Best Online Gold Dealers, Compared
Straight answer
For most buyers, the big established online bullion dealers — APMEX, JM Bullion, Money Metals Exchange, SD Bullion, BGASC, and SilverGold Bull — are all legitimate places to buy gold, and the “best” one depends on what you’re buying. JM Bullion and SD Bullion tend to win on premium for plain bullion; APMEX wins on selection; Money Metals leans educational. There is no single winner, and we don’t rank them #1–5 — we’d rather show you the criteria and let you match a dealer to your order.
“Best online gold dealer” is the wrong question to optimize for. The right one is: which reputable dealer offers the lowest all-in cost for the specific product you want, with a buy-back policy and shipping you trust? Below is a shortlist of established dealers, the criteria we use to vet them, and an honest “best for / skip if” for each.
How we built this shortlist (our criteria, not a leaderboard)
We didn’t place test orders or stack these dealers into a ranked top-five. We assessed each on public information: how long it has operated, whether it lists a real address and phone number, how transparent its pricing and fees are, whether it publishes a buy-back policy, and how it ships. Reputation signals (BBB profiles, Trustpilot patterns, sector news) are read in general terms, not as proof. The same checklist is laid out in detail in our guide on how to vet a dealer.
Why no ranking? Because a “#1 dealer” headline implies we measured every product against every competitor on the day you read this — and premiums move daily. A dealer that’s cheapest on American Gold Eagles this week may not be cheapest on bars next month. So we describe what each is known for and who it suits, then point you to the live price. For how premiums work and why they matter more than the sticker, see premiums over spot.
The shortlist, dealer by dealer
Each of these has been operating for over a decade (or close to it), ships insured, and publishes its terms. They are reputable mainstream bullion dealers — not the leveraged “rare coin” sellers we warn about further down.
APMEX — the deepest catalog
Founded around 2000, APMEX (American Precious Metals Exchange) is one of the largest and longest-running online dealers in the US. Its reputation is built on selection: coins, bars, rounds, world mint products, semi-numismatics, and a working secondary market. Premiums on plain bullion aren’t always the lowest, but the range is unmatched and the buy-back program is well established.
JM Bullion — low premiums on mainstream bullion
Founded around 2011, JM Bullion built its name on competitive premiums for popular bullion — Gold Eagles, Maple Leafs, common bars and rounds — with a clean ordering process and frequent promotions. It’s a default pick for buyers focused on getting the most metal per dollar without hunting obscure products.
Money Metals Exchange — education-forward
Founded around 2010, Money Metals Exchange pairs bullion sales with a heavy stream of market commentary and educational content, plus its own storage and savings-plan offerings. Pricing is competitive on standard products. The editorial slant is more market-opinionated than ours; read the analysis as a vendor’s view, not neutral advice.
SD Bullion — low cost as the headline
Founded around 2012, SD Bullion competes hardest on price. It often advertises some of the lowest premiums on common bullion and runs aggressive specials, particularly on silver. The trade-off is a leaner experience and tighter product range than the largest dealers, but for plain-vanilla stacking the math can be hard to beat.
BGASC — broad bullion, competitive pricing
BGASC (Buy Gold and Silver Coins) is an established online dealer covering the standard bullion lineup at competitive premiums, with regular promotions and free-shipping thresholds. It sits in the same tier as JM Bullion and SD Bullion for everyday buyers, with a solid published buy-back and shipping policy.
SilverGold Bull — North American reach
SilverGold Bull operates across the US and Canada with a broad bullion catalog, secure-storage options, and a reputation for solid customer service. Premiums are competitive on common products. As the name suggests, it’s strong on silver as well as gold, which suits buyers stacking both.
Side-by-side comparison
Figures below are directional, drawn from public policies, and change often. Treat them as a starting point and confirm everything live on each dealer’s site before you order.
| Dealer | Founded | Known for | Min order / free ship | Payment | Buy-back | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APMEX | ~2000 | Largest catalog, secondary market | Free ship over a threshold | Wire, ACH/check, card, crypto | Yes, established | Selection |
| JM Bullion | ~2011 | Low premiums on mainstream bullion | Free ship over a threshold | Wire, ACH/check, card, crypto | Yes | Cost on common coins |
| Money Metals | ~2010 | Education + storage/savings plans | Free ship over a threshold | Wire, ACH/check, card | Yes | Plans + content |
| SD Bullion | ~2012 | Low-cost, aggressive specials | Free ship over a threshold | Wire, ACH/check, card, crypto | Yes | Lowest price |
| BGASC | Est. dealer | Broad bullion, competitive pricing | Free ship over a threshold | Wire, ACH/check, card | Yes | Another quote |
| SilverGold Bull | Est. dealer | US/Canada reach, storage options | Free ship over a threshold | Wire, ACH/check, card | Yes | Both metals |
A pattern worth noticing: most reputable dealers offer similar payment menus, and the cost differences come down to premium plus how you pay. A bank wire is usually the cheapest route but is irreversible; ACH or check is cheap but holds your funds; a credit card is convenient but typically adds roughly 3–4% and is often capped. On a gold purchase, that card surcharge can dwarf the premium difference between dealers.
