Investing in gold has long been considered a secure haven for many investors. Especially in uncertain times, it serves as a valuable component for diversification in stock and bond portfolios.
Fortunately, investing in gold is now easier than ever through exchange-traded products such as ETFs or ETCs. These financial instruments allow you to participate in the performance of the gold price through a security. The advantage of ETFs and ETCs compared to traditional gold bar purchases lies in their low buying and selling premiums. Since the trading mainly occurs at the level of securities with 12.5 kilo bars, no additional costs are incurred.
Gold-ETFs vs. Gold-ETCs
In Germany, gold can be purchased in the form of exchange-traded commodities (ETCs). A Gold-ETC is a debt instrument that is usually backed by physical gold holdings. In this regard, Gold-ETCs resemble ETFs.
Currently, there are 19 ETCs available for investing in gold in Germany. However, due to legal requirements related to the UCITS directive, gold ETFs are not permitted in Germany. These directives do not allow the creation of index funds with a single component. In contrast, gold ETFs are authorized and tradable in Switzerland.
In addition to products based on the gold price in US dollars, there are also products with currency hedging in euros. With daily currency risk hedging, these products offer added security. We have included these products in our comparison as well.
ETCs, which physically store gold and offer delivery options, have tax advantages for German retail investors. Based on the ruling of the Federal Fiscal Court dated June 16, 2020, the German financial supervisory authority treats such Gold-ETCs as physical gold. Therefore, gains from value appreciation are not subject to taxation after a holding period of one year. The following ETCs fall into this category:
- Xetra-Gold
- EUWAX Gold
- EUWAX Gold II
- WisdomTree Swiss Gold
- WisdomTree Core Physical Gold
- Gold Bullion Securities
- HANetf The Royal Mint Physical Gold
- boerse.de Gold ETC
Source: justETF.com; As of October 21, 2023; Performance in EUR based on the largest gold ETC.
Costs of Gold ETFs and Gold ETCs
The total expense ratio (TER) of a Gold ETF or Gold ETC ranges between 0.00% p.a. and 0.59% p.a.. These costs include insurance premiums, storage costs, and other management fees for the product.
The Best Gold ETFs and Gold ETCs
Wondering which Gold ETF or Gold ETC offers the best one-year fund return? Check out the rankings of all Gold ETFs and Gold ETCs based on fund performance.
The Largest Gold ETFs and Gold ETCs
Curious about the biggest Gold ETF or Gold ETC in terms of fund volume in euros? Get an overview of all Gold ETFs and Gold ETCs sorted by fund volume.
The Most Affordable Gold ETFs and Gold ETCs
Looking for the most cost-effective Gold ETF or Gold ETC? Compare the rates of all Gold ETFs and Gold ETCs based on their total expense ratio.
For selecting a Gold ETF or Gold ETC, other factors besides performance are valuable. To facilitate comparison, we have compiled a list of all gold products, sorted by fund size, including information on size, costs, currency hedging, security type, and collateralization.
To make an informed decision, it is essential to compare the detailed information and performance charts of all Gold ETFs and Gold ETCs.
Source: justETF.com; As of September 30, 2023; Performance in EUR including distributions.
Invest Regularly and Cost-Effectively with a Gold ETF Savings Plan
With an ETF savings plan, you have the opportunity to invest regularly in a Gold ETF or Gold ETC. Online brokers offer favorable conditions for investing in exchange-traded index funds. However, not every Gold ETF or Gold ETC is available as a savings plan with every online broker. We will show you where you can invest in which Gold ETF or Gold ETC. Please note that the availability of a Gold savings plan depends on the respective bank, not the product provider.
To set up a Gold ETF or Gold ETC savings plan, you need a depot (account). Fortunately, most online brokers listed on our website do not charge depot fees. Opening a depot only takes a few minutes and can be done online. Many online brokers also offer a selection of savings plans as promotional offers at zero fees per installment. Thanks to neobrokers like Scalable Capital, Trade Republic, and others, ETF investing is now even free at some brokers.
One advantage of a Gold ETF savings plan is the low product costs. Actively managed funds are usually much more expensive and rarely outperform ETFs. Therefore, ETFs offer clear advantages when it comes to building wealth efficiently. Hence, an ETF savings plan is considered one of the most cost-effective and best options for retirement planning today. Learn how you can build wealth with an ETF savings plan using our ETF savings plan calculator.
You can start a Gold savings plan with brokers like Scalable Capital, Trade Republic, or ING for as little as 1 euro per month. Many other direct banks allow monthly investments starting at 10, 25, or 50 euros in a Gold ETF or Gold ETC. You can find a comparison of savings plan terms in our ETF savings plan comparison. The table below provides an overview of the available Gold savings plan offers. The displayed broker offers the best current deal for a monthly installment of 100.00 euros.
Source: justETF.com; As of October 21, 2023; Performance at the end of each month in euros — In addition to the fees indicated by the online brokers, additional costs may apply. The mentioned fees are excluding market spreads, commissions, product costs, and third-party costs. You want to open a depot? If you use one of the affiliate links marked with an asterisk or found behind the broker logos as a starting point, we will receive a commission. This is how we finance a significant portion of our free information offering. If you like our work, we appreciate your support! By the way, since 2021 we have been part of the Scalable Group. To avoid conflicts of interest, we have always applied neutral, objectively traceable criteria to all comparisons, articles, and tests. We attach great importance to ensuring that YOU alone decide how and with whom you invest. Please note: Investments in securities involve risks.
