5 Best Online Gold Dealers of 2024

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Best Online Gold Dealers Takeaways

Our top picks, listed alphabetically, include American Hartford Gold, APMEX, Goldco, JM Bullion and Orion Metal Exchange.

• Before buying gold online, you should find a reputable dealer.

• The best gold dealers provide free shipping and buy-back guarantees.

• If you’re not interested in home storage, some companies work with precious metal custodians that will securely store your gold.

Gold is often regarded as a safe-haven asset because during times of economic uncertainty — such as high inflation, recession or market volatility — it acts as a store of value. Inflation has subsided from recent highs, yet the precious metal reached its all-time high in April 2024. So if you’ve determined that now is a good time to invest in gold, there are several ways to do so.

One is by investing in equities — the stocks of mining companies or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) backed by gold or that hold shares of gold-mining companies. However, if you prefer tangible assets, you can purchase physical gold and other precious metals such as silver, platinum and palladium in the form of coins, rounds, ingots and bars.

These precious metals are available through online retailers — or gold dealers — that typically offer a variety of products and can arrange for secure storage or shipping of your precious metals. There are dozens of these companies available online; however, it is important to find a reputable one that’s amassed years of experience in the industry and boasts a track record of positive user experiences.

Read on to learn about the best online dealers and what makes them stand out among their competition.

Our Top Picks for Best Online Gold Dealers of 2024

• American Hartford Gold: Best Reputation
• APMEX: Best Product Selection
• Goldco: Best Investor Education
• JM Bullion: Best for Transparency
• Orion Metal Exchange: Best for Lowest-Price Guarantee

Best Online Gold Dealer Reviews

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Why we chose it: American Hartford Gold is highly rated across many consumer review platforms and is known for its excellent customer service.

The company stands out prominently for its strong online reputation. It has been in business since 2015. During that period, it has garnered high ratings from consumer advocacy and review organizations. American Hartford Gold is accredited by the BBB and holds an A+ rating. Additionally, consumer reviewers give American Hartford Gold positive remarks across multiple user review websites.

American Hartford Gold doesn’t offer as many precious metal products as some of its competitors. Notably absent from its product line are platinum and palladium products. Additionally, the website doesn’t include pricing information for the products. Customers must call to inquire about the cost of each item. However, American Hartford Gold offers a price match guarantee, which ensures its product line is priced competitively, and has a three-step buyback program that doesn’t include any fees.

Learn more on American Hartford Gold's Secure Website >>

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Why we chose it: American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX) offers customers a wide range of investment choices, including rare coins, collectibles and IRA-eligible precious metal products. Its website notes that it has more than 30,000 products available and 1.7 million customers.

With over 20 years in business, an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a clean record with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), APMEX is among the market's most trusted online gold dealers. The company’s large selection of precious metals ranges from silver and platinum bars to medieval and ancient coins. APMEX also offers products that are eligible for self-directed IRA investment. The company offers secure storage of precious metals through Citadel, which is backed by Brink’s Global Services.

There is a 4% discount if you pay with paper checks, eChecks, bank wire or trade. You may pay more if you use a credit card, PayPal or Bitcoin. Additionally, the company offers free shipping on orders over $199.

Learn more on APMEX's Secure Website >>

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Why we chose it: Compared to other online gold dealers, Goldco’s website is one of the most comprehensive resources for learning about investing in precious metals, which can be especially helpful for beginners.

The company has published over 800 articles on the subject, with the content collated into one searchable library for users of all experience levels. Whether you want to read a beginner’s guide to investing in precious metals or gold IRAs, discover what to expect from the Federal Reserve over the next few months or how silver prices could be impacted by the electric vehicle industry, you can find what you’re looking for in Goldco’s resources.

Goldco offers a full selection of precious metal products, including IRA-eligible metals. Although the company provides a lot of educational material about investing in these physical assets, the website doesn’t give much information about Goldco’s products outside of its gold and silver coin offerings. Shoppers must call customer service to learn more about pricing and to make a purchase.

