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.
Quick Look: Best Online Gold Shops
- Best for Fast Account Opening: Priority Gold
- Best for a Variety of Investment Options: Advantage Gold
- Best for Transparent Pricing: American Hartford Gold
- Best for Experience Precious Metals Investors: Preserve Gold
- Best for Hassle-Free Gold Investment: Bullionz
- Best for Diverse Options: American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX)
- Best User-Friendly Option for Beginners: JM Bullion
- Best Buyback Program: Money Metals Exchange
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.
1. Best for Fast Account Opening: Priority Gold
- Best For:Precious Metals and CoinsVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through Priority Gold's website
Priority Gold offers gold buyers a reputation for reliability, reasonable pricing and expert customer care. There’s a 4-Step setup for a precious metals IRA, if that’s something you. you need.
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.
Pros
- Expert customer care
- Easy IRA setup
- Competitive pricing
Pros
- Expert customer care
- Easy IRA setup
- Competitive pricing
2. Best for a Variety of Investment Options: Advantage Gold
- Best For:Serious Investors and Long-Term PositionsVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through Advantage Gold's website
Advantage Gold offers a simple platform where you can buy into a range of IRA-approved gold coins (plus silver, platinum and palladium) that can be tied to your retirement. There is a massive range of styles to choose from, educational tools that will train you up and low fees. There’s a $25,000 minimum on your IRA, quality customer care and an easy-to-use website that connects you to a simpler way to hedge against a faltering economy.
Pros
- The low minimum helps you get started sooner
- You can choose from many coins that are worth your time and energy
- It’s easier to learn about gold investing on this platform
Cons
- You may not prefer to turn your IRA over to this format
3. 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 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.
Pros
- Quick & easy 3-step tax-free, penalty-free Gold IRA setup
- Same day IRA - fastest in the industry
- Ranked #1 Gold Company on the Inc 5000 List and A+ Rated on BBB
- Up to $15,000 in FREE silver on qualified accounts
- Lowest price guarantee, best ongoing promotions, no buy-back fees
Cons
- Catalog doesn’t show pricing
- U.S. shipping only
- Investment loss risk
4. Best for Experience Precious Metals Investors: Preserve Gold
Buying into the gold market with coins and other investments is much easier when you use Preserve Gold. The platform offers the proper buyback policies for investors, incredible customer service and price matching options. When you decide on Preserve Gold, you can reach out and learn from their experts as you decide how much money you want to put into gold. You can also buy silver, platinum or palladium, as needed.
Pros
- You can get in and out of purchases fairly easily
- The site will help you learn how to use precious metals to impact your portfolio
Cons
- Because the platform has such a robust selection, the gold prices might not always be optimal
5. Best for Hassle-Free Investment: Bullionz
- Best For:Hassle-Free Gold InvestmentVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through Bullionz's website
If you’re planning on real gold investing, you need a partner like Bullionz who can help you make the most of that investment. Tokenized gold investments are available so that you can access the market in a new way, you can add physical gold products to your portfolio if you want to approach the markets in a unique manner.
This hassle-free platform offers:
- Access for those in regions where gold is not always accessible
- A simple dashboard
- Extremely low investment minimums
- Insured procedures
- Storage options
- Tokens are backed by real gold products
- Passive rewards for all users
Pros
- You can get access to the gold market to diversify your portfolio even more
- Tokenized gold investments simplify the process for you
- Everything is insured and properly regulated
Cons
- You may want more precious metals options
6. Best for Diverse Options: American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX)
APMEX was founded in 2000, and since then, it has amassed the largest online collection of precious metals products. The exchange offers not only gold coins and silver bullion but also palladium and platinum products.
Its impressive selection includes coins from around the world, including Mexico, Australia and many European countries. Whether you’re an investor or a collector, you’re sure to find something at APMEX.
Pros
- Lots of products to choose from
- Great customer interactions
- Extensive, reputable history in the industry
Cons
- Pricing not competitive
- Additional fee to store your gold
- Overwhelming website for novice investors
7. Best User-Friendly Option for Beginners: JM Bullion
JM Bullion is one of the best online gold dealers for beginners. Its online platform is user-friendly for even the least-experienced buyers, and it offers dedicated customer support to help users navigate purchases and investments.
Like APMEX, JM Bullion has an extensive product selection, with products ranging from silver coins to bars and more. Its strongest point is transparent pricing without additional fees or commissions.
Pros
- Easy, uncomplicated user interface
- Dedicated customer service
- Transparent pricing structure
Cons
- Different prices depending on payment method
- Minimum $1,000 buyback program
- Only ships to U.S. addresses
8. Best Buyback Program: Money Metals Exchange
Buyback programs are beneficial for precious metals investors because they offer guaranteed marketing support when you choose to sell your gold. This is especially true for companies that deal in gold bullion.
With a buyback program, the precious metals dealer promises it will buy back the metals it sold at the current market price. The details of buyback programs vary, with some dealers only buying at the spot price.
Money Metals Exchange takes a customer-centric approach to its buyback programs by paying the highest prices among online gold dealers today.
Pros
- Competitive pricing
- Free, insured shipping on orders over $500
- Secure packaging and fast shipping
Cons
- Varying transaction fees, depending on your payment method
- Limited customer service phone support
- Customer reviews have stated shipping can be slow
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.
Considerations When Choosing 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.