Best Precious Metals ETFs to Buy in 2026

Here's a closer look at some of the best precious metals exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Top precious metals ETFs in 2026

There are more than 20 ETFs focused on precious metals. Some hold precious metals stored in bank vaults. Others make a different type of investment, including derivatives such as options or futures contracts that still offer some direct exposure to metals prices. In addition, investors can consider an ETF that owns shares of mining companies focused on precious metals.

Of these options, the best one is an ETF focused on directly holding physical precious metals. They tend to deliver performance that matches precious metals prices reasonably well after fees. The top five precious metals ETFs to consider are:

Here's a closer look at these leading precious metals ETFs.

1. SPDR Gold Shares

2. iShares Silver Trust

iShares Silver Trust is the largest silver ETF. The fund holds physical silver bars stored in bank vaults. It enables investors to participate in the upside of silver prices with fewer hassles and risks of alternative investments, such as buying silver stocks or coins.

This ETF is also highly liquid, with a reasonable ETF expense ratio of 0.5%. Though the fee has caused the fund to slightly underperform the price of silver over the years, it can be worth it. The ETF enables investors to roughly match the price of silver. That provides a more certain return compared to alternative investments, like silver mining stocks, which can significantly underperform due to myriad issues.

3. abrdn Standard Physical Platinum Shares ETF

The abrdn Standard Physical Platinum Shares ETF lets investors directly invest in platinum, a key precious metal used primarily to make catalytic converters for the automotive industry. The ETF holds physical bars stored in bank vaults and is one of the few ways to invest in platinum.

Although an interested investor could buy platinum bars or jewelry made from platinum, few publicly traded mining companies focus on the rare industrial metal. Those that do mainly mine platinum along with other metals, giving their investors less direct exposure to platinum prices. These challenges of investing in platinum make the fund's 0.6% expense ratio even more reasonable.

4. abrdn Standard Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF

The abrdn Standard Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF gives investors direct exposure to several precious metals. The ETF's precious metals basket includes physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. It holds physical bars of these precious metals in bank vaults. As of late 2025, the fund's net assets were approximately 65.6% gold, 26.3% silver, 4.5% palladium, and 3.6% platinum.

The ETF provides broad exposure to a basket of precious metals for a reasonable cost, given its 0.6% expense ratio. It's one of the few funds providing investors with diversified exposure to the top precious metals in one vehicle.

5. abrdn Standard Physical Palladium Shares ETF

What are precious metals used for, and what influences their price?

Most precious metals have long held investment value due to their durable properties. Additionally, many precious metals have value due to their non-investment uses. Here's a look at the uses of each precious metal and how that impacts their price:

• Gold: Gold has several uses, including jewelry, money, electronics, dentistry, and by the aerospace industry. While gold has non-investment demand, its investment value is the main factor that influences its price. Investors buy gold to hedge against inflation and as a safe haven during economic storms, which can influence its price.
• Silver: Silver is used for various purposes, including jewelry, currency, electronics, solar panels, water purification, and mirrors. More than half of silver's demand comes from industrial applications. That demand and its investment value tend to influence its price.
• Platinum: Platinum is used in many ways, including catalytic converters, fuel cells, jewelry, and electronics. Several factors influence the price of platinum, including industrial demand and market sentiment from investors.
• Palladium: There are numerous uses for palladium, including automotive catalytic converters, jewelry, and electronics. The metal's value to the automotive industry tends to be the primary factor driving its price.

Benefits and risks of investing in precious metal ETFs

Investing in precious metals ETFs has both benefits and drawbacks. Some of the pros include:

• Inflation hedge: Investing in precious metals ETFs can help protect your portfolio from the impact of inflation.
• Diversification: Precious metals ETFs can help increase the overall diversification of your portfolio.
• Appreciation potential: Precious metals ETFs can increase in value, helping you grow your wealth.
• Wealth protection: Investing in precious metals ETFs can help protect your money from the devaluation of fiat currency.

On the other hand, some risks of precious metals ETFs include:

• Underperformance potential: Precious metals ETFs can underperform the precious metals they track over time due to their expense ratios. Meanwhile, top mining stocks have the potential to outperform the price of a precious metal, as these companies grow their production and profits.
• No physical possession: While most precious metals ETFs hold physical metals in bank vaults, you can't take physical possession of those metals if needed during an extreme financial emergency.

Lots of ways to invest in precious metals

There are many precious metals ETFs, giving investors lots of options. Most of the top precious metals ETFs concentrate on owning physical bars of a particular precious metal, giving investors direct exposure to the metal.

To gain exposure to all four main precious metals, investors have a choice: They can focus on one metal if they believe it will outperform the rest, or they can consider buying a basket of precious metals ETFs or an ETF that holds a basket of precious metals. Either way, investing in a precious metals ETF is an easy way to help hedge against the rise of inflation.

Factors to consider when choosing a precious metal ETF

There are lots of precious metals ETFs to choose from. Investors should consider the following factors when deciding which one to add to their portfolio:

• Metal focus: You'll need to decide whether you want to own an ETF focused on a particular precious metal or one that holds a basket of several.
• Expense ratio: ETFs with lower expense ratios will track the price of precious metals more closely over the long term, as the cost will have a lower impact on their return.
• Liquidity: Larger ETFs will have more liquidity, making it easier to buy and sell shares during any potential market turmoil.

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