Fees and service details reviewed 17 September 2026. Sources: BullionVault tariff; ownership and audit process.
Editorial verdict: 4.7/5. BullionVault offers allocated bullion trading with published custody records. Order-board commission starts at 0.5% each way. Its $4 monthly gold custody minimum matters when comparing costs for smaller holdings.
Who should use it: UK investors with £1,000+ who prioritise low cost over CGT exemption. Who shouldn't: beginners (steep interface), small accounts under £250 ($4/month gold custody minimum), anyone wanting CGT-free coins.
Full review below: fees vs Royal Mint and BullionByPost, the exact security setup, the one tax catch most reviews miss, and who this platform is right (and wrong) for.
4.7
out of 5
BullionVault is best suited for investors with £1,000.00+ who want the lowest possible costs and do not need physical possession of their gold. If you are comfortable with a trading-style interface and prioritise value over simplicity, BullionVault is hard to beat.
However, if you are a complete beginner, want CGT-free coins, or want to start with a fixed £25 purchase, the Royal Mint or BullionByPost may suit you better.
Capital at risk. Not financial advice or a personal recommendation.
Volume-based trading commission
Order-board commission starts at 0.5%; volume tiers reduce the rate on subsequent purchases or sales.
Extremely low storage costs
Gold custody is 0.12% a year, subject to a $4 monthly minimum, including insurance.
Live peer-to-peer trading
Buy and sell gold 24/7 on a live order book, similar to a stock exchange. You set your own price or accept the best available.
Published daily reconciliation
BullionVault publishes client holdings alongside independent custodian bar lists. External auditors examine the reconciliation process.
Multiple vault locations worldwide
Choose to store your gold in London, Zurich, New York, Toronto, or Singapore for geographic diversification.
Established track record
Operating since 2005, with gold held by independent professional vault operators.
Steep learning curve for beginners
The trading interface resembles a financial trading platform, which can be intimidating if you have never used one before.
No CGT-free coin options
BullionVault deals in wholesale bars, not UK legal tender coins. Your profits will be subject to Capital Gains Tax.
Minimum storage fee of $4/month
For small holdings, the flat minimum monthly charge means your effective storage rate is higher than the headline 0.12%.
Physical withdrawal can be costly
Taking delivery of your gold involves fabrication and shipping fees. Most users keep their gold in the vault.
Unlike traditional gold dealers where you buy at a fixed price, BullionVault operates a peer-to-peer marketplace similar to a stock exchange. You place orders to buy or sell gold, and these are matched with other users on the platform.
Registration is free. You transfer funds via bank transfer (GBP, USD, or EUR). There is no minimum deposit, but you will need enough to cover at least one gram of gold plus commission. Open a free account here.
Choose your vault location (London, Zurich, New York, Toronto, or Singapore) and place a buy order. You can accept the current best price or set a limit order at your preferred price.
Once purchased, your gold is held in professional vaults operated by Brink's, Loomis, or Malca-Amit. All gold is in the form of London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Good Delivery bars - the global wholesale standard.
BullionVault publishes its client holdings alongside bar lists from independent custodians. External auditors check the reconciliation process and selected records; this is separate from physical vault inspections.
London
Brink's
Zurich
Loomis
New York
Brink's
Toronto
Brink's
Singapore
Malca-Amit
One of BullionVault's strongest selling points is its low fee structure. Here is a complete breakdown of what you will pay:
| Annual Trading Volume | Commission Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $75,000 | 0.50% |
| $75,000 - $825,000 | 0.10% |
| Over $825,000 | 0.05% |
The tiers apply separately to each metal and to buying and selling, resetting on the account anniversary. Daily Price orders have a different fee schedule.
Annual rate
0.12%
of gold value per year
Monthly minimum
$4/month
minimum charge for gold custody
Illustration assumes a constant £5,000 gold value and £0.75 per US dollar: $48 annual minimum × £0.75 = £36, plus £25 purchase commission. It excludes sale commission, the bid/ask spread and optional charges. Actual sterling custody costs vary with exchange rates.
