Bullion.com vs APMEX: Sister Companies, Different Shopping Experiences

Pick APMEX if you want the biggest catalog, collector and graded coins, a published buyback, and extras like recurring purchases. Pick Bullion.com if you're buying common bullion, paying by bank, and want the lowest premium on a plain coin or bar. Because Bullion.com will match APMEX's premium on identical items, the two often end up close on price for staples, and the deciding factors become service and selling back.

We haven't bought from either dealer for this article. It's built from each company's published policies and press releases as of October 29, 2026. Bullion.com is an affiliate partner of this site; APMEX is not.

The ownership link most comparisons miss

These aren't independent rivals. Bullion International Group (BIG) lists APMEX, OneGold, MTB, GOLD AVENUE, Bullion.com, and the Bullion Card as its brands in its April 2026 press release, and its About page calls BIG an MKS PAMP GROUP company. APMEX's own August 2026 anniversary release says the same thing from its side.

That matters for two reasons. First, comparing them is more like comparing two stores owned by the same retailer than two competitors. Second, if you're spreading orders across dealers to reduce company risk, buying from both doesn't spread it as far as you might think.

Company snapshot

APMEX's address comes from its privacy policy; Bullion.com's from its user agreement. Size figures are the companies' own and weren't independently verified.

Catalog: everything store vs focused shop

APMEX says it stocks more than 30,000 products. Beyond bullion it sells collector coins, graded coins, and a long list of mint and private issues. It also runs AutoInvest for recurring purchases and offers the Bullion Card rewards credit card, according to its product pages.

Bullion.com sells gold, silver, and platinum with a focus on popular items. Its comparison catalog covered staples like Gold and Silver Eagles, Buffalos, Maple Leafs, small gold bars, and silver bars up to a kilo. Minimum orders are 1 oz of gold, 20 oz of silver, and 1 oz of platinum, per its payment FAQ.

If you know exactly what common coin or bar you want, both will have it. If you want a specific year, a proof, a graded slab, or palladium, start at APMEX.

Payment methods and price tiers

Both dealers charge less for cash-like payments. The difference is in how clearly they publish it.

APMEX product pages show three price columns, Check/Wire, Crypto, and CC/PayPal, with volume breaks at 1-9, 10-19, 20-99, and 100+ units. We couldn't load its payment policy page to confirm the exact percentage gap between the columns, so compare the column that matches how you'll pay.

Who each one suits on day one

A first-time buyer ordering a single 1 oz gold coin gets roughly the same core experience at either: a cash discount for paying by bank, free shipping over $199, and insured delivery. The differences show up at the edges.

• Small silver orders: Bullion.com requires at least 20 oz of silver per order, per its payment FAQ. If you want to start with a few silver coins, check APMEX's minimums in the cart.
• Large wires: Bullion.com's wire minimum is $1,500, and orders of $500,000 or more may require a deposit and must be wired.
• Repeat buying: APMEX's AutoInvest is built for scheduled purchases.

Our first-purchase checklist walks through the steps at any dealer.

Shipping and insurance

APMEX advertises free shipping on orders over $199 on its homepage. Bullion.com's shipping FAQ sets the same $199 threshold, charges $9.95 below it, ships by USPS or FedEx, and fully insures orders in transit.

Bullion.com's coverage is voided if you authorize the carrier to leave the package without a signature or with a third party, and standard shipping may not require a signature unless you add it. We weren't able to load APMEX's shipping policy page, so check its carrier and signature rules in the cart before you order.

Selling back

This is the clearest gap. APMEX publishes a Sell to Us program: request a quote online or by phone, lock the price, ship with a prepaid, insured APMEX Logistics label (FedEx or UPS), and get paid after authentication, as soon as the next business day according to APMEX. Insurance applies when you pack and ship by its instructions. It also takes jewelry and mixed scrap through an appraisal kit.

We found no published buyback at Bullion.com. Since the two share a parent, it's reasonable to ask whether Bullion.com customers can sell through APMEX, but nothing we found says there's a special arrangement, so assume you'd sell as a regular APMEX customer. Our guide to selling gold covers how to compare offers.

Price match: the useful twist

Bullion.com's price-match policy names APMEX first among five eligible dealers. It matches the premium over spot on an identical product listed on APMEX's own site. Limited-time deals, quantity-limited specials, sales, bundles, rebates, free-item offers, and pricing errors don't qualify. You request it by phone at 1-833-629-3927.

So when APMEX's regular cash price on a common coin beats Bullion.com's, you can ask Bullion.com to match it. When APMEX is running a sale, the sale price won't count.

Extras beyond buying and selling

APMEX is built as a full precious metals platform. Its product pages advertise AutoInvest for recurring purchases of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, a satisfaction guarantee offering refunds, returns, or exchanges, and the Bullion Card rewards credit card. APMEX also co-founded OneGold, a digital precious metals platform, according to OneGold's About page, which says OneGold is now a wholly owned APMEX subsidiary.

Bullion.com is simpler. Its extras are its price comparison page, a price-match policy, and a mobile app for comparing dealer prices and setting spot price alerts. Its returns are at the company's discretion, with a possible $35 restocking fee plus market loss, per its user agreement.

If you want a set-and-forget monthly buying plan, APMEX has one built in. If you buy a few times a year and shop on price, Bullion.com's tools are aimed at you.

What we couldn't confirm

A few APMEX policy pages wouldn't load for us during research, so we've left out details we couldn't verify: the exact percentage gap between APMEX's payment tiers, its small-order shipping fee, its signature rules, and its cancellation fee. Check those in your cart or on APMEX's help pages before ordering. We'd rather tell you that than guess.

Which one fits you

A five-minute way to decide

1. Name the exact product. "1 oz Gold Eagle, random year" is comparable; "a gold coin" isn't.
2. Open both product pages. Use APMEX's Check/Wire column and Bullion.com's eCheck/wire price if you'll pay by bank.
3. Work out the premium. Subtract the current spot price from each per-ounce price.
4. Ask for a match if needed. If APMEX's everyday premium is lower, call Bullion.com.
5. Weigh the exit. If you want a posted buyback from the seller, APMEX has one.

For more context, see our APMEX review and dealer comparison hub.