Best places to buy gold

How to choose where to buy gold

The best seller depends on the product, the amount you intend to buy, how you will pay and where the metal will be kept. A personal purchase can be delivered to you or held under a separate storage agreement; a retirement-account purchase follows the IRA custodian's process. The cash vs IRA guide compares the two routes before you select a dealer.

Use an item-level quotation rather than a headline offer. A minimum order, payment adjustment or shipping charge can change whether a seller fits your budget. Ask each seller for an offer covering the same product, quantity and payment conditions, and request its contemporaneous buyback bid.

The comparison focuses on the services that help a buyer complete and later reverse a transaction: product selection, purchase method, delivery or custody, and the documented route to sell. A named process is a reason to investigate, not proof that the dealer will pay the highest future price. The CFTC's physical-metals advisory explains why the difference between sale and repurchase prices matters.

For a focused comparison between the two online retailers, read APMEX vs JM Bullion. Match the product, quantity and payment method before deciding which written quotation better fits your purchase.

Gold dealers to consider

1. National Gold Group: best for first-time personal buyers weighing delivery and storage

The featured company offered personal delivery or storage for direct orders in October 2026. In October 2026 it offered a buyback program and explained a reference price plus disclosed markup. If you prefer a conversation about the order rather than selecting only from a cart, ask the company to identify the exact item, total amount and conditions in a written confirmation. The company's purchase information is the starting point for a current proposal.

Gold IRA Master’s connection to National Gold Group explains this first placement; compare the complete offer before buying. It does not make the quote automatically cheaper. Ask for the product's purchase price and a same-time bid to repurchase it, then compare the result with an equivalent offer from another seller. If your goal is IRA ownership, confirm the receiving custodian and depository rather than using personal delivery instructions.

Services

• In October 2026 direct purchases were offered for delivery or storage.
• The company also described a buyback program; request its current agreement and scope.
• Its pricing explanation gives you a concrete reason to ask for the reference value and markup on your order.

Pricing

Obtain a current itemized quote. Ask which payment, shipping or insurance charges are included and how long the price is valid. A no-fee buyback description does not establish a future bid or eliminate the spread between buying and selling prices.

Who should choose it

Choose National Gold Group if you value assisted discussion and will compare its written breakdown with another dealer's offer. APMEX or JM Bullion may suit you better if you prefer to begin with online product selection and a documented online selling route. Confirm that the product and service you need are currently available.

2. APMEX: best for experienced buyers selecting a specific bullion product

In October 2026 APMEX offered online bullion sales, an IRA ordering route and a separate process for customers selling metal. Its selling instructions are useful if you want to understand the eventual exit as well as the initial purchase. Check the current product, payment and delivery terms for your order, rather than relying on a historical minimum or promotion.

An online catalog can make it easier to compare product descriptions and quantities before requesting or accepting a price. It also places responsibility on you to confirm that the item in the cart matches the quote and the intended ownership arrangement. An IRA order must follow the receiving custodian's instructions; a personal checkout and retirement-account purchase are not automatically the same process.

Services

• Online bullion sales and a sell-to-company process were offered in October 2026.
• APMEX described an IRA route involving preferred custodians.
• Multiple payment methods were offered in October 2026, each subject to its terms.

Pricing

Compare the final checkout or written total for the exact item and payment method. Ask whether shipping, payment adjustments or other charges apply, and request a current buyback offer for the same quantity. Ask which minimum applies to your order today.

Who should choose it

APMEX is a useful starting point for a buyer who wants to examine online product options and the seller's published sale procedure. If you want a more assisted first conversation, National Gold Group may fit that preference. Check whether your IRA custodian accepts the exact product if the account will own it.

3. JM Bullion: best for existing bullion owners considering a later sale

JM Bullion accepted sales online or by telephone in October 2026. Its selling page is worth reviewing before purchase if you expect to value an online route for requesting a bid. Ask when the price becomes binding, what products and quantities qualify, and how inspection, shipment and payment are handled.

JM Bullion’s selling process separates locking a price, sending the metal and receiving payment after inspection. That distinction matters if you are selling an existing holding to fund a new order. A quoted sale and cleared money are different stages. Match the exact product in the sale request and ask what happens if inspection finds a discrepancy before making another purchase dependent on the proceeds.

The company also described personal delivery and an IRA process. Those are different transactions: direct delivery places the storage decision with you, while an IRA order follows custodian instructions. Do not use an old shipping threshold to estimate your current order. Obtain the actual total and confirm the destination before paying.

