Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals [2024]

In the past 20 years, the price of silver has risen by 254.54% – while the price of gold has also increased by 406.70%.

That is why many people are excited to invest in precious metals.

Luckily, there are companies that make it easy to convert your savings into gold and silver – and Augusta Precious Metals.

So, which company is right for you?

Below, I’ll dig into the Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals debate. I’ll explain how these companies work, how the fees compare, and how you can decide which to invest in. 

Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals Overview

There’s a reason the Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals conversation is worth having: The companies have a very similar business model. They both offer individual retirement accounts (IRAs) while also letting you buy gold and silver directly.

But how exactly does each company operate? There are some slight differences to consider. I’ll walk you through them below. 

What is Goldco and How Does Goldco Work?

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Calabasas, California, Goldco is a major force in the precious metals industry. The company has placed over $2 billion in precious metals over the years. Talk about a lot of gold and silver!

Goldco also has a sterling online reputation, earning 4.7 stars on Trustpilot and an A+ grade from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

With Goldco, you can choose to invest in a Precious Metals IRA or simply buy gold and silver. This is true for both companies in the Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals discussion.

The main advantage of going for a Precious Metals IRA is that you could save some money on taxes. You can also roll an existing retirement account into gold and silver – which is super easy with a Goldco representative helping you through the process.

What does that process look like? You can get a Goldco Precious Metals IRA in three simple steps:

1. Open your individual retirement account. Start by calling 855-450-1394 or head to the official Goldco website for service via live chat. You can also go through the website to request an informational kit on investing in gold and silver.
2. Fund the account. The minimum investment for a Goldco IRA is $25,000. If you already have a different IRA, you can roll the funds over.
3. Buy gold and silver. This is a “self-directed IRA,” so you get to make your own purchases. The metals will be stored in a secure depository, and once you turn 59 ½, you can choose to receive distributions as cash or physical gold and silver.

If you’d rather buy precious metals without opening an IRA, the process is just as simple. Start by calling or messaging Goldco. From there, you’ll have to sign a customer agreement, transfer some funds to your account, and choose your precious metals. You’ll also get to decide whether you want the metals sent to a secure depository or your home.

Want more information on how Goldco operates? Check out this Goldco review.

What is Augusta Precious Metals and How Does Augusta Precious Metals Work?

Like Goldco, Augusta Precious Metals is an American company that can help you invest in gold and silver. 

Augusta Precious Metals was founded in 2012 – making it the slightly newer option in the Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals debate. But the company has wasted no time catching up to its rival. It now has over 50 employees and a super strong reputation, earning 4.6 stars on the review site Trustpilot. 

There are two ways to invest in precious metals through Augusta Precious Metals:

1. A silver and gold IRA. This retirement account allows you to avoid certain taxes and get the most out of your investment. You can fund your account with money from an existing IRA and then use it to buy gold and silver.
2. Gold and silver cash purchases. This is just what it sounds like. You buy precious metals directly from the company without creating an IRA. Start by funding your account with a cash transfer, and then buy the gold and silver products you want. Your purchases will be delivered to you, and you can decide where to store them from there.

Both options have a $50,000 minimum investment. Don’t have that much to invest in gold and silver? Then Goldco, with its $25,000 minimum for an IRA, is easily the better choice for you in the Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco discussion.

Now if you do plan to invest $50,000 or more, you can take advantage of Augusta Precious Metals’ greatest strength: customer service.

Augusta Precious Metals goes above and beyond to make sure you have the information you need. Not only is the website full of helpful articles, but there’s also a phone number you can call for one-to-one assistance – and this support will last for as long as you have the account. 

You could also be invited to the annual Augusta Gold & Silver Web Conference, where you can hear from the company’s Director of Education, Devlyn Steele.

You read that right: Augusta Precious Metals has a “Director of Education.” That’s how much they care about keeping their customers informed!

To get started with Augusta Precious Metals, call 800-700-1008. Or, you can head to the official Augusta Precious Metals website and click “Request Free Kit” for more information about investing in gold and silver.

Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals Fees

Unfortunately, neither company in the Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals conversation is free. 

How much can you expect to pay – and which company is cheaper? I’ll explain below.

*Spoiler alert: Goldco wins this round of the “Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals” competition. 

Goldco Fees

Goldco’s fees for IRAs are simple – and they’re pretty low, too! That’s why Goldco is the clear winner in this portion of the Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco debate. 

