Gold IRAs
Augusta Precious Metals Review 2026: Is It Legit? Fees, Pros and Cons
Yes, Augusta Precious Metals is a legitimate gold IRA company. It has been in business since 2012, holds an A+ rating with the BBB and AAA with the Business Consumer Alliance, and Money magazine has named it "Best Overall Gold IRA Company" every year from 2022 to 2026. It's built for savers with $50,000 or more who want to understand every step before they buy.
Free guide, plus a no-pressure call with a salaried Augusta educator who walks you through it. No obligation.
- Founded
- 2012
- Headquarters
- Casper, Wyoming
- Minimum
- $50,000
- Metals
- Gold and silver
- BBB / BCA
- A+ / AAA
- Fee offer
- ZERO fees for up to 10 years
Key points
- Money magazine named Augusta "Best Overall Gold IRA Company" from 2022 to 2026, and Investopedia named it "Best for Transparency" for the same years.
- Its educators are salaried and non-commissioned, and they explain everything, even risks.
- ZERO setup, custodian and storage fees for up to 10 years, and everyone qualifies.
- The minimum investment is $50,000, and orders are placed with a person, not online.
Augusta Precious Metals pros and cons
What stands out
- Recognized year after year. Money magazine "Best Overall" and Investopedia "Best for Transparency," 2022 to 2026.
- Salaried educators. No commission, and an education-first, no-pressure approach.
- Fees covered. ZERO setup, custodian and storage fees for up to 10 years.
- Strong ratings. A+ BBB, AAA BCA and more than 4,000 independent 5-star rankings.
- Guarantees. Highest Buyback Guarantee, 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and 100% 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
- Less paperwork. Augusta does 95% of the gold IRA paperwork with you.
- Free shipping. Shipping and transit insurance are free to all customers.
- Lifetime service. Ongoing support for the life of the account.
Good to know
- $50,000 minimum. Augusta is set up for savers moving a larger amount.
- Not an online store. You talk with a person, and transactions aren't completed online.
- Gold and silver only. No platinum or palladium.
- Not a financial advisor. Augusta doesn't analyze your other investments.
Is Augusta Precious Metals legit?
Augusta has been in business since 2012 and registered with the Better Business Bureau since 2015. It's headquartered in Casper, Wyoming, with satellite offices elsewhere in the U.S.
Its customer reviews come from the BBB, the Business Consumer Alliance and Google, with thousands of certified 5-star reviews across multiple platforms. Augusta has been trusted by thousands of American retirees since 2012.
What Augusta does
Augusta specializes in precious metals IRAs, both 401(k) rollovers and IRA transfers. It acts as a liaison with your custodian to set up your gold IRA and storage accounts, and then helps you find physical gold and silver to buy. You stay in control and decide which metals to buy.
Augusta is a gold dealer, but not an online gold dealer. Its order desk shows customers popular precious metals options and helps assemble the order with you by phone. It isn't a financial advisor and doesn't analyze your other investments.
Augusta also educates savers about "free silver" scams, celebrity endorsements and high-pressure tactics used by some other gold IRA companies.
Meet Devlyn Steele, Augusta's director of education
Devlyn Steele created Augusta's educational gold and silver web conference. He is the company's director of education and on-staff Harvard-trained economic analyst, and a member of the Harvard Business School graduate analytics program. Savers who qualify get a one-on-one web conference.
Augusta Precious Metals fees and minimum
| Fee | Standard | Under Augusta's offer |
|---|---|---|
| Open the account (one time) | $50 | $0 |
| Custodian administration (yearly) | $125 | $0 for up to 10 years |
| Storage at the depository (yearly) | $100 | $0 for up to 10 years |
| First year | $275 | $0 |
| Each year after | $225 | $0 for up to 10 years |
| Shipping and transit insurance | Free to all customers | |
Everyone qualifies for the zero-fee offer. The minimum investment is $50,000. Augusta describes its pricing as straightforward and transparent, and it has been ranked #1 for integrity and transparency. Ask your educator for the price of each product before you buy. Our guide to gold IRA fees explains how fees work across the industry.