Services

• Online and telephone selling channels were offered in October 2026.
• In October 2026 JM Bullion named a custodian for its IRA process; confirm the current institution.
• The company described a range of precious metals and direct-order shipping.

Pricing

Request the complete purchase amount for the exact product and a same-time repurchase quotation. Check the payment method, quote expiry, shipment costs and inspection conditions. A convenient online process does not establish the highest future bid.

Who should choose it

Consider JM Bullion if the documented online sale workflow is important to you and the written quote fits. APMEX is another online option to compare on the same item. For an IRA, confirm the custodian's acceptance and account fees before selecting either dealer.

4. Money Metals Exchange: best for buyers screening weight, purity and resale terms

In October 2026 Money Metals Exchange displayed product weight, purity, spot references, premiums and buyback information. Its legal disclosures are a useful place to understand the company's stated transaction terms. Confirm the actual product page, order total and current bid before making a comparison.

In October 2026 direct shipment and several metals were offered. If you are buying a standard product, published specifications can help you match the item against a competing quote. Specifications alone do not establish the final cost: payment, shipping, insurance, inspection and sale conditions can affect the result.

Services

• Product specifications and pricing information appeared online in October 2026.
• Money Metals described direct shipment and several metal categories.
• It also described an IRA-related buying and selling route; verify compatibility with your custodian.

Pricing

Use a current written or checkout quote for the exact item. Ask which charges apply to your payment and delivery, and whether the listed buyback price is executable for your quantity. Historical transaction terms and online figures may change.

Who should choose it

Consider Money Metals if you want to inspect product specifications before requesting or accepting an order. Compare its complete quote with APMEX or JM Bullion for the same product. If you want a representative-led discussion, National Gold Group is another option to investigate.

5. American Hartford Gold: best for first-time personal buyers considering delivery

In October 2026 American Hartford Gold offered direct purchases and described a buyback commitment that was not a legal guarantee. Its company page supplies the historical starting point for questions about resale. Ask for the current transaction agreement and an actual bid for the products you are considering.

An assisted purchase can help you discuss product choices and the logistics of delivery. It also makes the written order especially important: confirm exactly what you are buying, how the dealer calculated the price and what the agreement says about later sale. A commitment to consider a buyback does not fix the future amount you will receive.

Services

• Direct purchases for personal delivery were offered in October 2026.
• Its October 2026 buyback commitment included limitations.
• It also described an IRA service, which requires a separate account and custody arrangement.

Pricing

Request a current itemized purchase quote and matching repurchase offer. Ask about the applicable transaction agreement, payment method, shipping and any charges. Do not assume that historical delivery terms or an advertised promotion apply to your order today.

Who should choose it

American Hartford Gold may suit a buyer who wants an assisted personal transaction and is comfortable with the written terms. National Gold Group provides another assisted option to compare; an online dealer may fit better if you prefer browsing and ordering through a catalog. Compare the actual product and total, not the consultation format alone.

What makes a gold product a good comparison?

Match the metal content, product name, weight, quantity and condition before comparing prices. A coin and a bar can contain the same weight of gold while carrying different premiums or resale conditions. A special-year or collectible item may appeal to a particular buyer, but its premium should be understood independently of the underlying gold content. Ask the seller why it recommends the item and what it would offer to repurchase it at the same time.

Check who produced the product, what documentation accompanies it and whether the seller has conditions for packaging or inspection. If you intend to hold the metal in an IRA, the custodian must accept the exact item and the storage arrangement. IRS collectibles guidance identifies the eligible coin and bullion exceptions; the IRA’s asset restrictions do not govern every coin a person can buy outside the account.

Do not treat a reference spot price as the final cost of a fabricated product. A premium compares the order price with a relevant reference value, while a spread compares the dealer's sale and buyback prices. Both can matter. The premium and spread guide explains how to ask for each figure without confusing the two.

How to compare offers fairly

Request quotes close together in time. State the product, quantity, payment method, delivery destination and whether the metal is for an IRA or personal ownership. Ask whether each quotation is binding, its expiration, and the charges included in the total. If an offer differs in product or timing, write that difference down before drawing a conclusion.

Invented direct-purchase illustration, excluding delivery and holding expenses:

Request a same-time offer for the identical item. The spread checker cannot predict a future bid.

