Lear Capital and Monetary Gold 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 | Lear Capital | Monetary Gold | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $4,530 | $4,300 | $230 less with Monetary Gold |
| $50,000 | $5,780 | $5,800 | $20 less with Lear Capital |
| $100,000 | $8,280 | $8,800 | $520 less with Lear Capital |
| $250,000 | $15,780 | $17,800 | $2,020 less with Lear Capital |
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
The two swap places at about $48,000. Monetary Gold costs less below that figure and Lear Capital costs less above it, because a higher fixed charge spreads over a larger balance while a wider spread does not.
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.
Lear Capital's figures are recorded as estimated and Monetary Gold's as estimated. Read the full records on the Lear Capital page and the Monetary Gold page.
Sources
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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.
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Monetary Gold published fee information
Gold IRA Blueprint 2025 review: No account-opening fees. $100 storage up to $100k, +$1 per $1,000 beyond. Yearly custodian fee ~$180. Up to 5 yrs custodial fees covered for qualifying rollovers. $30 shipping. $5,000–$10,000 minimum depending on custodian. Spread 6% estimated.