Investing in tangible assets isn’t a new tactic to help provide some stability and hedge against inflation in an investor’s portfolio. Gold and silver are two of the most common precious metals and have gained a lot of attention thanks to price gains in 2025 and a strong momentum heading into this year. Investing in both metals can have its advantages, but the difference from each may not help your goals, depending on what you’re looking to do with your investments.
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When there is more economic uncertainty, many investors tend to put their money towards assets that help to balance out the volatility in their portfolios. Precious metals like gold and silver are tied to any currency or the whims of corporations. Plus, they’re historically used as ways to fight against inflation eroding an investment portfolio.
How so? Physical metals, unlike stocks or bands, offer intrinsic value that’s recognized worldwide. It usually holds its value even when markets shift.
In this article: American Hartford Gold, Thor Metals and Priority Gold
The value of gold climbed sharply in 2025. According to Reuters, gold ended at up around 64% by the end of 2025, which hasn’t seen this much of again since 1979. In early 2026, gold climbed higher, reaching upwards of about $4,549.71.
Some experts believe that several factors may have contributed to the surge, including the anticipation of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, which usually increased the demand for assets like gold.
While hard to pin down, continued geopolitical tensions and concerns about inflation encourages buying precious metals, as well as the desire to diversify reserves from traditional currencies.
Financial institutions like Morgan Stanley forecast that gold prices could climb to about $4,800 per ounce by the end of 2026, citing ongoing demand and monetary expectations as the main influences.
As for silver, its growth felt more dramatic, as it surged around 147% in 2025, going to $80 per ounce in late 2025. What differentiates silver is that it’s both a precious metal and an industrial commodity. There is demand from the manufacturing industry for silver, especially in electronics, renewable energy and technology. This means both demand for industrial use and investment purposes helped to elevate silver’s status and could have influenced its returns.
Aside from the price gain of either precious metal, looking at other factors is useful in determining which is the better investment for your needs.
While silver’s demand is slightly higher, its price may fluctuate more. For instance, when there is an uptick in manufacturing activity, the demand may be strong, and cools down when the demand isn’t there anymore. This additional influence could mean that silver could be more at the whims of the market and other economic factors.
With gold, the prices tend to be less influenced by these types of cycles. Its main benefits are more to provide somewhat of a barrier against inflation and protection against monetary policy, which tends to dominate when there are uncertain economic periods.
You may not see larger upticks in price. Rather, it’s more slow and steady, which can help you preserve your wealth. It’s this so-called "stability" that makes gold more appealing. There’s a reason why so many investors use it to help diversify their portfolios and are held by central banks worldwide.
Forecast and analysis show that the conditions for gold to continue to increase in value (alongside its other benefits) is favorable. Gold’s reliability and history of holding onto its value is what makes it a viable investment.
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That’s not to say silver doesn’t belong in your portfolio. But if you were to pick between one or the other, gold might be the better bet.
Silver might see higher increases in its prices, though, as there is still industrial demand for it, whether that’s solar panels or electric vehicles. Plus, its lower price could help make it more accessible for investors who don’t have a lot of upfront cash.
Think of silver as an asset that can help diversify your investments in precious metals, but not necessarily replace gold altogether. It’s hard to ignore all the benefits of gold as a tangible asset.
American Hartford Gold is a well-known precious metals dealer that helps investors with purchasing and storing precious metal through their Gold IRAs. The company is rated highly for hands-on support, offering personalized guidance throughout the setup process.
American Hartford Gold works with IRS-approved custodians and secure storage facilities, making it easier for investors to transition funds from existing retirement accounts. Pricing varies based on the plan, and the company offers transparent pricing. The company also offers promos like waiving fees and certain accounts can get free gold.
Thor Metals pairs you with a specialist who will explain how gold and precious metals can fit into your long-term investment strategy. The company also works with IRS-approved custodians and helps make the account opening process straightforward. Pricing isn’t publicly listed, but the specialist will outline exactly what it is and what’s included. Thor Metals also offers educational resources and a transparent account opening process.
Priority Gold focuses on tailored recommendations and individual consultations with investors to help them decide the best approach to take. The company works with secure depositories and IRS-approved custodians. Or, you can work with them to purchase physical gold and silver directly. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying for as Priority Gold doesn’t have hidden costs and shows you pricing, which is typically based on market conditions. There is also a buyback program for more flexibility.
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