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Augusta Precious Metals VS. Birch Gold

Last Updated: January 30, 2025

While it may seem like we are comparing apples to apples in this contrast between Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold Group, these companies differ somewhat in their approaches to helping customers invest in gold.

Both companies specialize in precious metals and offer a wide array of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products for private investors and those interested in the perks of gold IRA investing

As a product of our extensive research, we like to compare gold companies so you can understand what each offers and make an educated decision. No company is perfect, but we have placed both of these in our top five.

What Is Augusta Precious Metals?

Augusta Precious Metals offers gold investing services for beginners and seasoned investors. People flock to Augusta because they make gold IRA investments so easy, handling the most significant percentage of the paperwork.

Headquartered in Casper, Wyoming, Augusta's founder, Isaac Nuriani, started the company in 2012. The company was founded on family values and believes in helping its customers succeed in their gold investment strategies.

What is Birch Gold Group?

Birch Gold Group has been around since 2003, with its founder, Laith Paul Alsarraf, at the helm. Birch offers an extensive array of precious metal products and helps customers invest in gold IRAs.

Birch Gold Group is headquartered in Burbank, California, offering a customer-centric approach to gold investments. They guide customers through every step of the gold investment process.

Augusta Precious Metals VS Birch Gold Comparison Chart:

Augusta Precious Metals Birch Gold
Year Company Founded 2012 2003
BBB Rating A+ A+
Trustpilot Rating 4.8 (1000 Reviews) 4.5 (127 Reviews)
Minimum Investment $50,000 $10,000
No Penalty Roll Overs Yes Yes
Buy Back Program Yes Yes
Recommended By Joe Montana Phillip Patrick
Up to $10K in Free Silver Yes Yes
Free Shipping Yes Yes
Low Price Guarantee No No
Call in Phone Consultation 800-700-1008 800-355-2116
Read Detailed Review Augusta Precious Metals Birch Gold Review

Augusta Precious Metals Gold IRA Services

Augusta Precious Metals offers gold IRA services by partnering with the top IRA custodians in the industry, including the following:

  • Equity Trust is one of the most trusted custodians in the industry and offers over 30 years of experience guiding clients in gold investments. To date, this firm has overseen over $25 billion in assets.
  • The Kingdom Trust is another long-term custodial partner of Augusta. This firm manages over $12 billion in assets and provides custodianship to over 100,000 customers.
  • Augusta also partners with GoldStar Trust Company. This firm handles over 38,000 accounts and has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance.

Augusta also offers depository services through its partner, the Delaware Depository. This depository is one of the most trusted IRA storage options in the United States. There are also other storage options if you prefer something closer to home.

Birch Gold Group Gold IRA Services

Birch Gold Group also offers customers gold IRA services and partners with the following IRA custodial services:

  • STRATA Trust Company offers over 350 years of combined industry experience. They have helped empower over 40,000 investors to get started in gold IRA investing and handle over $4.0 billion in assets.
  • Equity Trust Company was named one of the top 7 IRA Accounts for 2022 by US News & World Report. They currently service over $39 billion in assets for customers and are a highly trusted name in the gold industry.

Birch Gold Group also offers gold IRA depository services through its partners, Delaware Depository, Texas Precious Metals Depository, Brink’s Global Services, and International Depository Services.

Augusta Precious Metals Fee Structure

There are several things you need to know about Augusta Precious Metals’ fee structure.

  • You will be charged a one-time fee of $50 for opening your account with Augusta.
  • You will pay around $200 to $300 annually for custodianship and storage.
  • Augusta Precious Metals has a reasonable spread at about 5%.
  • The minimum investment for Augusta is $50,000.

Birch Gold Group Fee Structure

We have researched to learn about Birch Gold Group’s fee structure and have found the following:

  • You will pay a one-time $50 account setup fee for opening an account with Birch Gold Group.
  • Custodianship and storage fees range from $200 to $300 per year, depending on your chosen custodian and depository.
  • Birch Gold Group charges a flat fee instead of a spread like Augusta Precious Metals.
  • The minimum investment for Birch Gold Group is only $10,000.

Augusta Precious Metals Products

You can purchase gold and silver products with cash as a part of your private investments. They offer an array of gold and silver coins and bars, including premium offerings.

