Goldco vs Orion Metal Exchange: Fees, Minimums, Custodians

What is this comparison, and how current is it?

This page puts two precious metals dealers side by side on the same fields: Goldco and Orion Metal Exchange. It gives facts, not a verdict, and does not rank or score the companies. For the wider picture, see how to compare Gold IRA companies side by side. Our rules for every company are in our research methodology.

In our plain-English explanation, a Gold IRA is a self-directed Individual Retirement Account that holds physical metal. Usually the dealer sells the metal, a custodian legally holds the IRA, and a depository stores the metal. Our guide to the custodian, the dealer and the depository explains the roles. Both companies here are dealers, and neither names the other two parties on the pages we read.

Dates matter. Companies change fees, terms and pages without notice. We re-opened both companies' own pages on 2026-10-18. Facts carried from our 2026-10-15 reviews are labeled "as of our 2026-10-15 check." BBB figures come from screenshots viewed by the site owner on 2026-10-15. What a company says about itself is written as its claim.

How do Goldco and Orion Metal Exchange compare at a glance?

What do the two companies say about fees?

Goldco. Its cost article says the setup fee is "a one-time fee of $50," the annual account administration fee is "$125 per year," and storage is "$100 per year" (non-segregated) or "$150 a year" (segregated). It estimates "about $275-325 in the first year." The article says it was updated in February 2025. Goldco's FAQ article gives different numbers: "around $80" for the annual fee and about $200 a year in total. See the disagreements section below.

Orion Metal Exchange. On the home, IRA, Services and FAQ pages, Orion states no setup fee, annual fee or storage fee. It says "Shipping and insurance included" for online pricing. The home page also says "No commission charged at liquidation and we provide an invoice at time of sale." Its due diligence page says, as a general statement and not as a disclosed Orion fee, "Generally, there is a commission fee to buy and to sell." The pages we read do not say whether Orion charges a commission when you buy.

Custodians and depositories usually set IRA account and storage fees (see our guides to custodian fees and storage fees). Because neither company names them, we could not open either fee schedule.

What are the stated minimums?

Goldco's cost page says "we generally require a minimum of $25,000 to start a gold IRA," and its FAQ page says it generally requires "at least $25,000 available to roll over." A third Goldco article says "it depends" and that "you really don't need much to start a gold IRA in theory." Its examples use 2023 limits.

Orion states no minimum on the pages we read. ## Which custodian and depository does each company name?

Neither company names one.

Goldco says it "works with established gold IRA custodians" and "established bullion depositories." Goldco also publishes an article about Delaware Depository (updated November 2025) that does not say Goldco uses it, so we do not say so either.

Orion's home page mentions "commercial depository options," and its IRA page says its in-house IRA department "can help you choose a precious metal custodian." Its FAQ says metals are held by "an IRS-approved custodian" and "an insured IRS-approved commercial depository," and its Services page says every IRA commercial depository it works with is insured by Lloyd's of London. We could not check that claim, because no depository is named.

On home storage, Orion's FAQ cites Internal Revenue Code sections 408(m)(3)(B) and (n) and says a home-storage IRA "is not cost effective and could leave an individual exposed to IRS penalties and fines." The IRS says acquiring a collectible with IRA money is treated as a distribution of its cost, and that certain bullion is excluded when a bank or approved nonbank trustee keeps physical possession of it (as of our 2026-10-15 check; see the IRS page and our guide to home storage).

How do the buying and buyback terms compare?

In our plain-English terms, the spot price is the market price of one troy ounce of metal, and the gap between a dealer's selling and buyback prices is the spread. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) says in its customer advisory: "A dealer will always sell metal above the spot price and buy it back below the spot price" (as of our 2026-10-15 check). See our guide to dealer premiums and markups.

Neither company discloses a markup, premium or spread on the pages we read. Orion's product prices appear only behind "Get Pricing" links, which we did not open. Orion's Terms page carries a banner reading "WE WILL BEAT ANY COMPETITOR'S ADVERTISED PRICE" and does not describe conditions.

