Goldco vs Augusta Precious Metals: Which Is Better?

Goldco and Augusta Precious Metals are two of the names people most often compare when they look into a gold IRA. Both sell physical gold and silver, both hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and both will send you a free kit before you commit to anything.

They are not the same company, though, and the differences are practical ones: how much you need to start, how much each tells you up front, and what each puts in writing about buying your metals back.

The short answer: if you are rolling over $50,000 or more and want the process explained before you buy, Augusta Precious Metals is our first pick. If you want a written buyback policy, a current free silver promotion^*, or the choice of buying smaller amounts for delivery, Goldco is the better fit. In our overall ranking Augusta is first and Goldco is second, and the gap between them is small.

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Goldco vs Augusta at a glance

Facts on this page were read from each company's own website and its Better Business Bureau profile on October 2, 2026. We did not open an account with either company or test them as customers, and we say where a figure is the company's own claim.

Reputation and reviews

Both companies have the kind of public record that most gold dealers never build.

The review scores are as each company reports them on its own reviews page, so open the profiles yourself for the current numbers.

Goldco wins on volume and on length of record. It has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since December 2011, more than three years longer than Augusta, and it reports about twice as many five-star reviews.

Augusta wins on the complaint record. It says it keeps one of the lowest complaint rates in the industry, and its reviews page shows no complaints on file at the Better Business Bureau as of July 2026. Its scores are also a touch higher, at 4.9 or better on every platform it lists.

Neither company gives you a reason to worry here. If reputation is your only test, call it a draw.

Awards

• Goldco says it has been named to the Inc. 5000 list nine times, received a 2025 Bronze Stevie Award, and was named Best Customer Service for 2026 by Money.com.
• Augusta says Money magazine has named it Best Overall Gold IRA Company every year from 2022 through 2026, and Best Education Resources in 2026. It says Investopedia has ranked it Best for Transparency over the same period.

The pattern matches what customers say. Goldco's recognition is for growth and service. Augusta's is for explaining itself.

How much you need to start

This is the biggest practical difference between the two.

Augusta's minimum is $50,000, for both IRA and cash purchases. The company says plainly that it serves savers who are prepared to move at least that much from an existing retirement account. Below that line, Augusta is not an option.

Goldco does not publish a minimum on the pages we read. Ask when you call. Goldco sells for direct delivery as well as for retirement accounts, and it works with buyers at a range of sizes.

So the first question to ask yourself is simply how much you are moving. If it is well under $50,000, the comparison is over and Goldco is the one to call.

Education and the buying experience

Augusta has built its whole approach around teaching first. Before any product is discussed, it offers a one-on-one web conference designed by Devlyn Steele, its director of education, covering how gold is priced, what the custodian and depository do, and what to ask any dealer. Augusta says the session exists to answer questions, not to close a sale, and that each customer keeps a dedicated team for the life of the account. The web conference is offered to savers with $100,000 or more in savings.

Goldco's emphasis is on making the process quick and guided. It describes a three-step setup, says a representative walks you through each step, and advertises that an account can be opened in a day. Its published reviews repeatedly mention knowledgeable staff and a lack of pressure.

Put simply: Augusta suits the buyer who wants to understand everything before deciding. Goldco suits the buyer who has decided and wants it handled smoothly.

One more difference in style is worth knowing. Goldco advertises through well-known media figures. Augusta says it does not use celebrity endorsements at all. Neither choice says anything about the quality of the metal, but it tells you how each company expects to earn your trust.

Buyback: what each puts in writing

Both companies buy metals back from their customers, and neither can legally guarantee it. The wording differs.

Goldco states that it will buy back metals purchased from Goldco at any time. Its "highest price" promise applies once three years have passed since your first purchase, and no specific rate is guaranteed.

Augusta states that it has never denied a client buyback since 2012. It also says that the law does not allow a dealer to guarantee a future repurchase and that its policy can change. In addition, Augusta offers a 24-hour cancellation window if you find a better offer after you commit.

Goldco's is the more specific policy. Augusta's is the longer track record, stated with an honest caveat. If knowing the terms of your exit matters most, Goldco has the edge. Whichever you choose, ask for the buyback price of the exact items you are buying, on the day you buy them.

Storage and custodians

Gold held in an IRA has to sit with a custodian and be stored at an approved depository. It cannot be kept at home.

Augusta names both in advance. Its preferred custodian is Equity Trust Company, and it stores metals at Delaware Depository. You can look up both before you ever speak to Augusta.

Goldco tells you on the call. It says it works with all major self-directed IRA custodians and that IRA metals go to a secure vault at an insured depository, but it does not name either on the pages we read. Ask for both names, and whether storage is segregated or commingled.

