4 Best Online Gold Dealers for 2024 (2024)

By August 2024, year-to-date gold returns neared 19%. That’s excellent news for investors looking to add more precious metals to their portfolios. While it’s up to you and your financial advisor to decide the right time to buy gold, it’s never too early to find the right gold dealer.

We’ve researched several online gold dealers to help you find the best fit when you’re ready to add to or increase your precious metals holdings. Keep reading for the most reputable, top-rated gold dealers available.

Best places to buy gold online

Choosing a gold dealer is similar to choosing a car dealer: You need to work with a company you can trust, one with consistently positive consumer reviews, transparent pricing, and service continuity from purchase to sale.

Furthermore, since investing in precious metals is subject to IRS regulations, it is essential to partner with a gold dealer who can help you remain IRS compliant.

The gold dealers we’ve selected meet all these criteria and more. If you’re in the market for a gold dealer with experience, expertise, and integrity, look no further than these four companies:

• Best overall: American Hartford Gold
• Best intro offer: Anthem Gold Group
• Best price charts: Priority Gold
• Best buyback program: Preserve Gold

American Hartford Gold

Anthem Gold Group

Priority Gold

Preserve Gold

What is a gold dealer?

Gold dealers typically sell investment-grade bullion, coins, bars, and other forms of gold online or at a physical location. They may also sell other precious metals and often provide self-directed precious metals IRAs.

You can generally compare metals prices from multiple dealers and make an informed decision based on factors, such as price transparency, selection, and customer service.

Most dealers offer secure home delivery or the option to store your metals in an insured depository, especially if you hold them in an IRA. (The IRS requires that metals held in an IRA be stored in a secure vault.)

Dealers often carry insurance that covers the metals they store for customers. Many also offer insurance on metals shipped to your home. If they offer this service, you may be able to sell your metals to a gold dealer.

How to identify the most reputable gold dealers

When choosing an online gold dealer, it’s important to be aware of potential scams. Buying gold online is safe if you purchase from a dealer with a good reputation and track record.

Here’s how to evaluate a dealer before buying:

• Research the company: Start by checking the dealer’s website. Does it provide comprehensive information, or is it short on details? Look at the “About Us” page to see how long the company has been in business and where it is based. Then, compare that information to the company’s profile on the Better Business Bureau or the website Crunchbase to confirm it’s accurate.
• Check online reviews: Read the reviews on several sites, such as Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Google. Look for common themes in customer comments, such as concerns about pricing or communication. If all the company’s positive reviews use almost identical language, that could be a sign the reviews are fake.
• Compare prices: All dealers will charge a markup, also known as a premium. This is how they make money so you can expect it. However, some unscrupulous dealers charge exorbitant fees. Check the spot price of gold and compare prices from several dealers to be sure you’re getting a fair price.
• Watch out for high-pressure tactics: The best companies will take the time to get to know you and your investing goals and explain the best options for you. If a sales representative pressures you to make an immediate decision or promises an unbelievable deal, move on. That is not the sign of a quality gold dealer.

What is the best company for me to buy gold from?

Once you have identified reputable gold dealers, it’s time to narrow your options and find one that is right for you.

To do that, ask yourself these questions:

• What type of gold appeals to me? Each dealer will have its inventory of precious metals, including coins, bars, and rounds. Look for a dealer that has your preferred items.
• Do I want to buy online or in person? Online gold dealers are convenient, but some prefer to shop in person. Be sure to vet any local gold dealers to ensure they are a proven business and not a fly-by-night establishment.
• Can I return a purchase? Check for return policies and satisfaction guarantees, but be careful of potential restocking fees. Also, look for buy-back programs that will allow you to sell your gold back to the dealer when you’re ready to liquidate your investment.
• Is the company’s pricing transparent? You want to get the best value for your money, and companies should be upfront about their pricing. You may have to call if prices aren’t listed on the dealer’s website. However, a representative should respond quickly with reliable, transparent information.
• Are payment options convenient? Before you proceed to the payment portion of a transaction, be sure the dealer will accept your preferred payment method. Credit cards, wire transfers, electronic funds transfers, PayPal, and cryptocurrency are some of the payment methods gold dealers might accept.

The advantages of buying gold online

While you could buy gold from a physical store, working with online dealers has several advantages:

1. Online gold dealers may be more affordable, thanks to lower overhead.
2. You’ll likely have a wider selection of metals to choose from.
3. Comparison shopping is quicker and more convenient online than in person.
4. You can take as much time as necessary to consider your purchase before paying.

No-rush, no-pressure shopping is a win in any circ*mstance, but it’s a must when buying precious metals. Buying gold online means you can move at your own pace, research your choices, and only finalize your order when ready.

That doesn’t mean you’ll go it alone, though. Each of our recommended gold dealers offers top-notch customer service, with representatives ready to answer your questions and provide guidance along the way.

FAQ

Can I buy gold from multiple online dealers?

The short answer is yes. You can purchase from multiple online gold dealers. You could also buy from one dealer and sell to another; however, the price competition in this space is fierce, so you might find it difficult to make a profit.

Not all gold dealers are equal, so doing your homework before doing business with them is important.

Evaluate them based on reputation, pricing transparency, customer and third-party reviews, ratings with the Better Business Bureau and similar agencies, and whether they have a physical address.

Some gold dealers offer perks for repeat customers, such as periodic promotions like free storage, no-fee-for-life with specific account minimums, or affiliate or referral programs.

Where can I store the gold that I purchase?

There are three main storage options for gold:

• Home storage
• Bank safe-deposit box
• Depository

If your gold is held in an IRA, it must be kept at a depository, per IRS rules. Depository storage fees vary, but they generally run a few hundred dollars a year, depending on the value of your assets.

Gold stored at home should be kept in a secured location, and both home storage and bank storage may require additional insurance to protect your investment.

Is it better to buy bars or coins?

New gold investors often ask whether they should buy coins or bars. It depends on your situation, preferences, and budget. The following are important differences to consider.

What causes the price of gold to fluctuate?

While gold can be a sound investment that holds its value over time, investors often don’t understand how gold prices are determined.

Stock prices, for example, are often in flux. Stockholders constantly buy and sell shares, which can dramatically affect stock valuations from one hour or day to the next.

On the other hand, gold prices tend to depend on broader global or market trends, rather than on millions of daily transactions. Here are a few examples:

• Fluctuations in the U.S. dollar: When the dollar declines in value, demand for gold and its price often rise.
• Economic instability or geopolitical uncertainty: Market upheaval usually prompts investors to turn to more stable investments, creating additional demand for gold.
• Interest rates: During periods of low interest rates—when assets that generate interest income are likely to generate less—gold demand often spikes.

The volume of gold mined, however, doesn’t appear to significantly impact gold valuation.

That’s largely because the existing supply of extracted gold already meets market demand. As a result, investor activity is usually the driving force behind ramped-up or slowed-down mining activity rather than the other way around.

What other options do I have for investing in gold?

Investing in gold goes beyond buying the physical metal. IRAs let you invest in gold for retirement, while gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mining stocks let you reap the benefits of gold investing with a lower barrier to entry.

Here are the basics of each one.

How we selected the best online gold dealers

Since 2020, LendEDU has evaluated gold dealers to help readers find the best precious metal IRAs and inventories for direct purchase. Our latest analysis reviewed 550 data points from 25 dealers, with 22 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.

These data points are organized into broader categories, which our editorial team weights and scores based on their relative importance to readers. These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.

Higher star ratings are ultimately awarded to companies that create an excellent customer experience with a wide variety of metals for sale. This includes offering a free consultation, cost transparency, and unique benefits.

Recap of the best gold dealers