Security is paramount when storing significant value in gold. BullionVault employs multiple layers of protection:
The Daily Audit lets clients compare their anonymised holdings with published custodian bar lists. External auditors examine this process and receive independent physical inspection reports.
All gold is held as LBMA Good Delivery bars - the international wholesale standard. These bars have a fully documented chain of custody and are accepted worldwide. Each bar is individually serial-numbered and weighed.
Gold is stored in vaults operated by the world's leading security companies - Brink's, Loomis, and Malca-Amit. These are the same firms used by central banks and major financial institutions.
By default, gold is held on a pooled (shared) basis for cost efficiency. However, larger investors can opt for segregated storage where specific bars are allocated solely to their account for an additional fee.
BullionVault describes client bullion as outright property held under a bailment arrangement. This ownership structure is separate from a bank deposit or a guarantee of immediate repayment. Consult the ownership terms for the treatment of client property if the operator fails.
These are the two most popular vaulted gold platforms for UK investors. Here is how they compare on the key factors:
| Feature | BullionVault | Royal Mint |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Cost | 0.5% commission | DigiGold: 0.5% buy; 1% sell |
| Storage Cost | 0.12% per year ($4/mo min) | DigiGold: 0.5% + VAT; physical bullion: 1–2% + VAT per year |
| Minimum Investment | ~1 gram (~£100.96) | £25.00 |
| Products | Gold, silver, platinum bars | DigiGold, coins, bars |
| CGT-Free Options | No | Yes (Britannia coins) |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Mobile Access | Functional but dated | Mobile-friendly website |
| Vault Locations | 5 countries | UK only |
| Best For | Cost-conscious investors, £1,000.00+ | Beginners, CGT-free coins, small amounts |
Understanding the tax treatment of your BullionVault gold is essential for calculating your true returns. Here are the key points for UK investors:
Gold held on BullionVault is not exempt from Capital Gains Tax. Unlike UK legal tender coins (Britannias, Sovereigns), BullionVault gold bars are treated as a chargeable asset by HMRC.
If CGT exemption is important to your strategy, consider buying CGT-free UK gold coins instead.
For a comprehensive guide on gold taxation, see our tax-free gold UK guide. We also cover how Gold ISAs can provide a tax-efficient wrapper for gold ETF investments.
See our full platform comparison to find the best option for your situation, or explore gold ETFs for an ISA-friendly alternative.
BullionVault launched in 2005 and provides allocated bullion ownership through independent vault operators. Its published Daily Audit reconciles client holdings with custodian bar lists. External auditors review that process; it is not a daily physical inspection of every bar.
Order-board commission starts at 0.5% on purchases and sales, with volume discounts. Gold custody is 0.12% a year, subject to a $4 monthly minimum. Bank transfers, physical withdrawal and optional services can carry additional charges; check the current tariff.
BullionVault order-board commission starts at 0.5% each way. Royal Mint DigiGold charges 0.5% to buy and 1% to sell. Gold custody is 0.12% a year with a $4 monthly minimum at BullionVault, versus 0.5% plus VAT at DigiGold with no monthly minimum. Physical Royal Mint coins have separate product prices and storage terms.
No, gold held on BullionVault is not exempt from Capital Gains Tax. Unlike UK legal tender coins such as Britannias and Sovereigns, BullionVault gold bars are treated as a chargeable asset. You may owe CGT on any profits exceeding your annual allowance (currently £3,000). If CGT exemption is important to you, consider platforms that sell UK coins.
Physical withdrawal is available subject to verification and fees. BullionVault lists a 100g bar service, whole-bar withdrawal and other gold withdrawals with a 50g minimum. Fees depend on the route, amount and destination; transport and insurance can add to the cost.
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Taro has been actively investing in precious metals and financial markets for over 15 years. Frustrated by the lack of transparent, accurate gold pricing information in the UK, he built London Gold Exchange as a data-driven resource for fellow investors. The site combines real-time market data, verified dealer information from 242+ UK businesses, and insights drawn from years of hands-on experience in the gold market.
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