Look beyond the initial transaction. Ask who pays for shipment and insurance, what happens if inspection differs from the product description, and when the buyer's price is locked. For an IRA sale, confirm that the custodian can authorize the buyer and that the depository can release or transfer the metal under the account agreement. A repurchase discussion leaves the later amount unsettled and cannot assure a profit.

Delivery, storage and insurance

For personal delivery, confirm the shipping method, signature requirements and procedure for a lost or damaged parcel. Ask when responsibility for a lost or damaged shipment passes under the seller’s terms, who submits the claim and which records the claim requires. A seller's statement that a shipment is insured needs the applicable coverage and exclusions to be meaningful.

Once you receive personal metal, security and insurance become your responsibility. A home safe and a third-party vault offer different access and custody arrangements. Ask a storage provider how it records your holdings, whether the exact items are returned and how you can authorize a movement. Insurance for specified physical losses cannot guarantee the metal's market value.

IRA metal requires a custody arrangement accepted by the account institution. Ask the custodian which depositories it uses, how the account statement identifies the holdings and what property would be delivered if you later request an in-kind distribution. The storage comparison explains the questions to ask about segregated and non-segregated arrangements.

How to evaluate a dealer's written offer

An offer should make it possible to reconstruct the transaction. Look for the seller's legal name, the product and quantity, the price, the payment method, delivery terms and the period for which the quote remains valid. Ask which agreement applies if the order confirmation refers to a separate policy. If you are buying more than one item, request the price or clear description of each rather than relying solely on a bundled total.

Check the payment instructions using the seller's verified contact information and the written order. A change to bank details or destination deserves independent confirmation with the company through a known channel. Ask when the order becomes binding and what happens if payment or delivery is delayed. Keep the invoice and confirmation so the final transaction can be checked against what was offered.

For a future sale, ask for the buyer's product acceptance and inspection process before shipping. A bid may be conditional on the received item's identity and condition. Confirm who pays for shipment and insurance, how a price is locked and when funds are paid. If you have multiple products, request item-level quotations where possible so you understand the proceeds for each.

A bundled offer deserves an itemized comparison. If a seller proposes a mix of coins, request the quantity and purchase amount for each line. Then obtain a bid for each item you might sell separately. This lets you see whether the bundle solves your needs or ties a familiar bullion product to another item you would not otherwise choose. Do not assign a resale value to a promotional item merely because the package describes it as free.

Keep product identification separate from account value. A receipt describing only a dollar allocation gives you less to compare than a confirmation naming the coin or bar, its weight and quantity. When a substitute is proposed because your requested product is unavailable, decide whether you want that substitute before accepting its price. Similar gold content does not settle whether the two products have matching resale conditions.

How a purchase fits your wider plan

Decide how much physical metal you need before a salesperson recommends a quantity. Gold can fluctuate in value and does not eliminate the risks of the rest of a portfolio. Consider your need for cash, your intended holding period and whether you can absorb both market movement and transaction costs. A qualified adviser can help consider those questions alongside your complete finances.

The amount you intend to purchase can affect practical choices. Ask whether the seller has a minimum order or buyback requirement, and whether its payment and shipping conditions vary with the amount. A historical threshold in a company profile may have changed. Obtain the current condition before using it to rule a dealer in or out.

If you are considering a retirement account, consult the existing plan administrator and the receiving IRA custodian before a dealer issues an order. The administrator can explain whether the funds are eligible to move, and the custodian can identify the approved purchase and delivery process. The rollover guide compares the possible routes for retirement funds. Your tax situation may require advice beyond a general product comparison.

Finally, plan how you will document and store the purchase. Keep the product description, invoice, delivery confirmation and applicable insurance or vault agreement together. If the item is later sold, those records help identify the product and the terms you accepted. A clear record is useful regardless of whether you choose a representative-led purchase or an online order.

Questions to ask before payment

• Which product and quantity appear in the final price?
• Which payment, shipping, insurance and handling charges apply?
• How long is the purchase quote valid, and when does it become binding?
• What is a contemporaneous bid for those exact items?
• What inspection, shipment or minimum-order conditions govern a future sale?
• If the purchase is for an IRA, which custodian approves the product and receives the invoice?
• What documents confirm the order, delivery and any storage arrangement?

For a first coin, choose the seller whose order and delivery terms you can follow without guessing, with National Gold Group the featured assisted option. If you already know the product and can compare its specifications yourself, start with APMEX and use another online retailer’s matching offer as a price check. An existing owner planning a sale should put inspection and settlement terms first; an IRA buyer should begin with the receiving custodian’s acceptance. Pay only for the route you actually intend to use.