Best silver IRA companies 2026: An accessible entry point into the world of precious metals IRAs

But gold is far from the only option when it comes to safeguarding your funds against downturn. Other precious metals have similar merit—and may even be better in some cases than gold for your financial situation. For example, silver continues to increase steadily in value. It’s considerably more accessible than gold, pricing around $52 per ounce as of mid-October. That’s a value increase of more than 60% over the past year. 

If you’re looking for a reliable investment for your individual retirement account, a silver IRA could be the way to go. We examined the leading silver IRA companies to find the 10 best in relation to customer reviews, fees, transparency, and more. 

It’s worth noting that many of these companies also offer the best gold IRAs. However, not all of those companies offer both gold and silver in the form of an IRA.

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The 10 best silver IRA companies of 2026

1. Lear Capital

Established in 1997, Lear Capital is one of the oldest precious metals dealers around. It’s one of the most popular metals dealers and has even secured endorsements from pundits like Glenn Beck. Lear Capital is based in Los Angeles. 

Lear Capital has had its snags during its nearly 30-years in business. It filed for bankruptcy in 2022 as a result of lawsuits alleging that the company didn’t follow appropriate fee disclosures. This has resulted in a big step forward for consumers in terms of Lear Capital’s transparency and quality of service. 

Why we picked Lear Capital

Lear Capital’s low fees and selection of custodians make it customer friendly, as do its live silver prices. Even more important is its solid reputation. Lear Capital has consistently high ratings from more than 4,700 reviews across Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs, and TrustLink. 

Lear Capital customer support

You can reach Lear Capital customer service by calling 800-576-9355 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time every day of the week. It’s also got a mobile app you can use to monitor silver prices and manage your account. 

Lear Capital silver available for IRA investments 

Lear Capital sells multiple IRA-eligible silver products, such as: 

• American Eagle Silver Coins 
• Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coin 

Lear Capital customer reviews 

Again, Lear Capital has an excellent collection of positive reviews—making it the standout option for silver IRAs. Reviews comment on the customer service experience and knowledgeable staff who gladly take the time to teach newbies the intricacies of investing in silver. 

On the other hand, some have reported difficulty selling silver back to Lear Capital. The company doesn’t offer an “official” buyback program, though Lear Capital says it’s never refused to buy precious metals back from a customer. 

2. Allegiance Gold 

Allegiance Gold is located in Calabasas, California. Founded in 2017, it’s a top precious metals dealer, still on the rise according to Inc., which not long ago named it one of the fastest-growing private companies in the country. Allegiance also has its share of celebrity endorsements, including political voice Jack Posobiec and country singer Buddy Brown. 

Allegiance Gold sells silver, gold, palladium, and platinum. 

Why we picked Allegiance Gold 

Allegiance Gold gets high marks across the board with its transparency in terms of metals prices and fees, its choice of custodians, and its official buyback policy. 

The only rub is that it’s got comparatively few customer ratings. 

Allegiance Gold customer support 

Allegiance Gold’s customer support team is available via phone at 844-790-9191 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time Monday through Thursday—and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. You can also send an email to AG@Allegiancesilver.com. 

Allegiance Gold silver available for IRA investments 

Allegiance Gold has many approved silver eligible for an IRA, including: 

• Silver Australian Falcon Coin 
• Silver Australian Osprey Coin 
• British Silver Britannia Coin 

Allegiance Gold customer reviews 

Allegiance Gold has a little over 300 total reviews between Trustpilot and TrustLink at the time of writing. Its ratings are high, but its volume is low. 

Reviewers talk about the knowledgeable experts who don’t mind taking the time to explain the nitty gritty to customers. They also appreciate that Allegiance Gold doesn’t hard-sell, instead ready to chat with anyone curious about how silver investment works. 

3. American Bullion 

Established in 2009, American Bullion sells IRA-eligible coins and bars directly to customers—along with many other products. It specializes in converting existing retirement accounts (think IRAs, 401(k)s, and the like) into investments in silver, gold, or other metals. It’s based in California.

Why we picked American Bullion 

American Bullion has an unignorably impressive average customer review rating. It also offers transparent prices for its precious metal IRAs. To boot, you’ll find promotions that can lower the fees associated with a silver IRA during the first year—making it a hyper competitive option. 

American Bullion customer support 

You can reach American Bullion customer support by calling 800-465-3472 from Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m Pacific Time. Alternatively, you can send an email to info@americanbullion.com. 

