Compare Precious Metals Storage
Compare Precious
Metals Storage.
Compare five storage services by what you own, where it is held, what insurance covers and how you can access your metal.
Know what you own.
Know how to access it.
Compare the custody arrangement.
Start with the legal and practical structure. A low storage rate does not explain who holds your metal, how records work or what happens if something goes wrong.
| Service | Ownership structure | Vault locations | Insurance information |
|---|---|---|---|
| BullionVault | Outright physical bullion ownership described by provider; holdings reconciled to vault bar lists. Whole-bar reservation is separate. | London, Zurich, New York, Toronto and Singapore; metal availability varies. | Custody tariff includes insurance. Review current policy evidence, limits and exclusions. |
| GoldBroker | Provider describes a storage contract in your own name with Malca-Amit and certificates identifying bars or seals. | Zurich, Singapore, Toronto and New York; confirm product/location eligibility. | Storage rate description includes market-value insurance; request policy details. |
| Money Metals Depository | Agreement describes segregated custody and permits sub-custodians under stated conditions. | Eagle, Idaho, US; confirm the assigned facility and any sub-custody. | Agreement requires all-risk cover; loss recovery is limited to insurance proceeds received, net of deductible/adjustment. |
| BullionStar US | Specific bullion products described as directly owned and allocated; Bullion Savings Program grams are a distinct option. | Casper, Wyoming, US. Other group locations are separate selections. | Provider describes insured custody and account-accessible insurance documentation; verify the policy. |
| SD Depository | Provider describes segregated storage with direct ownership title maintained. | Primary site described as the Ohio–Michigan border area, US. Confirm the contracting storage entity. | Provider advertises Lloyd’s market-value cover; review its storage agreement and insurance conditions. |
Swipe tables on mobile. Locations do not imply that every metal or product is available in every vault. Insurance descriptions are subject to policy limits, exclusions, deductibles and claims conditions.
Compare the holding cost and the exit.
Published examples checked on 21 October 2026. These are not all-in quotes. Purchases, sales, transfers, taxes, optional services and delivery can add costs.
| Service | Published fee examples | Withdrawal and release considerations | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BullionVault | Gold 0.12%/year, $4 monthly minimum. Silver/platinum/palladium 0.48%/year, $8 monthly minimum per metal. Reserved bars cost extra. | Sell online or request metal-specific physical withdrawal. Small-coin delivery is not the standard route. | Official schedule ↗ |
| GoldBroker | Gold entry tier shown at 1.50%/year, with a separate maintenance charge for smaller holdings. Metal, currency and value tiers vary. | Vault visits/withdrawal require arrangements and notice. Handling, logistics and tax costs can apply; selling is a separate service. | Official schedule ↗ |
| Money Metals Depository | Published entry band: $96 annualized below $16,000; $24 minimum per three-month period. Higher holding-value tiers apply. | 30-day holding period; $100 early withdrawal charge with stated exception for a sale to MMX. Release/transport costs also apply. | Official schedule ↗ |
| BullionStar US | After applicable introductory offer: gold products 0.39%/year; silver/platinum 0.49%. $0.19 daily minimum per jurisdiction; BSP rates differ. | Non-BSP bullion withdrawal fee listed at $129 per instance. Delivery and in-person arrangements should be confirmed. | Official schedule ↗ |
| SD Depository | Published annual rates: gold/platinum 0.29%, silver 0.39%; advertised storage floor $9.99/month. Confirm billing terms. | Published shipment processing charge: $25 per transaction, plus individually quoted delivery costs. | Official schedule ↗ |
Small holdings: minimum fees can dominate.
Hypothetical example: A service charging 0.20% annually with a $10 monthly minimum would charge at least $120 for a full year. On a constant $5,000 holding, that is 2.4% of its value, before other costs.
Use your own holding size, metal mix and intended duration. Compare introductory offers separately from the ongoing rate, and check whether the minimum applies per metal, location or account.
Choose what to investigate next.
Profiles follow the requested order without scores or a safety ranking. All provider links currently go to official websites without affiliate tracking.
BullionVault
Research a vaulted-metals account with online trading and published reconciliation records.
- Multiple international vault locations.
- Daily Audit described by the provider.
- Physical withdrawal uses specific formats and fees.
Comparing custody costs and an online selling route.
