Augusta Precious Metals requires at least $50,000 to open an account. If you're moving less, several well-known gold IRA companies publish lower minimums, from $5,000 to $25,000. Below are the top three by lowest published minimum, plus how their fees compare, using each company's own published terms as of October 2026.
Top 3 Lower-Minimum Alternatives
Ranked by lowest published IRA minimum. We don't earn commissions from these three companies.
Birch Gold Group
- Minimum: $5,000 (can vary)
- Fees: typically about $235/yr
- First year's fees covered over $50,000
- Gold, silver, platinum, palladium
American Hartford Gold
- Minimum order: $10,000
- Fees vary by account size
- Storage "might be free" in some cases
- Free insured shipping
Noble Gold
- Minimum: $20,000 IRA
- Fees: $285/yr + $50 setup
- Itemized exit fees published
- Texas depository
Goldco ($25,000 minimum, about $225 a year) is also below Augusta's threshold; see Augusta vs. Goldco.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Company | Published IRA minimum | Published annual fees | Fee offer | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birch Gold Group | $5,000 (can vary) | Typically ~$235 | First year covered over $50,000 | Sept 28, 2026 |
| American Hartford Gold | $10,000 order | Varies by account size | Not specified in FAQ | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Noble Gold | $20,000 | $285 | None stated | Oct 2026 |
| Goldco | $25,000 | ~$225 (~$275 segregated) | Bonus silver on $100k+ orders | Feb 2025 |
| Augusta Precious Metals | $50,000 | $235 | Up to 10 years of fees paid by Augusta | Sept 23, 2026 |
From each company's own pages. Minimums can change or vary by situation.
Watch the Fee Math on Small Accounts
A lower minimum gets you in the door, but flat fees hit small accounts hardest. At about $235 a year, fees are roughly 4.7% of a $5,000 account, 1.6% of $15,000 and 0.9% of $25,000, before any markup on the metal.
Illustration using a typical flat fee. Your actual fees and any first-year coverage will differ.
If you're investing a few thousand dollars, a low-cost gold fund inside your existing IRA may give you gold exposure for far less. See is a gold IRA a good idea?
How to Compare These Companies
- Ask each for a written fee schedule for your exact account size.
- Request quotes on the same product, such as a common gold bullion coin, on the same day, with the spot price.
- Ask for the buyback bid on that product to see the round-trip cost.
- Check BBB and BCA records and search for regulatory actions.
- Use our 15-question checklist and compare the answers.
If You Have $50,000 or More
Augusta Precious Metals becomes an option at $50,000, with published fees of $235 a year and, per its FAQ, up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid by Augusta. Read our Augusta review and compare its written quote with the companies above.