The lower long-term cost for US precious metals investors.
Both Hard Assets Alliance and OWNx serve US investors who want allocated physical metal in insured vaults with monthly auto-investing and IRA options. They diverge on the fee stack, vault footprint, and how long-term cost lands over 5, 10, or 20-year holds. This comparison works through real math from the HAA Products & Pricing page, the OWNx pricing page, plus verified OWNx Trustpilot reviews.
OWNx is the structurally cheaper US platform across multi-year holds.
Choose OWNx if
- ✓ You want at-cost EDGE pricing on monthly accumulation.
- ✓ You want a Precious Metals IRA at a flat $249/yr (vs HAA's separate IRA fee structure layered on top of metal commissions).
- ✓ You hold mostly silver (where HAA's 0.80%/yr is materially above OWNx's 0.6%).
- ✓ You want one platform with no monthly account minimum at any size.
Choose HAA if
- • You specifically want metal stored in international vaults (Zurich, London, Singapore, Sydney) alongside US options.
- • You actively use MetalStream auto-investing (which waives HAA's $5/month account minimum).
- • You want gold storage at 0.70%/yr and consider that close enough to OWNx's 0.6%.
- • You specifically prefer HAA's Equity Trust IRA custody arrangement.
Bottom line: for the US buyer running a 5 to 20-year holding period with active monthly accumulation, OWNx is the structurally cheaper choice. The 0% EDGE buy premium, lower silver storage rate, no account minimum, and lower flat IRA fee compound meaningfully against HAA's 0.70%/0.80% storage + $5/month minimum + Equity Trust IRA fees over time. HAA is the right choice if international vault diversification is a hard requirement.
OWNx vs Hard Assets Alliance, feature by feature.
Four areas where HAA is the right call.
International vault choice in addition to US options
This is the real HAA advantage. Per the HAA Products & Pricing page, allocated metal can sit in vaults in:
- ✓ United States: Salt Lake City, New York
- ✓ Europe: Zurich (Switzerland), London (UK)
- ✓ Asia-Pacific: Singapore, Sydney (Australia)
For a US buyer who specifically wants metal stored outside the US, for jurisdictional diversification, geographic hedging, or because they want to move some allocation overseas without changing platforms, HAA is the only platform on this comparison that gives you both US and non-US vaulting in one account.
OWNx is US-only: Delaware Depository Service Company (DDSC) and Texas Depository (TDS). For a US-resident investor who wants their metal in the US with the rest of their financial life, that is the right choice. For someone who wants Zurich or Singapore allocation specifically, HAA wins.
MetalStream auto-investing waives the $5/month account minimum
MetalStream is HAA's recurring-purchase product. Activating MetalStream waives the $5/month account fee that otherwise applies to inactive SmartMetals accounts.
For a buyer running consistent monthly auto-invest, HAA's account minimum disappears. This is a sensible design, they want active accumulators, not dormant balances. OWNx accomplishes the same goal differently: no monthly account fee at any time, regardless of activity.
Equity Trust IRA custody is a recognized name
HAA's Precious Metals IRA runs through Equity Trust Company, which manages over $77 billion in alternative assets under custody for self-directed IRA investors. Equity Trust is one of the most recognized names in self-directed IRA custody, and some investors specifically prefer their existing custodian relationships.
OWNx uses its own IRA structure at $249/yr all-in. Both reach the same outcome, IRS-compliant Traditional or Roth Precious Metals IRA holding allocated bullion in insured vaults, through different custodian arrangements. If “I already use Equity Trust for my self-directed IRA” is part of your situation, HAA aligns with that.
A 14-year track record
HAA was founded in 2012 by McAlvany Financial Group along with Caesar Bryan and other precious-metals industry partners. 14 years of operating history in this category is meaningful, even if OWNx (founded 2008) is older.
Six advantages that compound over multi-year holds.
OWNx's advantages compound over multi-year holding periods. Here is what makes the difference at each account size and use case.
EDGE 0% buy premium
Silver storage cheaper
No account minimum
$249/yr flat IRA
10-year cost math
One full-lifecycle platform
1. EDGE 0% buy premium beats HAA's transaction commission on every monthly purchase
The biggest single ongoing cost in any precious-metals platform is the buy-side premium or commission. HAA charges a transaction commission on every buy (rates published per-product on the HAA pricing pages, varies by metal, product, and tier).
OWNx EDGE removes the buy premium entirely:
- ✓ OWNx EDGE on $1,000/mo of silver auto-invest: $0 in buy commissions, plus $149/yr membership = $149/yr total acquisition cost on $12,000/yr deployed.
- ✓ OWNx Standard mid-tier (3.49% premium) on the same $1,000/mo: ~$420/yr in premium = $420/yr total.