American Bullion silver available for IRA investments 

Several coins are available, including the following IRA-approved investments: 

• American Eagle Coin 
• Canadian Maple Leaf Coin 
• Austrian Philharmonic Coin 

American Bullion customer reviews 

Again, American Bullion’s customer reviews are fantastic. With nearly 300 reviews on Trustpilot and TrustLink combined, it receives approximately 4.9/5 stars. Reviewers talk of the knowledgeable staff, friendly and responsive customer service, and the ease of rolling an existing IRA into a precious metals IRA. 

It’s worth noting that a select few reviews mentioned feeling pressured to make a purchase by staff. 

4. Birch Gold Group 

Managing perhaps the most endorsements of any precious metals company, Birch Gold Group is vouched for by names like Piers Morgan, Ben Shapiro, and Megyn Kelly. It was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Birch Gold Group may be the best choice for anyone looking to transfer existing IRAs with balances of $50,000 or more to a silver IRA. That’s because it offers to cover account fees (such as storage and maintenance costs) for new accounts with balances of $50,000 or more for the first year.

Why we picked Birch Gold Group

Birch Gold has an unusually lengthy list of IRA-eligible products on offer. It also includes a section on its website listing silver options that are IRA-eligible—something many competitors don’t do. 

Birch Gold partners with several custodians to give you more freedom to choose where your silver is stored. It’s also straightforward with associated fees (a huge win for potential investors). 

Birch Gold Group customer support 

Birch Gold Group customer service can be reached by calling 800-355-2116 from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Central Time. Or, you can either email info@birchsilver.com or send a message from its contact page. 

Birch Gold Group silver available for IRA investments 

Birch Gold Group sells gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Its IRA-approved silver products include: 

• Austrian Silver Florin 
• America The Beautiful Silver Coin 
• American Silver Eagle Coin 
• 100 gram Silver Valcambi CombiBar 

Birch Gold Group customer reviews 

Birch Gold has more than 500 customer reviews across Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs, and TrustLink. It maintains largely positive feedback, with customers remarking that they like the polite, helpful, and low-pressure customer support team. The staff also prioritizes educating its customers (and potential customers). 

Meanwhile, negative reviews generally focus on a poor buyback experience, saying they were offered far less than they paid—despite the metals’ increase in value. 

5. Monetary Gold 

Monetary Gold is located in Woodland Hills, California. It’s been in business since 2000 and has garnered endorsements from spokespeople such as Jimmy Dore and Mark Levin. 

Monetary Gold is one of a small collection of direct silver dealers, eliminating the middleman. In this way, they can manage to sometimes offer lower prices than competitors.

Why we picked Monetary Gold

Monetary Gold is one of the most seasoned silver dealers on our list. That implies it is used to playing by the rules and treating its customers right. After all, the government has taken action to close some precious metals companies for things like allegations of unlawful dealings. 

Monetary Gold has had a misstep in the past (the FDIC pegged them for a false advertising campaign in 2020), but it’s recovered and flourished from any issues. 

Monetary Gold customer support  

Monetary Gold customer service can be reached at 888-411-4653 between Monday and Thursday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Friday between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. Pacific Time. Or, you can send them a message via the contact page. 

Monetary Gold silver available for IRA investments 

Monetary Gold offers a sizable catalog of IRA-approved silver, such as:  

• Silver Proof American Eagle Coin 
• Silver Polar Bear Coin 
• Silver Gyrfalcon Coin 

Monetary Gold customer reviews 

Monetary Gold gets great reviews, but its almost 250 ratings across Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs, and Trustlink are extremely thin compared to other popular companies. 

Reviewers say that the staff is knowledgeable and responsive, emphasizing transparency. Some experts will even reach back out each quarter to provide updates on the status of a customer’s specific investments. 

On the other hand, some reviewers don’t like the constant follow-up calls. Others wish the customer service was reachable more often, lamenting the short days on Friday and lack of availability on weekends. 

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6. Noble Gold Investments 

Noble Gold Investments is a top-rated precious metals investment firm that specializes in gold and silver coin-backed IRAs. It’s based in Pasadena, California, and has been in business since 2016. It benefits from endorsements of figures like Kevin Sorbo and Seth HoleHouse. 

Why we picked Noble Gold Investments 

Customer reviews are paramount to the trustworthiness of a precious metals company. Noble Gold has a deep catalog of reviews—and its average rating is nearly perfect. 

Noble Gold comes with a great buyback program, perhaps the best one can hope for when it comes to precious metals dealers. It explicitly guarantees buyback, and it promises to buy any silver you purchased from them, no questions asked. Whether you’re offered a competitive price will be case-by-case. 