This is the main reason Augusta ranks ahead of Goldco on this site. Nothing suggests Goldco's arrangements are any weaker. Augusta simply publishes more.

Products and ways to buy

Here the two are close.

• Both sell IRA-eligible gold and silver coins and bars.
• Both offer gold IRAs and silver IRAs, and both metals can be held in one account.
• Both sell outside a retirement account too. Goldco calls this a direct purchase and ships to a depository or to your door. Augusta ships cash purchases anywhere in the United States, subject to its $50,000 minimum.

If you want some metal in a retirement account and some at home, either company can do both.

Promotions

Goldco currently advertises up to 10% in free silver on qualifying orders.^* It is a promotion with conditions, set out at the foot of this page, and it applies to larger purchases of particular coins. If your order qualifies, it adds to what you receive, so it is worth asking about. Goldco also advertises a price match.

Augusta runs its own offers from time to time, and its current one is shown in the banners on this page. Ask each company what applies to your order, get it in writing, and compare the total ounces you would receive for the same money.

The free kits compared

Both companies will send you a free information kit, and requesting one does not open an account or move any money. In both cases you give a phone number and should expect a call.

• Goldco's kit is its gold and silver kit, the company's guide to owning physical metals and how a precious metals IRA works.
• Augusta's kit is its Gold & Silver IRA Info Kit, which Augusta says includes four guides.

There is no reason to choose between them at this stage. Requesting both costs nothing, and reading them side by side is the quickest way to see how each company explains itself. Our article on the free gold IRA kit covers what to look for.

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Which should you choose?

Choose Augusta Precious Metals if:

• you are rolling over $50,000 or more;
• you want the process explained before any product is discussed;
• you want to know the custodian and the depository in advance;
• you plan to hold for many years and value a dedicated team.

Choose Goldco if:

• you are moving less than $50,000, or are not sure yet how much;
• a written buyback policy is your priority;
• the free silver promotion^* applies to your order;
• you want to buy for home delivery as well as for a retirement account.

If you fit both lists, start with Augusta's kit and web conference, then ask Goldco for a quote on the same order. Comparing two written quotes for identical metals is the most reliable test there is.

Things to know about both

• Neither can guarantee a buyback. Both say so, in different words.
• Expect a phone call after you request either kit.
• We leave costs out of this comparison. The numbers that circulate online are often wrong or out of date. Ask each company for its current schedule in writing and compare them yourself.
• Gold and silver can fall in price. Neither company can change that, and neither claims to.

For the full picture, see our Goldco review and our Augusta Precious Metals review. If you want a third option with a lower published starting amount, our ranking of the best gold IRA companies also covers American Hartford Gold.

FAQ

Is Goldco or Augusta Precious Metals better?

It depends on how much you are moving. For rollovers of $50,000 or more, Augusta is our first pick because it publishes its minimum, custodian and depository and leads with education. For smaller amounts, or if a written buyback policy matters most, Goldco is the better fit.

Which has the lower minimum, Goldco or Augusta?

Augusta's minimum is $50,000 for both IRA and cash purchases. Goldco does not publish a minimum on the pages we read, so ask when you call.

Which has better reviews?

Both are rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and score between 4.8 and 4.93 out of 5 on the platforms they report. Goldco reports more five-star reviews in total. Augusta reports no complaints on file at the BBB as of July 2026.

Do both companies offer a buyback?

Yes. Goldco says it will buy back metals purchased from Goldco at any time, with a "highest price" promise after three years. Augusta says it has never declined a buyback since 2012. Neither guarantees one.

Do both offer silver IRAs?

Yes. Both offer gold IRAs and silver IRAs, and both metals can be held in the same account.

Can I request a kit from both?

Yes. Both kits are free and neither request opens an account. Reading both is a sensible way to compare the two companies.

Is either company right for me?

That depends on your circumstances, and a website cannot judge them. Gold pays no interest or dividends and its price can fall. Speak with a licensed financial professional who is not paid on the sale.

The bottom line

Goldco and Augusta Precious Metals are both established, highly rated companies, and on the public record both are sound choices. The choice comes down to two things: the size of your purchase and how much you want to know in advance.

Augusta asks for more money and tells you more before you spend it. Goldco is open to more buyers, puts its buyback terms in writing, and runs a free silver promotion^* for orders that qualify.

Request both kits, read them, and ask each company for a written quote on the same metals. The better choice for you will be clear from the answers.

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*Applies only to qualified orders. Get up to 5% back in FREE Silver when you purchase $50,000 - $99,999. Get up to 10% in FREE Silver when you purchase $100,000 or more. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Additional rules may apply. Contact your representative to find out if your order qualifies. For additional details, please see your customer agreement. Goldco does not offer financial or tax advice.