How ConsumerAffairs uses cookies

This website utilizes technologies such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as for analytics, personalization, and targeted advertising. To learn more, view the following link:

For Businesses
Write a Review
  2. Finance
  3. Investing

Best Gold IRA Companies of 2026

We compared 36 companies and chose the top gold IRAs

  • Best overall
    Lear Capital
    4.8(1,635)
  • Customer service
    Patriot Gold Group
    5.0(1,171)
  • IRA rollovers
    Birch Gold Group
    4.6(199)
Author picture
By: Ashley Eneriz
+2 more
Author picture
Edited by: Jana Lynch
Author picture
Reviewed by: David Moadel

Best Gold IRA Companies of 2026

Our picks for gold IRA companies generally offer an easy investment process, reasonable fees and ongoing support. The best companies in the industry stand out for their professionalism and transparency.

Lear Capital is our top overall pick for gold IRA companies. When looking for a gold IRS, be sure to know what to look for when choosing a gold IRA company and the pros and cons of a gold IRA to help you make a confident decision.

Why trust ConsumerAffairs?
  • Our recommendations are based on what reviewers say.
  • 4,919,150 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
  • We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
  • We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
  • Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.

Our top 5 picks for gold IRA companies

  1. Best overall: Lear Capital
  2. Best for customer service: Patriot Gold Group
  3. Best for IRA rollovers: Birch Gold Group
  4. Best for beginners: Monetary Gold
  5. Best for low fees: Orion Metal Exchange

Gold and other precious metals are an investment and carry risk. Consumers should be alert to claims that customers can make a lot of money in these or any investment with little risk. As with any investment, you can lose money, and past performance is not a guarantee of future performance results. Consumers should also get a clear understanding of the fees associated with any investment before agreeing to invest.

Our picks for the best gold IRA companies are based on customer reviews, selection and online shopping experience, among other factors. Our picks may be Authorized Partners that compensate us — this does not affect our recommendations or evaluations but may impact the order in which companies appear. Read our full methodology to learn how we picked companies.

Many of the gold IRA companies require consultations before you know all of the costs. It is a good idea to find out which storage facilities each company uses — in addition to prices and customer service reputation for each.

All information accurate as of time of publication.
Our pick for best overall

Lear Capital

Lear Capital
4.8
1,635 reviews
IRA metal options
Gold, silver, platinum and palladium
Minimum investment amount
$15,000
Annual fees
$200
Read Reviews

Established in 1997, Lear Capital offers IRA-approved metals, such as gold, silver and other precious metals. What we appreciate most about Lear Capital is the hands-on customer service it provides to its clients. Not only can you get help with purchasing precious metals, but Lear Capital also assists with IRA rollovers or transfers. If investors are looking to convert their 401(k) retirement accounts to gold and silver, it can handle the process for you.

The Lear Advantage IRA, which is a self-directed IRA, can be backed by gold, silver and platinum. It offers free setup and storage charges depending on your investment amount. Invest or roll over $75,000 or more and you will get your first three years of storage fees waived.

All buyers get a 24-hour risk-free purchase guarantee, meaning you can review and cancel your order within 24 hours of purchase — no questions asked or fees charged.

We prefer Lear Capital for the following:

  • Fees waived
  • 24-hour risk-free purchase guarantee

Before choosing Lear Capital, consider these factors:

  • No palladium options

Reviewers said they appreciated the level of interaction and customer service from Lear Capital. Kelly from Florida said, “I love the fact that Morrey is so personally involved in the transactions. He phones regularly to let me know what is going on in the market or if it is a good time to buy. Excellent customer service.”

Best for customer service

Patriot Gold Group

Patriot Gold Group
5.0
1,171 reviews
IRA metal options
Gold, silver, platinum and palladium
Minimum investment amount
$50,000
Annual fees
Not listed on site
Read Reviews

With Patriot Gold Group, you can work directly with one of the company’s owners to open or roll over a precious metals IRA. With a minimum investment of $50,000, most IRA account holders will pay no annual fees in the first year, and then $180 per year in combined storage, insurance and administration fees after that. Qualifying IRAs can receive the benefit of “no fees for life,” meaning Patriot Gold will reimburse or pay the rollover fees, storage and insurance fees. Plus, you can set up your account within 24 hours.