Explore BullionVault ↗GoldBroker
Explore a custody approach emphasizing named storage records and access through its vault partner.
- Named storage contract and certificates.
- Choice of international vault jurisdictions.
- Published storage, visit and buyback charges.
Researching documentation and planned vault access.
Explore GoldBroker ↗Money Metals Depository
Compare a US depository service with published custody, fee and release provisions.
- Segregated-storage agreement.
- Quarterly billing and value-based tiers.
- US depository and possible sub-custody arrangements.
Reviewing a US custody contract in detail.
Explore Money Metals Depository ↗BullionStar US
Explore a US vault route for bullion products, with account records and a separate savings-program structure.
- US vault in Casper, Wyoming.
- Product records, photographs and audits described by provider.
- Separate product-storage and BSP fee schedules.
Comparing allocated products kept in a US vault.
Explore BullionStar US ↗SD Depository
Explore US bullion-product storage with published metal-specific rates and shipment processing charges.
- Segregated storage described by provider.
- Gold, silver and platinum rates listed.
- Delivery from storage quoted by weight and destination.
Comparing US product storage and physical release costs.
Explore SD Depository ↗Three questions behind the terminology.
What do I own?
Read whether your entitlement is to specific products, reserved bars or a recorded quantity within larger bars. Ask how your property is distinguished from the provider’s own assets.
How is it held?
Check allocation records, segregation, audits, custody chains and permitted sub-custodians. A named account and a specific physical bar are not automatically the same arrangement.
How can I leave?
Check sale, withdrawal and transfer procedures separately. Confirm quantities, formats, identification, notice periods, charges, destination restrictions and any tax consequences.
“Insured” is a starting point.
Ask for current evidence of coverage and the terms applicable to your metal and location. Do not assume insurance protects against a fall in metal prices, every type of insolvency or every obstacle to accessing your holdings.
Which events are covered, and which exclusions apply?
How is a claim valued, and what limits or deductibles apply?
Who makes the claim, receives proceeds and pays the customer?
Does vault cover extend to shipping, transfer and final delivery?
Selling is different from taking delivery.
Check the selling route.
Review the provider’s market or buyback terms, bid–ask spread, dealing charges and payment timeline. A selling service does not guarantee a particular price.
Specify the product.
Ask which items you can receive and whether fabrication, handling, withdrawal, shipping and tax costs apply. Large-bar vault services may not suit small-coin delivery.
Check a custodian move.
Confirm whether another vault can accept the products, how chain of custody is maintained, and who arranges insured transit and release documents.
Before choosing precious metals storage.
Which precious metals storage provider is best?
There is no universal best fit. Compare the ownership agreement, available location, metal-specific costs, insurance and intended exit route. This editorial shortlist does not rank safety or guarantee provider performance.
Does allocated storage mean I own a specific bar?
Not always. Some arrangements assign specific products or reserved bars; others record your ownership within larger bullion holdings. Ask how your entitlement is evidenced and whether specific-bar reservation is a separate service.
Does segregated storage mean every provider returns the exact same items?
Do not assume that from the label alone. Read how the agreement defines segregation and release. Check product identity, serial numbers where applicable, substitution provisions and the custody records.
Is the cheapest annual percentage always the cheapest service?
No. Minimum billing, account maintenance, multiple-metal charges, location fees and physical withdrawal costs can change the total. Compare a full holding period using the same value and metal mix.
Can I withdraw my metal whenever I want?
Access is subject to contractual procedures. Identification, notice, outstanding fees, product formats, minimum quantities and destination restrictions may apply. A right to ownership does not promise instant release.
Does vault insurance cover investment losses?
Insurance should not be assumed to cover metal-price declines, every insolvency scenario or every access dispute. Review covered risks, exclusions, liability limits, deductibles and the claims process.
Can I store metals bought elsewhere?
Some depositories accept externally acquired bullion, while other services focus on metal bought within their platform. Confirm accepted products, authentication, transport, transfer-in costs and tax implications directly.
Are the fees the same for gold and silver?
Often not. Rates and minimums can differ by metal and product type. Savings-program balances, reserved bars and standard bullion may also use different schedules.
Are these affiliate links?
The five provider links on this page currently use official destinations without affiliate tracking. No storage-provider affiliate link has been added.
Understand the custody. Compare the whole cost.
Choose a location, read the ownership and insurance terms, and confirm your access route before committing.