American Hartford Gold and Lear Capital open the same kind of account holding the same metal, so the difference between them is what they charge and what they will tell you before you commit. The figures below add the setup fee, the markup over spot and 10 years of administration and storage together, using each company's published schedule as checked on April 17, 2026.
What each costs over 10 years
| Transfer | American Hartford Gold | Lear Capital | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $3,500 | $4,530 | $1,030 less with American Hartford Gold |
| $50,000 | $4,750 | $5,780 | $1,030 less with American Hartford Gold |
| $100,000 | $7,250 | $8,280 | $1,030 less with American Hartford Gold |
| $250,000 | $14,750 | $15,780 | $1,030 less with American Hartford Gold |
The markup over spot dominates every row. It is charged once on the way in, it scales with the amount rather than sitting flat, and at $100,000 it accounts for more of the total than a decade of administration and storage combined.
Where the cheaper option changes
There is no crossover between $5,000 and $500,000. American Hartford Gold costs less at every size in that range on these published figures, which usually means it carries both the lower spread and the lower annual load rather than trading one against the other.
Run your own number through the fee calculator, since a table of four sizes is a sample rather than an answer for the amount you are actually moving.
What this comparison leaves out
Cost is the only dimension here. The regulator record, the complaint history and the buyback terms are not compiled for either company, and a cheaper account with worse conduct is not the better one.
American Hartford Gold's figures are recorded as estimated and Lear Capital's as estimated. Read the full records on the American Hartford Gold page and the Lear Capital page.
Sources
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American Hartford Gold published fee information
Freedom Aware 2025 review: $0 setup, $75–$100 annual custodian, $100–$150 storage, $10,000 minimum. Fee waivers 1–3 years on rollovers of $50k+ and $100k+. Segregated option +$50–$100 yr. Spread industry-estimated at 5%.
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Lear Capital published fee information
CEP-DC review: $280 first-year setup (waivable on $10k+ deposits), $200 annual admin, $100 commingled / $150 segregated storage at Delaware Depository, $30 wire, $7,500 minimum. Lear Capital was subject to a 2021 $5.5M CFPB-style spread-disclosure settlement — spread held at 5% conservatively but known to be high historically.