- ✓ HAA on the same $1,000/mo of silver: transaction commissions apply per buy. HAA does not publish a single flat percentage; it varies by product and tier per the pricing pages, but is positive on every purchase rather than at-cost.
Over a 10-year holding period, this single line item compounds. An allocator deploying $1,000/mo of silver for 10 years places $120,000 at acquisition. OWNx EDGE costs $1,490 over that decade in flat membership. Equivalent buy-side commissions on a competitor charging even a modest 1-3% per buy run $1,200-$3,600 over the same decade.
This is why EDGE pricing is OWNx's structural lever, it reverses the normal “small investors pay retail” arrangement of the industry.
2. Silver storage is 0.20%/yr cheaper at OWNx; gold is 0.10%/yr cheaper
HAA's storage rates per the Products & Pricing page:
- ✓ Gold and platinum: 0.70%/yr
- ✓ Silver: 0.80%/yr
- ✓ “or lower for higher value accounts” (exact tiering not published)
OWNx's storage rate is 0.6%/yr across metals (0.5%/yr on IRA). Across the entire metal mix, OWNx is cheaper to store at every account size:
(HAA's “lower for higher value accounts” language means very large balances may negotiate down, that is a quote-on-request situation. The published rates are what most accounts pay.)
Silver-heavy portfolios feel this most. A buyer running 70% silver / 30% gold at $250K total holdings pays roughly $1,925/yr in storage at HAA versus $1,500/yr at OWNx, a $425/yr difference that compounds as the position grows.
3. No $5/month account minimum to plan around
HAA charges $5/month ($60/yr) on inactive SmartMetals accounts, waived if MetalStream auto-investing is active. For someone who wants to hold without active monthly buying, say, a buyer who has built their position and is now in the long-term-hold phase, HAA's $60/yr fee is a real ongoing cost.
OWNx has no monthly account fee at any time, regardless of whether you are actively buying or just holding. EDGE membership is optional ($149/yr if you want at-cost pricing; $0 if you stay on Standard).
For a buy-and-hold investor at any size, OWNx eliminates the monthly account fee line item entirely.
4. Precious Metals IRA at $249/yr flat, a single, transparent number
OWNx's IRA pricing is unusually simple in this category: $249/year all-in, no minimum balance, storage at 0.5%/yr (lower than the standard 0.6% OWNx rate), Traditional or Roth, no setup fees disclosed separately, no per-transaction custodian fees on top.
HAA's IRA goes through Equity Trust. Equity Trust is a separate custodian with its own fee schedule layered on top of HAA's metal transaction and storage costs. The HAA Precious Metals IRA solution page does not publish the Equity Trust fee schedule directly; pricing on Equity Trust self-directed Precious Metals IRAs typically includes setup fees, annual maintenance fees, and asset-based fees that can run $200-$500/yr combined depending on holdings, on top of HAA's metal pricing.
For US investors comparing apples-to-apples retirement account costs:
- ✓ OWNx IRA: $249/yr all-in, 0.5%/yr storage, 0% premium on purchases (EDGE included).
- ✓ HAA IRA: Equity Trust fees + HAA storage (0.70%/0.80%) + HAA per-transaction commission.
The OWNx IRA is the simpler line item to budget for at any IRA balance, and the all-in number is competitive with, and at most balances meaningfully below, the layered HAA + Equity Trust structure.
5. Long-term cost compounds — here's the 10-year math
Take a US investor running $24,000/yr ($2,000/mo) of silver auto-invest, hitting a $240K silver position at year 10, then holding flat:
The OWNx EDGE structure costs roughly $4,000+ less over a 10-year hold on this profile, and the gap widens with longer holds, more silver weighting, or larger monthly contributions.
(These are illustrative numbers based on published rates. Current HAA per-product transaction commissions should be verified at the HAA pricing pages before relying on the math for any individual decision.)
6. One platform across the entire precious metals lifecycle
OWNx covers: personal buying (Standard or EDGE), monthly Auto-Investing, instant trade execution, insured storage, Precious Metals IRA, insured delivery, and liquidation, all in one account. You move between these without paperwork, without a second provider, without a second set of fees.
HAA covers: SmartMetals personal buying, MetalStream auto-investing, SmartMetals storage, Precious Metals IRA (via Equity Trust), business accounts, estate/trust accounts, and accredited investor opportunities. The product set is broad, but the IRA flow runs through a separate custodian relationship.
For investors who want simplicity, one login, one statement, one custodian, one tax summary, one customer relationship, OWNx is structurally simpler. This matters more at larger account sizes, not less.
4.2/5 across ~35 Trustpilot reviews.
