Augusta Precious Metals is a Gold IRA company founded in 2012 that sells gold and silver only, requires a $50,000 minimum purchase and charges flat annual fees of roughly $200 to $275 depending on the source and the storage type you choose. It is best known for a one-on-one educational web conference before any purchase and for a sales process that customer reviews describe as unhurried. Our editorial score is 4.8 out of 5, second only to Noble Gold, our top pick and affiliate partner.
In this guide
Key takeaways
- The $50,000 minimum is the highest among major Gold IRA companies. Below that figure, Augusta is simply not an option.
- Annual fees are flat, so they fall as a percentage of the account: about 0.5% on $50,000 and 0.1% on $250,000.
- Augusta sells gold and silver only, no platinum or palladium.
- Yahoo Finance reports a 5% spread on buybacks under Augusta's transaction agreement, a cost many buyers overlook.
- Published fee figures differ between outlets. Get the schedule in writing before funding.
Verdict in 60 seconds
Augusta is the company we would point to for a rollover of $50,000 or more when the investor values education and a calm sales process above everything else. The fee structure is flat and predictable, the custodian and depository partners are mainstream, and we found no regulatory history to report. The trade-offs are real: the minimum excludes most first-time buyers, the catalog stops at two metals, and the buyback spread reported by Yahoo Finance means selling back to Augusta is not free.
If you are choosing between our top two, Noble Gold vs Augusta walks through it scenario by scenario. The short version: under $50,000 the decision is made for you, and above it the choice comes down to whether you want four metals and a Texas vault (Noble) or Augusta's web conference and lifetime support.
Company background
Augusta Precious Metals started operations in 2012. Its administrative headquarters are in Casper, Wyoming, with a corporate office in Beverly Hills, California, according to company profiles. It holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a AAA rating with the Business Consumer Alliance, both confirmed in Money's October 2026 roundup of Gold IRA companies.
The company's marketing leans on education. Before you buy, a member of its team walks you through a live one-on-one web conference covering how the economy affects metals, how the account is structured and what the fees are. Augusta also advertises lifetime account support, meaning the same team remains available after the purchase for questions about buybacks, distributions and rebalancing. Public customer reviews on the BBB and other platforms are strongly positive, with recurring praise for patience and clarity. Because we summarize public documents rather than opening accounts, treat those reviews as a signal, not proof.
Fees and minimums
Augusta does not publish a single fee page that our research could retrieve, so the figures below combine two major outlets with the company's widely quoted schedule. They do not agree perfectly, which is itself useful information.
| Item | Yahoo Finance (May 2026) | Commonly quoted schedule | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold IRA minimum | $50,000 | $50,000 | Consistent everywhere |
| First-year / setup | $275 application fee, includes year-one fees | $50 one-time setup | Confirm which applies to you |
| Annual custodian | $125 maintenance | $100 to $125 | Paid to the custodian, often Equity Trust |
| Annual storage + insurance | $100 commingled; $150 segregated | $100 commingled | Delaware Depository is the usual vault |
| All-in annual (after year one) | $225 to $275 | About $200 to $225 | Flat regardless of balance |
| Buyback | 5% spread per transaction agreement | Offered, at market | No obligation to sell to Augusta |
| Fee waivers | Not stated | Reported for larger accounts, up to several years | Terms not published; ask |
Money's October 2026 review also mentions possible fee waivers of up to ten years for qualifying accounts. Those terms are not published in a form we could verify, so treat any waiver as a negotiated item that must appear in your written agreement before it counts.
What the flat fee means in practice
Take the $50,000 minimum and assume $225 a year all-in. That is 0.45% of the account annually, comparable to a pricier gold ETF and far below the 1% or more some custodians charge as a scaled storage fee. On a $150,000 account the same $225 is 0.15%. This is why Augusta's minimum and its fee model fit together: the company has built its pricing around accounts large enough that the flat fee becomes trivial.
The larger cost is the dealer spread on the metal itself. On common one-ounce bullion coins the industry range is roughly 3% to 5% over spot. On $50,000 at 4% that is about $1,900 that does not buy metal, a sum that dwarfs a decade of custodian fees. Augusta does not post its premiums online, so ask for the price over spot on the specific products you intend to buy. Our guide to gold premiums over spot explains what a fair number looks like.
Metals, custodians and storage
- Metals: IRS-eligible gold and silver, including American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs and accredited bars. Augusta also sells premium and limited-mintage coins, which carry higher markups; for an IRA, plain bullion is the better value.
- Custodian: Augusta works with IRS-approved custodians; Equity Trust Company is the one most often named by third-party reviewers. You can usually choose another approved custodian if you already have one.
- Depository: the Delaware Depository in Wilmington is the default; other depositories are available on request. See our Delaware Depository guide for what that vault offers.
- Storage type: commingled is the base option. Segregated storage, where your exact bars and coins are set aside, costs about $50 more a year according to Yahoo Finance. The difference is explained in segregated vs commingled storage.
