Augusta Precious Metals vs. Goldco (2026): Which Gold IRA Fits You?
Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco, in short: Augusta fits people moving $50,000 or more who want an education session first and up to 10 years of account fees paid (per Augusta), while Goldco starts at $25,000, publishes about $225 to $275 a year in account fees and runs bonus silver promotions. Both hold A+ ratings with the BBB. Here is the full comparison.
Choose Augusta if…
You’re moving $50,000 or more and want a free education session before you buy, no management fee on the IRA, and one agent for the life of the account.
Choose Goldco if…
You’re moving $25,000 to $50,000, want fees posted up front, or want the longest track record of the two.
For people moving $50,000 or more from savings, an IRA, or a 401(k).
Free · No obligation to buy
Augusta vs Goldco: company snapshot
Augusta Precious Metals Our pick for $50k+
- In business since
- 2012
- Minimum
- $50,000
- BBB
- A+, accredited since 2015
- Management fee
- None on the IRA itself
- Known for
- Free education session before any purchase
Goldco
- In business since
- 2006
- Minimum
- $25,000
- BBB
- A+, accredited since 2011
- Yearly fees
- About $225 after year one (per Goldco)
- Known for
- Published fees, bonus silver on larger orders
Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco: full comparison table
| Category | Augusta | Goldco |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | $50,000 | $25,000 |
| In business since | 2012 | 2006 |
| BBB rating | A+ (accredited 2015) | A+ (accredited 2011) |
| Setup fee | $50 (custodian) | $50 |
| Yearly management fee | None of its own | $125 (Goldco’s cost page; its FAQ says about $80) |
| Yearly storage | $110 (storage and insurance), paid by Augusta for up to 10 years | $100 non-segregated, $150 segregated |
| Fees published online | Yes, in its FAQ | Yes |
| Promotions | Up to 10 years of custodian and storage fees paid; shipping and insurance covered on qualifying orders | Up to 10% bonus silver on qualifying orders |
| Storage | Recommends Delaware Depository; fully allocated | Segregated or non-segregated, your choice |
| Buyback | Has never declined one (per Augusta); not guaranteed | Advertises its “highest buyback guarantee” and no liquidation fees |
| Setup time | Education session first | A few days to two weeks for the rollover (per Goldco) |
| Education | Free web conference; salaried, non-commissioned educators (per Augusta) | Phone consultation with a specialist |
Sources: Augusta’s minimum, fees, storage, and buyback wording from Augusta’s FAQ. Goldco’s minimum and fees from How Much Does a Gold IRA Cost? and its Gold IRA FAQs; buyback wording from Goldco’s About page. BBB dates from Augusta’s and Goldco’s BBB profiles. Goldco’s 2006 founding date is as reported by the company’s founder. Checked September 2026.
Where Augusta wins, and where Goldco wins
Neither company is better at everything. Here’s an honest look at both sides of the Augusta vs Goldco decision.
Augusta Precious Metals
Where it wins
- Free education web conference before any purchase
- No management fee on the IRA itself
- Shipping and insurance covered on qualifying orders
- Dedicated agent and lifetime account support (per Augusta)
- Candid that no buyback can be legally guaranteed
Trade-offs
- $50,000 minimum is double Goldco’s
- The spread per coin is not published as a percentage
- Onboarding starts with a scheduled call
Goldco
Where it wins
- $25,000 minimum, half of Augusta’s
- Setup, management, and storage fees published online
- Choice of segregated or non-segregated storage
- Up to 10% bonus silver on qualifying orders of $50,000+
- Longest history of the two, since 2006
Trade-offs
- $125 yearly management fee that Augusta doesn’t charge
- Its own pages quote different management fees ($80 vs $125)
- “Highest buyback guarantee” is marketing language; get the terms in writing
Augusta vs Goldco fees: what you’ll actually pay
Both companies publish their account fees. Goldco charges about $225 to $275 a year. Augusta lists $235 a year, and says it pays those fees for up to 10 years on every account.
$50 setup. Augusta says it pays the $125 custodian and $110 storage fees for up to 10 years on every account.
If your account gets the full 10 years of fees paid; $2,400 with no offer. Details in our Augusta fees and minimum guide.
$50 setup + $125 management + $100 to $150 storage, per Goldco’s cost page.
$125 management + $100 non-segregated storage, or about $275 with segregated storage.
What to ask Augusta for in writing, so you can compare:
- How many years of custodian and storage fees Augusta will pay on your account
- Whether the $50 setup fee is covered
- Whether storage is segregated or commingled at that price
- The price over spot on each product you’re considering
Compare Goldco’s bonus silver and Augusta’s covered shipping the same way: ask what the total cost over spot is after the promotion. The dealer spread is often a bigger number than a year of fees.
See how these numbers compare across four companies in our Gold IRA fees guide.