The two companies describe different things, so the table does not say one is more favorable. The CFTC advises asking "how much you would receive if you had to sell back the metal tomorrow." Neither company's pages that we read state a buyback price in dollars. Our guide to buyback policies and liquidation costs explains the difference.

What do the website terms and contracts say?

A website's terms are not the same as the sales agreement you sign. We saw neither company's sales or customer agreement.

Goldco. The page titled "Terms & Conditions" reads like a privacy policy, with sections on text messaging, deliveries and a disclaimer, plus a bold "Promotion Terms" label that links to a separate page we did not read. We found no arbitration, governing-law, jurisdiction or class waiver language there or in the privacy policy. The disclaimer says Goldco "cannot guarantee, assure, or promise future market movement" and "cannot provide tax or legal advice."

Orion. The Terms of Use say a signed Customer Agreement controls if it conflicts with the website terms. They also say:

• California law governs, and arbitration is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act.
• Disputes go to American Arbitration Association arbitration if not resolved within 60 days after a letter is sent. A "Desk Arbitration" is decided on written submissions unless a party or the arbitrator requests a hearing. A party can request a telephone hearing within ten days after the American Arbitration Association acknowledges receipt of the demand.
• Small claims court is allowed if the claim qualifies. Class, consolidated, representative and collective actions are waived.
• "Jurisdiction and venue for any dispute shall be in Los Angeles, California." If that clause would make another provision unenforceable, the Terms move venue to the consumer's home county.
• The filing fee is $200 "at the time these Terms were posted." For claims under $10,000, "The Company will pay all of the arbitrator's fees." Claims of $10,000 or more follow the arbitration rules for fee allocation (confirmed 2026-10-18).
• The Terms page contains no returns or refund policy that we found. The cart widget carries an "Easy Returns" label.

This is not legal advice. An attorney can review any contract before you sign.

What does BBB show for each company?

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) publishes business profiles, customer reviews and complaint records. BBB blocks our tools, so everything below comes from screenshots viewed by the site owner on 2026-10-15.

The A+ is BBB's letter grade; the review averages are averages of customers' star ratings. BBB says it does not verify third-party information and that the nature of complaints and responses can matter more than their number.

Complaint counts are not comparable between these two firms. They differ in size, number of customers and volume of transactions, and BBB itself says size and volume matter. A larger count does not show a firm is worse, and a smaller count does not show it is safer. We draw no conclusion from the counts, and we do not rank on them.

Goldco's complaints page lists many complaints with business responses; we read only the first two. Both are consumers' allegations, and responses are the company's statements. One (08/25/2026) alleged a family member could not confirm access to an inherited account; Goldco responded on 09/03/2026 that the person was not shown as an authorized party. The other (08/21/2026) alleged deceptive sales representations, excessive markups on specialty coins and an obstructed liquidation. No judgment or order appears on the page.

For Orion, the complaints page showed "There are no matching results" and a BBB note that details may be unavailable. The type, text and status of its 2 complaints were not visible, so we say nothing about them.

What public records did we check?

We searched the same sources for each company. A search that finds nothing is not proof that nothing exists. See our guide on how to verify a dealer.

Goldco court records

Goldco Direct, LLC v. Wilson, No. 4:18-CV-850-KOB, is a case in which Goldco Direct, LLC is the plaintiff. In a March 27, 2019 opinion, the Northern District of Alabama denied one defendant's motions to dismiss and to transfer the case. It does not decide the underlying claims, and we do not know how the case ended.

Summerton v. Goldco Direct LLC is described by ClassAction.org as a $2,000,000 settlement of a class action alleging excessive marketing texts to people on the Do Not Call Registry. It does not name the court or say whether Goldco admitted wrongdoing. As of our 2026-10-15 check, a TCPAWorld article placed the case in the Western District of Wisconsin and reported court approval. A settlement is an agreement to resolve a case, not a finding that the allegations were true, and the case concerned text messaging.

Orion court records

None found in a limited general web search under either name.

Where do each company's own pages disagree?