Customer service is available through phone, email or online chat and many reviewers mention that the representatives are kind, insightful and help them understand their investment options.

As an investor, you can choose between a precious metals IRA or non-IRA gold, silver, platinum and palladium investments. Shipments of non-IRA precious metals are free, and free storage is provided to investors who purchase around $100,000 or more in precious metals.

Top factors of using Patriot Gold Group include:

  • Work directly with a company owner
  • Low fees for those with significant investments in precious metals

Some concerns of using Patriot Gold Group:

  • No prices posted
  • Website is difficult to navigate

Many felt that Patriot Gold Group answered all of their questions and took an interest in each investor. Customer service received praise from many ConsumerAffairs readers. One New York reviewer said: “All of my questions and concerns prior to purchasing as a new customer were promptly and honestly answered by knowledgeable representatives. The transfer of money was simple via ETF. Delivery of the gold and silver was completed quickly. I am completely satisfied with PGG's performance and would recommend them to future buyers.”

There are no negative reviews of Patriot Gold from ConsumerAffairs readers in the past four years.

Best for IRA rollovers

Birch Gold Group

Birch Gold Group
4.6
199 reviews
IRA metal options
Gold, silver, platinum and palladium
Minimum investment amount
$5,000
Annual fees
Around $235
Read Reviews

Birch Gold Group offers robust support for customers rolling over eligible retirement accounts into a gold IRA. The company offers expert guidance and IRA specialists who review your current investments and eligibility, then handle the necessary paperwork to complete the rollover.

Investors may also like the selection of depositories to choose from, giving greater control over where the physical gold is stored.

  • Works with multiple depositories
  • Reviewers praise customer service
  • Multiple metal IRA options
  • Set up and wire fees apply
  • No guarantees

ConsumerAffairs reviews about Birch Gold Group highlight the customer service aspect when rolling over their IRA accounts.

“I was working two jobs and quit and rolled over my 401k into an [account] with Birch. The process was easy and painless. They answered every question I had and was patient and took their time and didn’t rush me off the phone.”
Thomas Metairie, LA
“I recently liquidated all of my IRA accounts from previous employers and rolled the funds over to purchase physical gold and silver. I asked lots of questions to the Birch Gold folks since I was considering moving everything to gold and silver. Birch Gold agents were very informative and were not pushy nor annoying.”
Chuck Springfield, MO
Best for beginners

Monetary Gold

Monetary Gold
5.0
232 reviews
IRA metal options
Gold, silver, platinum and palladium
Minimum investment amount
$5,000-$10,000
Annual fees
$250
Get Started Read Reviews

Monetary Gold offers IRS-approved gold IRA accounts, stored in Delaware Depository Service Company’s facility with 24/7 monitoring and insurance. Beginner gold IRA investors will appreciate the company website’s educational guides on choosing precious metals and coin grading.

Previous metals are available for direct purchase and delivery, but you can also rollover qualifying non-gold IRAs and 401(k)s

Investors can also rely on the company’s IRA specialists to set up an account. It takes 48 to 72 hours to be assigned an account number and up to two weeks for full funding and asset allocation. After account funding, IRA specialists are available to help with submitting orders and arranging for delivery to the depository.

Monetary Gold is worth considering for:

  • Reported helpful representatives and no-pressure sales
  • Large selection of investments

Keep this in mind before choosing Monetary Gold:

  • No prices listed online
  • Not available weekends

Many Monetary Gold customer reviews mention ease of purchasing metals, friendly representatives and prompt service.

One reviewer from Arizona mentioned that their representative followed up to ensure they were satisfied with their purchase: “I wasn’t going to leave a review at first, until Anthony decided to have a follow up with me. I was amazed at how even after my purchase with the company they still wanted to check in on me and make sure that I was happy with my sale.”

Another reviewer from New Jersey said of their representative: “His approach was friendly and far from aggressive; there was no sales pitch being delivered. He asked a few questions, let me explain my situation, and made an effort to clarify things step by step so I could understand.”