Let’s start with the one-time setup fee. It’s only $50! Not bad, right?

Then there’s the annual account administration fee, which is $80 per year. That’s pretty fair when you consider all that Goldco’s representatives will do for you.

The last fee associated with a Goldco Precious Metals IRA is the annual storage fee.

You have two options for storage with a Goldco Precious Metals IRA:

1. Unsegregated storage for $100 per year. (Your metals will be stored alongside other people’s gold and silver.)
2. Segregated storage for $150. (Your gold and silver will be stored on their own.)

If you choose the non-segregated storage, your Goldco IRA will only cost $230 the first year and $180 every year after that.

Augusta Precious Metals Fees

The good news is that Augusta is super transparent about its fees, so you won’t be hit with any costly surprises.

The bad news is that Augusta’s fees are a little higher than Goldco’s. That’s why Augusta Precious Metals takes the “L” in this portion of the Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals comparison. 

Here are the fees you might have to pay with the Augusta Gold and Silver IRA:

• Total fees paid when you create your account: $275
  • One-time custodian application fee: $50
  • First payment of annual custodian fee: $125
  • Initial non-government depository storage fee (sample): $100

• Total recurring annual fees: $225 
  • Custodian maintenance fee: $125
  • Non-government storage facility fee: $100

*Note: This is just an example, but the numbers come from Augusta Precious Metals itself, so you can expect them to be pretty accurate.

To be clear, this means you would pay $275 when setting up your account and then pay $225 every year after that. 

Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals Returns

It’s time for the biggest question in the Goldco vs Precious Metals debate: How much can you hope to earn?

Unfortunately, it isn’t an exact science. It all depends on how the prices of gold and silver change in the future. 

Read on to see what I mean. 

Goldco Returns

Goldco’s returns are entirely dependent on the price of gold and silver. If you’ve bought gold and the price of gold increases, your investment will make money. But if the price of gold drops, you could end up in the red.

So, is there some risk involved? Yes – but not as much as with many other investments. Precious metals are considered relatively stable assets – meaning a sudden crash in the price is unlikely.

Goldco publishes historical prices on its official Goldco website. Here’s what I found about the prices of gold and silver over the past 10 years:

• The price of gold has risen from $1,350.90 to $2,022.69 (49.7% increase)
• The price of silver has risen from $21.39 to $22.88 (7% increase)

Both precious metals have increased in value. That’s why they’re considered stable assets that are great for providing balance to an investment portfolio. 

Augusta Precious Metals Returns

As with Goldco, there’s no way to be sure what your returns will be like with Augusta Precious Metals. It all depends on fluctuations in the price of gold and silver.

Augusta Precious Metals is upfront about the fact that investing in gold and silver won’t make you rich, and they state clearly that “as with any asset, the price of gold and silver will go up and down.” 

When you invest with either company in the Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco conversation, you’re not trying to earn passive income or make a killing. The goal is simply to diversify. 

For more investment ideas, read this article on the best way to invest money.

Pros and Cons of Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals 

Here’s one way to make sense of the Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco comparison: by looking at each company’s strengths and weaknesses. 

Here are the main pros and cons to consider. 

Pros and Cons of Goldco

Goldco Pros

• The fees for IRAs are relatively low. After an initial setup fee of $50, you can expect to pay annual fees of $180 – $230, depending on whether you choose segregated or unsegregated storage.
• The company has a long history and a strong reputation. Goldco was founded in 2006, making it one of the older companies in the gold IRA industry.
• There’s a buy-back guarantee. If you decide to part ways with your precious metals, Goldco promises to buy them back from you. 

Goldco Cons

• The minimum investment for an IRA is $25,000. This is pretty steep – but it’s actually lower than Augusta’s $50,000 threshold. So Goldco still wins this round in the Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals prize fight.
• There are fewer educational opportunities. Goldco takes education seriously – but not quite as seriously as Augusta Precious Metals. For example, there’s no annual conference. 
• The website only lists coins for sale. That means you have to talk to a Goldco representative to ask about bars or bullion. 

Pros and Cons of Augusta Precious Metals

Augusta Precious Metals Pros

• There are tons of educational resources. Not only can you read online articles and request an educational kit, but you could also be invited to the company’s annual conference. 
• The company offers long-term support. That means you can reach out to an Augusta Precious Metals representative for help as long as you have an account.
• You can create an IRA or simply buy gold and silver. (Note – This is true for both companies in the Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco discussion.)

