Disclaimer: Some or all of the companies listed on this page my provide compensation to us. This is how we maintain our free service for consumers that visit us. Compensation & hard research determine where and how companies appear below.
Are you looking for a safe and secure way to buy precious metals online? You're not alone. In today's uncertain times, many investors and collectors turn to gold, silver and other precious metals as a reliable way to preserve and grow their wealth. Purchasing precious metals online is a great way to get the right product for the right price, but navigating the many different options can also be daunting.
This guide will give you the information you need to find the best online precious metals dealers and offer tips on safely buying and storing your investments. With our help, you can start building your precious metal portfolio in no time.
Benefits of Buying Precious Metals Online
The availability of precious metals is only one example of how the Internet revolution has simplified the shopping experience for consumers. Online businesses can provide lower prices since they don't have to worry about expensive overhead or a restricted consumer base.
Instead of paying more than $5 over spot for gold and silver at brick-and-mortar stores, you may expect to spend only a few dollars over spot when you purchase online. Because a single storefront does not restrict them, online merchants may stock a wider selection of goods, including those of superior quality.
Furthermore, unlike brick-and-mortar stores, internet sellers do not adjust their prices in response to market variations in the price of metals. Here are some of the advantages of buying precious metals online.
Convenience
One of the biggest advantages of buying precious metals online is convenience. You can shop for these metals from your home without visiting a physical store. This saves you time and energy, as you don't have to go out and look for the right product. Furthermore, you can compare the prices and features of different products to make an informed decision.
Variety
By buying online, you have access to a wide variety of options regarding types of precious metals, sizes and even the quality of the metals. This allows you to choose the exact type of precious metal you want, which can be a huge advantage depending on your purchase. You can also find rarer metals or coins that may not be available in physical stores, giving you access to a broader range of options than if you were to purchase in-store.
Security
When you purchase precious metals online, you can rest assured that your purchase is secure. Your financial information, including credit card and banking information, is kept safe and secure when you make an online purchase. Furthermore, online retailers use sophisticated encryption technology to ensure the safety of all transactions.
Additionally, reputable online retailers comply with industry regulations, so you can be sure that your purchase is legitimate. Furthermore, because the transaction is digital, it's much easier to track and document than an in-person purchase. This provides an added layer of protection for buyers. Finally, there is less risk of theft or fraud when you buy precious metals online because there is no physical exchange of funds.
Affordability
By shopping for precious metals online, you can access an array of options and competitive pricing that you may not find in traditional stores. You can compare prices from different sellers and buy from whichever offers the best value.
You don't have to pay sales tax in many states when purchasing precious metals online, allowing you to keep more money in your pocket.
Online shops typically carry a wide variety of popular coins, bars and rounds at lower premiums than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Some vendors offer deep discounts on bulk purchases, reducing the cost of acquiring your desired investment.
Shopping online also allows investors to search for products that may be difficult to locate in physical stores or that are no longer produced, such as collectible coins or commemorative items. Finally, online sellers offer free shipping, which helps offset the cost of your purchase.
Expert Advice
Buying precious metals online can provide expert advice about the products, their potential for investment and the current market conditions that might affect their value.
Online dealers often have more knowledge and experience working with precious metals than local stores and they can provide valuable insight into the different types of metals and coins available and the current market conditions.
They can also help you find the best deals on the products and give you advice on how to buy them without taking on too much risk. With their help and expertise, you can make better decisions about the type of metal and where to buy it.
Choice of Payment Methods
Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar stores, many online dealers offer payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, wire transfers and other convenient methods. This gives buyers greater flexibility in how they pay for their purchases, allowing them to choose the best option.
The ability to pay with a major credit card can be a handy feature for those who wish to purchase precious metals on credit. Many online dealers offer this service, allowing buyers to spread out their payments over time and enjoy the convenience of paying with plastic.
PayPal is another popular payment method, as it offers a fast, secure way to make online payments without needing a credit card. Additionally, many online dealers accept wire transfers, which can be an ideal solution for those looking to purchase large amounts of precious metals.
Transparency
Purchasing precious metals online lets you view real-time prices and see exact product specifications such as the metal's purity, weight and dimensions. This level of transparency helps ensure that buyers receive what they pay for and are not subject to inaccurate pricing or fraudulent products.
Many online precious metal dealers provide detailed information about the product, such as its origin and other relevant histories. This gives buyers an informed understanding of what they are buying and allows them to make a more informed decision when making their purchase.
Speed
Online purchases can often be completed in a matter of minutes. This is because the process is typically much simpler than buying through traditional methods. When you purchase precious metals online, there is no need to meet with a seller or broker, which can involve lengthy negotiations and paperwork.
Online purchases are often made quickly and securely due to digital payment systems. This means you don't have to wait for physical checks to clear or for bank transfers to be completed before receiving your purchase. This makes buying precious metals online much faster than going through traditional methods, saving you time and money.
Where Can I Buy Precious Metals Online?
There are many online precious metals dealers to choose from, but not all are trustworthy. Here are our favorites based on how other customers rate them:
#1. Goldco
Goldco is one of the leading online precious metals dealers in the United States. They are a full-service precious metals dealer specializing in gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins and bars. They offer competitive pricing and a wide selection of products from some of the world's most trusted mints and refineries.
Their staff is knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, offering personalized advice and support to their customers. They also provide storage options for their clients and have been rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
Goldco is committed to providing a safe and secure way to purchase precious metals with its convenient online ordering system and prompt delivery. They also offer free shipping on orders over $199 and a 30-day money-back guarantee on any product that is not completely satisfied.
Augusta Precious Metals is one of the leading online dealers of precious metals in the United States. They offer a wide selection of gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins and bars from renowned mints worldwide. They are an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have an A+ rating from the BBB.
