Augusta Precious Metals and Goldco are two of the most heavily advertised gold IRA companies, and their published annual fees are within about $10 of each other. The real differences are the minimum ($50,000 vs. $25,000), the type of incentive (years of fee coverage vs. bonus silver), and how each one prices the metal you buy.
Augusta vs. Goldco at a Glance
| Augusta Precious Metals | Goldco | |
|---|---|---|
| Published IRA minimum | $50,000 (IRA or cash) | $25,000 (smaller direct cash purchases available) |
| Setup fee | $50 | $50 |
| Ongoing annual fees | $235 ($125 custodian + $110 storage) | About $225 ($125 admin + $100 non-segregated storage); $275 with $150 segregated storage |
| First year | $285 | $275 to $325 |
| Fee coverage or promotion | Up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid by Augusta | Bonus silver of up to 10% on qualified orders of $100,000+ |
| Custody and storage | Equity Trust; depositories incl. Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Dallas, Wilmington | Works with IRA custodians and established depositories (links to Delaware Depository) |
| Metals | Gold and silver | Gold and silver |
| Buyback | Policy, not guaranteed; no liquidation fee on Augusta buybacks | Not detailed on the cost page we reviewed |
| Cancellation period | 7-day money-back period | Not stated on the cost page we reviewed |
| Ratings | BBB A+ (accredited 2015); BCA AAA | Check BBB and BCA directly |
Augusta: FAQ updated September 23, 2026; BBB and BCA checked October 6, 2026. Goldco: Goldco: How much does a gold IRA cost? (dated February 2025). Terms change, so confirm with each company in writing.
Key Differences
From each company's own pages, checked October 6, 2026.
Minimum: $50,000 vs. $25,000
Goldco's published $25,000 IRA minimum is half Augusta's, which makes Goldco the more accessible of the two for mid-sized rollovers. If you have less than $50,000 to move, Augusta isn't an option at all.
Fees: nearly identical, but the incentive differs
Both publish flat fees: about $225 a year at Goldco with standard storage ($275 with segregated storage) and $235 at Augusta. Augusta says every account gets up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid. Goldco's promotion we found is bonus silver, up to 10%, on qualified orders of $100,000 or more. Fee coverage is easy to value; bonus metal is harder, because "free" silver can be offset by the prices of what you buy. Ask both for the price per ounce versus spot on the same products.
Transparency of terms
Augusta's FAQ is unusually specific about its custodian, depository locations, cancellation window, price protection and the limits of its buyback policy. Goldco's cost page is clear on fees but older (dated February 2025) and doesn't name its custodian. Get Goldco's current custodian and depository in writing.
Before any fee coverage or promotions. Augusta says every account receives up to 10 years of custodian and depository fees paid by Augusta.
The Cost Neither Fee Schedule Shows
Annual fees are only part of the cost. The bigger number is usually the premium you pay over the metal's melt value, which depends on the product. Ask both companies to quote the same products (for example, a common gold bullion coin) on the same day, with the spot price and price per ounce in writing. Then ask what each would pay to buy those products back. See gold IRA fees and bullion vs. proof coins.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Augusta if
- You're moving $50,000 or more
- You want years of fee coverage rather than bonus metal
- You value detailed written terms on custody, cancellation and buybacks
Choose Goldco if
- You're moving $25,000 to $50,000
- You're making a very large order and want to compare the bonus-silver offer
- You prefer Goldco after comparing written quotes on identical products
Whichever you lean toward, put our 15 questions to both companies and compare the written answers. For more on Augusta, read our full Augusta Precious Metals review; for lower-minimum options, see Augusta alternatives.
Disclosure: we earn commissions from Augusta Precious Metals, not from Goldco. Both companies are described using their own published information.