APMEX vs JM Bullion

APMEX vs JM Bullion at a Glance

Every fact below comes from the same data that powers our individual APMEX and JM Bullion reviews, so the two pages cannot disagree.

Live Premiums: Who Is Cheaper Today?

Premium over spot is the real price of bullion. The table compares each dealer's current cash or wire price on the five products stackers buy most, against the LBMA spot value of the metal inside.

How These Dealers Compare

APMEX and JM Bullion are two of the three largest online precious metals retailers in the United States, and since JM Bullion's 2021 acquisition by A-Mark they are also corporate cousins, though they run separate pricing, inventory and websites. APMEX, founded in 2000 in Oklahoma City, wins on sheer breadth: more than 10,000 products from common bullion to rare numismatics. JM Bullion, founded in 2011 in Dallas, wins on price and on the quality of the buying experience.

Both are BBB A+ rated, both accept PayPal and crypto, both operate buyback desks and IRA programs. The right choice depends on whether you are buying standard bullion, where JM Bullion is usually cheaper, or something specific enough that only APMEX stocks it.

Premiums on the Products That Matter

On mainstream bullion JM Bullion has typically undercut APMEX by 1–2%. A 1 oz American Gold Eagle has usually run $30–55 over spot at JM Bullion for check or wire against $40–75 at APMEX; on a five-coin purchase that is $50–100 saved. Generic 1 oz silver rounds have run $1.50–3.00 over spot at JM Bullion against $2.00–4.00 at APMEX, and on a tube of 20 Silver Eagles the difference is typically $10–20.

The gap disappears on hard-to-find items. Obscure sovereign coins, vintage US gold, limited mint releases and graded pieces often appear at APMEX before anyone else lists them, and when one dealer has the product the premium comparison is moot. APMEX also lets you sort a category by premium over spot, which surfaces the best relative value inside its own catalog.

Both dealers charge about 4% more for card payment than for check or wire, so on a $2,500 coin the card costs roughly $100 extra at either. JM Bullion gives crypto payments a 3% discount; APMEX's bullion rewards card returns 4% on APMEX purchases, which partially offsets its higher premiums for loyal repeat buyers.

Shipping, Minimums, and Payment

Neither dealer has a minimum order. APMEX ships free from $199, JM Bullion from $499, so a buyer placing $200–$500 orders pays shipping at JM Bullion and not at APMEX. Both ship insured in plain packaging with prompt tracking, and both process in-stock card orders within about one business day, with JM Bullion's Dallas warehouse and APMEX's Oklahoma City facility giving similar transit times to either coast.

Payment menus are close. Both accept check, wire, ACH, cards, PayPal and crypto through BitPay; JM Bullion adds Klarna, Apple Pay and Google Pay, while APMEX adds its own rewards card. Wire or ACH is the cheapest way to pay at both.

Website and Buying Experience

Both sites are well above the industry norm. JM Bullion's is the best-designed dealer site we have used: consistent photography across the catalog, reliable filters, payment-tier pricing on every product page, saved payment methods, and a mobile checkout with no extra steps. APMEX's site reflects 25 years of refinement, handles both broad and very specific searches well, and adds a mobile app and the premium-over-spot sort. The difference is that JM Bullion's smaller catalog is faster to navigate, while APMEX's depth rewards buyers who know exactly what they want.

Customer Service

APMEX's support infrastructure handles volume spikes better. During sharp market moves JM Bullion's phone lines have seen 20–30 minute holds and drawn more complaints than APMEX's, though JM Bullion's live chat resolves routine order questions within minutes. If reaching a person during a volatile session matters to you, APMEX is the safer choice.

Selection

This is APMEX's category. Gold bars from 1 gram to 1 kilo across every major refiner, fractional gold in multiple product lines, junk silver sold by face value, platinum and palladium depth, copper, and a rotating numismatic inventory. JM Bullion covers the major categories thoroughly, everything a typical bullion buyer needs, but is thin on rare coins, vintage items and collector-grade pieces.

Selling Back

Both buy back at wholesale bid. JM Bullion's program has a $1,000 minimum and pays roughly spot minus $20–40 on standard gold products, with payment about ten or more business days after shipping. Because APMEX's purchase premiums are higher, its round-trip cost on a Gold Eagle tends to be larger than JM Bullion's even when the bids are similar. Our buyback programs guide compares the spreads.

Where APMEX Wins

• Unmatched selection — 10,000+ products including fractional gold, junk silver by face value, rare coins and exclusive mint releases.
• Lower free shipping threshold — Free from $199 against JM Bullion's $499.
• Longer track record and stronger phone support — 25+ years and millions of orders, with support that copes better with market spikes.
• Rewards card and premium sort — 4% back for repeat buyers and a premium-over-spot sort that finds value inside the catalog.

Where JM Bullion Wins

• Lower premiums on mainstream bullion — Typically 1–2% below APMEX on Gold Eagles, generic rounds and common bars.
• Best website in the industry — Faster to navigate, consistent photography, saved payment details, clean mobile checkout.
• More payment options — Klarna, Apple Pay and Google Pay on top of PayPal, crypto, check, wire, ACH and cards, plus a 3% crypto discount.
• Promotions — Regular free-silver offers that add real metal to $500+ orders.

The Bottom Line

Choose APMEX if you want the widest selection in the market, are building a specific set or hunting a specific coin, place orders in the $199–$499 range where its free shipping kicks in, or want the dealer most likely to answer the phone on a wild day.

Choose JM Bullion if you are buying standard gold and silver bullion and want the lowest price of the two, prefer the cleaner site, or want to pay with Klarna, Apple Pay or Google Pay. For straightforward stacking in $500+ lots, JM Bullion is usually the better value.

Neither choice is a mistake. The live premium table above shows the actual gap today; for the broader field see our lowest premiums ranking and all dealer reviews.

Is APMEX Legit? Is JM Bullion Legit?

APMEX was founded in 2000 and operates from Oklahoma City, OK. It holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is BBB accredited. On Trustpilot it scores 2.5 out of 5 across more than 3,500 reviews. Its website blocks automated price reads, so our premium figures for it come from its published rate card and are marked as estimates until the tracker can verify them. Read the full APMEX review.

JM Bullion was founded in 2011 and operates from Dallas, TX. It holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is BBB accredited. On Trustpilot it scores 3.9 out of 5 across more than 5,000 reviews. Our premium tracker reads its prices automatically throughout the day, so the premiums above are observed, not quoted from a rate card. Read the full JM Bullion review.

Minted Metal has no financial relationship with either dealer. We do not carry dealer affiliate links, and neither company can pay to influence its rating. Details are in our editorial policy.

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