Buyback terms: Augusta vs Goldco
Goldco advertises “the industry’s highest buyback guarantee” plus no fees when you liquidate. It’s a strong promise, so ask for the exact written terms: how the buyback price is calculated, and whether it applies to every product you buy.
Augusta says it has historically bought back its customers’ gold and silver and, at the time of writing, had never declined a buyback. It also states that the law prohibits it from guaranteeing it will repurchase what it sells.
For the step-by-step process, how the price is set and how long payment takes, see our Augusta Precious Metals buyback guide.
Whichever you choose, the useful question is the same: what price would you pay me today, relative to spot, if I sold this back?
Where your metal is stored, explained
Both companies store IRA metals at IRS-approved depositories, as IRC Section 408(m) requires, so home storage isn’t an option with either.
Augusta recommends Delaware Depository and says metals are stored fully allocated and off the depository’s balance sheet. Goldco lets you choose segregated storage ($150 a year) or non-segregated storage ($100 a year) at the depositories it works with; ask which facility your metal would go to.
Segregated storage keeps your exact bars and coins separate under your name. Non-segregated storage holds your share alongside identical metal owned by others. Both are held in insured, IRS-approved facilities; the difference is mostly cost and whether the exact items matter to you.
Augusta or Goldco: which one is right for you?
Choose Augusta if:
You’re rolling over $50,000 or more, you’re new to Gold IRAs, and you want fees, storage, and IRS rules explained before you sign anything. The education session comes first, and there’s no management fee on the IRA.
Choose Goldco if:
You’re moving between $25,000 and $50,000, you want to see every fee before you call, or you’re placing a large order and want to compare Goldco’s bonus silver against other offers.
Consider neither, for now, if:
You’re moving less than $25,000, or you haven’t decided whether physical metal belongs in your retirement plan. Precious metals pay no interest or dividends, and their price can fall.
Starting smaller? See our picks by amount. Rolling over a 401(k)? Our guide to the Gold IRA rollover process covers direct transfers and the 60-day rule. And before you call anyone, read the 5 Gold IRA scam red flags.
Augusta vs Goldco: frequently asked questions
Is Goldco legitimate?
Goldco was founded in 2006 and has held BBB accreditation with an A+ rating since 2011. It publishes its core Gold IRA fees and stores IRA metals at IRS-approved depositories. As with any company, read the complaints on its BBB profile and get every fee and buyback term in writing before you fund an account.
Which has the lower minimum, Augusta or Goldco?
Goldco. It generally requires $25,000 to start a Gold IRA, half of Augusta Precious Metals’ $50,000 minimum for IRA and cash purchases.
How do Augusta and Goldco fees compare?
Goldco’s cost page lists a $50 setup fee, a $125 yearly management fee, and $100 a year for non-segregated storage or $150 for segregated, or about $275 to $325 in the first year and about $225 a year after that. Augusta charges no management fee on the IRA and lists $235 a year in custodian and storage fees, which it says it pays for up to 10 years on every account. Compare the number of fee-free years and the spread with Goldco’s list.
Which company has been around longer?
Goldco. It was founded in 2006 and has been BBB accredited since 2011. Augusta Precious Metals has been in business since 2012 and BBB accredited since 2015. Both hold A+ ratings.
What is Goldco’s buyback guarantee?
Goldco advertises the industry’s highest buyback guarantee plus no fees when you liquidate. Ask for the written terms, including how the buyback price is calculated relative to spot and which products it covers. Augusta, by comparison, says it has never declined a buyback but that the law prevents it from guaranteeing one.
Does Goldco offer segregated storage?
Yes. Goldco lets you choose segregated storage, at $150 a year on its cost page, or non-segregated storage at $100 a year. Augusta recommends Delaware Depository and says its customers’ metals are stored fully allocated.
Does Goldco offer bonus silver?
Goldco advertises up to 10% in bonus silver on qualifying orders: 5% on purchases of $50,000 to $99,999 and 10% on $100,000 or more. Compare the total price over spot after any bonus, since promotions don’t change the underlying spread.
Which is better for a first-time Gold IRA investor?
It depends mostly on the amount. If you are moving $50,000 or more and want a free education session before you buy, Augusta is the stronger fit. If you are moving between $25,000 and $50,000, Goldco is the practical choice because Augusta cannot open your account.
Can I move my Gold IRA from one company to the other later?
Generally yes. A self-directed IRA can be transferred between custodians, and metals can often be moved without selling them, though there may be paperwork and transfer fees. Ask about transfer-out fees before you open an account.
Are you paid by Augusta or Goldco?
We have an affiliate relationship with Augusta Precious Metals only, so we may earn a commission if you become a customer through our links. We are not paid by Goldco, and we point out where Goldco is the better choice.
Keep comparing
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