Invest in Gold: The Best Brokers in Ireland 2025

How to invest in gold?

Investing in physical gold

Buying physical gold means purchasing gold bars, coins, or jewellery outright, providing true ownership of the commodity. Investors must consider reliable dealers, secure storage (such as a safe deposit box), and possible insurance. Physical gold often serves as a hedge against inflation and currency fluctuations, but storage and transaction costs may apply.

Example: Cost of buying and storing gold

Suppose you buy 100 grams of gold in the form of certified bullion at €6,800 (spot price at €68/gram). You decide to store it in a bank safety deposit box in Dublin for an annual fee of €225. This ensures both physical security and insurance, but your overall cost is €7,025 for the first year including storage.

Investing via ETFs and sector company stocks

Investing in gold via exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and shares in gold mining companies allows indirect exposure to gold’s price movements. Gold ETFs typically track the spot price and are listed on major exchanges, offering high liquidity and low transaction costs. Mining stocks can potentially offer dividends but are affected by both gold price volatility and company performance. Both methods are more flexible and accessible than physical gold but are subject to market risk and do not result in actual ownership of the metal.

Example:

You invest €10,000 in a gold ETF listed on the Irish stock exchange, with an annual management fee of 0.3%. If gold rises 5% in a year, your holding is worth €10,500 before fees, minus €30 in management costs. Alternatively, you buy €5,000 of shares in a large gold mining company—if the firm benefits from operational excellence and a rising gold price, you could also receive dividends.

Investing in gold with derivatives

Gold derivatives, such as Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and futures, enable speculative exposure with leverage. Traders can profit from both upward and downward price moves. However, derivatives amplify potential gains as well as losses, requiring careful risk management. They’re best suited for experienced investors comfortable with short-term trading and margin requirements.

Example of CFD Trading with Leverage

You open a CFD position worth €5,000 in gold with 10:1 leverage, controlling €50,000 exposure. If gold rises by 2% (€1,000 gain), your profit is €1,000 before fees and spreads—but if gold falls 2%, you lose €1,000, quickly eroding your initial margin.

How to Choose the Best Broker to Invest in gold

Choosing the right broker is a crucial step when investing in gold, as the best intermediary depends on how you want to gain exposure—whether through physical gold, ETFs and mining company stocks, or trading derivatives like CFDs. Each approach has its own requirements, risks, and benefits, and the ideal broker should perfectly match your investment strategy and expectations.

Best broker for physical purchase

If you aim to own gold directly—such as bars or coins—a specialised broker or dealer is essential. This type of intermediary manages the sourcing, authentication, secure storage, and delivery of physical gold. Individual priorities like insurance or buyback guarantees will influence which broker is best for you.

• Clear information on sourcing authenticity and purity (e.g., LBMA-certified gold)
• Secure storage options, both domestic and international
• Transparent pricing and clearly disclosed commissions
• Buyback policy and liquidity for re-selling your gold
• Insurance options for theft, loss, and damage
• Delivery logistics, including tracked and insured shipping

Expert Advice

Always check that the broker is strictly regulated, offers responsive customer service, and publishes a transparent schedule of storage and transaction fees before making any physical gold purchase.

Best broker to invest in ETFs and sector company stocks

Investing in gold via ETFs or mining company stocks can be done on major stock exchanges through online brokers or traditional investment platforms. The right broker will provide product access, low trading fees, and efficient execution for Irish investors.

• Wide access to global ETFs and major gold producer stocks, with ISIN and exchange details clearly shown
• Low or competitive brokerage commissions, especially for frequent trading
• Strong platform reliability, with clear settlement and custody arrangements
• Easy-to-use trading tools and availability of research or analysis on gold-related assets
• Account security and segregation of client funds
• Effective taxation management for Irish residents

Expert advice

Verify that the broker is regulated in a reputable jurisdiction, ensures efficient support in case of account or trade issues, and keeps fees and FX conversion costs transparent when accessing gold-related securities.

Best broker to trade gold with derivatives

Derivatives—including CFDs, futures, or options—allow speculation or hedging on gold price movements without owning the underlying asset. A suitable broker needs to provide robust risk management tools, competitive spreads, and secure margin facilities.

• Clear, competitive spreads and commission structures
• Availability of risk controls (stop-loss, margin calls, negative balance protection)
• Platform stability and speed, particularly during volatile periods
• Transparent leverage and margin requirements tailored for retail investors
• Free demo accounts for practising strategies
• Access to market research, economic calendars, and price alerts

Expert Advice

Always ensure the broker is supervised by a reputable regulator, offers prompt support, and publishes a full schedule of fees and margin conditions before trading gold derivatives.

Why invest in gold?

Gold has been valued for centuries as a symbol of wealth and a reliable store of value. Today, it remains one of the most attractive assets for investors seeking stability in their portfolios. Its enduring appeal comes from a unique combination of safety, liquidity, and resilience across different market cycles.

