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Investing » JM Bullion vs APMEX: Gold Dealers Comparison

JM Bullion vs APMEX: Gold Dealers Comparison

APMEX or JM Bullion? Compare storage options, buyback tools, digital platforms, and direct purchase features to find your best gold dealer.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Interest Rates Last Update: April 1, 2025
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Interest Rates Last Update: April 1, 2025

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.

JM Bullion
APMEX
Min. Investment
$0
$0
Established
2011
2000
Storage Fees
0.5% – 1% Varies by account, usually 0.5% – 1% . Estimated annual fee.
About 0.55% Annually, estimated – can be vary between accounts
Coin & Bar Selection
Strong bullion focus, IRA-approved metals, fractional sizes
Broad selection, includes rare coins, collectibles, pre-1933 gold
Payment Methods
Cards, PayPal, Wire, eCheck, Crypto
Cards, PayPal, Wire, eCheck, Crypto
Pricing Transparency
Real-time spot price updates
Real-time spot price updates
Best For
Affordable bullion, strong reviews, IRA simplicity
Collectors, rare coins, and premium features
Our Rating
(4.3/5)
(4.1/5)
Read Review
Read Review

JM Bullion vs APMEX: Who Has the Better Reputation?

JM Bullion is our preferred choice when it comes to customer satisfaction, due to its consistently higher user ratings across platforms.

While APMEX is a giant in the industry, its customer reviews are surprisingly low. APMEX scores only 1.7 on Trustpilot (7,966 reviews) and 2.8 on Consumer Affairs.

Platform
Rating
Trustpilot
1.7 (7,966 reviews)
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
A+ | Accredited Since 2004
Consumer Affairs
2.8 (290 reviews)

In contrast, JM Bullion maintains a solid 4.3 Trustpilot rating from over 1,400 reviews and 4.5 on Consumer Affairs. Both companies have A+ ratings from the BBB, but JM Bullion clearly inspires more consumer confidence.

Platform
Rating
Trustpilot
4.3 (1,493 reviews)
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
A+ | Accredited Since 2014
Consumer Affairs
4.5 (790 reviews)

This consistency gives JM Bullion an edge in customer trust and reliability

APMEX vs JM Bullion: Which Is Best For Buying Gold?

APMEX is our preferred choice for direct gold and silver purchases due to its massive inventory, mobile app access, and advanced investor tools like AutoInvest and portfolio tracking.

Both JM Bullion and APMEX are strong when it comes to physical gold and silver purchases:

Where They’re Both Strong:

  • Product Selection: Both offer gold, silver, platinum, and palladium in bars, coins, and rounds.

  • Shipping Benefits: Orders over $199 qualify for free insured delivery.

  • Buyback Programs: Both offer competitive buyback pricing.

  • Payment Options: You can use credit/debit cards, wire transfers, checks, PayPal, and even Bitcoin (JM Bullion) or Dogecoin/Ethereum (APMEX).

Where JM Bullion Stands Out:

  • Ease of Use: More beginner-friendly site and simpler checkout process.

  • AutoBuy Feature: Automates repeat purchases with threshold-based pricing.

  • Buyback Tool: Lets users lock in sell prices online, 24/7.

  • Fear & Greed Index: Offers sentiment tracking for investors.

american gold eagles on JM Bullion
Example of American gold eagles on JM Bullion (Screenshot from JM Bullion website)

Where APMEX Stands Out:

  • Massive Inventory: Far more collector-grade and rare coins, including pre-1933 gold.

  • Mobile App: Allows purchases and portfolio tracking on the go.

  • Bullion Card & APMEX Club: Earn rewards in precious metals for repeat purchases.

  • Advanced Tools: Offers price alerts, real-time charts, and a portfolio management dashboard.

If you're a frequent buyer or collector who wants access to rare coins, mobile tracking, and rewards, APMEX delivers a superior overall experience.

platinum buy, APMEX

Best Gold IRA Provider: APMEX or JM Bullion?

JM Bullion is our preferred choice for gold IRAs, mainly due to its storage flexibility, transparent fee structure, and easy-to-follow process.

Both JM Bullion and APMEX help customers set up Gold IRAs with trusted custodians and offer a solid lineup of IRS-approved metals, but there are a few key differences worth noting:

Where They’re Both Strong:

  • IRA-Eligible Products: Both offer gold, silver, platinum, and palladium that meet IRS standards.

  • Trusted Custodians: Partner with reputable companies like Equity Trust, Strata Trust, and others.

  • Buyback Programs: Both make it easy to liquidate IRA assets when needed.

  • Secure Storage: Both use IRS-approved third-party depositories with insured storage.

Where JM Bullion Stands Out:

  • Transparent Fees: JM Bullion clearly outlines setup ($50–$100) and admin fees ($75–$300), helping avoid surprises.

  • Storage Flexibility: Partners with TDS Vaults in Zurich, Singapore, and Las Vegas, offering global options.

  • Investor Tools: Features like AutoBuy and market sentiment tracking help long-term IRA investors.

  • Self-Service Buyback: IRA holders can sell assets directly via online tools without calling a rep.

JM Bullion precious metals IRA

Where APMEX Stands Out:

  • Partner Range: Offers access to several custodians, but doesn’t clearly outline fee structures.

  • OneGold Integration: While not specific to IRAs, OneGold offers digital metal ownership for more liquid investing.

  • Brinks Storage: APMEX’s Citadel Depository (Brink’s subsidiary) is U.S.-based, secure, and fully insured.

While APMEX offers secure storage and various custodian options, JM Bullion’s clarity on fees and international storage flexibility make it the better choice for investors who want a straightforward, global IRA setup process.

APMEX IRA join

Final Verdict: APMEX vs JM Bullion

JM Bullion wins for IRAs and ratings, while APMEX comes out ahead for physical gold and silver purchases.

  • Ratings Winner: JM Bullion – Higher customer satisfaction across Trustpilot and Consumer Affairs.

  • Best for Direct Purchase: APMEX – Huge product selection, mobile app, loyalty perks, and investor tools.

  • Best for IRA: JM Bullion – Transparent fees, global storage, and self-service tools give it the edge.

In short, choose JM Bullion if you're focused on long-term IRA investing or want top-rated customer service. But if you’re building a personal collection or stacking bullion regularly, APMEX is a powerful option with more buying flexibility.

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Picture of Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
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Top Offers From Our Partners

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Personal Finance & Investing Tools
Budgeting, goal planning, net worth, cash flow, tax minimizing, personalized portfolio construction, tracking and adjustments
Talk to Financial Advisors

acorns-logo

Smart Portfolios by Experts
Cash Account with 1.00% – 3.00% APY

Promotion:
$5 Sign up, add $5 or more to your personal portfolio, and Stash give you a $5 bonus to start. 
Investing, Banking & Retirement Options

Wide Range of Cryptocurrencies
Supports a large number of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and many altcoins.
Coinbase Wallet
Provides a non-custodial wallet where users have control over their private keys, supports a wide range of crypto assets and decentralized applications (DApps).

Buy and Sell Crypto witH IRA
Buy and Sell Gold & Silver with IRA
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

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This website is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).

This website does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. This website may use other proprietary factors to impact card offer listings on the website such as consumer selection or the likelihood of the applicant’s credit approval.

This allows us to maintain a full-time, editorial staff and work with finance experts you know and trust. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impacts any of the editorial content on The Smart Investor.

While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, The Smart Investor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. All products are presented without warranty.