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Vaulted Gold is an app and website that makes buying and holding physical gold and silver simple. With a low minimum—just $5—you can buy fractional or whole, serial-numbered bars of gold and silver and have them stored for you.
How it works
You can use the Vaulted app or the Vaulted.com website to buy and sell gold and silver. Gold holdings are stored at the Royal Canadian Mint and silver is stored at HSBC. Both facilities offer high security and insurance. Vaulted also offers a VaultPlan for automatic purchases, and you can request physical delivery at any time; if you fund a delivery via ACH, expect about a 60-day wait and additional shipping, handling, and insurance fees. Storage options are limited to the U.S.
Why people use Vaulted
Vaulted suits investors who want a straightforward, low-fee way to own physical metals. Physical gold is often seen as a hedge during inflation or market instability, and silver has strong industrial demand for items like batteries, semiconductors, solar panels, and medical tech. Owning both can help diversify a portfolio.
Market context
Gold and silver move differently from stocks over time. For example, equities outperformed gold for long stretches, but gold has had periods of strong gains. Recent large gains in precious metals highlight why many investors hold a mix of assets rather than just stocks.
Fees and ownership
Vaulted’s fees and minimums are clearly listed on its site. You can avoid the annual storage fee by arranging delivery, though delivery fees still apply. Vaulted’s transaction costs are generally lower than many traditional dealers. When you buy through Vaulted, you own specific, serial-numbered bars that aren’t pooled with other customers’ metal. Holdings are audited annually for serial numbers, purity, and weight.
Security and insurance
Vaulted follows industry-standard data security practices and has outside firms review its cybersecurity. The Royal Canadian Mint and HSBC provide insured storage for holdings. Unlike bank accounts or brokerage assets, Vaulted metals are not covered by FDIC or SIPC insurance, but they are held in insured vaults with institutional safeguards.
Risks and protections
Physical metal investing carries risks like fraud or mispricing. Vaulted addresses these risks by using high-security, insured vaults, tracking serial numbers, and maintaining full insurance and institutional-level safeguards. These measures make Vaulted a relatively safe option for those who want physical ownership.
Alternatives and considerations
There’s no single best way to invest in gold. Options include buying physical metal, buying shares in gold companies, or investing in gold ETFs. Physical metal gives tangible ownership and inflation protection; ETFs offer convenience and lower transaction costs. Gold and silver do not pay dividends, so they are typically used as a store of value and a portfolio hedge rather than an income source.
Who it’s for
Vaulted is well suited for beginners and smaller investors who want easy, low-cost access to physical gold and silver, including fractional ownership. It’s also a good choice for investors who prefer to avoid untrustworthy dealers and want their metals professionally stored and insured. The platform’s low minimum and tech focus also make it attractive to younger investors, though it can work for anyone seeking physical-metal exposure.
Bottom line
Vaulted provides a streamlined, secure way to buy, store, and receive physical gold and silver. It simplifies ownership by handling security, storage, insurance, and auditing, while offering low entry costs and transparent fees.