Best for low fees

Orion Metal Exchange

Orion Metal Exchange
4.8
216 reviews
IRA metal options
Gold, silver, platinum and palladium
Minimum investment amount
$20,000
Annual fees
Not applicable
Get Started Read Reviews

Orion Metal Exchange, started in 2017, has co-founders with over 40 years of combined experience in the precious metals industry. Orion Metal Exchange is a full-range gold dealer offering precious metal IRAs and non-IRA investments for personal purchases. Nonretirement purchases can be stored in an insured storage vault or delivered with insured home delivery.

Orion Metal Exchange offers a full-service, in-house IRA department for the life of the account. Every IRA commercial depository and third-party storage facility is insured by Lloyd’s of London for the value of the precious metal holdings.

Customers can choose from several coin options online. You must make a minimum purchase of $20,000, and shipping is free. For IRA-approved coins and precious metals, you will need to call and lock in a rate. Investors can add gold, silver, platinum and palladium IRA-approved metals to their IRA.

When you are ready to sell or liquidate your precious metals, Orion Metal Exchange can help with that, too. It offers commission free buybacks for its customers. To do this, customers need to do a 30-second phone call with the company for a guaranteed buyback price.

Orion Metal Exchange Gold is a good choice for:

  • Low fees
  • Commission-free buyback policy for customers

Be aware of the following:

  • All transactions over the phone

Orion Metal Exchange is recommended by reviewers for its friendly and helpful customer service. Most felt comfortable and confident buying through the company. “I researched the other metal firms and found Orion to be reputable, responsive and professional. Four times this year I’ve rolled over sizable assets from my 401(k), where it has a -26% rate of return, into a metal IRA,” said a reviewer in Wisconsin. “I have full access to my metals IRA account. … Never has there been any kind of ‘bait and switch’ or misleading information. Very trustworthy and upfront. Transactions are easy and straightforward.”

The company has minimal complaints, especially when it comes to IRA investing.

Gold IRA Companies Buyers Guide

Jump into our guides and start learning

In this guide

Top Picks

See who reviewers like

Lear Capital logo
Patriot Gold Group logo
Birch Gold Group logo
See our top picks

Simplify your search

Compare dealers to match your investment goals.

Gold IRA companies buyers guide

Choosing a gold IRA company is only part of the investing process. You also need to have a good understanding of how gold IRAs work. This guide will help you learn the steps to properly navigate the world of gold IRAs and what pros and cons come along with investing in one.

Key insights

A gold IRA lets investors hold physical precious metals in a retirement account, offering a hedge against inflation but requiring secure third-party storage and presenting liquidity challenges.

Jump to insight

Most gold IRAs are funded through rollovers from existing retirement accounts, with account setup and ongoing maintenance involving unique fees and minimum investment thresholds.

Jump to insight

While gold IRAs provide diversification and long-term stability, they come with no dividend income, higher fees and uncertainty around future gold prices.

Jump to insight

What is a gold IRA?

A gold IRA is a self-directed individual retirement account that holds gold (or other approved metals) instead of paper assets. This means you can use a gold IRA to purchase actual, physical gold. However, you don’t hold the gold yourself — it’s stored in a secure depository. (If you want to buy gold directly and hold it yourself, you can buy it from a gold dealer.)

Many are turning to gold individual retirement accounts (IRAs) because precious metals have been able to stand up well against inflation and uncertain times.

Even though your gold is stored securely, there are some risks. While gold has historically held its value during inflation, it can be volatile in the short term and hard to sell at a fair price at times.

How do gold IRAs work?

A gold or silver IRA functions much like other individual retirement accounts, but your investments are in gold and other precious metals, including silver, platinum and palladium.

Most people start a gold IRA by rolling over from an existing IRA or 401(k). Most gold IRA companies have a required initial minimum investment. This can be as high as $50,000, but it really varies by company. Your gold IRA company or gold dealer can then help you purchase the metals for your IRA. Once you open the account and purchase your precious metals, the physical metals are stored in a secure storage facility called a “depository.”

