
Vaulted Gold is an app that makes buying and holding physical gold and silver simple. The platform lets you buy fractional or whole, serial-numbered bars using your smartphone or the Vaulted website, with a low minimum investment that makes it accessible to beginners.
Gold purchased through Vaulted is stored at the Royal Canadian Mint, while silver is held at HSBC Bank. Both facilities offer high security and insurance for stored metals. Vaulted also performs annual audits that verify serial numbers, purity and weight, and it keeps each customer’s holdings separate so bars are never commingled.
Signing up is quick. You can set up automatic deposits with the VaultPlan, or request physical delivery of your metal. If you fund a delivery via ACH, expect about a 60-day wait; shipping, handling and insurance fees apply, and storage is currently limited to the U.S.
Physical precious metals can act as a hedge during inflationary periods, when cash may lose purchasing power. Silver also attracts buyers because of its strong industrial demand in batteries, semiconductors, solar panels and medical devices.
Over the past 30 years the relative performance of gold, silver and major stock indexes has shifted. The Dow outperformed gold until 2008, gold led from 2008 to 2014, and the Dow regained the lead afterward. Recently, gold’s gains accelerated: one-year returns showed strong growth for both metals compared with the S&P 500, underscoring why investors include different asset types in a diversified portfolio.
Vaulted’s fees and minimums are clearly listed on its site. You can avoid the annual storage fee if you choose physical delivery, though delivery costs still apply. Vaulted’s transaction fees are typically lower than many competitors, which often charge 3–15% per sale; however, ETFs and brokerage-traded products can offer different cost structures, including commission-free trades through certain brokers.
Vaulted is a trademark of McAlvany Financial Group, a long-running full-service brokerage. The app uses industry-standard security practices—encryption, backups and third-party cybersecurity reviews—to protect customer data. Note that precious metals held through Vaulted are not covered by FDIC or SIPC insurance, though the storage facilities themselves are insured against loss or damage.
Buying physical gold through Vaulted removes much of the time and research traditionally needed to purchase bullion. The company mitigates common risks like fraud and mislabeling by storing metal in secure, insured vaults, tracking serial numbers, offering institutional-grade security measures and maintaining full insurance on holdings. For investors who want physical ownership and the option of delivery, Vaulted is among the safer and more straightforward choices.
There are multiple ways to gain exposure to gold—physical bullion, shares in mining companies, and gold ETFs—each with its own trade-offs. Physical gold offers tangible ownership and inflation protection, while ETFs and mining stocks can be more convenient and often have lower transaction costs.
For beginners seeking low-cost entry and portfolio diversification, Vaulted provides an easy way to buy fractional ownership of gold and silver bars. Keep in mind that these metals don’t pay dividends; they are typically purchased as a store of value or inflation hedge rather than an income-producing asset.
Alternatives to Vaulted include buying gold through funds or from other precious metals dealers, either online or in person. Vaulted’s low minimum and tech-focused approach make it appealing to newer investors, though anyone interested in owning physical metal could consider the app.
Overall, Vaulted is a legitimate, user-friendly option for buying, selling and storing physical gold and silver. It handles security, storage and insurance on your behalf and gives investors the option of physical delivery. After signing up and linking a bank account, you can begin investing with a small initial amount.