Gold Investing / Reviews
Best Gold IRA Companies of 2026, Reviewed & Scored
Scored on a published methodology, not sold to the highest bidder. Six precious-metals firms, compared.
Search "best Gold IRA companies" and you meet a wall of pages ranked by commission. We take a different line. Every firm below has cleared the same inclusion gates, is scored on the same four dimensions, and carries the date we last re-checked it. You can read exactly how we rank before you trust a single pick. New to the idea, start with what a Gold IRA is and its real costs.
The companies at a glance
| Company | Best for | Minimum | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Precious Metals Education & transparency | Education & transparency | $50,000 | 8.8/10 |
| Goldco First-time rollovers | First-time rollovers | $25,000 | 8.2/10 |
| Birch Gold Group Metals selection & lower entry | Metals selection & lower entry | $10,000 | 8.0/10 |
| JM Bullion Direct bullion buying | Direct bullion buying | No minimum (direct) | 7.5/10 |
| Monetary Gold Long-tenured dealer | Long-tenured dealer | $10,000 | 7.2/10 |
| Lear Capital Price-tracking tools | Price-tracking tools | $10,000 | 6.5/10 |
Scores are our own editorial assessment on a published methodology, not customer star ratings. Minimums and fees change; confirm current terms with each company.
The reviews
1. Augusta Precious Metals
Best for: Education & transparency
A transparency-first firm best known for a one-on-one educational web conference and a clear, flat fee structure.
| Account minimum | $50,000 |
| Fees | Flat annual (custodian + storage) |
| Metals | Gold & silver |
Pros
- Strong, well-organized educational materials
- Clear, consistent fee structure
- Long record of positive independent reviews
- Lifetime account support model
Cons
- High $50,000 minimum shuts out smaller savers
- Gold and silver only, no platinum or palladium
- Web-conference onboarding is not for everyone
Read the full Augusta Precious Metals review →
2. Goldco
Best for: First-time rollovers
A large, widely reviewed dealer built around a guided rollover experience and frequent account promotions.
| Account minimum | $25,000 |
| Fees | Flat annual |
| Metals | Gold & silver |
Pros
- Guided, hand-held rollover process
- Large volume of positive customer reviews
- Frequent promotions on qualifying accounts
- Established brand with wide recognition
Cons
- Metals limited to gold and silver
- Promotions can distract from the underlying spread
- Minimum is higher than some rivals
3. Birch Gold Group
Best for: Metals selection & lower entry
A long-running dealer with a broad four-metal lineup and a more accessible entry point than most.
| Account minimum | $10,000 |
| Fees | Flat annual |
| Metals | Gold, silver, platinum, palladium |
Pros
- All four precious metals offered
- Lower entry point than many competitors
- Long operating history and steady reviews
- Dedicated specialist per account
Cons
- Fee schedule requires a call to fully pin down
- No standout single differentiator
- Storage options depend on custodian
Read the full Birch Gold Group review →
4. JM Bullion
Best for: Direct bullion buying
Chiefly an online bullion retailer with tight spreads and transparent pricing; IRA sales run through a partner custodian.
| Account minimum | No minimum (direct) |
| Fees | Tight spreads (direct) |
| Metals | Gold, silver, platinum, palladium |
Pros
- Competitive spreads on direct bullion
- Transparent online pricing
- Wide product catalog
- No minimum for direct purchases
Cons
- Primarily a retailer, IRA runs through a partner
- Lighter educational library
- Less hand-holding than IRA-focused firms
Read the full JM Bullion review →
5. Monetary Gold
Best for: Long-tenured dealer
A dealer active since 2000, offering precious-metals IRAs and direct coin sales with a personal-rep model.
| Account minimum | $10,000 |
| Fees | Flat annual |
| Metals | Gold & silver |
Pros
- Operating since 2000
- Both IRA and direct coin sales
- Lower entry point
- Personal account representatives
Cons
- Smaller public profile than market leaders
- Fee details best confirmed by phone
- Gold and silver focus
Read the full Monetary Gold review →
6. Lear Capital
Best for: Price-tracking tools
A veteran dealer with real-time pricing tools; review the fee schedule and its regulatory history before committing.
| Account minimum | $10,000 |
| Fees | First-year fees sometimes waived |
| Metals | Gold, silver, platinum |
Pros
- Real-time pricing and tracking tools
- Long history in the industry
- Occasional first-year fee waivers
- Three metals offered
Cons
- Read the fee schedule and past regulatory history closely
- Transparency has drawn scrutiny over the years
- Spreads worth comparing against rivals
Read the full Lear Capital review →
How to choose
The right firm depends on your account size and what you value. Larger savers who want the clearest education tend toward Augusta; first-time rollovers often prefer Goldco's guided process; smaller accounts and buyers who want all four metals look at Birch; and self-directed buyers who mainly want tight bullion pricing lean toward JM Bullion. Whatever you choose, interrogate the dealer spread over spot, not just the advertised fees, because the spread is the biggest and least visible cost. And remember that a Gold IRA is not right for everyone.