In March 2026, the price of gold (GC=F) topped $5,000 per ounce, so it’s no surprise that more and more people are thinking about putting their money into this precious metal. In fact, a 2025 Gallup poll found that 23% of Americans believed gold was the best long-term investment, up five points from the previous year.
But what’s the best way to invest in gold? There are several options, from buying physical gold coins to investing in stocks or mutual funds. Below, learn about where to invest in gold, the different options available, and their fees.
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Between Dec. 31, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2025, gold’s price went from $1,062.25 to $4339.64 — a 308% increase.
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Investors can purchase physical gold, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or stocks.
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Some investments have added fees, such as storage costs.
There are several ways to invest in gold. Which is best for you depends on your up-front investment and financial goals.
| Minimum Investment | Liquidity | Fees | Taxes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Gold | $250+ | Low | Dealer premiums, storage | Collectibles tax rate |
| Gold ETFs | $5 | High | Expense ratios | Capital gains taxes |
| Gold Mutual Funds | $1,000+ | Moderate | Management fees | Capital gains taxes |
| Gold Stocks | $5 | High | Brokerage fees | Capital gains taxes |
| Gold Futures and Options | Varies, but often $1,000+ | High | Contract fees | Complex tax rules |
| Gold IRAs | $5,000+ | Low | Custodian and storage fees | Tax-advantaged retirement account |
Learn more: Investing in gold? Here’s how to avoid a tax hit.
Best for: Long-term investors who want a physical asset
Owning physical gold is one of the most popular forms of precious metal investing. You can purchase gold coins or bars and store them as a personal hedge against inflation. There’s no need to worry about brokerage firms.
Learn more: Gold storage myths debunked
Best for: Hands-off investors
An ETF is a fund that tracks and mimics the performance of gold. For example, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) ETF mimics the price of gold bullion.
With an ETF, you can buy and sell shares like stocks. As a result, ETFs are more liquid than physical gold, and you can buy fractional shares, or small slices of ETFs.
Best for: Investors who want to diversify with precious metals
Mutual funds invest in a range of stocks, but they may include gold-related companies, such as mining corporations. There are passive funds that track gold market indices and active funds that strive to outperform the market.
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Higher fees than ETFs, particularly for active-managed funds
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Investment may fluctuate more than the gold spot price
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Less liquid than ETFs
Best for: Investors comfortable with higher levels of risk
With stocks, you can invest in companies related to the gold industry, such as mining companies or businesses that use gold in their manufacturing processes. Stocks are more liquid than physical gold, but you’re investing in one particular company, and you may experience higher levels of risk.
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More liquid than physical gold
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Can benefit from rising gold prices and company growth
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Potential for higher returns
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More volatile than ETFs or mutual funds
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Can fall even if gold’s price is up
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Higher risk of losing money
Gold futures and options
Best for: Experienced investors
Gold futures and options aren’t for the faint of heart; they’re best for very experienced investors who are financially stable and can handle a high level of risk.
Gold futures and options are derivative contracts that let investors speculate on the future price of gold without needing to own the gold. Futures contracts lock in a price at which you buy or sell in the future, while gold options give you the ability to sell at a specific price at a certain date (but you aren’t required to sell at that price).
Investors tend to use leveraged investments, meaning they invest with borrowed money. This allows you to invest with less up-front capital, but it significantly increases the risk of losses.
Read more: What would happen if all the gold in the world were sold tomorrow?
Best for: Retirement-focused investors
A gold IRA is a type of self-directed IRA that allows you to invest in physical gold within a tax-advantaged retirement account. You can take advantage of perks like tax-deductible contributions and tax-free account growth, but these accounts are subject to the same rules as traditional IRAs. For example, you have the same contribution limits on a gold IRA as you do on a traditional IRA, and you’re required to make required minimum distributions (RMDs).
Read more: Gold IRAs vs. physical gold: Which is the better investment?
Gold IRAs require your own work with a custodian, and you have to store your gold with an approved vault, adding to your overall costs.
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High custodian and storage fees
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Strict IRS rules
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Less liquid than stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds
If you’re looking to diversify your portfolio and hedge against inflation, gold can act as a useful tool. It can provide stability as a widely accepted store of value, helping to give you peace of mind if the stock market is volatile.
There are many different ways to invest in gold, from buying gold coins to opening a gold IRA. Which is best for you depends on your financial goals and investment horizon.
Learn more: How to invest in precious metals
As of March 22, 2026, gold was approximately $4,500 per ounce, so $1,000 would buy you 0.22 ounces of gold.
In 2006, gold’s price was $$603.46 per ounce, according to the National Mining Association. If you invested $10,000 in gold in 2006, you would have purchased 16.57 ounces of gold. As of March 22, 2026, that investment would be worth approximately $74,570.
Read more: How much gold would $1 million buy at different points in history?
While gold prices will likely ebb and flow over the next year, most financial analysts expect gold to remain strong due to economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and increased retail demand.