Augusta Precious Metals Cons

• There’s a $50,000 minimum investment. This threshold applies to direct purchases as well as IRAs.
• The fees are on the higher side. For an IRA with Augusta Precious Metals, you’ll have to pay around $275 the first year and $225 every year after that. The difference isn’t huge, but Augusta loses this segment of the Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco clash. 
• You can only invest in precious metals. For other alternative investments, you’ll have to look elsewhere. 

Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals Reviews

Let’s take an even closer look at the Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals question by summarizing some customer reviews on Trustpilot.

In a 5-star Goldco review, someone praised the company’s representatives as “so professional and incredibly helpful.”

Another 5-star review called the whole process of investing through Goldco “very simple.”  

Most Goldco reviews are positive, but I did find a 1-star review where someone claimed that a customer service representative hung up on them.

Now, let’s look at Augusta Precious Metals. 

One person said that they appreciated the company’s focus on education. 

In another 5-star Augusta Precious Metals review, someone praised the “one-on-one web conference” they had with an employee.

In a 4-star review, someone said working with Augusta Precious Metals was “very easy and informative.”  

Amazingly, there isn’t a single negative review for Augusta Precious Metals on Trustpilot. So they must be doing something right – or a lot of things right, more likely! 

Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals Reddit

Reddit is a popular place for talking about everything – including the companies involved in the Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco debate.

One person started a thread asking for a fair Goldco review.

One response called Goldco “an excellent company to invest with.” But this person was a Goldco employee, so take their praise with a grain of salt.

Someone else alleged that Goldco overcharges for silver coins.

In a different Reddit thread, a user left a positive Augusta Precious Metals review – noting the company’s stellar reputation. 

Someone else complained that you have to call Augusta Precious Metals to find out how much some items cost.

Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals: Which is Better?

After four quarters, nine innings, and twelve rounds – there’s no clear winner in the Augusta Precious Metals vs Goldco debate.

How can that be?

Well, both companies have a lot to offer. And so the choice depends on what you’re after.

There are two main factors to consider:

1. How much you plan to invest. If you want to invest $25,000 – $50,000, then Goldco is your only option since Augusta Precious Metals has a $50,000 minimum.
2. How much you value educational resources. Both companies provide lots of information about investing in gold and silver, but Augusta Precious Metals goes above and beyond. 

What if you want to invest $50,000 or more, and you’re not too worried about extra educational perks? In that case, you won’t go wrong with either side in the Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals battle!

It’s also important to remember that both Goldco and Augusta Precious Metals say you shouldn’t invest all your money in gold and silver. When you invest in a diverse range of assets, you protect yourself from the sudden collapse of a single investment.

Read this article for more alternative investments that can help you diversify your portfolio. 

And if you’d like to learn how AI could help you manage your portfolio, check out our Streetbeat review.

And if you’re interested in wine and whisky as an alternative investment, check out our Vint vs Vinovest comparison.

Commonly Asked Questions About Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals

What is The Difference Between Goldco and Augusta Precious Metals? 

Goldco and Augusta Precious Metals have very similar business models, offering gold and silver IRAs. The main difference is the minimum investment. Augusta Precious Metals has a $50,000 minimum, while the threshold for a Goldco IRA is just $25,000.

What is The Minimum Investment for Augusta Precious Metals?

The minimum investment for Augusta Precious Metals is $50,000. This minimum applies to both IRAs and standard silver and gold purchases. 

What is The Best Precious Metal to Invest in Right Now?

Both gold and silver are considered stable assets. Gold’s price has increased much more over the past decade, so it’s probably the best precious metal to invest in. That said, there’s no way to precisely predict the future value of any asset, including gold. 

What are The Top 5 Precious Metals? 

The top 5 precious metals are often considered to be gold, platinum, silver, palladium, and rhodium. 

Precious Metals Companies?

Here are some companies that you can use to invest in precious metals:

• Goldco (read this full Goldco review to learn more) 
• Augusta Precious Metals
• Birch Gold Group
• Advantage Gold
• American Hartford Gold
• Lear Capital

Precious Metal Investment Companies?

If you’re looking to invest in precious metals, these companies can help you do it:

• Goldco (read this full Goldco review) 
• Augusta Precious Metals
• Birch Gold Group
• Lear Capital
• Advantage Gold
• American Hartford Gold