Noble Gold Investments customer support 

Noble Gold Investments customer service can be reached at 877-646-5347. According to the Better Business Bureau, its operational hours are from Monday through Thursday between 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Friday between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Saturday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

You can also email at info@nobleira.com. 

Noble Gold Investments silver available for IRA investments 

Noble Gold Investments sells several IRA-approved silver coins, such as:  

• American Silver Eagle Coin 
• Australian Silver Philharmonic Coin 
• Australian Silver Kangaroo Coin 

Noble Gold Investments customer reviews 

Again, Noble Gold gets very positive feedback from its 1,500+ reviews between Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs. Customers comment on the guidance and patience from experts to help those new to precious metals investments. They also feel the representatives are honest and communicate well. 

7. American Hartford Gold 

American Hartford Gold was founded in 2015. It’s another well-known silver IRA option that is endorsed by names like Kim Iversen and Bill O’Reilly. It’s based in Los Angeles, with branches in Woodland Hills, California, and West Palm Beach, Florida. 

The company is also great at providing education and helpful tools, such as a required minimum distribution (RMD) calculator and guides for converting IRAs into precious metals investments.

Why we picked American Hartford Gold 

The company has fantastic customer reviews—and a lot of them at that—and we think its buyback program looks above-average. It doesn’t charge additional liquidation fees. 

American Hartford Gold customer support 

Customer service is reachable via phone at 800-462-0071 from Monday to Friday between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on Saturday between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time. You can also email info@hgoldgroup.com. 

American Hartford Gold silver available for IRA investments 

American Hartford Gold sells a variety of precious metals. It has a large number of IRA-approved silver products, such as:  

• Britannia SS Tilawa 5 oz Silver Coin 
• St Helena Boston Tea Party 1 oz silver Coin 
• Queen Elizabeth and Lion 2 oz Silver Coin 

American Hartford Gold customer reviews 

Reviews of American Hartford Gold are overwhelmingly positive, with more than 2,600 total reviews across Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs. Customers like the low-pressure customer support, quick and easy transactions, and reliable service. The company’s buyback program is also said to be outstanding. 

Some customers don’t appreciate what they describe as a lack of transparency regarding silver prices and commissions, however. 

8. Silver Gold Bull 

Headquartered in Las Vegas, Silver Gold Bull is a Canadian company that has been in operation for over 15 years. 

Silver Gold Bull is relatively small, but it’s shown promise of late. Publicly traded precious metals platform A-Mark Precious Metals, Inc., acquired an additional 8% of the outstanding equity interest in Silver Gold Bull, making it a majority owner.

Why we picked Silver Gold Bull 

Silver Gold Bull is great for anyone who wants to start slowly in the world of precious metals thanks to a slew of reassuring positive reviews and no minimum requirement to open an account. It also offers a price match guarantee, so you know prices are competitive. 

Silver Gold Bull also uniquely allows you to purchase silver with a credit card (though your credit card must undergo 3-D Secure, a security step to verify the card). 

Silver Gold Bull customer support  

Silver Gold Bull customer service can be reached at 877-646-5303 between Monday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time. You can also chat online with them during the same times or email support@silversilverbull.com. 

Silver Gold Bull silver available for IRA investments 

Several products are IRA-approved, including:  

• American Eagle Silver Coin 
• Canadian Maple Leaf Silver Coin 
• Canadian Polar Bear Silver Coin 

Silver Gold Bull customer reviews 

The company has a large collection of positive reviews on Trustpilot with an average 4.7/5 stars across 4,600+ reviews. Customers like the company’s responsive customer service, easy-to-use website, and speedy shipping times. 

Some reviewers did mention packages left in the open without a signature required, though you won’t need to worry about this when opening a silver IRA. 

9. Advantage Gold 

Advantage Gold was founded in 2014 and has quickly grown to be one of the most well-known precious metals companies thanks to endorsements by voices like Benny Johnson and Jason Hancock. Advantage Gold is based in Austin, Texas. 

You’ll find many explainer videos, market comparison tools, and free PDF guides to help you better understand the world of silver IRAs. 

Why we picked Advantage Gold 

Advantage Gold has a deep well of positive customer reviews along with a stellar buyback program. It claims that it will never turn away a customer when requesting a buyback. This makes it easier to liquidate your silver if you so choose—though Advantage Gold doesn’t guarantee a competitive offer. Your results will vary. 

