The world's most recognized precious metals brand. Strong on buying, but sell-side issues need honest disclosure.
Our rating: 4.3/5 — A trusted institution for buying, but recent sell-side delays and high minimums hold it back.
Kitco Metals Inc. was founded in 1977 by Bart Kitner in Montreal, Quebec. What started as a precious metals trading operation has grown into the world's most visited precious metals platform, with offices in Montreal, New York, and Hong Kong. Kitco operates two connected but distinct businesses: an online bullion dealer (online.kitco.com) and a financial media outlet (Kitco News) that millions of investors check daily for live spot prices, market commentary, and mining news.
Products include gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and rhodium in coins and bars, plus innovative offerings like VaultChain (blockchain-verified gold ownership at the Royal Canadian Mint) and Kitco Pool accounts for fractional digital metal ownership.
Nearly 50 years in business. Kitco has operated since 1977 with a real product catalog, physical storage infrastructure, and an independently verified track record. That longevity matters.
VaultChain is genuinely innovative. Blockchain-tracked gold ownership stored at the Royal Canadian Mint combines physical metal backing with digital transparency. No other dealer offers anything like it.
Kitco Pool accounts let you own fractional amounts of gold and silver digitally, trade 24/7, and convert to physical delivery when you want. Great for investors who want exposure without handling logistics.
Trustpilot: 4.7/5 from 7,200+ reviews. The buying experience is well-regarded by the vast majority of customers.
$5,000 buy minimum / $10,000 sell minimum. These were raised in 2025 to manage service capacity. This prices out smaller investors entirely.
$60 bank wire fee. Multiple customers have called this excessive.
$70 pickup fee at US locations. An unexpected cost for in-person transactions.
BBB vs. Trustpilot gap. Kitco holds an A+ BBB accreditation but only a 1.67/5 BBB customer review score from 6 reviews, compared to 4.7/5 on Trustpilot. BBB reviews tend to skew negative (people go there when upset), but the gap is wider than typical.
BBB: A+ accreditation. Customer review score of 1.67/5 (small sample of 6 reviews). Recent complaints center on sell-side delays.
Trustpilot: 4.7/5 from 7,267 reviews — one of the highest in the industry. Positive reviews praise fast buy-side delivery and helpful staff.
Sitejabber: 1.4/5 from 8 reviews. Small sample but consistent with the BBB pattern of sell-side frustration.
Past controversy: In 2016, Canadian tax agencies alleged Kitco participated in a fraudulent tax scheme. The Superior Court of Québec ruled in Kitco's favor, finding no wrongdoing. This gets circulated online without context, but the case was resolved.
Kitco is a legitimate institution with nearly five decades of history and genuine innovation (VaultChain, Pool accounts). For buying precious metals, the experience is solid. But the $5,000 minimum prices out beginners, and the sell-side payment delays in early 2026 are a real problem that any honest review must flag. If you're a larger investor who plans to buy and hold, Kitco is a strong choice. If you need liquidity and quick sell-back, consider alternatives.
Shop Kitco's bullion selection — coins, bars, and VaultChain storage.
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