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Scored October 14, 2026 by Mark Sandulli
We score every Gold IRA company with the same published formula, using numbers you can check yourself: fees, minimums, Better Business Bureau complaints, buyback terms and transparency.
The rankings
| Rank | Company | Score | Minimum | First-year fees | BBB complaints (3 yrs) | Buyback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Augusta Precious Metals | 8.1 | $50,000 | $275 (covers year 1) | 1 (0.7 per 100 reviews) | 5% spread |
| 2 | Noble Gold Investments | 7.4 | $20,000 | $355 | 3 (1.2 per 100) | Not published |
| 3 | Goldco | 6.4 | $25,000 | $500 | 72 (4.2 per 100) | Market rate, no commission |
| 4 | Lear Capital | 5.7 | $10,000 | $235 | 32 (21.3 per 100) | Market rate, no fees |
| 5 | American Hartford Gold | 5.6 | $10,000 | $455 | 112 (13.5 per 100) | Not published |
| — | Birch Gold Group | Pending | ~$10,000 | $250 (2023 data) | 9 (3.9 per 100) | Quotes on request |
All six companies hold an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Birch Gold Group is unranked until we confirm its current fees; our only published figures are from 2023. On those figures it would score 8.3.
Lear Capital includes a 2.0-point deduction for regulatory action (see below). Without it, it would score 7.7.
What first-year fees leave out: the markup on the metal itself, which is usually the biggest cost. Always ask for it in writing. See Gold IRA fees explained.
How we score
Each company gets 0–10 on five measures, combined with fixed weights:
| Weight | Measure | How it's scored |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | Fees | Lowest first-year setup + yearly fee scores 10; others scored in proportion |
| 20% | Minimum | Up to $10,000 = 10 · up to $20,000 = 8 · up to $25,000 = 7 · up to $50,000 = 4 |
| 20% | Complaints | BBB complaints closed in 3 years, per 100 BBB customer reviews (so large and small companies are compared fairly): 1 or fewer = 10 · up to 3 = 8 · up to 6 = 6 · up to 12 = 4 · over 12 = 2 |
| 15% | Buyback | Published at market rate with no fees = 10 · published with a stated spread = 8 · not published = 5 |
| 15% | Transparency | Fees posted online = 10 · fees only by phone = 6 · regulatory action over fees in the last 5 years = 5 |
Regulatory rule: a company that has settled or been sanctioned by a regulator over fees or sales practices in the last five years loses 2.0 points from its final score, on top of the transparency score. We added this rule on October 14, 2026, and it applies to every company equally.
Why complaints are measured per 100 reviews: bigger companies serve more customers, so they naturally receive more complaints. Dividing by the number of BBB customer reviews puts every company on the same footing. Reviews are an imperfect measure of size, so we also show the raw counts. We changed to this method on October 14, 2026.
Record to know: Lear Capital
State regulators said Lear Capital urged investors to cash out retirement savings without fully disclosing fees. Its 2023 bankruptcy plan paid $5.5 million to investors who bought between January 2016 and March 2022, and it agreed to stop misrepresenting fees (California DFPI).
Gold IRA basics
What is a Gold IRA? A self-directed retirement account that holds physical gold and other approved metals instead of stocks or funds. The metal is kept at an approved depository, not at home.
How does a rollover work? Money moves from your existing 401(k) or IRA to a new custodian, who buys the metal for your account. A direct transfer between custodians avoids taxes and penalties when done correctly. Read the full rollover guide.
Gold IRA or just buy coins? A Gold IRA keeps the tax advantages of retirement savings but costs more each year. Buying coins is cheaper and you hold them yourself, but there's no tax benefit. Compare coin prices.
Not sure which is right for you? Take the 30-second quiz →
This page is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Talk to a tax professional before moving retirement money. Precious metals can lose value.
Sources: BBB profiles, checked October 14, 2026: Augusta · Noble Gold · Lear Capital · Goldco · American Hartford Gold · Birch Gold Group. Fees: Yahoo Finance, May 2026 · Money.com via Nasdaq, June 2023 (Birch) · Finder, May 2026.