Buying gold online can feel like a risky venture, especially with the possibility of getting counterfeit gold. With so many places to buy gold online, it’s important to find a dealer that you can trust. We have found the best online gold dealers that have a solid industry reputation, transparent pricing, low fees, reliable shipping, and helpful customer service. APMEX has been selling gold and other precious metals online since 2000 and has become the world’s largest online gold retailer. With a staff of over 200 and more than 130 million ounces of gold and silver in sales since its inception, APMEX is the industry standard for purchasing gold online. APMEX was founded by Scott Thomas who started buying and selling coins online after selling his grandfather’s coin collection on eBay in 1999. His coin-selling business grew quickly, and he formed the American Precious Metals Exchange in 2000. The company is headquartered in Oklahoma City, and its office was previously located in the Federal Reserve of Oklahoma building. APMEX has grown into a billion-dollar business, selling gold in over 60 countries around the world, as well as storing client-owned gold in their onsite vaults. APMEX offers gold coins, bullion, and other gold products online. Plus, it has secure storage through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Citadel. APMEX is focused on the end-to-end customer experience, with a simple-to-use website, transparent online pricing, secure third-party shipping partners, and customer service support over the phone or via live online chat. There’s a limited seven-day return policy on all purchases. You can buy gold with a credit card, check, bank wire, and even cryptocurrency. Money Metals Exchange was founded in 2010 by Stefan Gleason as a place to buy gold and silver at very competitive prices. The company has since grown, with over 250,000 customers to date, and an ever-expanding product selection offers gold investors more options than most online gold dealers. Money Metals Exchange carries gold coins, rounds, bars, and bullion, as well as historic gold coins and other minted gold products from around the world. It offers starter packages for beginner investors to buy a portfolio of gold and silver products in a single purchase. There’s also a $100 per month automatic savings plan for regular gold investments. Money Metals Exchange offers free shipping on all orders over $500, and all of its products are shipped with proper carrier insurance to protect your investment. Buying gold on the Money Metals Exchange website is fairly straightforward, but there are some limitations regarding payment. While users can purchase with a debit or credit card, a 4 percent payment processing fee is included for debit and credit cards that is passed on to the consumer. JM Bullion was founded in 2011 by Michael Wittmeyer and Jonathan Wanchalk and has over 500,000 customers with almost 4 million orders shipped. In fact, it was recognized in 2016 as the No. 1 fastest-growing precious metals company in the U.S. by Inc.com. JM Bullion offers a simple, user-friendly way to buy gold online. Its website gives customers access to gold charts for spot pricing, and its built-in knowledge base helps give quick answers to frequently asked questions. Customers can purchase gold coins, bars, rounds, bullion, and other gold products on the website, as well as purchase IRA-approved gold for retirement investing. Fees are fairly competitive and shipping is free on orders over $199 (USPS only). Orders under $199 cost $7.99 for USPS shipping. Golden Eagle Coins was founded in 1974 by Bob Mangels Sr. and Richard Stelfox, and has grown to become the largest gold coin and bullion dealer in the Washington, D.C., metro area. With popular gold coins such as the American Gold Eagle, American Gold Buffalo Coin, South African Gold Krugerrand, and Chinese Gold Panda, there’s a gold coin for every type of investor. Golden Eagle Coins offers an extensive library to help educate consumers on how to invest in precious metals and coins. It also hosts a blog that reviews coins and collections, as well as offers more educational insights into the world of rare coin investing. With over 20,000 5-star reviews and excellent customer service, Golden Eagle Coins has established itself as one of the most reputable online gold dealers in the industry. Its team of experts can be reached via phone, fax, or email. In-person appointments can be made at the company’s office in Laurel, Maryland. Golden Eagle offers free shipping on orders of $99 or more, and shipping is $9.95 for orders under $99. There’s a seven-day return policy on any order, though it may be subject to a restocking and market loss fee. Provident Metals founded in 2009 by Joseph Merrick and quickly became a prominent online place to buy all precious metals, including gold, silver, copper, platinum, and palladium. It offers U.S. and Canadian minted metals, as well as other mints from around the world. Provident was acquired by JM Bullion in 2019. Provident carries a wide range of precious metals, in coin, bar, rounds, and other forms. It also sells limited-edition minted coins series from the U.S. and other mints around the world. These include the coins of Egyptian Gods, Provident Year of the Bull, Provident Prospector, World of Dragons, Warrior Series, Queen’s Beasts, and the Four Horsemen series. Provident has excellent reviews online, with over 40,000 five-star reviews, and more than 1 million orders shipped since inception. Provident ships within the U.S. only and offers free shipping on all orders over $199. Orders under that incur a shipping cost of $7.99. Provident also offers a five-day return policy, allowing customers to return their orders within five days for any reason. Returns are subject to a market loss policy. SD Bullion started in 2011 and has since grown to one of the largest online retailers for gold and silver investors. With over 250,000 customers and over $1 billion in sales since inception, SD Bullion is a trusted source for low-priced gold and silver. They also offer free storage of purchased gold for the first three months (and prices start at $9.99 per month after that), giving customers a safe place to store their gold. SD Bullion offers free shipping within the U.S. on all orders over $199 and charges $9.95 for all orders under $199. It ships internationally as well. The selection at SD Bullion is somewhat limited, with several items not in stock compared to their competitors. For example, it may only have one type of American Eagle gold coin available at a time, while its competitors have a much larger selection in stock. SD Bullion accepts most payment methods, including Bitcoin.
What Are Online Gold Dealers?
Online gold dealers are companies that buy and sell gold online, usually based on the current spot price of gold. These dealers usually have a small markup on the spot price, which they collect as a fee for their services. Gold dealers can sell gold coins, rounds, bars, and other bullion.
Is Buying Gold Online Safe?
For a safer experience, purchase from a reputable dealer with a stellar track record, as there are scams in the precious metals industry with less-that-honest “dealers” selling lower-quality or even counterfeit gold products to unsuspecting buyers. Always research the company before buying gold from it, check online reviews from third-party review sites, and look up ratings on sites like the Better Business Bureau to ensure there are no outstanding claims.
What Is the Best Online Gold Dealer?
We chose American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX) as the best because it sells gold in more than 60 countries, offering coins, bullion, and other gold products online. Plus, it has secure storage through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Citadel. Its simple-to-use website, transparent online pricing, secure shipping partners, and customer service support makes APMEX safe and easy to use.
Where Should I Store Gold Purchased From an Online Gold Dealer?
Gold should be stored in a safe location, such as a deposit box at a bank, or in a quality fire safe in your home. Many online gold dealers offer secure storage as well, allowing investors to keep their gold purchase with the dealer until they want to take delivery of it. No matter where you store it, however, make sure the gold is properly insured to prevent loss due to theft, or any other reason.
How Do I Know If an Online Gold Dealer Is Reputable?
Find a reputable online gold dealer requires that you research a few criteria: Industry reputation: Find a dealer that has been in business long enough to have amassed customer reviews and industry recognition (such as awards). Pricing transparency: A reputable dealer will have up-to-the-minute spot pricing on gold, as well as clear fee disclosures for things like shipping and returns. Multiple payment methods: A quality dealer will accept various payment methods, including credit and debit cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency. Physical HQ: Make sure the gold dealer has a physical location, not just an online presence.
Methodology
We reviewed a dozen online gold dealers and chose the top candidates based on their industry reputation, pricing, customer experience, inventory, payment options, shipping, and transparency. We found six companies that excelled in these areas and ranked them based on their strengths in six different categories. Every gold dealer offers different advantages, and depending on your goals, all of these companies could be a great option.
