You can buy gold ETFs through any brokerage account — online brokers, traditional banks, and investment firms all offer them

A gold ETF trades like a stock, so you need a brokerage account to purchase shares. The major online brokers — Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, TD Ameritrade, and Interactive Brokers — all carry gold ETFs with no minimum investment beyond the cost of a single share. You can also buy through a traditional bank's investment arm, a robo-advisor, or a financial advisor who manages accounts on your behalf.

The choice of where to buy matters less than the choice of which ETF to buy, since the same gold ETF trades on the same exchange regardless of your broker. What does vary is the account type you use, the fees your broker charges, and whether you want a human advisor or to manage the account yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • Gold ETFs trade through any brokerage account, and you do not need a minimum balance to start — you pay only for the shares you buy.
  • Online brokers like Fidelity and Schwab charge no commission per trade and offer the lowest account fees, making them the cheapest route for most people.
  • You can hold a gold ETF in a regular taxable brokerage account, an IRA, a 401(k), or other retirement accounts depending on your broker and plan.
  • The same gold ETF (such as GLD or IAU) trades at the same price everywhere, so your broker choice affects fees and service, not the ETF price itself.

Online brokers with no commission and low fees

The cheapest and most straightforward route for most people is an online brokerage with zero commission per trade and no account minimums. Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, and TD Ameritrade all meet this standard. You open an account online, fund it by bank transfer or check, and buy shares of a gold ETF the same way you would buy any stock — by typing the ticker symbol (such as GLD or IAU) and the number of shares you want.

These brokers charge no fee to hold the account itself, though some charge a small annual fee if your balance stays below a certain threshold — typically $2,500 to $10,000. Once you meet that threshold, the account is free. They also offer research tools, educational content, and customer service by phone or chat, which can matter if you are new to investing.

Interactive Brokers is another option if you want the absolute lowest fees and do not need as much hand-holding. It charges a small monthly fee ($10 per month, waived if your balance exceeds $100,000 or you trade enough to generate commissions), but offers lower per-share costs on some trades and access to international markets.

Traditional banks and full-service brokers

Your existing bank may offer brokerage services through a subsidiary or partner. Bank of America has Merrill Edge, Wells Fargo has Wells Fargo Advisors, and most large banks have similar arms. These let you buy gold ETFs without opening a separate account elsewhere, though they often charge higher fees than online-only brokers and may have higher account minimums.

Full-service brokers like Morgan Stanley or UBS assign you a financial advisor who can recommend gold ETFs as part of a broader portfolio strategy. This costs more — typically 0.5% to 1% of your assets per year — but you get personalized guidance. This route makes sense if you want someone to help you decide whether a gold ETF fits your situation, not just execute the trade.

Robo-advisors and managed accounts

Robo-advisors like Betterment, Wealthfront, and Vanguard Personal Advisor Services build portfolios automatically based on your goals and risk tolerance. Some include gold ETFs as part of a diversified portfolio; others do not. If you want gold exposure without picking the ETF yourself, a robo-advisor can add it for you, though you pay a management fee (usually 0.25% to 0.50% per year) on top of the ETF's own expense ratio.

This approach is useful if you prefer a hands-off strategy and want someone else to rebalance your holdings. The downside is less control — you cannot pick the specific gold ETF or the exact percentage of your portfolio it represents.

Account types: taxable, IRA, and retirement plans

Where you hold a gold ETF affects how it is taxed and what rules apply. In a regular taxable brokerage account, you pay capital gains tax when you sell at a profit. In a traditional IRA or Roth IRA, the tax treatment is different — a traditional IRA defers taxes until withdrawal, and a Roth IRA lets gains grow tax-free if you follow the rules.

Many employer 401(k) plans also allow gold ETFs, though not all do. Check your plan's investment menu or ask your plan administrator whether gold ETFs are available. If your plan uses a brokerage window, you may be able to buy any publicly traded ETF, including gold ones. If it does not, you are limited to the funds your plan offers.

For most people, a taxable brokerage account is the simplest starting point. You can open one in minutes, fund it whenever you want, and buy or sell whenever you choose. If you already have an IRA or 401(k), you can hold a gold ETF there too — just check whether your provider offers it.

Comparing the same gold ETF across brokers

The two largest gold ETFs are the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and the iShares Gold Trust (IAU). Both track the price of gold and trade on major U.S. exchanges. No matter which broker you use, a share of GLD costs the same at Fidelity as it does at Schwab or E*TRADE on any given day — the price is set by the market, not by the broker.

What differs is the cost to buy and hold. A broker with zero commissions and low account fees will cost you less over time than one charging $5 to $10 per trade or annual account fees. Over years, this difference compounds. If you plan to buy once and hold, the fee difference matters less. If you plan to buy regularly or rebalance often, choose a broker with no commission.

Getting started: the basic steps

Pick a broker (Fidelity, Schwab, and E*TRADE are solid choices for beginners). Go to their website and open an account — you will need your Social Security number, address, and bank details. Fund the account by linking your bank account or mailing a check. Once the money clears, search for a gold ETF by ticker (GLD or IAU are the most common). Enter the number of shares you want to buy and confirm the order. The shares appear in your account within one to two business days.

You do not need to do anything after that unless you want to sell. The ETF holds gold on your behalf, and you own a proportional share. You can check the value anytime by logging into your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a minimum amount of money to open a brokerage account?

No. Most online brokers have no minimum balance to open an account. You can start with as little as the cost of one share of a gold ETF, which typically ranges from $150 to $200 per share depending on the fund. Some brokers offer fractional shares, letting you buy a portion of a share for even less.

Can I hold a gold ETF in a retirement account?

Yes, most IRAs and many 401(k) plans allow gold ETFs. Check with your IRA provider or 401(k) plan administrator to confirm the ETF is available. Holding gold in a retirement account has the same tax advantages as holding any other investment there — deferred or tax-free growth, depending on the account type.

What is the difference between GLD and IAU?

Both track the price of gold and are widely available. GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) is larger and more heavily traded, so it has tighter bid-ask spreads. IAU (iShares Gold Trust) has a slightly lower expense ratio. For most investors, either works fine — the difference in cost is less than 0.1% per year.

Can I buy a gold ETF through my bank?

Many banks offer brokerage services, but they often charge higher fees than online-only brokers. If your bank offers it and you prefer keeping everything in one place, it works. If you want the lowest cost, an online broker like Fidelity or Schwab is usually cheaper.

Do I pay a fee every time I buy or sell a gold ETF?

Not at major online brokers — they charge zero commission per trade. Some brokers charge a small bid-ask spread (the difference between the buy and sell price), which is unavoidable and typically very small for popular ETFs like GLD. Avoid brokers that charge per-trade commissions; they are becoming rare but still exist.