Augusta Precious Metals also offers IRA-approved gold coins, including these:
  • American Eagle
  • Gold Canadian Eagle
  • Canadian Maple Leaf
  • American Eagle Proof
  • American Buffalo
  • Australian Striped Marlin

Birch Gold Group Products

Birch Gold Group offers an array of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars for private collectors and IRA investors. Like other gold dealers in the industry, their stock rotates frequently, so we urge you to check back often.

Birch Gold Group offers many IRA-approved coins, including the following:

  • American Eagle
  • American Buffalo
  • Gold Twin Maples
  • Gold Rose Crown Guinea
  • Canadian Maple Leaf
  • Australian Gold Florin

How Much Experience Does Augusta Precious Metals Have?

When investing in a gold IRA, you need an experienced dealer to guide you through the process. This is not the time to work with novices who may lead you astray.

Augusta Precious Metals has been in business since 2012, focusing solely on precious metals, including gold and silver IRAs. The owner of Augusta, Isaac Nuriani, earned his economics degree with honors at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a member of Ethics.net and the Industry Council of Tangible Assets, both distinguished associations in the gold industry.

Devlyn Steele has over three decades of experience in the financial industry and has handled over $2 billion in assets for customers. Devlyn serves as the company’s Director of Education. When you sign up with Augusta Precious Metals, you will be invited to attend a webinar with an informative Q & A session at the end.

Howard Smith, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, has over 20 years of experience in banking and capital markets. He joined the Augusta team in 2018 and has become a valuable asset to investors.

How Much Experience Does Birch Gold Group Offer?

Birch Gold Group has been around since 2003 and was founded by financial broker expert Laith Alsarraf, the current CEO. He is also the founder of other companies, including Cybernet Ventures Inc., the creator of Adult Check.

Laith has worked in the gold industry since 2003 and keeps a low-key profile. His parents are doctors, and he originally wanted to follow in their footsteps by attending medical school.

What Do Customer Reviews & Complaints Reveal About Augusta Precious Metals?

Augusta Precious Metals has thousands of 5-star customer reviews. The company has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau and a 5-star rating on Consumer Business Alliance, based on 98 reviews. Their AAA rating is the best CBA can award a company.

The company has zero customer complaints filed on the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Business Alliance websites. Most reviews discuss the easy process and complete transparency offered by the company.

You will find excellent customer review ratings in almost every review. Most customers are highly pleased with the services they receive from Augusta Precious Metals.

What Do Customer Reviews & Complaints Reveal About Birch Gold Group?

Birch Gold Group also has many 5-star reviews from customers who offer glowing reports of the company’s services. Birch has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau, with 4.58 stars out of 5, based on 143 customer reviews.

On the Business Consumer Alliance website, Birch Gold Group has the top rating of AAA and a perfect 5-star rating based on seven customer reviews. The BBB reports seven closed customer complaints in the last three years and three in the last twelve months. There were no complaints on Business Consumer Alliance.

Some complaints involved high markup costs, lack of response, and high-pressure sales tactics. All of the complaints were successfully resolved between the company and its customers.

Our Final Thoughts: Augusta Precious Metals or Birch Gold Group?

We have given you the facts on each of the companies, and we urge you to view our comparison table, where we break down all the information in an easy-to-view format.

Both gold companies offer superior services for private collectors and gold IRA investors. Birch Gold Group has been in business a little longer than Augusta Precious Metals, but both companies bring extensive experience to the table.

The ultimate decision on which company is better must fall on your shoulders. We have found both companies offer the right services for customers, depending on your investment goals. They can help you invest in a gold IRA and prepare for retirement without stress.

The Best Gold & Silver Companies of 2025

#1: Best For All Level Investors

American Hartford Gold

5 Star customer service, easy to work with, and a low price guarantee.

#2: Best For $50,000+ Investors

Goldco

Excellent customer service from precious metals experts.

#3: Best For $25,000+ Investors

Birch Gold

High level of customer service and a solid reputation

Noble Gold

High level of customer service and a solid reputation

Augusta Precious Metals

Earned best overall gold IRA company of 2022 by Investopedia's most transparent.
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