The price of gold reached record highs in 2025, driven by global economic uncertainty stemming from shifting US trade policy and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
For many investors, gold is a tool for diversification. The precious metal is known for its ability to act as a safe haven and hence operates as a protective option when building a balanced portfolio.
Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) give investors a relatively easy way to get exposure to physical gold without having to worry about the extra hassle of buying and storing the metal — not to mention insuring it. Gold ETFs can also track a basket of gold-focused stocks, allowing investors to spread risk instead of betting on individual companies.
Below the Investing News Network has listed the five ASX gold ETFs and exchange-traded products (ETPs) that provide exposure to physical gold, and the two ASX gold ETFs that offer exposure to gold companies. These exchange-traded products are listed by assets under management, and data was retrieved from each company’s website on June 23, 2025.
1. VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX:GDX)
Total assets under management: AU$16.1 billion
Unit price: AU$52.47
The VanEck Gold Miners ETF provides investors with exposure to the largest global gold producers and royalty companies involved in the precious metals space.
Its top holdings include Newmont (ASX:NEM,TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM,NGT:CA) with a weighting of 12.67 percent, Agnico Eagle (NYSE:AEM,AEM:CA) with 11.96 percent and Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM) with 7.91 percent.
This ETF also offers exposure to Australian gold miners, with just over 11 percent of its holdings allocated to Australian gold operators, including Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST,OTC Pink:NESRF) with a weight of 3.67 percent and Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN) with 1.94 percent.
GDX provides a yearly dividend, with its most recent paid out at AU$0.4025 per share on December 23, 2024. The ETF has a management fee of 0.5 percent.
2. Global X Physical Gold (ASX:GOLD)
Total assets under management: AU$4.72 billion
Unit price: AU$47.84
Previously known as ETFS Physical Gold, Global X Physical Gold is an ETP that promises a “low-cost and secure way to access physical gold via the stock exchange,” while avoiding the struggle of storage.
The entity is backed by gold held in a London vault by JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM). Investors can redeem shares for physical gold, not just the cash equivalent; however, this comes with a fee of AU$1,000 per redemption. Global X's website suggests that for smaller orders, a more cost-effective option is selling units on the secondary market.
This ETP has a management fee of 0.4 percent.
3. Perth Mint Gold Structured Product (ASX:PMGOLD)
Total assets under management: AU$1.5 billion
Unit price: AU$52.10
Owned by the Western Australian government, Perth Mint Gold Structured Product is an ETP that tracks the international price of gold in Australian dollars. Investments are backed by gold bullion stored in the Perth Mint. Perth Mint Gold is the only gold product on the ASX that maintains a government guarantee for holdings.
This ETF has a management fee of just 0.15 percent, making it the lowest-cost physical gold ETF on the ASX.
4. BetaShares Gold Bullion ETF (ASX:QAU)
Total assets under management: AU$1.1 billion
Unit price: AU$27.46
The BetaShares Gold Bullion ETF tracks the price of physical gold. It is backed by gold bullion stored by JPMorgan Chase in London. Although the ETF is based on physical gold, you do not own physical gold by owning the ETF. Rather, when you sell shares of your ETF, you receive the cash equivalent of the gold.
This ETF has a management fee of 0.59 percent.
5. iShares Physical Gold ETF (ASX:GLDN)
Total assets under management: AU$257.92 million
Unit price: AU$41.47
Established in October 2023, iShares Physical Gold ETF was designed to provide investors with exposure to the spot price of gold without the need for physical storage of personal gold holdings.
Like many gold-based ETFs, this product is considered high risk and is intended for investors who are looking to maintain their investment for more than five years. Since its inception, GLDN has benefitted from the relative strength in the gold market and has provided investors with a 35.62 percent return.
iShares Physical Gold ETF's management fees are among the lowest on this list at 0.18 percent.
6. VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX:NUGG)
Total assets under management: AU$148.02 million
Unit price: AU$51.72
Established in December 2022, the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF allows investors exposure to the gold market without the need to purchase physical gold. It is backed by physical gold bullion bars sourced from Australian gold producers.
This ETF has a management fee of 0.25 percent and since its inception has returned 30.04 percent.
7. Betashares Global Gold Miners ETF (ASX:MNRS)
Total assets under management: AU$102.1 million
Unit price: AU$9.24
The Betashares Global Gold Miners ETF allows Australian investors to add a diverse range of global companies in the gold mining space to their portfolio by focusing on the biggest ex-Australia precious metals companies.
Its top holdings include Newmont with a weight of 8.2 percent, Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) with 8.1 percent and royalty company Wheaton Precious Metals with 7.7 percent.
This ETF has a management fee of 0.57 percent.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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