Custodian and storage
A gold IRA has three parts: the company that sells you the metal, a custodian that holds the IRA, and a depository that stores the metal. Augusta's preferred custodian is Equity Trust, and its preferred depository for customers' physical gold and silver is the Delaware Depository. Augusta works with the custodian to set up both accounts for you.
Buyback and guarantees
- Highest Buyback Guarantee. When you're ready, you can sell back to Augusta with confidence.
- 100% 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee. Peace of mind when you open your account.
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. You're in control, and you can switch easily if Augusta falls short.
- Account lifetime service. You can count on ongoing support for as long as you have the account.
How to open a gold IRA with Augusta, step by step
-
Request the free kitFill in a short form on Augusta's website. The kit explains how a gold IRA works, in plain English. Get the free kit.
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Talk with a salaried educatorAn Augusta educator answers your questions, even the ones about risks. If you qualify, you're invited to a one-on-one web conference.
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Open the account and move fundsAugusta does 95% of the paperwork with you and works with the custodian on your 401(k) rollover or IRA transfer.
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Choose your gold and silverThe order desk shows you popular options, and you choose. You're in charge of what goes in your account.
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Your metal is storedYour coins and bars ship free, with transit insurance, to the depository and are held for your account.
Want the detail on each stage? Read what happens after you request a kit and our gold IRA rollover, step by step.
Augusta vs other gold IRA companies
| Company | Minimum | Fee offer | How staff are paid | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Precious Metals | $50,000 | ZERO setup, custodian & storage fees for up to 10 years | Salaried, non-commissioned | — |
| Goldco | $25,000 | Bonus silver on "Goldco premium coins" | Not stated | Augusta vs Goldco |
| American Hartford Gold | $10,000 | Free storage promotions; terms not published | Not stated | Augusta vs AHG |
| Birch Gold Group | $5,000 | First year's fees paid over $50,000 | Commission, per Birch's FAQ | Augusta vs Birch |
| Noble Gold | $20,000 | None found | Not stated | Augusta vs Noble |
Competitor details come from each company's own pages, checked in October 2026. See all five side by side in our best gold IRA companies comparison.
Who Augusta is a good fit for
- You have $50,000 or more in an IRA or 401(k) and want to move part of it into physical gold or silver.
- You want to understand how it works before you buy, from an educator who isn't paid on commission.
- You'd rather talk it through with a person than click "buy" on a website.
- You want setup, custodian and storage fees covered for up to 10 years.
If you're starting with less than $50,000, Augusta isn't set up for that yet. Our gold IRA explainer is a good place to start.
Our verdict
Augusta Precious Metals is the company we refer readers to. Its ratings, its year-after-year recognition from Money magazine and Investopedia, its salaried educators and its zero-fee offer make it a strong choice for savers with $50,000 or more. Start with the free kit: it's free, there's no obligation, and you decide in your own time.
Common questions
Is Augusta Precious Metals legit?
Yes. Augusta has been in business since 2012, has been registered with the BBB since 2015, and holds an A+ rating with the BBB and AAA with the Business Consumer Alliance. Money magazine named it "Best Overall Gold IRA Company" from 2022 to 2026.
What is Augusta's minimum investment?
$50,000.
What fees does Augusta charge?
The standard fees are $50 one time to open the account, $125 a year for administration by the custodian and $100 a year for storage. Under Augusta's offer, setup, custodian and storage fees are ZERO for up to 10 years, and everyone qualifies. Shipping and transit insurance are free.
Who is Augusta's custodian, and where is the metal stored?
Augusta's preferred custodian is Equity Trust, and its preferred depository is the Delaware Depository.
Can I buy from Augusta online?
No. Augusta is a gold dealer but not an online gold dealer, and it doesn't complete transactions online. You place your order with its order desk.
Does Augusta buy back gold?
Yes. Augusta offers a Highest Buyback Guarantee, so you can sell back to Augusta with confidence.
Can I change my mind after opening an account?
Augusta offers a 100% 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Are Augusta's educators paid on commission?
No. Augusta's educators are salaried and non-commissioned.
Where is Augusta Precious Metals located?
Augusta is headquartered in Casper, Wyoming, with satellite offices elsewhere in the U.S.
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