American Bullion Review: Low Setup Fees, but What About the Spread? (2026)

Spreads matter more than fees. Our top pick's free kit explains why.

American Bullion: The Short Answer

American Bullion has been in business since 2009 and offers gold IRAs with a low $25 setup fee and $225 a year in custodian and storage fees. LendEDU reports spreads of 7% to 10% on bullion and up to 23% on other products, which are significant. For retirement savers, we prefer Augusta Precious Metals and Noble Gold.

American Bullion at a Glance

In business since2009
Recommended IRA minimum$10,000
Reported fees$25 setup; $225/yr custodian and storage
Reported spreads7%–10% on bullion; up to 23% on other purchases
MetalsGold, silver, platinum, palladium
CustodianSTRATA Trust
DepositoryDelaware Depository
Ratings (Mar 2025)BBB A+ (accredited since 2011); Trustpilot 4.9; Google 3.8

Source: LendEDU.

Why the Spread Matters Here

American Bullion's account fees are low, but LendEDU reports spreads of 7% to 10% on bullion and up to 23% on other products. On a $50,000 purchase, a 10% spread is $5,000, far more than years of $225 annual fees.

Run your own numbers in the gold IRA fee calculator, which includes a spread input.

Products and Storage

American Bullion offers all four metals, with IRAs held at STRATA Trust and metals stored at Delaware Depository, per LendEDU.

Ratings

LendEDU's March 2025 snapshot showed an A+ BBB rating (accredited since 2011), a 4.9 Trustpilot score, and a 3.8 Google score from a smaller number of reviews.

What a 7%–10% Spread Means in Practice

PurchaseSpread at 7%Spread at 10%
$25,000$1,750$2,500
$50,000$3,500$5,000
$100,000$7,000$10,000

Spreads vary by product and market conditions. Ask every company for the price per ounce and spot price on identical products.

American Bullion Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Low $25 setup fee
  • Published annual fee
  • All four metals
  • A+ BBB, accredited since 2011

Cons

  • Reported spreads of 7%–10% on bullion
  • Up to 23% on other products
  • Lower Google score

How American Bullion Compares With Our Top Picks

Augusta Precious MetalsNoble GoldAmerican Bullion
Reported minimum$50,000$20,000$10,000 recommended
Reported fees~$225/yr; zero fees up to 10 years (qualifying)$80 application; $275/yr$25 setup; $225/yr
MetalsGold, silverAll fourAll four
Support / buybackLifetime; salaried educators (company-stated)Assigned specialists; stated buybackNot detailed

Augusta and Noble Gold figures from Yahoo Finance and independent reviews; see our Augusta review and Noble Gold review.

Who Should Consider American Bullion?

American Bullion may appeal to buyers focused on low account fees. Always compare its quote, including the spread, with written quotes from our top picks on the same products.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign

  1. What are the setup, custodian, and storage fees, in writing?
  2. What is the price per ounce and the spot price for each product you recommend?
  3. What would the order cost without any bonus or promotion?
  4. Which custodian and depository will hold my account?
  5. How is your buyback price calculated?

Augusta's company comparison checklist and our 10-point checklist cover these in more depth.

Our Verdict

Low account fees don't help much if spreads are high. Augusta (for $50,000+) and Noble Gold (for $20,000+) are our recommendations; ask both for written quotes and compare total metal received.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is American Bullion Legit?

Yes. It has operated since 2009 and is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating.

What Are American Bullion's Spreads?

LendEDU reports 7%–10% on bullion and up to 23% on other purchases.

What's American Bullion's Minimum?

A recommended $10,000 for gold IRAs.

Compare With Our #1 Pick

Augusta Precious Metals' free kit explains costs, risks, and what to ask any gold IRA company.

Get Your Free Gold IRA Kit

Sources