Learn more on Goldco's Secure Website >>

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Why we chose it: JM Bullion offers an array of precious metal products, including gold, silver, platinum, palladium and copper in the form of coins, rounds and bars as well as rare metal bullion. Each product page contains detailed information about the item, including its history, weight, condition and more.

The price you pay for any given item will vary depending on your chosen payment method. The different costs are outlined on the product page before you add the item to your cart. You’ll pay the least per item if you purchase via eCheck, paper check or bank wire transfer. JM Bullion also accepts debit cards, Bitcoin (or other cryptocurrency) and PayPal, but you’ll pay a bit more per item when you use those payment methods.

If you purchase a large amount, JM Bullion offers a volume (or bulk) discount. The more you purchase, the less you may pay for a particular asset. There is also a discount for active military service members.

We consider JM Bullion’s purchasing process to be quick and straightforward. All orders over $199 ship for free with insurance. You can return your order within five days but may be responsible for any market losses. JM Bullion will buy your gold and silver, according to its website, it maintains a minimum “Sell-To-Us” amount of $1,000. For amounts under $1,000, the company provides a local directory to help sellers find buyers in all 50 U.S. states.

Learn more on JM Bullion's Secure Website >>

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Why we chose it: Orion Metal Exchange offers competitive pricing and will beat the advertised metal prices of any of its competitors.

The company offers gold, silver, platinum and palladium products for retirement accounts or ownership in commercial depositories or home storage. Unlike many of its competitors, Orion Metal Exchange lists its prices for all its metal coin products on its website and lets you complete your purchase online. It offers popular coins, such as American Eagle and Canadian Maple Leaf coins. However, one drawback is that it doesn’t list pricing and product details for any of its precious metal bars. Customers interested in purchasing gold, silver, platinum or palladium bars must call the company for pricing and product availability.

Like most online bullion dealers, Orion offers a free introductory kit to familiarize customers with precious metals investing. However, we noted that the company doesn’t offer as many online educational resources for gold investors to learn immediately and independently.

Learn more on Orion Metal Exchange's Secure Website >>

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Other Companies We Considered

The following companies didn’t make our top list of best online gold dealer, but they may still be reliable choices for you to consider:

• BGASC (Buy Gold and Silver Coins): BGASC offers a wide selection of foreign coins and bars, including South African Krugerrands, Australian Kangaroo and Austrian Silver Vienna Philharmonic coins.

• Money Metals Exchange: This online dealer is a good choice for buying gold in small increments. You can also sign up for automatic monthly purchases to create a reliable savings plan.

• SD Bullion: This company has a reputation for offering low prices. SD Bullion has an A+ rating from the BBB.

How We Chose The Best Online Gold Dealers

To find the best online gold dealers, we extensively researched companies’ product offerings, pricing, customer service, BBB ratings and accreditations, website features, buyback policies, shipping costs and storage options. With a clear understanding of the different types of products and services available, we evaluated gold dealers based on the following criteria.

Customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction scores provide valuable insight into how clients perceive a company's products and services. To select the best online gold dealers, we carefully considered the accreditation and ratings via websites like the BBB, the CFPB and customer review platform Trustpilot in order to form an understanding of each gold dealer’s customer service experience, including response times, payment options and complaint rectification.

Products and services

We vetted each company’s website to determine the range of products and services offered, including but not limited the types of precious metals and their various products available, the amount required to be purchased in order to qualify for free shipping, buyback policies and custodial storage options.

Consumer resources

We thoroughly reviewed the online gold dealers’ websites to establish the level of free educational resources available to current and prospective customers, including beginner’s guides for precious metal investing, current market news and retirement planning.

Online Gold Dealers Guide

Before investing in gold bullion, there are numerous important things to keep in mind. In this guide, we’ll review what you need to know, including how gold is valued, how to avoid scams and the pros and cons of investing in the precious metal.

