence.The company's commitment to transparency and customer service is reflected in its impressive customer ratings.
Best for Diverse Options: American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX)
APMEX (American Precious Metals Exchange) was founded in 2000, and since then, it has amassed the largest online collection of precious metals products. The exchange offers an extensive selection of products including gold, silver, platinum, and rare coins.
Their platform is super user-friendly and allows investors to browse a diverse inventory, featuring items suitable for both personal collections and investment portfolios. Additionally, APMEX provides services such as precious metals IRAs, collaborating with IRS-compliant custodians to facilitate retirement investments.
Why We Picked It: A key differentiator setting APMEX apart is a commitment to customer convenience and security. The company provides services like AutoInvest, which allows users to automate recurring purchases, and a precious metals IRA program that helps investors integrate gold and silver into their retirement portfolios. Additionally, APMEX offers its VaultDirect® storage service, which ensures secure, insured storage for those who prefer not to store metals at home.
Best User-Friendly Option for Beginners: JM Bullion
JM Bullion, established in 2011 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, has rapidly become a leading online retailer of precious metals. The company offers an extensive selection of products, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, catering to both investors and collectors. Their user-friendly website provides real-time pricing, detailed product information, and a seamless purchasing experience. Notably, JM Bullion has achieved significant milestones, such as surpassing $10 billion in total sales by August 2023, reflecting their substantial growth and customer trust.
Why We Picked It: JM Bullion offers fully insured shipping, ensuring that orders are delivered securely and discreetly. Additionally, JM Bullion provides a range of payment options, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which catering to diverse investor preferences. Their commitment to quality, transparency, and customer service has solidified their reputation as a trusted source for precious metals investments.
What Is an Online Gold Dealer?
Online gold dealers are companies that buy, sell and trade gold and other precious metals on the internet.
Before online gold dealers became popular, investors had to work with brick-and-mortar stores, which limited both supply and accessibility. Online gold dealers enable investors to buy, sell and trade from the comfort of their homes, opening the door to more product options.
How to Choose an Online Gold Dealer
You should consider several factors when looking for the best online gold dealers to invest with, including the company’s reputation, reliability, pricing, customer service and security.
Reputation
Many online gold dealers have been in the game for several years, and some have been around since the earliest days of Internet commerce. Take a look at customer reviews on online platforms to get an idea of how customers feel about a gold dealer’s integrity.
The best online gold dealers will have higher ratings and demonstrate a consistent track record of customer satisfaction.
Reliability
Reliability is another important consideration. You want to know that the online gold dealer you work with is consistent with market prices. You also want to make sure it has a reliable money metals exchange system so that your transactions will be processed quickly and efficiently.
Pricing
In the precious metals market, prices are listed according to how the dealer’s prices compare to current market prices. Finding a gold dealer with competitive pricing can seem like a challenge, but if you do your research, check premiums, understand the spot price (the current market price of gold per ounce) and consider all costs, you’ll have the data you need to make an informed decision.
Customer Service
The best online gold dealers have excellent customer service and make your gold or silver bullion trading experience smooth, efficient and stress-free.
When you’re vetting companies, look for ones that are known for clear communication and prompt responses. The better a dealer’s customer reviews, the more confident you can feel in the quality of its customer service.
Security
Security is crucial when dealing with high-value transactions like gold and silver bullion. The best online gold dealers have robust security measures in place to protect not only your personal information and financial transactions but also the products themselves.
Whether you’re getting products shipped to you or are storing them in a dealer-recommended vault, you want to know that the security of your assets is the dealer’s top priority.
Make sure the online gold dealer you’re working with has a secure website (check for “https://” at the beginning of its URL). On the website, check the privacy policy to see what measures the company takes to protect your personal information. You should also make sure it uses secure payment methods and offers strong account verification procedures.
Becoming a Gold Investor
The online gold market offers rewarding opportunities for investors of all levels. While venturing into the world of gold can be a daunting feat, it comes with benefits that are timeless. The key to successful gold investing lies in choosing reputable, reliable, customer-centric gold dealers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online gold buyers safe?
Yes, as long as the online gold buyer is reputable and has comprehensive security measures in place, you can trust that it is safe to carry out financial transactions on the dealer’s website.
How do I know if my gold dealer is reputable?
You can check its reputation by researching ratings from the Better Business Bureau, reading customer reviews and paying attention to word of mouth from other trusted investors. You can also check whether it’s accredited by industry standards bodies, like the Accredited Precious Metals Dealers.
What is the downside of buying gold?
Gold is, in general, a safe investment, but there are potential downsides, including price volatility, storage, insurance costs and the risk of buying overpriced or counterfeit products. To mitigate these risks, buy from reputable gold dealers.