You can expect different commissions and fees for account setup, storage and account maintenance. Your IRA custodian, or trustee, manages the account and will be your main point of contact.

When you want to access your investments, contact your custodian or trustee and fill out the necessary forms. You can then sell your precious metals or take possession of the physical gold, silver, platinum or palladium. You may have to pay penalties if you withdraw funds before the age of 59½ or if you haven’t had the account for a certain amount of time.

Tip for first-time gold IRA investors

To start investing in a gold IRA, follow these steps:
  1. Fund the account by rolling over money from an existing retirement account.
  2. Purchase precious metals through a gold IRA company.
  3. Store precious metals in a depository while your custodian manages the account.  

How to choose a gold IRA company

If you want to invest in gold as part of your retirement plan, here are tips for navigating the world of gold IRAs.

Research company reputation

Many companies in this industry are similar, so look for companies that have competitive prices, good customer service and an easy investment process.

Then, spend time reading online gold IRA reviews from clients to learn more about their experiences. Some gold IRA scammers can appear legitimate, so it’s vital to consider how many years a gold IRA company has been in business and what reviewers say about it.

Also, avoid companies that advertise “special” home storage offers or “collectible” coins for IRA use. Neither of these is generally allowed by IRS regulations.

Look for fee transparency

Look for a gold IRA company that is transparent about its fees. Reputable providers should clearly disclose all costs associated with opening and maintaining an account, including setup fees, annual maintenance fees, storage costs and dealer markups. If the company’s fees aren’t listed online, request a written breakdown of all fees and compare it with those of other providers to ensure you're getting competitive pricing before opening an account.

Consider the depository

Many of the best gold IRA companies offer multiple vault options. These can be as simple as a choice of location or as detailed as letting you choose your preferred method of storage. For example, you may have two types of depositories available:

  • Allocated depositories: In an allocated depository, your asset inventory is kept in something resembling a safety deposit box, and your coins or bars are separate from anybody else’s inventory.
  • Unallocated depositories: Unallocated depositories store precious metals based on their size, weight, year and refinery. When distributed, investors receive the same type of gold coin or bar they purchased, but it probably won’t be the exact same physical object.

Evaluate IRA rollover support

The process of rolling over an existing retirement account to a gold IRA involves specific IRS rules and paperwork. Look for a company that will assign a dedicated account representative to guide you through the process, coordinate with your current retirement plan administrator and help ensure the transfer is completed correctly.

Follow all IRS gold IRA rules and regulations

Numismatic (collectible) coins are often not IRA-eligible, and the IRS has specific requirements for what types of bullion (precious metals sold by weight) are acceptable for use in a gold IRA. Gold coins offer unique investment opportunities, but their worth and legitimacy must be proven.

Red flags to watch for

Watch out for these common gold IRA scams:
  • Unlicensed IRA “experts”
  • High-pressure sales tactics
  • High markups
  • Leveraged accounts
  • Shady custodians
  • Unapproved “collectible” coins  

Gold IRA costs and fees

Gold IRAs cost more to maintain than traditional IRAs because they involve physical assets. Here are the different costs and fees you should expect when you open a gold IRA.

  • Account setup fee (around $50)
  • Annual maintenance fee (between $75 and $325)
  • Storage fee (a percentage of your investment or a flat, annual fee of at least $100)
  • Dealer markup
  • Transaction and processing fees

Pros and cons of gold IRAs

There are some notable pros and cons to a gold IRA. You might see some tax benefits, but your money is mostly locked away until you’re of retirement age.

Pros

  • Portfolio diversification
  • Long-term stability
  • Hedges against inflation

Cons

  • High annual fees
  • No interest or dividends
  • High minimum deposit requirements

Perhaps the most significant benefit of a gold IRA is that it allows you to diversify your retirement portfolio into a different kind of investment. Gold IRA companies like to emphasize the stable value of gold relative to paper assets in times of economic uncertainty.

However, gold and silver prices have their own potential for volatility, and they don’t pay dividends or produce steady income. Furthermore, there is no guarantee of the future worth of gold. Robert R. Johnson, PhD, CFA, CAIA, a professor of finance at Heider College of Business, Creighton University, said, “The price of gold is not determined by its intrinsic value but simply by its expected selling price to someone in the future.”