Three things to know before buying gold online

1. First, you must understand gold is not a guaranteed investment. Like any other commodity (i.e., a raw material that can be bought and sold, especially on an exchange), you can expect frequent fluctuations in the price of gold, so you should consider it a long-term investment. Financial advisors commonly suggest investing only money you can afford to lose and allocating no more than 5% to 10% of your investment portfolio to precious metals.

2. Second, it’s important to consider the various gold products available to you for investment. Gold coins and bars differ in weights, sizes and levels of purity. If you intend to invest in gold as part of your retirement strategy with a gold IRA, be aware that not all precious metal products are IRS-approved and eligible for a self-directed IRA.

3. Third, make sure you thoroughly research reputable gold dealers. Only purchase from trustworthy companies that have strong reputations, good user reviews and are accredited by organizations like the BBB. Be mindful that precious metals dealers mark up the price of gold (i.e., “the spread”) that they sell from the spot price — meaning they sell it slightly higher than what it’s currently worth on the market. Review prices from multiple dealers before choosing which one to invest with.

How is gold valued?

Gold bars are valued based on their weight and purity. The heavier the bar, the more it will cost. Gold is a soft, malleable metal, so it’s typically alloyed with other metals to make it more useful. However, gold sold for investment purposes is the purest gold you can buy: usually 99.5% (or more) pure, which is the IRS’s purity baseline for the metal to be included in a gold IRA.

The price of gold can vary quite a bit, even intraday as the precious metal is traded 24 hours a day similarly to cryptocurrencies. The basic principle of supply and demand plays a significant role in determining the value of gold. The more demand there is for gold, the higher its value will be; conversely, if demand decreases, the value of gold will drop. Furthermore, limited supply of gold can increase its value. Additionally, geopolitical unrest and economic conditions, such as inflation and recessions, may affect the precious metal’s value.

What is the average cost of gold?

The price of gold fluctuates constantly. In April 2024, gold reached a new all-time high of $2,265 per Troy ounce, topping its previous high of $2,195 set in February. Prior to 2024, the record high was set in December 2023 at $2,150 per Troy ounce. At the beginning of 2020, the price per ounce was $1,553.

How to avoid scams when buying gold online

The best way to avoid scams when purchasing gold is to do so through a reputable precious metals dealer with transparent pricing and information. Avoid buying gold on unregulated platforms like Facebook and eBay. It’s also recommended that you review the dealers’ ratings on sites like the BBB and user review platforms like Trustpilot.

Before investing, consider discussing your options with a financial advisor who can help determine if this investment fits your financial goals.

What are the benefits of buying physical gold?

The following things could benefit investors who purchase physical gold:

• Store of value: Gold has been considered a high-value commodity for millennia. As a store of value, its value has historically been stable.

• Safe-haven assets: Gold is often considered a safe-haven asset. Historically, gold has performed well even in tough economic times. Many investors buy gold to hedge against inflation and currency devaluation.

• Diversification: Investing in gold can help you diversify your investment portfolio, which helps reduce risk.

• Liquid asset: Gold is a relatively liquid asset you can easily buy and sell.

• Tangible asset: For some investors, owning physical gold offers a sense of security that many other investments do not provide.

What are the drawbacks of buying physical gold?

Like any investment, buying physical gold has its drawbacks, including the following:

• Storage fees and insurance: Purchasing physical gold comes with the extra cost of safely storing and insuring it to protect it from theft.

• Price volatility: The price of gold can be volatile in the short term, so investors must have a long-term view.

• Not an income-generating asset: Because physical gold doesn’t pay dividends, interest or provide income like stocks, bonds or real estate, it might not align with your investment strategies. Read our guide on how to generate passive income for other ideas.

Summary of the Best Online Gold Dealers of 2024

• American Hartford Gold: Best Reputation
• APMEX: Best Product Selection
• Goldco: Best Investor Education
• JM Bullion: Best for Transparency
• Orion Metal Exchange: Best for Lowest-Price Guarantee