Do gold ETFs hold physical gold?

Yes, the major gold ETFs like GLD, IAU, and GLDM all hold allocated physical gold bars in secure vaults. The value of each share corresponds to a specific amount of gold held by the fund's custodian.

Are gold ETFs a good hedge against inflation?

Gold has historically served as a store of value during periods of high inflation, though its short-term performance can be volatile. Over decades, gold has generally kept pace with inflation, making gold ETFs a popular portfolio diversifier.

What is the difference between GLD and GLDM?

Both are offered by State Street and track gold prices, but GLDM has a much lower expense ratio (around 0.10% vs 0.40%) and a lower share price. GLD offers superior liquidity and a deep options market, making it better for active traders.

Do gold ETFs pay dividends?

No. Gold is a non-yielding asset, so gold ETFs do not pay dividends or interest. Returns come solely from changes in the price of gold.

Best ETFs/Best Gold ETFs for 2026

Best Gold ETFs for 2026

Gold ETFs provide one of the simplest ways to gain exposure to the price of gold without the hassle of buying, storing, and insuring physical bullion. Whether you are hedging against inflation, diversifying a stock-heavy portfolio, or seeking a safe-haven asset during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, a gold ETF can serve as an efficient vehicle. The market offers several compelling options, each with different fee structures, liquidity profiles, and gold-backing methodologies that are worth understanding before you invest.

The largest and most liquid gold fund is GLD, the SPDR Gold Shares ETF, which has been the go-to choice for institutional and retail investors alike since its launch in 2004. Its enormous trading volume ensures tight bid-ask spreads, making it ideal for active traders. For cost-conscious long-term holders, IAU from iShares offers a lower expense ratio while still tracking gold spot prices closely. Meanwhile, GLDM from SPDR offers an even cheaper alternative with a lower share price, making it accessible for smaller accounts and dollar-cost averaging strategies.

When evaluating gold ETFs, it is important to consider the total cost of ownership, which includes the expense ratio, bid-ask spread, and any tracking error relative to the spot price of gold. Each of these funds holds physical gold in vaults, but differences in custodial arrangements and fund size can affect how closely they mirror the actual metal price over time.

How We Rank

ETFs are ranked by assets under management (AUM). Only ETFs with $50M+ in assets are included. Data is updated daily.

#	Symbol	Fund Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	YTD	Div Yield	Holdings
1	GLD	SPDR Gold Shares	0.40%	$140.98B	-3.54%	—	—
2	IAU	iShares Gold Trust	0.25%	$61.67B	-3.45%	—	—
3	GLDM	SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust	0.10%	$30.63B	-3.42%	—	—
4	GDX	VanEck Gold Miners ETF	0.51%	$25.97B	+2.86%	0.72%	57
5	GDXJ	VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF	0.52%	$8.28B	-0.20%	2.29%	119
6	IAUM	iShares Gold Trust Micro	0.09%	$7.79B	-3.35%	—	—
7	SGOL	abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF	0.17%	$7.19B	-3.41%	—	—
8	HGER	Harbor Commodity All-Weather Strategy ETF (HGER)	0.68%	$4.79B	+44.00%	5.90%	17
9	XME	State Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF	0.35%	$4.13B	+4.47%	0.35%	38
10	OUNZ	VanEck Merk Gold ETF	0.25%	$2.70B	-3.42%	—	—
11	GLTR	abrdn Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF	0.60%	$2.61B	-8.77%	—	—
12	PICK	iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF	0.39%	$2.42B	+19.05%	1.34%	248
13	RING	iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF	0.39%	$2.33B	+4.73%	0.70%	40
14	RAAX	VanEck Real Assets ETF	0.55%	$1.36B	+17.06%	1.99%	17
15	BAR	GraniteShares Gold Trust	0.17%	$1.33B	-3.41%	—	1
16	NUGT	Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF	1.13%	$1.00B	-19.15%	0.17%	11
17	GDXU	MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN	0.95%	$867.5M	-56.33%	—	2
18	UGL	ProShares - Ultra Gold	0.95%	$775.8M	-17.25%	—	5
19	IAUI	NEOS Gold High Income ETF	0.79%	$650.3M	-13.33%	8.12%	—
20	SGDM	Sprott Gold Miners ETF	0.46%	$645.8M	+5.99%	0.85%	48
21	IGLD	FT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF	0.85%	$608.8M	-19.31%	11.41%	4
22	GDXD	MicroSectors Gold Miners -3X Inverse Leveraged ETNs	0.95%	$576.8M	-74.07%	—	2
23	GDE	WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Equity Strategy Fund	0.20%	$454.6M	+5.70%	3.79%	502
24	HEPZF	Global X Gold Producer Equity Covered Call ETF	0.76%	$445.9M	—	—	—
25	FGDL	Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF	0.15%	$430.9M	-3.64%	—	2

What to Look For

When choosing a gold ETF, focus on the expense ratio since you will be paying it every year for as long as you hold the fund. Look at tracking error — how closely the ETF follows the spot price of gold — and consider the bid-ask spread, which affects your entry and exit costs. Larger funds with higher average daily volume tend to offer tighter spreads.

Also consider the share price: lower-priced funds like GLDM allow more precise position sizing. Check whether the fund holds allocated physical gold in secure vaults, which provides the most direct exposure to bullion prices.

Which Gold ETFs Is Best for You?

GLD remains the king of gold ETFs with unmatched liquidity and the deepest options market of any commodity fund. Its expense ratio of 0.40% is higher than peers, but the tight spreads and massive AUM make it the preferred choice for traders and institutions that need to move large positions quickly.

IAU strikes a balance between cost and liquidity. With a lower expense ratio of around 0.25%, it is a better fit for buy-and-hold investors who plan to own gold for years. The fund still has excellent volume and very tight spreads, making it a strong all-around pick.

GLDM is the budget-friendly option with the lowest expense ratio in this group at roughly 0.10%. Its lower per-share price also makes it convenient for investors who want to allocate exact dollar amounts. For long-term holders focused on minimizing costs, GLDM is hard to beat.

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