BullionVault

BullionVault operates an online marketplace for allocated bullion held in professional vaults such as Zurich, London and New York, with client ownership recorded off-balance sheet. Trading commissions start at 0.5 percent and scale down with volume, and storage plus insurance for gold is 0.12 percent per year with a four dollar monthly minimum. Features: 

• Exchange-style liquidity with posted bids and offers
• Choice of vault jurisdictions and the ability to switch locations
• Transparent tariff page and cost calculator
  

Consider if you prioritise

• Very low ongoing gold custody costs
• Jurisdictional choice such as Zurich that many investors prefer for diversification
• You want access to a range of different gold resources (such as price forecasting and guides). 

OneGold

OneGold, created by APMEX in partnership with Sprott affiliates, provides “digital” vaulted metal that is fully backed by physical inventory and audited. Storage for gold is 0.12 percent per year, billed quarterly, with a five dollar per quarter minimum per account. OneGold highlights tighter spreads than retail coins and shows that many ETFs charge higher ongoing fees. 

Fees and policies

• Storage 0.12 percent per year for gold, billed quarterly, five dollar quarterly minimum
• When selling back US products, payout is spot bid minus 0.30 percent, which is clearly disclosed in support materials
• Products available across US and Canadian storage, including Royal Canadian Mint for “Canadian” lines 

Best for

• Investors who want low ongoing costs, mobile access and simple sell-back rules
• Those comfortable with a single platform handling both purchase and custody
  

Goldmoney

Goldmoney offers multi-metal holdings with custody at vault providers such as Brink’s, Loomis and the Royal Canadian Mint. Its published fee schedule shows gold storage at 0.18 percent per year at multiple vaults and a ten dollar minimum monthly storage charge per account. Redemption and other actions have clear pricing, for example redemptions for Goldmoney Personal are processed at the Goldmoney price less 0.5 percent. 

Strengths

• Global vault network with named providers and locations
• Detailed public fee documentation, including minimums and per-vault rates
• Ability to hold multiple metals in one account
  

Trade-offs

• The ten dollar monthly minimum means small balances can face proportionally higher costs
• Additional fees may apply for certain transfers or swaps as disclosed in support materials
  

Vaulted

Vaulted focuses on simple, fractional ownership of RCM gold with transparent pricing. Its fee page lists a 0.8 percent premium over the wholesale price when buying gold and a 0.4 percent annual maintenance fee billed semiannually, with no minimum maintenance fee. Storage for Vaulted gold is at the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa, and the FAQ explains the audit regime and ownership structure.

What stands out

• Direct RCM storage with clear disclosure of location and audits
• Simple pricing formula that shows buy and sell quotes to the user
• Delivery available if you choose to take possession later

This blog compares four leading online gold investing platforms in the US, outlining their different strengths and approaches. Different providers each have their own features and trade offs and the information contained here should not be viewed as financial advice. Always do your own research, especially when you are making big investment decisions. One thing is for certain with the current uncertainty in the world, gold for many is looking as attractive as ever for diversification.