Augusta vs Preserve Gold - Established Specialist vs Newer Low-Minimum Option (2026)

Augusta Precious Metals suits savers with $50,000 or more who want a company with a longer track record, flat itemized fees and an education-first process. Preserve Gold suits smaller rollovers, with reported minimums starting around $10,000, and buyers who want all four metals or a sizable promotional bonus.

The biggest differences are history and entry point. Augusta has operated since 2012; Preserve Gold was founded in 2022. Here's how they compare.

Augusta vs Preserve Gold at a Glance

Table: Augusta Precious Metals vs Preserve Gold, reported figures | | Augusta Precious Metals | Preserve Gold | |---|---|---| | Founded | 2012 | 2022 | | Headquarters | Casper, Wyoming; office in Beverly Hills | Woodland Hills, California (reported) | | Reported IRA minimum | $50,000 | Reported between $10,000 and $25,000 | | Yearly fees | About $200–$275, itemized | Reported around $175–$250, depending on custodian | | Promotions | Ask about current offers | Reported free-metal bonuses and fee waivers on qualifying accounts | | Metals | Gold, silver | Gold, silver, platinum, palladium | | Buybacks | No liquidation fee described | No-fee buyback reported | | Storage | Delaware Depository most often | Options reported to include Delaware, Texas and IDS depositories |

Track Record

Augusta has more than a decade of operating history, with consistently reported A+ BBB and AAA BCA ratings. See Augusta Precious Metals complaints.

Preserve Gold is newer. Reviewers report strong early ratings and positive customer feedback, but a shorter history means less evidence of how a company handles market downturns, staff changes or large volumes of buybacks. That's not a criticism, just less data.

Minimums

Preserve Gold's lower entry point is its main advantage. Reported minimums start around $10,000, though some sources list $25,000 for IRAs. Augusta's reported minimum is $50,000.

If your rollover is under $50,000, Preserve Gold or another low-minimum company is the practical choice.

Promotions: Read the Fine Print

Preserve Gold has been reported to offer free gold or silver on qualifying rollovers, with headline amounts in the tens of thousands of dollars at the top tier, plus multi-year fee waivers.

Promotions like these require a funded account, and the bonus usually scales with how much you invest. The real question is whether the price of the metal you buy offsets the bonus. A bonus worth 5% of your purchase doesn't help if the products carry a markup several points higher than elsewhere. See gold IRA promotions.

Fees

Both companies' yearly account fees come from the custodian and depository and are broadly similar, in the $175–$275 range. Augusta's are clearly itemized. Preserve Gold doesn't publish its full fee schedule online, so ask for it in writing.

Metals and Storage

Augusta sells gold and silver only. Preserve Gold offers all four IRS-eligible metals. Preserve Gold is also reported to offer several depository options, including a Texas facility, which some buyers prefer. Augusta most often uses Delaware Depository, which has East and West Coast locations. See Delaware Depository.

How the Experience Differs

Augusta's process is structured. You request the kit, you're invited to a one-on-one web conference with its education team, and you're paired with an agent who stays with you for the life of the account. Some savers love that depth; others find it slower than they need.

Preserve Gold is reported to emphasize personal service and quick responses, with a smaller team and a newer, family-owned feel. Reviewers praise its patience with first-time buyers. Because it's younger, its processes have had less time to be tested across many market cycles.

A Worked Example: Promotion vs Pricing

Suppose you roll over $40,000 and a company offers a bonus worth $1,000 in silver, about 2.5% of your purchase. If its products carry a markup 4 points higher than another dealer's for the same coins, you'd pay about $1,600 more for the metal. The bonus wouldn't cover that gap.

Now suppose both companies quote similar markups. Then the bonus is genuinely extra value. That's why the bonus should be the last thing you compare, not the first. These figures are illustrative assumptions.

Ten-Year Account Fees Compared

Table: Illustrative ten-year account fees (assumptions, not quotes) | | Augusta | Preserve Gold | |---|---|---| | Setup | About $50 | Varies by custodian; may be waived | | Yearly custodian and storage | About $225 | About $175–$250 | | Fee waivers | Ask about current offers | Multi-year waivers reported on larger accounts | | Ten-year account fees | About $2,300 | Roughly $0–$2,500 depending on waivers |

On most accounts, these differences are smaller than the difference in product markups, so compare written quotes for the same products.

Who Should Choose Which

Table: Our recommendation by situation | Your situation | Our pick | |---|---| | $50,000+, want a longer track record | Augusta | | Want itemized, published-style fee clarity | Augusta | | Under $50,000 | Preserve Gold or another low-minimum company | | Want platinum or palladium | Preserve Gold | | Attracted by a promotion | Compare written product prices first |

Questions to Ask Both

• What's the premium over spot on each product, in writing?
• If there's a promotion, what are the exact conditions and what's the metal's value at spot?
• Which custodian and depository will I use, and what do they charge?
• How is the buyback price calculated?