HAA has lower review volume than OWNx, so we cite the Trustpilot AI summary rather than a representative selection.
“Customers generally appreciate the quality of the service but have expressed concerns about response times.”
Response-time concerns are a known service-quality theme on the platform; the value proposition (allocated international vaulting + Equity Trust IRA + MetalStream) is generally well-received.
4.7/5 across 110 reviews.
Consistent themes: long-term customer tenure (10-15+ years), simple execution, fast liquidity, customer service that responds quickly.
“I've been a customer of OwnX before it was OwnX. Never had any issues with buying or selling. Received proceeds from selling very quickly. Very liquid and secure way of owning precious metals, in my opinion.”
“I have been a client since OWNX was SilverSaver, so more than 10 years, and have never had cause to go elsewhere for monthly savings in bullion. The rare issue has been taken care of expediently and personably. Change is inevitable and OWNX has proactively prepared clients and walked with us through that progression.”
“Been using OWNx for years. Moved money in and out easily without hassle. Surprisingly easy. I feel confident that my physical metals are secure and accessible when needed. I researched OWNx to ensure the physical metals are in fact intact and secure and accessible when needed, and I am confident they are.”
“The recent support from the customer service helped me with my transfer to a new trust for my IRA account. The support was greatly appreciated.”
“Although initially, I had difficulty moving money from an equity trust IRA account into my OWNX account to purchase precious metals, I was able to figure things out and complete my transactions. I am satisfied with my service.”
Notable: that last reviewer specifically transferred from an Equity Trust IRA to OWNx and was satisfied with the outcome. Equity Trust is HAA's IRA custodian.
“OWNX makes it so simple to invest in precious metals. Whether you want to just make a one time purchase or setup a recurring purchase, OWNX makes it possible and very easy to do. They also make it lightning fast to sell of some of your precious metals when the time comes.”
“We are thankful for this program that allows us to contribute to our holdings by amounts that won't break our bank. They are easy to navigate and all transactions are done in a timely manner.”
“I purchased the edge deal you guys had and am super excited about it. Then I saw you guys were offering free edge for military veterans like myself.... Your staff was super helpful getting me the military discount on the edge plan. Been with own x for a long time and have always been helpful.”
OWNx customer caveats worth acknowledging.
Every product has reviewers with real complaints. One from OWNx's Trustpilot that any honest comparison has to surface:
“I still have no idea how to work this site.”
Dale · 3/5 OWNx Trustpilot review · May 28 2025. OWNx replied same-day pointing Dale to the support centre at support.ownx.com and service@ownx.com.
The honest reality: onboarding can be complex for some users, particularly first-time buyers unfamiliar with allocated metals platforms. It does not touch how accounts, storage, liquidity, or IRAs actually work, which is what every other reviewer rated highly.
The clean two-list version.
Choose OWNx if
- ✓ You are a US-based investor and your metal can sit in US depositories.
- ✓ You want a Precious Metals IRA at a single transparent $249/yr, Traditional, Roth, or 401(k) rollover.
- ✓ You want at-cost EDGE pricing on active monthly accumulation.
- ✓ Your portfolio is silver-heavy (HAA's 0.80%/yr silver rate vs OWNx's 0.6%/yr is a real ongoing gap).
- ✓ You are running a 5, 10, or 20-year holding period and want compounding cost advantages.
- ✓ You don't want to track a $5/month account minimum or the MetalStream activity requirement to waive it.
- ✓ You want a single platform for personal buying + IRA + delivery + monthly auto-invest.
Choose HAA if
- • You specifically want allocated metal stored in Zurich, London, Singapore, or Sydney alongside US options.
- • You actively use MetalStream auto-investing (waives the $5/month account fee).
- • You are gold-heavy (where the 0.10%/yr storage gap is smaller than on silver).
- • You specifically prefer Equity Trust as your IRA custodian, perhaps because you already hold other self-directed IRA assets there.
- • You want a business, estate/trust, or accredited-investor account structure (HAA publishes more variants of these).
For US buyers, OWNx is the structurally cheaper platform.
For US-based investors at any account size, OWNx is the structurally cheaper platform across a typical 5-20 year holding period. The combination of EDGE 0% buy premium, lower silver storage rate, no monthly account minimum, and flat $249/yr IRA fee compounds against HAA's 0.70%/0.80% storage + transaction commissions + Equity Trust IRA fees over time.
HAA wins on international vault footprint and Equity Trust IRA custody, both legitimate reasons to choose it if those are hard requirements.
Both platforms are credible, US-based, with allocated metal, real customer service, and real operating histories. For most US precious-metals investors, especially silver-heavy and IRA-included buyers, OWNx is the lower-cost long-term home.
Open an account. Run one transaction. See if the fit is right.