Advantage Gold customer support 

Advantage Gold can be reached by phone at 888-501-9001 from Monday to Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pacific Time. Or, you can send a message online via the company contact page. 

Advantage Gold silver available for IRA investments 

Advantage Gold offers a handful of IRA-approved silver options, including: 

• Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coin 
• American Eagle Silver Coin 

Advantage Gold customer reviews 

Advantage Gold has a strong reputation among silver IRA companies with more than 2,700 reviews across Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs and TrustLink. This demonstrates that the vast majority of customers are pleased with its services. Customers comment on the top-tier customer service, the ease of the IRA rollover process, and the ongoing support after making a purchase. 

Negative reviews tend to dwell on the many unwanted follow-ups after calling and a lack of fee transparency on the site. 

10. National Gold Group 

Although National Gold Group was only founded in 2021, its precious metals experts offer a combined 50 years of experience in the field. 

National Gold Group repeatedly emphasizes its commitment to educating customers—from offering 101 teachings that newbies need to offering lifetime support. National Gold Group wants to be your precious metals partner so you don’t have to navigate yourself. 

Why we picked National Gold Group 

National Gold Group is a well-rounded company that offers (nearly) everything you like to see from a silver IRA company in terms of service. It gives you a multiple choice of custodians; it offers fee discounts for eligible IRAs; it’s got a no-fee buyback program; its collection of customer reviews, while limited, are sky-high. 

Its deficiencies come in the form of lack of transparency. You won’t find silver prices online, nor will you find associated fees. 

National Gold Group customer support  

National Gold Group customer support can be reached 800-719-7408 from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pacific Time. You can also email at info@nationalgoldgroup.com. 

National Gold Group silver available for IRA investments 

You can choose from several IRA-approved silver products, such as: 

• American Silver Eagle Coin 
• Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coin 
• Austrian Silver Philharmonic Coins 

National Gold Group customer reviews 

National Gold Group has the fewest reviews of any silver IRA company on our list—the reason it scores last among elite precious metals dealers. 

The reviews it does have are largely glowing, with reviewers commenting on how experts were willing to spend hours explaining the nuances of the precious metals world. Precious metals prices have also been reported highly competitive. 

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What is a silver IRA? 

A silver IRA is simply an individual retirement account that’s been invested in silver. While it sounds straightforward enough, there’s a bit more to a precious metals IRA than a conventional IRA. 

With a conventional IRA, you can invest your funds in things like stocks, bonds, and certificates of deposit (CDs). For less traditional investments, such as real estate or silver, you’ll instead need a self-directed IRA. This comes with more freedom because you’re investing your money directly instead of allowing a financial institution (called a custodian) to do it for you. 

Silver IRAs generally cost more than a conventional IRA after accounting for setup fees, administrative fees, silver storage fees, etc.

IRS requirements for silver IRAs 

Not all silver qualifies 

For silver to be IRA-eligible, the IRS stipulates a couple important requirements: 

• Silver must be at least 99.9% pure. Any less, and the coin won’t be accepted by a custodian for your retirement account. Silver less pure than this can still be a great investment—you just can’t use your IRA money to buy it. 
• Silver must be in an IRA-approved form, namely, bullion bars or coins by a recognized manufacturer or government mint. 

You can’t store the silver yourself 

Make no mistake: The silver you purchase with your IRA belongs to you. However, you’re not allowed to take delivery of it unless you request a distribution from your IRA (which may come with a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you aren’t yet age 59 ½). 

For this reason, your chosen custodian must store it for you. 

You’re restricted by annual contributions limits 

A silver IRA comes with the same rules as a traditional IRA when it comes to annual contributions: 

• $7,000 per years for those under age 50 
• $8,000 per year for those age 50 and above 

It’s important to note that this rule pertains to new money. If you have, say, $50,000 in an IRA CD, you can roll all of it into a silver IRA upon maturity without breaking the above IRS-enforced maximum contribution. 

You must use a silver IRA custodian 

Again, all IRAs require a custodian to handle your investment—including self-directed IRAs. 

A custodian is an IRS-approved trustee (like a bank) that takes care of your investment. It doesn’t tell you how to invest, it just spends your money as you instruct it. When you open a silver IRA, it will carry out the silver purchase and coordinate shipment of the physical metals to itself where it’ll store it for you. 

A custodian will help you to abide by IRS guidelines, such as buying only silver that qualifies for an IRA. You’ll find unique policies with each when it comes to things like minimum investment/rollover amounts to open an account, storage fees, setup fees, etc. Many silver IRA companies partner with a handful of custodians so you don’t have to find your own. 