Precious metals IRAs also tend to have higher fees and storage costs compared with traditional or Roth IRAs.

Alternatives to gold IRAs

Gold IRAs offer a unique way to diversify your retirement portfolio, but they may not be the best fit for everyone. If you're looking for alternative investment options that could complement or replace a gold IRA, consider these options:

  • Traditional or Roth IRAs
  • Gold mutual funds and ETFs
  • Gold stocks
  • Real estate IRAs
  • Cryptocurrency IRAs

FAQ

How do I open a gold IRA account?

To open a gold IRA account, first decide on the best gold IRA company for your needs. It’s important to do your research before selecting a gold IRA company. Look into the company’s reviews, fees, storage options and terms.

Once you’ve made a decision, open up a gold IRA account and fund it. Finally, work with the company to select your investment and storage options.

Can I take physical possession of gold in my IRA?

No, you can’t take physical possession of gold currently in your IRA. It must be stored in an IRS-approved facility, and you could be subject to high penalties if you store gold from your IRA in your home.

However, at the end of your IRA term, you can liquidate your gold assets for cash or take possession of your gold without penalty.

Can I have more than one IRA?

Yes, you can have more than one IRA. You can keep a traditional IRA and also open a self-directed IRA for gold or other precious metals.

What is a gold IRA rollover?

A gold IRA rollover allows you to move your retirement savings from an existing retirement account into a gold IRA. Most brokers offer no-fee rollovers, but you should ask if you aren't sure about your broker’s rules. You can roll over the following types of retirement accounts:

  • Roth IRAs
  • Traditional IRAs
  • SEP IRAs
  • SIMPLE IRAs
  • Annuities
  • 401(k)s
  • 403(b)s
  • TSPs (Thrift Savings Plans)
What is IRA-eligible gold?

IRA-eligible gold must meet specific standards set by the IRS. Eligible gold products must:

  • Meet minimum fineness requirements of 99.5% purity
  • Not be considered highly collectible
  • Come from a U.S. Mint or an approved foreign mint
Can I include other precious metals in my gold IRA?

Yes, you can include other precious metals in your gold IRA. In addition to gold, you can include other precious metals in your gold IRA, such as silver, platinum and palladium. These metals must also meet IRS standards to be eligible for inclusion. Working with a reputable gold IRA company can help ensure that the metals you purchase meet all requirements.

Disclaimer

Information in this guide is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only; it is not legal, health, investment or tax advice. ConsumerAffairs.com makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from its use.

Methodology

To make our top picks, the ConsumerAffairs Research Team used a weighted scoring system that took into account both reviews from ConsumerAffairs users and specific company offerings we researched. We conducted sentence-by-sentence sentiment analysis of thousands of reviews on our site from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2025, to identify the aspects people care about most — and which companies reviewers are happiest with for each aspect. For gold IRA companies, these included:

  • Staff satisfaction
  • Customer service satisfaction
  • Punctuality and speed satisfaction
  • Transparency satisfaction

We then carefully selected the most important offerings consumers should consider before choosing a gold IRA company and researched these offerings at each company:

  • The number of years the company has been in business
  • The variety of metals offered
  • The setup fee
  • The annual fee
  • Website quality

The company with the highest score in each category’s uniquely weighted formula was given the “Our pick for” designation. In some cases where a single company received the top score across multiple categories, the company with the next-highest score was named the winner.

Not sure how to choose?

Get buying tips about Gold IRA Companies delivered to your inbox.

    By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Thanks for subscribing.

    You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations.

    Guide sources

    ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this guide include:

    1. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), “ Traditional and Roth IRAs .” Accessed July 23, 2021.
    2. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), “ Investments in Collectibles in Individually-Directed Qualified Plan Accounts .” Accessed September 16, 2021.

    Read reviews of gold IRA companies

    Showing 10 of 36

    Want your company to be on this guide?

    Yes, continue
    Comparing

    ×
    Trending in Gold IRA