Best Place to Buy Gold Online 2026: dealers & platforms compared
Updated 2026-08-07 · by the OWNx team
Quick answer
The best place to buy gold online depends on one thing: do you want the metal shipped to you, or stored and accumulated for you? If you want coins/bars in hand, SD Bullion has among the lowest premiums and APMEX has the biggest selection. If you want the lowest all-in cost and don’t need physical delivery, OWNx buys allocated metal at 0% premium (EDGE) and stores it insured. The number that decides cost isn’t the sticker price — it’s the premium over spot each seller charges, plus shipping.
This is an honest comparison from the OWNx team. We run a precious-metals platform, so we’re one of the options below — but the facts on every dealer (premiums, shipping, buyback, ratings) are straight and useful whether or not you pick us.
What actually matters when buying gold online.
A “low price” with a high premium and a rising free-shipping threshold can cost more than it looks. These are the things that decide your real cost.
Premium over spot
Every dealer charges a markup above the metal’s spot price — typically a few percent on common bullion, more on rare/proof. This is the real cost and it varies a lot between sellers.
Shipping
Free over a threshold (which has been rising across the industry), a flat fee below it. Adds up on smaller orders.
Buyback
Can you sell back easily, and at what spread? Most dealers require you to ship metal back and wait.
Storage, minimum & fractional
Delivery means you store it (safe, insurance, security). A platform stores it for you — and some let you buy any dollar amount instead of whole products.
The best places to buy gold online, side by side.
| Seller | Type | Premium | Shipping | Trustpilot | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OWNx | Platform (stored/allocated) | 0% on EDGE / 1.5% std | n/a (metal stays vaulted) | 4.7/5 (110) | Lowest cost if you don’t need delivery |
| SD Bullion | Dealer (delivery) | Among the lowest in the category | $9.95 flat; free over $199 | 4.0/5 (3,036) | Lowest-premium delivery |
| APMEX | Dealer (delivery) | ~3–7% common bullion | $9.95 under $199; free over | 3.9/5 (8,567) | Biggest catalog (30,000+) |
| JM Bullion | Dealer (delivery) | Competitive (higher in hot markets) | Free over $199 | 4.3/5 (2,314) | Popular all-rounder |
| BullionVault | Platform (vaulted) | ~0.5% commission per trade | n/a (vaulted) | 4.6/5 (3,363) | International vault storage |
| Money Metals | Dealer (delivery) | Competitive | $12.99 under $199; free over | 3.4/5 (227) | Monthly plans |
Premiums, shipping thresholds, and ratings change frequently — verify directly before buying. Trustpilot figures pulled 2026-07-03.
The sellers, reviewed.
OWNx — best if you don't need physical delivery
OWNx isn’t a delivery dealer — it’s a platform. You buy fractional ownership of allocated gold, silver, or platinum bars held in insured US depositories (Delaware + Texas), at 0% premium with EDGE ($149/yr) or a published 1.5% standard.
You can buy any dollar amount (from $25), hold it inside a Precious Metals IRA, sell back in one click, and take physical delivery only if/when you want it. For a long-term holder, eliminating the per-purchase premium is the single biggest cost saving — the trade-off is you don’t get coins in hand by default.
See OWNx pricing →SD Bullion — best for the lowest premium on delivery
SD Bullion has built its brand on low premiums, and it largely delivers: published pricing among the lowest in the US online-dealer category, flat $9.95 shipping (free over $199), a buyback program, and optional segregated depository storage.
The 4.0/5 across 3,036 reviews is solid for a dealer — the one thing to know is its strict ‘all payments final’ cancellation policy. If your goal is the cheapest way to get physical bullion shipped to your door, SD Bullion is the first stop.
Read our full SD Bullion review →APMEX — best for selection
APMEX is the largest US online dealer — 30,000+ products across four metals, including numismatic and proof coins no one else carries. Shipping is competitive (free over $199, QuickShip next-day on many orders) and it has 25 years of track record.
The trade-off is cost: premiums run a typical 3–7% on common bullion, and the 3.9/5 rating still reflects a recurring ‘premiums are high’ theme. Best when you want a specific coin or the widest catalog.
Read our full APMEX review →JM Bullion — popular, consistently well-rated all-rounder
JM Bullion is one of the most popular US dealers, well-rated (4.3/5 across 2,314 reviews), with a broad catalog and generally competitive pricing.
Like all dealers, its premiums (and buyback spread) can widen in hot markets — so check the current premium before ordering — but its fulfillment is consistently well-reviewed. It also offers a Precious Metals IRA through a partner custodian, which most pure catalog dealers don’t.
Read our full JM Bullion review →How JM Bullion compares with APMEX →
BullionVault — best for international vault storage
BullionVault is a vaulted platform (not a delivery dealer): you trade on a live order board at ~0.5% commission and store metal in your choice of major international vaults (London, Zurich, Singapore, Toronto). Good for a non-US buyer or anyone who specifically wants overseas vaulting.
Watch-outs for US buyers: monthly storage minimums ($4 gold / $8 silver) make small balances inefficient, funding is an international wire, and there’s no US IRA.
Compare BullionVault vs OWNx →Money Metals — monthly plans, but mind the rating
Money Metals is known for its monthly accumulation plans and competitive dealer pricing, with a buyback program.
The honest flag: its Trustpilot sits at 3.4/5 across 227 reviews — the lowest score and smallest review base in this comparison (though recent reviews are strong). The monthly-plan concept is sound, but weigh that rating, and compare it against a 0%-premium auto-invest platform before committing.
Read our full Money Metals review →How to choose.
Buy gold at 0% premium, stored and insured.
OWNx buys allocated gold, silver, and platinum at 0% premium on EDGE, stores it insured in US depositories, and lets you sell back in one click. No minimum, fractional from $25, and an IRA option. Open a free account and run one transaction to see the fit.
Get started with OWNxBuying gold online FAQ.
What is the cheapest place to buy gold online?
For physical delivery, low-premium dealers like SD Bullion are typically cheapest on common bullion. For the lowest total cost over a hold — if you don’t need the metal shipped — an at-cost platform like OWNx EDGE buys at 0% premium (vs a dealer’s 3–7%), with storage included. The premium over spot, not the sticker price, is what decides ‘cheapest.’
Is it safe to buy gold online?
Yes, from established sellers. The major US dealers (APMEX, SD Bullion, JM Bullion) and platforms (OWNx, BullionVault) are legitimate, long-operating businesses. Check the seller’s Trustpilot rating and review volume — Money Metals, for example, has the lowest score here (3.4/5) and far fewer reviews (227) than the others.
What’s the difference between a gold dealer and a platform like OWNx?
A dealer (APMEX, SD Bullion, JM Bullion) sells you physical coins/bars and ships them — you store and insure them yourself, and pay a premium on each buy. A platform like OWNx sells fractional ownership of allocated metal held in insured vaults, at 0% premium on EDGE, with one-click selling and an IRA option; you take physical delivery only if you choose to.
What is a fair premium over spot?
On common bullion, a few percent (roughly 3–7%) is typical for online dealers, higher on rare/proof coins and in volatile markets. An at-cost platform (OWNx EDGE) charges 0% premium for a flat annual membership, which wins over a multi-year hold or on repeat buying.
Where is the best place to buy gold monthly?
For recurring monthly buying, the per-purchase premium is what compounds. A dealer’s monthly plan (e.g., Money Metals) still charges the dealer premium on every buy and ships physical metal to store. OWNx Smart Auto-Investing buys fractional allocated metal at 0% premium (EDGE), stored and insured, from $25/mo.