• Safe haven: Gold often retains or increases its value during times of economic uncertainty, market volatility, and geopolitical risks.
• Inflation hedge: Gold’s price historically rises when the cost of living increases, helping to protect purchasing power.
• Diversification: Including gold in a portfolio helps reduce overall risk as it typically has a low correlation with stocks and bonds.
• High liquidity: Gold can be easily bought or sold virtually anywhere in the world, making it one of the most liquid assets available.
• Universal value: Gold is recognised and trusted globally, ensuring its acceptance regardless of currency movements or political changes.

Over the long term, gold has consistently demonstrated its ability to preserve and grow capital, making it a valuable addition for any investor looking toward financial security.

The fees associated with investing in gold

Understanding the different fees involved in gold investments is key to accurately estimating your future returns and comparing investment methods. Fee structures can vary widely depending on whether you invest in physical gold, gold ETFs or sector stocks, or through derivatives like CFDs. Comparing costs upfront helps you make informed, cost-effective decisions.

Buy/Sell Commissions

Commissions are upfront costs you pay to a dealer or broker each time you buy or sell gold. With physical gold, this typically means a flat fee per transaction. ETFs and sector stocks generally charge a percentage-based commission per trade. Derivatives such as CFDs often do not have a separate buy/sell commission; the cost is built into the spread or charged as a flat brokerage fee.

Real Example

If you buy €5,000 worth of physical gold from a dealer charging a $50 commission per transaction, your total buy/sell commission would be $50 when buying and another $50 when selling, totaling $100 for the full round trip.

Brokerage Fees

Brokerage fees are service charges for executing trades on your behalf. For physical gold, these are rare but possible through online platforms. ETFs and sector stocks usually have a fixed brokerage fee per trade. For CFDs, brokerage fees may apply, but often they are included in the spread or charged as a separate transaction cost.

Real Example

Purchasing gold ETF shares worth €2,000 on the Irish market with a €7.50 brokerage fee per trade means you’ll pay €7.50 when buying, and again when selling later, for a total of €15 in brokerage fees.

Spreads

The spread is the difference between the buy (ask) and sell (bid) price. It's an implicit fee paid every time you enter and exit a position. Spreads are generally wider for physical gold (due to dealer margins), narrow for ETFs and sector stocks, and quoted in pips for CFDs, where even small differences can have a significant impact due to leverage.

Real Example

If a gold dealer offers to sell an ounce for $2,050 and will buy it back for $1,995, the spread is $55, or roughly 2.7%. For gold CFDs, a 40-pip spread means you pay $0.40 per $1,000 notional value (before leverage).

Other Fees

Other costs can include storage (for physical gold), annual management fees (for ETFs or funds), overnight financing (for leveraged CFD positions), and currency conversion if you invest in gold denominated in a different currency. These can significantly affect your net returns, especially for long-term or leveraged positions.

Real Example

Storing €10,000 in physical gold at a specialist facility might cost $180 per year in fees. Holding a gold ETF charging a 0.40% management fee on €5,000 means €20 deducted annually from your fund value. For CFDs, leaving a position open overnight at a 0.02% daily rate on €2,000 equals €0.40 in daily overnight charges.

What is the tax on income from trading gold in Ireland?

Investing in gold in Ireland (IE) is subject to distinct tax rules that vary depending on how you hold the investment. Whether you invest in physical gold, gold-backed ETFs/ETCs, gold mining stocks, derivatives, or through digital gold accounts, each category has tax specifics you should understand to anticipate potential obligations.

• Physical gold: Taxed under the Capital Gains Tax regime at 33% on profits, with a €1,270 annual exemption. No VAT applies on investment grade gold.
• Gold ETFs/ETCs: Treated as funds, usually attracting Exit Tax at 41% on gains and distributed income. The deemed disposal applies every 8 years.
• Gold sector stocks: Dividends are usually subject to 25% withholding tax, with CGT at 33% on capital gains. Some reliefs or credits may apply via double taxation agreements.
• Gold derivatives: Profits may be taxed as income (at individual’s marginal rate up to 40%) if trading is regular or as capital gains at 33% for occasional investors.
• Digital gold: Generally taxed like physical gold under CGT at 33%. Frequent digital trading could be treated as income.

Generally, Irish residents must report gold-related gains and income via the Revenue Online Service (ROS). Gains above the CGT exemption (€1,270) must be declared and taxed at 33%. Exit Tax on funds/ETFs should be accounted for, with the 8-year deemed disposal rule creating an obligation even if no sale is made. Professional traders may be subject to income tax rates up to 40%. Always retain transaction records and check if any double taxation treaties or reliefs are applicable to your specific circumstance.

Our 10 tips for choosing the right broker to speculate on gold

Choosing a reliable and well-suited broker is essential for anyone looking to successfully speculate on gold through derivative products such as CFDs or futures. Your broker will be your main partner, impacting costs, execution quality, safety, and the range of available trading tools. To help you make the best choice and avoid costly mistakes, it’s crucial to follow structured, expert-guided recommendations for evaluating brokers.

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.