The fastest way to understand the fit is to open a free OWNx account and run a single transaction. There is no minimum, no monthly fee on Standard, and no sell fee at any time. Already have an IRA you want to roll over, including an existing Equity Trust IRA position? Ask the OWNx team about Traditional + Roth Precious Metals IRA setup at $249/year all-in.
Get started with OWNxCommon questions, direct answers.
Does Hard Assets Alliance offer a Precious Metals IRA?
Yes. HAA's Precious Metals IRA runs through Equity Trust Company as the self-directed IRA custodian. HAA handles the metal transactions and storage; Equity Trust handles the IRA custody, recordkeeping, distributions, and IRS-compliance side. Equity Trust manages over $77B in alternative assets under custody. Pricing is layered: HAA's metal commission and storage + Equity Trust's IRA custodian fee schedule. Compare against OWNx's $249/yr flat all-in IRA, which bundles storage at 0.5%/yr and 0% buy premium on EDGE-included purchases.
Is OWNx cheaper than Hard Assets Alliance?
For most US buyers, yes, and the difference compounds over multi-year holding periods. Three reasons: (1) OWNx EDGE eliminates the buy-side premium that HAA charges on every transaction. (2) OWNx silver storage at 0.6%/yr is 0.20%/yr cheaper than HAA's 0.80%/yr, a $500/yr difference at $250K of silver. (3) OWNx has no monthly account minimum; HAA charges $5/month unless MetalStream is active. HAA wins on gold-heavy portfolios where the 0.10%/yr storage gap is smaller, and on accounts where international vault choice is a hard requirement.
Where does each platform store the metals?
HAA stores allocated metal in non-bank vaults in Salt Lake City, New York, Zurich, London, Singapore, and Sydney, you select the vault per holding. OWNx stores in insured US depositories: Delaware Depository Service Company (DDSC) and Texas Depository (TDS).
Can I buy monthly on Hard Assets Alliance?
Yes, HAA's MetalStream is the recurring-purchase product, and activating it waives the $5/month account minimum. OWNx's equivalent is Smart Auto-Investing from $25/mo, with EDGE eliminating the buy premium (vs HAA's per-transaction commission, which still applies on MetalStream purchases).
Is Hard Assets Alliance safe?
Yes. HAA is a US-based, 14-year-old platform with allocated metal storage in non-bank vaults across six locations on three continents. The 4.2/5 Trustpilot rating across ~35 reviews is solid, with the AI summary noting "customers generally appreciate the quality of the service but have expressed concerns about response times." Safety is not the differentiator between OWNx and HAA, fee structure, vault footprint, and IRA custodian arrangement are.
Does HAA charge a setup fee on the Precious Metals IRA?
HAA's published material indicates IRA setup fees may be promotional/waived periodically. Equity Trust's custodian fees apply on top of HAA's transaction and storage costs. For an apples-to-apples retirement account comparison, request the current Equity Trust IRA fee schedule from HAA and compare against OWNx's flat $249/yr all-in (which includes 0.5%/yr storage and 0% buy premium on EDGE-included purchases).
Can I take physical delivery from both platforms?
Both platforms support delivery. HAA offers shipment of bullion held in SmartMetals at carrier-insured cost. OWNx offers insured delivery to US addresses at the actual cost of fabrication, packaging, and shipping. Neither charges the percentage-of-metal-value redemption fees that some international platforms (notably Goldmoney) apply.
I have over $250K to allocate to precious metals. Why would I pick OWNx over HAA?
Five reasons: (1) EDGE eliminates round-trip commissions on every purchase and sale at any volume, over a 10-year hold with active accumulation that is thousands in saved transaction costs. (2) Silver storage savings: OWNx's 0.6%/yr beats HAA's 0.80%/yr by $500/yr on $250K of silver; the gap compounds. (3) Simpler IRA pricing: $249/yr all-in versus HAA's metal fees + Equity Trust custodian fees layered separately. (4) No monthly account minimum to manage: OWNx never charges one regardless of activity. (5) One platform, one custodian relationship: for a $250K+ portfolio split across personal + IRA, OWNx is one login, one statement, one tax summary versus a multi-party HAA + Equity Trust arrangement.
What about HAA's "lower for higher value accounts" storage clause?
HAA's pricing page states: "Storage rates are the same for all vaults: 0.7%/year of average daily asset value for gold and platinum, and 0.8%/year for silver, or lower for higher value accounts." The published rate is what most accounts pay; large balances may negotiate. OWNx's 0.6%/yr (and 0.5% on IRA) is the published rate for all account sizes. If you are negotiating an HAA discount, request the actual offered rate in writing and compare directly against OWNx's published rate before deciding.