APMEX vs JM Bullion (2026): Which Bullion Dealer?

Both APMEX and JM Bullion are self-serve online bullion retailers, and the practical choice between them comes down to catalog depth versus premium. Pick APMEX if you want the widest selection, the option of allocated storage, and a published buyback with clear timing. Pick JM Bullion if you buy standard bullion, want low premiums, and will pay by the cheaper method to get them. Neither is a guided, high-touch dealer. Both expect you to place your own order and read the payment page first.

Where they line up

The two operations are structurally similar. Each sells gold, silver, platinum, and palladium online with no order minimum to start, and each runs the same pricing mechanic: a discount of about 4% for paying by paper check, eCheck, or bank wire instead of by card or PayPal. The two handle crypto differently. APMEX gives it no discount, so card, PayPal, and crypto all pay the same. JM Bullion gives crypto a 3% discount. On both sites the displayed price assumes you pay the cheap way, so a card buyer pays roughly 4% more than the number on the screen. Each also runs a published buyback with a $1,000 minimum.

Where they differ

Catalog and storage separate them on one side. Record and terms separate them on the other.

APMEX carries the broader catalog, including numismatics and graded rare coins, and offers optional allocated storage through Citadel at Brink’s for 0.55% per year, segregated in your name. JM Bullion is narrower and premium-focused: sovereign coins, generic rounds, and bars, priced for low premiums over melt. Its storage is not an independent in-house program. It is offered through TDS Vaults, an affiliate under the same parent, A-Mark.

The records differ too. JM Bullion had a data breach. In 2020, Magecart-style code on its checkout captured customer names, addresses, and payment card details, active from February 18 to July 17, 2020. The company disclosed it, and it was resolved through a class-action settlement (Newman v. JM Bullion). A class-action settlement is a negotiated resolution, not a finding or admission of liability. APMEX has no comparable breach on record. Its main friction is on terms: cancelling a locked APMEX order costs market loss plus the greater of $50 or 5%, which is stricter than most buyers expect.

Side by side

Dimension	APMEX	JM Bullion
Buy minimum	None	None (bank wire has a $500 minimum)
Payment discount	~4% for check/eCheck/wire; card, PayPal, and crypto pay full price	~4% for check/eCheck/wire, 3% for crypto; card and PayPal pay full price
Catalog breadth	Very broad, includes numismatics and graded rare coins	Standard bullion: sovereign coins, generic rounds, and bars
Storage option	Allocated via Citadel at Brink’s, 0.55%/yr, segregated in your name	Via TDS Vaults, an affiliate under parent A-Mark; not an independent program
Buyback terms/timing	$1,000 minimum; payment ~2 business days after authentication	$1,000 minimum; page states inconsistent timing (3 to 7 vs 10-plus business days)
Notable record	High absolute BBB complaint volume over 3 years (read against large order volume); strict cancellation	2020 Magecart data breach; resolved via class-action settlement

Two table cells carry a caution noted in the ledger. APMEX’s BBB complaint count is a raw total that should be read against its order volume, not in isolation. JM Bullion’s buyback timing is stated two different ways on its own Sell to Us page, so treat the payout window as unconfirmed until you get it in writing.

Who should pick which

Choose APMEX if selection matters, if you want the metal vaulted rather than shipped, or if a defined buyback timeline is worth more to you than the last fraction of a percent on premium. Pay by wire or check, and do not lock an order you might cancel.

Choose JM Bullion if you are buying common bullion, want the lowest premium, and will pay by check, eCheck, or wire to capture the discount. Weigh the 2020 breach for yourself. It is settled, the company disclosed it and has continued to operate, and card data today runs through a payment processor rather than being held by the retailer. Even so, if you pay by card, factor both the 4% you forgo and the site’s own security history.

Bottom line

These two are close on the mechanics that matter most to a bullion buyer: no minimum to start, a roughly 4% check-versus-card gap, and a $1,000 buyback floor. They separate on breadth and record. APMEX is the more complete self-serve operation, with a deeper catalog, real allocated storage, and a clear buyback clock, offset by strict cancellation terms. JM Bullion is the leaner low-premium option, with an affiliate-run storage arrangement, a buyback page that contradicts itself on timing, and a 2020 breach in its history. Match the pick to how you pay and what you buy, and read each company’s payment, buyback, and storage pages before you order.