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Gold ETFs

A simple way to hold gold in your portfolio, without keeping a safe at home.

See Gold ETFs New to ETFs? →
Real gold, held in a vault

What Gold ETFs are

A gold ETF lets you invest in gold without buying and storing physical bars yourself. Most are technically ETCs — exchange-traded commodities — which are backed by real gold held in a secured vault on your behalf. You buy and sell them through a broker just like a normal share, and the price roughly follows the price of gold.

People have used gold for a very long time as a so-called safe haven — something to hold when stock markets or currencies feel uncertain. Because its price often moves differently from shares and bonds, a small amount of gold can act as a diversifier, meaning it may soften the ups and downs of a wider mix.

One thing to keep in mind: gold pays no dividend and no interest. It just sits in a vault. The only way it can reward you is if its price rises — and the price can also fall. Unlike company shares, it doesn't represent a business that grows over time.

At a glance

What it tracksThe market price of gold (often the LBMA Gold Price, a common benchmark)
How it's builtUsually an ETC backed by real gold bars in a secured vault
HoldingsJust one thing — physical gold, not company shares
Typical fee (TER)~0.12%–0.35% per year
IncomeNone — gold pays no dividend or interest

Why beginners look here

A classic safe haven

Gold has long been something people hold when markets or currencies feel shaky, though its price can still fall.

Diversifies a portfolio

Gold's price often moves differently from stocks and bonds, which can help smooth out a wider mix.

No income, price only

Being honest: gold pays nothing along the way, so any return comes only from its price moving — up or down.

What to look for

Physically backed Check the ETC actually holds real gold bars in a vault, rather than just following the price with financial contracts (called derivatives).
The ongoing fee (TER) TER is the yearly cost of holding it; since gold products are so similar, a lower fee matters.
Currency exposure Gold is priced in US dollars, so the euro-to-dollar rate also affects your return; some products offer a currency-hedged version that aims to reduce this effect.
Size and trading volume Larger, widely traded ETCs are usually easier to buy and sell at a fair price.

Popular Gold ETFs

A few of the largest, pulled live from the screener — an example, not a recommendation.

SPDR® Gold Shares

GLD · US78463V1070
Commodities US Unknown
Yearly fee (TER)?0.40%
1-yr return+27.3%
Fund size?€122.7bn

iShares Physical Gold ETC

PPFB · IE00B4ND3602
Commodities IE Reinvests
Yearly fee (TER)?0.12%
1-yr return+22.2%
Fund size?€29.5bn

SPDR® Gold MiniShares®

GLDM · US98149E3036
Commodities US Unknown
Yearly fee (TER)?0.10%
1-yr return+27.7%
Fund size?€25.3bn

AMUNDI PHYSICAL GOLD ETC (C)

GLDA · FR0013416716
Commodities FR Reinvests
Yearly fee (TER)?0.12%
1-yr return+29.2%
Fund size?€10bn

UBS Gold ETF USD dis

OAUE · CH0106027193
Commodities CH Pays cash
Yearly fee (TER)?0.23%
Fund size?€5bn

iShares Gold Producers UCITS ETF

IAUP · IE00B6R52036
Commodities IE Reinvests
Yearly fee (TER)?0.55%
1-yr return+42.6%
Fund size?€2.9bn
See all Gold ETFs in the screener →

Good to know

Is a gold ETF the same as owning gold?

You won't get bars you can hold in your hand, but each share is backed by real gold stored in a vault on your behalf, so its value tracks the gold price closely.

Why doesn't it pay anything?

Gold simply sits in storage — it earns no dividend or interest. Your return depends only on the price changing, and you still pay the small yearly fee.

Is it technically an ETF?

Usually it's an ETC (exchange-traded commodity), a close cousin backed by physical gold. For buying and selling it behaves just like an ETF.

Related topics

Commodity ETFs Bond ETFs Multi-asset ETFs World & global ETFs

Finance Hamster provides educational information about ETFs and investing. It is not investment, tax, or legal advice, and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Markets carry risk; do your own research or consult a licensed adviser.