Pros and cons of a silver IRA

Silver IRA vs. gold IRA: Which is better? 

Investing in precious metals, whether gold or silver, comes with similar benefits, such as protection against inflation and economic volatility. Which is better isn’t entirely objective. 

Gold is worth massively more than silver on a per-ounce basis, meaning it’s a less affordable investment than silver. However, it’s notably less volatile than silver thanks to its larger market presence. The value of silver may swing more than gold simply because there’s less of it—so moves in the market are magnified. 

All to say, silver can be thought of as slightly higher-risk-higher-reward, while gold is typically a better constant to preserve the value of your funds. 

How to choose a silver IRA company 

You’ve decided that a silver IRA is the best use of your retirement savings, or at least a chunk of them. Now, how do you find the best vendor for your situation? 

Above all, make sure the company has a positive track record and many years in business. You should be supremely confident before handing over thousands of dollars to any IRA company. 

It is also important to understand the silver IRA company’s fees and minimums. Such terms should be transparent to the investor. Does the company charge exorbitant shipping or transaction fees? Does it sell silver at a competitive price? Does it offer a buyback program that makes it easy to liquidate your silver if you decide to invest in something else? 

In some cases, companies may waive fees depending on the size of your investment, which is worth inquiring about. 

Alternatives to silver IRAs 

If you enjoy the benefits of a self-directed IRA, silver isn’t the only IRS-approved investment option. You can also invest in other precious metals such as silver and palladium. The IRS even allows self-directed IRAs to be used to invest in real estate and certain cryptocurrencies. 

Again, self-directed IRAs aren’t your only option to grow your balance. You can always opt for a conventional IRA to invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, etc. 

Our methodology 

Fortune identified eight cardinal elements that make up a good silver IRA company. Here are the factors we examined to make the above best-of list. 

Consumer reviews (30%) 

While silver IRA companies abound, the most important feature a silver IRA company can have is a collection of good reviews. 

Fortune weighs both the average rating and the number of reviews across sites like ConsumerAffairs, Trustpilot, and TrustLink. If customer satisfaction is high, whatever flaws a specific company has is likely worth it. 

Number of custodians (5%) 

Silver IRA companies sometimes offer “preferred” custodians that may prevent you from choosing the one you actually want. Silver IRA companies scored higher for offering multiple custodian options. 

Discloses price of metals on website (15%) 

Some silver IRA companies play frustratingly close to the vest with their precious metals prices, requiring you to call and speak to a representative to find out how much you’ll need to pay. Companies that reveal prices on their website scored higher than those that do not. 

Discloses fees on website (15%) 

It’s irritating when a site intentionally obscures the various fees you’ll pay for your order. Silver IRA companies are no different; some are more forthcoming than others. Those that list example fees on their site received higher marks than those that didn’t. 

Minimum investment/rollover to open an account (10%) 

One of the biggest factors when choosing a silver IRA company is its minimum required investment. Some demand tens of thousands of dollars to open an account, while others enforce no minimum deposit at all. The more accessible the silver IRA, the higher the company scored. 

Advertised fee discounts (10%) 

Silver IRA companies occasionally incentivize you to make larger investments by providing discounts for certain thresholds. Companies that publicly advertise just such a discount scored higher than those that don’t. 

Years in business (10%) 

Companies with lengthy business histories scored higher than more newly-established companies. This is because the precious metals industry has experienced troubles (think government-enforced company shutdowns, unredeemable customer reviews, etc.) that cause them to shutter. 

Buyback program (5%) 

It’s not terribly hard to liquidate precious metals. Still, some companies tout official buyback programs that can help to simplify the process of exchanging your silver for cash if you decide to pivot your IRA investment strategy. 

Frequently asked questions

Can I store silver IRA metals at home?

You cannot store silver IRA metals at home. Metals in an IRA must be stored by an IRS-approved custodian or at an eligible depository.

What’s the difference between a silver IRA and silver ETFs?

With a silver IRA, you’re effectively purchasing physical silver. With a silver ETF, you’re buying stock in silver that you can trade easily. It’s more liquid than a silver IRA—but also comes with less tax benefit.

When can I withdraw from my silver IRA without penalty?

You can withdraw money from your silver IRA without penalty once your turn age of 59 ½.

Can I roll over my 401k into a silver IRA?

Yes, you can roll over your 401(k) into a silver IRA. This helps you to avoid low annual IRA contribution limits if you decide to invest heavily in precious metals.