Augusta does not offer platinum or palladium. That matters only if you want them; most Gold IRA investors hold gold with some silver. If a four-metal catalog is important, Noble Gold and Birch Gold Group both provide it.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Flat annual fees that become very cheap on six-figure accounts
- One-on-one educational web conference before any purchase
- Lifetime support from a dedicated team
- A+ BBB and AAA BCA ratings; no regulatory actions found in reputable sources
- Mainstream custodian and depository partners
- Customer reviews consistently describe a low-pressure process
Cons
- $50,000 minimum rules out most first-time buyers
- Gold and silver only
- 5% buyback spread reported by Yahoo Finance
- No online pricing; premiums must be requested
- Published fee figures differ between sources
- Fee-waiver terms are not public
What customers report
We have not opened an account with Augusta, so this section summarizes public feedback rather than first-hand testing. Reviews on the BBB and other platforms are overwhelmingly positive, and the themes that repeat are the quality of the educational session, the absence of pressure and responsive follow-up. Complaint volume on the BBB profile is low relative to the company's size. The negative comments that do appear tend to concern premiums on specialty coins and disappointment when the gold price fell after purchase, which no dealer controls. Gold dropped about 25% from its January 2026 record, so some of those reviews are recent. The broader patterns across the industry are covered in what Gold IRA customers actually complain about.
Augusta vs the other top companies
| Augusta | Noble Gold | Goldco | Birch Gold | American Hartford | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRA minimum | $50,000 | $20,000 | $25,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Annual fees (approx.) | $200 to $275 | About $275 | $175 to $280 | About $235 | $175 to $280 |
| Segregated storage | Optional | Included | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Metals | Au, Ag | Au, Ag, Pt, Pd | Au, Ag | Au, Ag, Pt, Pd | Au, Ag, Pt |
| Fee waivers | Reported, terms private | Not standardized | Free-silver promotions | Year one on $50,000+ | Up to 3 years on $100,000+ |
| Our score | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
Figures come from company materials and major outlets as of November 2026 and change often; every company should confirm its schedule in writing. The full ranking and our method are in best Gold IRA companies, and Augusta vs Goldco compares the two companies most often shortlisted together.
Who should choose Augusta
- Investors rolling over $50,000 or more, especially $100,000 and up, where the flat fee is a rounding error.
- People who want a structured education session before committing and value having the same contact for years.
- Anyone who plans to hold only gold and silver and wants a conventional Delaware Depository arrangement.
Who should look elsewhere
- Rollovers under $50,000: Augusta will not open the account. Noble Gold starts at $20,000; Birch Gold and American Hartford at $10,000. See best companies for small investors.
- Investors who want platinum or palladium.
- Anyone who expects to sell back to the dealer within a few years; a 5% buyback spread on top of the purchase premium is a meaningful round-trip cost.
- People who want to compare posted prices online before calling.
How to use Augusta well if you proceed
Ask for the written fee schedule
Request the custodian and storage fees, the setup fee and any waiver in writing, and check whether storage is commingled or segregated by default.
Get the price over spot per product
Compare the premium on a one-ounce American Gold Eagle or a Maple Leaf against the spot price on our live price page. Decline premium or limited-mintage coins for the IRA unless you understand the markup.
Fund by direct transfer
A trustee-to-trustee transfer or direct rollover from a 401(k) avoids withholding and the 60-day deadline. The steps are in our rollover guide.
Keep the allocation modest
Even with a $50,000 minimum, gold should normally stay within the 5% to 15% range planners use as a convention. Gold pays no income and has fallen 45% over a four-year stretch before.
Bottom line
Augusta earns a 4.8 by doing a narrow job very well: large, gold-and-silver accounts for investors who want to be taught before they buy. It is not for everyone, and its own minimum makes that explicit. If you qualify and the education-first approach appeals, it is a sound choice. If you do not, or you want four metals, segregated storage by default or a Texas vault, our top pick Noble Gold is the stronger fit. Either way, use our Gold IRA calculator to see what the fees cost on your balance before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum investment at Augusta Precious Metals?
$50,000 for a Gold IRA, the highest minimum among the well-known Gold IRA companies. That figure is consistent across the company's own materials and major outlets such as Yahoo Finance and Money. If your rollover is smaller, Noble Gold ($20,000), Goldco ($25,000), Birch Gold Group and American Hartford Gold (both $10,000) have lower entry points.
What are Augusta Precious Metals' annual fees?
Published figures vary by source. Yahoo Finance lists a $275 first-year application fee that includes year-one costs, then $225 a year for non-segregated storage or $275 for segregated. Other sources list a $50 setup fee plus about $100 custodian and $100 storage. Budget roughly $200 to $275 a year and ask for the written schedule.
Does Augusta Precious Metals buy back metals?
Yes. Augusta offers to repurchase metals it sold you, and according to Yahoo Finance its public transaction agreement applies a 5% spread on buybacks. There is no obligation to sell back to Augusta; any dealer can buy IRA metals through your custodian.
Does Augusta offer platinum or palladium?
No. Augusta sells gold and silver only. If you want a four-metal account, Noble Gold and Birch Gold Group both handle platinum and palladium.
Is Augusta Precious Metals legitimate?
Augusta was founded in 2012, holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a AAA rating with the Business Consumer Alliance, and uses IRS-approved custodians and depositories such as the Delaware Depository. We found no regulatory actions or lawsuits against the company reported by reputable sources as of November 2026.
Where does Augusta store IRA metals?
Through your custodian, typically at the Delaware Depository in Wilmington, Delaware, with other depositories available. Storage is insured and the metal is held in your IRA's name. Segregated storage, where your exact coins are kept apart, costs more than commingled storage.