What about Costco? And Amazon or eBay?
Warehouse clubs like Costco have sold gold bars and coins, sometimes at premiums competitive with online dealers — and for members who pay with a rewards card and ride the cash-back, the effective cost can be attractive. The catch: there is no buy-back. Costco sells; it won’t repurchase, so you’ll need a dealer or coin shop to sell back into. For a fuller look, see our Costco gold guide.
We’d steer clear of buying physical gold on Amazon or eBay. Open marketplaces carry real counterfeit risk and weak recourse compared with an established bullion dealer that authenticates its own inventory. The price might look competitive, but the savings rarely justify the exposure. We unpack this in buying gold on Amazon or eBay, and on how fakes circulate in avoiding counterfeit gold.
Red flags: what makes an online dealer untrustworthy
The dealers above clear our bar. Plenty of sellers don’t. If you’re considering one not on this list, run it past this checklist before you wire money.
- Prices far above the market for the same standard bullion sold elsewhere.
- Pushy upsells into “rare,” “proof,” or “limited-edition” coins when you asked for bullion.
- No physical address or working phone number — only a contact form.
- Manufactured urgency: countdown timers, “today only,” “before the price spikes.”
- “Leveraged,” “managed,” or financed metals accounts — these are a different and riskier product entirely.
- No published buy-back policy, or vague shipping with no mention of insurance and signature.
- Heavy TV/radio advertising paired with high-pressure sales calls steering you to numismatic coins.
That last pattern is the sector’s most common consumer-protection problem: high-markup “rare coin” selling dressed up as wealth protection. We cover one widely advertised example in our US Money Reserve review. For a separate, gold-IRA-focused, high-touch model, see Augusta Precious Metals — different audience, higher minimums.
You may not want any of these — yet
- You want the metal today, or value the privacy of a cash transaction — a local coin shop may suit you better. See online vs local coin shop.
- You’re only after price exposure, not physical metal — a gold ETF avoids storage and shipping entirely. See gold ETF comparison (note: ETFs are still taxed as collectibles).
- You haven’t decided whether gold belongs in your portfolio at all — read portfolio allocation first; most advisors cap metals near 5–10%.
- The amount is small enough that shipping and premium eat a large share — buying locally or waiting to consolidate one larger order can cost less.
So which should you choose?
Pick the product first, then shop the premium across two or three of these dealers on the day you buy. For broad selection, start at APMEX. For the lowest cost on common bullion, compare JM Bullion, SD Bullion, and BGASC. For recurring plans or integrated storage, look at Money Metals or SilverGold Bull. Pay by wire when the order is large enough to make the savings matter, confirm the buy-back policy before you commit, and require insured, signature-required shipping. None of this is investment advice — it’s how to buy carefully once you’ve decided. To pressure-test any dealer yourself, use our vetting checklist.
What is the best online gold dealer?
There isn’t a single best one — it depends on the product. For broad selection, APMEX leads; for low premiums on common bullion, JM Bullion, SD Bullion, and BGASC compete hardest; Money Metals and SilverGold Bull add education, plans, and storage. Compare the live premium across two or three for the specific item you want.
Are online gold dealers safe and legitimate?
The established ones are. APMEX, JM Bullion, Money Metals, SD Bullion, BGASC, and SilverGold Bull have operated for a decade or more, list real addresses and phone numbers, publish their terms, and ship insured. Safety problems concentrate in newer sellers pushing high-markup “rare” coins or leveraged metals accounts — see our red-flag checklist.
Is Costco a good place to buy gold?
It can be, for members who use a rewards card to offset the premium. The drawback is there’s no buy-back — Costco won’t repurchase, so you’ll need a dealer or coin shop to sell back into when the time comes. Factor that round-trip into the decision.
Should I buy gold on Amazon or eBay?
We’d avoid it. Open marketplaces carry real counterfeit risk and weaker recourse than an established bullion dealer that authenticates its own stock. Any apparent savings rarely justify the exposure — buy from a vetted dealer instead.