Goldco's pages disagree with each other on:

• The annual account fee: $125 on the cost page, "around $80" on the FAQ page.
• The yearly total: about $225 (cost page), about $200 (FAQ page), $200-300 (minimum article).
• The minimum: "generally" $25,000 on two pages, while a third says you do not need much "in theory."
• Buyback: one page says "No specific buy back rates guaranteed" and that the highest-price guarantee applies after three years, while the About page says "Lock in the industry's highest buyback guarantee PLUS no fees when you're ready to liquidate." That is a claim, and it says nothing about custodian fees.
• Awards: the home page lists "2025 Inc. Regionals: Pacific Ranked #18," and the About page says "Named the #1 Precious Metals Company on the 2025 INC5000." These appear to be different Inc. lists, so they are not necessarily in conflict. We repeat neither as a finding.

Orion's pages differ on:

• Custodian wording: the FAQ says "every IRS-approved" custodian and depository, while the Services page says "every legitimate" one.
• Commission: the home page says "Many competitors charge a commission to buy and sell," while the due diligence page says "Generally, there is a commission fee to buy and to sell." Neither says whether Orion charges one on a purchase.
• Recognition: the home page shows a Retirement Living "accreditation" image; the About page says "Nominated."

Both companies make rating and award claims we have not verified with the outside parties. Each states an A+ BBB rating, which matches the BBB screenshots.

What differs and what does not?

Differences in what is published:

• Goldco states a $25,000 minimum and account fees; Orion states neither.
• Orion's website terms contain an arbitration clause and class action waiver; the Goldco website pages we read contain none.
• BBB shows 72 complaints for Goldco and 2 for Orion over 3 years. These counts are not comparable.
• We found a Goldco court case as plaintiff and a reported $2 million settlement; we found no court record for Orion in a limited search.

Similarities:

• Neither names a custodian or depository, or discloses a spread or markup on the pages read.
• Both describe a buyback and show an A+ BBB rating.

What did we not check?

• Either company's sales or customer agreement, and any custodian's or depository's fee schedule.
• Any price list or buyback price; Orion's "Get Pricing" pages were not opened.
• The award publishers and review sites each company cites.
• SEC EDGAR, NFA BASIC, CourtListener, Investor.gov, state regulators, PACER, state courts.

We make no claim about lawsuits, regulatory actions or complaints beyond the records above.

What questions can you ask each company?

Ask for answers in writing.

Goldco

1. Which custodian and depository would hold my account, and what are their fee schedules?
2. Is the annual account fee $125, "around $80," or something else?
3. What are the sale, spot and buyback prices for each product I am quoted?
4. What does "highest price" mean in dollars, and what happens to a sale in the first three years?
5. May I see the sales agreement before I send money?

Orion Metal Exchange

1. Who are the custodian and depository, and what are their fee schedules?
2. What are all fees in dollars, and is there a minimum?
3. Is a commission charged when I buy? What are the sale, spot and buyback prices?
4. May I see the written buyback policy, and how is the price set?
5. What does the Lloyd's insurance cover? Which legal entity am I contracting with, and may I see the Customer Agreement?

Our checklist on how to evaluate a Gold IRA company applies to both. For other side-by-side pages, see Noble Gold Investments vs Patriot Gold Group and Goldco vs Money Metals Exchange.

How was this page researched?

On 2026-10-18 we re-opened Goldco's home, cost, FAQ, minimum-investment, 5 Reasons, Not Costco, 5 Steps, About, Terms, Privacy Policy and Delaware Depository pages, the Alabama court opinion and the ClassAction.org report, and Orion's home, IRA, Services, FAQ, About, due diligence, Terms of Use and Privacy Policy pages. BBB figures, CFPB and FINRA searches, the TCPAWorld article, the CFTC advisory and the IRS page are from 2026-10-15 and were not re-opened. Where we could not confirm wording, we left it out.

We review fees under our update policy every three months. Report errors through our corrections page.

This page is general information, not personalized advice. Decisions about your retirement savings depend on your own situation, so talk with a qualified financial planner, tax professional or attorney before you act.