What is the Best Way to Buy Gold? 

Gold has stood the test of time as a reliable store of wealth and a trusted hedge against inflation. Today’s investors have more choices than ever when it comes to owning gold, ranging from physical bullion and ETFs to futures and digital platforms. Each option comes with its pros and cons around cost, security, performance, liquidity, and convenience. The real question is: which method gives you the strongest combination of trust, flexibility, and value? 

Buying Physical Gold 

Purchasing physical gold is a great option for traditional investors who want full control of their investments. Buying gold coins, bars, and rounds is always a good option when diversifying your portfolio, but some physical gold formats are better than their counterparts. You can buy physical gold at banks, precious metals e-commerce companies, pawn shops, and more. 

Gold Bullion Coins 

Gold bullion coins are made primarily for investment purposes and typically consist of high-purity gold, usually 99.9% (24 karat) or higher. Gold jewelry, for example, is not considered bullion. However, some well-known bullion coins, like the American Gold Eagle, contain 91.67% gold (22 karat) but are still considered bullion due to their gold content and use as investment vehicles.   

Gold bullion coins are minted by government authorities, have a legal tender face value, and are valued based on their gold weight and purity, not numismatic or collectible value.  

Collectors and investors buy these because they are widely accepted and recognized worldwide and are easy to buy or sell. Gold bullion coins have higher premiums due to government minting and recognition, so they tend to be more expensive per ounce than gold bars or rounds. 

Gold Bars 

Gold bars are made of investment-grade gold (99.9% purity) 24 karat or higher with lower premiums per ounce, especially for larger bars.   

Gold bars do not have much numismatic value, as they are mainly bought for investment purchases. Your gold bar will likely gain value with the spot price of gold. The gold bar probably won’t gain value because of the relative scarcity or the graded condition of the bar itself. Gold bars of any size are highly liquid, but size matters when it comes to storage and transaction fees. This becomes important when market conditions change rapidly or when you need to liquidate a portion of your holdings. 

Gold Rounds 

Gold rounds are minted by private mints and have no face value. These are not intended to circulate as currency and, therefore, less liquid than coins. The value of a gold round is based on its precious metal content and collectability. Gold rounds have lower premiums than gold coins, similar to gold bars.  

Rounds cannot be made with the exact dimensions and weight of any coin produced anywhere in the world. This allows for interesting size listings, including 1/25 oz gold rounds, 1/4 oz copper rounds, and 1 oz silver rounds.  With irregular sizing, rounds offer greater flexibility for collectors and investors, but they may be less recognizable or liquid than standard coin sizes. 

Physical Gold Storage & Best Practices 

Gold bullion coins, bars, and rounds are space-efficient, stackable, and easy to store in bulk. Bars, however, require secure vaulting due to their high value. Storing all three in a secure vault is the best option. Research reputable precious metals dealers to find reliable physical gold vault storage options. Verify that the storage is fully segregated and audited, and check for key features like geographic location, access policies, insurance coverage, and annual storage fees. 

You can also check and see if the gold dealer is a member of a reputable organization, such as: 

• Accredited Precious Metal Dealers 

• American Numismatic Association 

• Numismatic Guaranty Corporation 

• Professional Numismatists Guild 

Investing in Gold ETFs 

Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are investment funds that allow investors to gain exposure to gold prices through the stock market. These are best for investors looking for convenient, passive exposure to the gold market without paying for storage or delivery. With a gold ETF, you don't have physical possession of gold. Instead, you're investing in shares that track the price of gold or, in some cases, stocks of gold mining companies. Each unit of a gold ETF represents a specific amount of gold, such as 1 gram. While custodians back ETFs, investors must trust the fund structure rather than trust themselves.   

Gold ETFs involve minimal or no transaction fees with online brokers and eliminate the need for shipping, insurance, or storage. This makes them a convenient option for investors seeking exposure to gold without physical ownership. Gold ETFs can be bought or sold through brokerage accounts and are traded during market hours. 

Trading Gold Futures 

Gold futures contracts buy or sell gold at a future date and predetermined price and are most used for speculation or hedging by experienced traders. Futures contracts allow traders to predict and capitalize on potential gold price movements without owning the traded gold. Each gold futures contract typically controls 100 troy ounces of gold, and the contract's market value is 100 times the current market price for one ounce of gold.  

These contracts are also used as a hedge against price volatility, locking current prices to shield themselves from potential future spikes. Most gold futures contracts settle in cash, so investors can skip the logistics and costs associated with storage, insurance, or handling costs involved. This eliminates the need for vaults, safes, or insurance.  

These contracts require active monitoring and account maintenance; futures are very hands-on. Experienced traders and short-term speculators who understand leverage, volatility, and the futures market structure will likely use gold futures contracts. 

Digital Gold

Digital gold refers to ownership of real, physical gold accessed and managed entirely through an online platform. Investing in digital gold is a good choice for all investor levels, from beginner to expert. Digital gold is perfect for those seeking a secure, flexible, and cost-efficient way to invest in physical gold through a digital experience.  

Investors purchase fractional or whole amounts of investment-grade gold that is stored on their behalf in fully insured, third-party vaults. They have 24/7 digital access to their holdings.   

 How Digital Gold Investing Works:  

• Investors buy gold through a web or mobile platform.  

• The gold undergoes regular audits with complete transparency from reputable custodians.  

• Account values update in real time based on the spot price.  

• Some platforms allow physical delivery or vault-to-vault transfers.  

• Digital gold platforms offer guaranteed liquidity so you can liquidate your position anytime, quickly, and at market rates.  

 With digital gold, there is no delivery, insurance, or dealer markups. Visiting a dealer, handling physical metal, or arranging storage is unnecessary. Gold is typically allocated, meaning it's explicitly assigned to the investor. Platforms like the OneGold App make tracking performance and managing exposure easy.   

Why OneGold Stands Out as the Best Way to Buy Gold 

• Co-developed by APMEX and Sprott, OneGold is a modern platform designed for investors who want gold ownership without managing precious metals. It combines the security of vaulted gold, the performance of tangible assets, and the convenience of digital access, making it the best choice for long-term, digital-first investors.  

• Institutional-Grade Security: OneGold stores your fully allocated gold in top-tier, insured vaults with regular third-party audits to ensure complete transparency. Vaults include MKS PAMP, Loomis International, Brinks, APMEX, The Royal Canadian Mint, or other physically secure locations.    

• Gold Performance: Because your holdings are backed by physical metal, you capture the full performance of spot gold, unlike ETFs or mining stocks, which can deviate from gold’s actual value.  

• Guaranteed Liquidity: OneGold acts as a guaranteed buyer, allowing you to sell your gold instantly on the platform. This is unlike physical bullion, which requires finding a dealer or buyer, or ETFs and mining stocks, which rely on market volume and timing.  

• Reliable Access When You Need It: While gold-related stocks may be highly liquid, they still depend on market demand, and you might face slippage or delays if the price or volume doesn’t align. OneGold eliminates this risk with consistent, on-demand liquidity.  

• Streamlined Ownership Experience: Buy, sell, and manage your holdings anytime via web or mobile, without worrying about shipping, storing, or insuring your purchases.