Their selection includes bullion, numismatic, graded and collectible coins. They also carry various investment-grade coins, including American Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs.
At Augusta Precious Metals, they prioritize customer service and satisfaction with every purchase. They offer competitive product prices and commit to providing fast and reliable shipping.
They also offer free shipping on orders over $199, guaranteeing that your order will arrive in perfect condition. In addition, they provide an IRA-approved depository for clients who wish to store their investments in a secure and insured facility.
American Hartford Gold is a leading online dealer of precious metals. They offer a wide selection of gold and silver coins, bars, platinum and palladium products. They also provide IRA-eligible products for investors who wish to diversify their retirement portfolios with precious metals.
American Hartford Gold is committed to providing customers with the highest quality products at competitive prices. They pride themselves on offering their customers fast shipping and secure storage options. Their knowledgeable customer service team is available to answer customers' questions about their products.
#4. Birch Gold Group
Birch Gold Group is another popular online dealer for precious metals investments. They offer a wide variety of coins, bars and rounds at competitive prices. Their selection includes gold, silver, platinum and palladium in many forms.
The company also offers IRA accounts, which allow you to use a portion of your retirement funds to invest in physical metals. When you purchase from Birch Gold Group, you can rest assured that all products are certified and authentic.
They are an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau and have received numerous positive reviews from its customers. Moreover, they have a knowledgeable and friendly staff who is always willing to answer any questions.
#5. Noble Gold
Noble gold is one of the US's top online precious metals dealers. They offer a wide selection of gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins and bars. Their products come from some of the most trusted mints and refineries worldwide, ensuring you get the highest quality.
With Noble Gold, you can invest in physical gold, silver coins and bars without worrying about storage or transport. They also have a full range of IRA-eligible bullion products to help you diversify your retirement portfolio.
They offer a safe, secure and convenient way to store your bullion in their insured facility and they have knowledgeable staff who can help you make the right investment decisions for you.
Why Invest in Precious Metals?
Investing in precious metals can be a great way to diversify your portfolio and protect your wealth from market volatility. Here are some of the reasons why investors choose to invest in precious metals:
How Do I Invest in Precious Metals?
There are several ways to invest in precious metals. Here are some of the most popular methods.
Physical Metals
This is the most direct way to invest in precious metals. You can buy gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals in their physical form, coins or bars.
Coins typically have a higher premium due to their collectability and numismatic value. However, it is important to note that coins must meet certain purity requirements to qualify for IRA investments.
The IRS requires coins to be at least 99.5% pure gold or silver, with some exceptions depending on the coin type. Bars must also meet the purity requirements and come in various sizes and purities.
ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds)
ETFs are similar to mutual funds in that they are baskets of securities that track the performance of a specific index or sector. But unlike mutual funds, ETFs can be traded on major stock exchanges throughout the day.
When investing in precious metals ETFs, you purchase shares in a fund that tracks the underlying asset price, such as gold or silver. As the price of the asset changes, so will the value of the ETF. This makes it easy to take advantage of price fluctuations in the precious metals market without purchasing physical metals.
ETFs are traded like stocks, meaning they can be bought and sold anytime during market hours. When you buy an ETF, you purchase a share of the fund and its underlying assets, including stocks, bonds, commodities or other securities. As the underlying asset's price changes, the ETF's value will rise or fall accordingly.
When investing in precious metals ETFs, it is important to understand the underlying asset that the ETF tracks. Many ETFs track the price of gold or silver, but some track other metals such as palladium and platinum. Additionally, some ETFs focus on mining companies, which can provide greater diversification and less volatility.
Mining Stocks
Precious metals mining stocks represent ownership in companies that mine and extract precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium and other metals from the earth. As with most investments, you are purchasing a piece of a company and as such, you will seek to benefit from any increase in the value of the company itself.
When investing in mining stocks, you must take into account a variety of factors including the type of mining operations the company is involved in, the company's financial stability and track record, the political and economic stability of the region where the company operates and the market for the metals being mined.
Precious Metals Mutual Funds
These mutual funds invest in companies producing precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium. These funds are attractive to investors because they offer the potential for strong returns while providing diversification and protection against market downturns.
These funds will invest in various stocks related to the mining, extraction, manufacturing or distribution of precious metals. This provides investors with a broad portfolio of investments, which can reduce risk by spreading their investments across multiple sectors and industries.
The performance of a precious metals mutual fund will also depend on the price of the underlying commodities. As the price of gold, silver, platinum or palladium rises or falls, so will the fund's value. This means that you should be aware of the current prices of precious metals and be prepared to adjust your portfolios accordingly.
Options and Futures
Options are a type of derivative security that gives the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price on or before a specified date.
When trading options, investors typically pay a premium upfront for purchasing or selling a certain amount of the precious metal at a certain price.
The investor may then exercise this right before the expiration date and receive the difference between the strike price and the current market price.
Futures contracts are derivative security that allows investors to lock in a future price for a particular asset. With a futures contract, an investor agrees to purchase or sell a certain amount of precious metal at a certain date.
The price of the precious metal at the time of the transaction is determined by the "spot" or current market price. However, if the spot price changes, the investor is obligated to purchase or sell the asset at the originally agreed-upon price.
Final Thoughts
When buying precious metals online, there are a few important things to consider before making a purchase. First, research to ensure you're buying from a reputable source. Look for reviews and customer feedback to ensure the company is reliable and trustworthy.
Also, look into any fees and taxes associated with purchasing precious metals online, as these can vary depending on where you live. Finally, consider the different payment options and shipping times available when purchasing.
Our recommended precious metal companies are ones that we trust to take care of our customers. They have impeccable customer service, offer fair and transparent pricing and provide free shipping with no hidden fees.