Compare Gold vs Other Assets
Interactive performance comparisons using Federal Reserve Economic Data. Explore how gold performs relative to stocks, bonds, and other major asset classes.
Why Compare Gold to Other Assets?
Gold is often called the ultimate portfolio diversifier, but that only matters in context. How does gold actually perform compared to stocks during a recession? Does it beat bonds during inflation? Is Bitcoin really "digital gold"? These comparisons use real data to answer those questions — not opinions, not predictions, but historical performance across multiple time horizons.
Whether you are deciding between a gold ETF and an index fund, or weighing physical gold bars against real estate, understanding relative performance helps you allocate capital with confidence. Use our daily verdict for timing, and these comparisons for strategy.
Interactive Charts
These comparisons feature interactive charts powered by Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED), showing normalized performance across 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year windows.
Gold vs S&P 500
Compare gold's performance against the S&P 500 index across multiple time periods.
Gold vs Bonds
See how gold stacks up against 10-Year Treasury bonds as a safe-haven asset.
Gold vs S&P 500 vs Bonds
Three-way comparison of gold, equities, and bonds — the classic portfolio triangle.
All Gold Comparisons
In-depth investment comparisons covering pros, cons, FAQs, and performance data for gold versus 11 alternative asset classes — from precious metals to crypto to collectibles.
Precious Metals
Gold vs Silver
Gold's closest cousin — cheaper entry, higher volatility, and significant industrial demand from electronics and solar panels.
View comparison →Crypto
Gold vs Bitcoin
The "digital gold" debate — comparing the oldest store of value with the newest. Dramatically different volatility profiles.
View comparison →Real Assets
Gold vs Real Estate
Rental income vs inflation hedge — two tangible assets with very different liquidity, leverage, and cash flow characteristics.
View comparison →Precious Metals
Gold vs Platinum
Rarer than gold but cheaper — platinum's industrial demand makes it more cyclical and correlated with economic growth.
View comparison →Equities
Gold vs Index Funds
Passive equity investing vs precious metals — comparing compounding returns with safe-haven protection.
View comparison →Fixed Income
Gold vs Bonds
Treasury bonds and gold both serve as safe havens, but they behave differently during inflation and rate cycles.
View comparison →Crypto
Gold vs Crypto
Beyond Bitcoin — how the broader cryptocurrency market compares to gold as a speculative and hedge asset.
View comparison →Fixed Income
Gold vs Cash & Savings
FDIC-insured savings vs gold — when does inflation make cash a losing proposition?
View comparison →Alternative
Gold vs Art
Fine art as an alternative asset — comparing illiquid collectibles with the world's most liquid commodity.
View comparison →Alternative
Gold vs Collectibles
Rare coins, watches, wine — niche alternatives with emotional value but challenging liquidity and valuation.
View comparison →Real Assets
Gold vs Commodities
Oil, agriculture, and metals — how gold compares to the broader commodity complex as an inflation hedge.
View comparison →Also see Gold vs Stocks Today for a live daily performance snapshot using real-time market data.
Our Data & Methodology
Our interactive charts use data from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) API, sourced from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Performance is normalized to a common starting point so you can compare percentage returns across asset classes with different price levels. All returns are total returns where available, and data is updated daily.
The gold-vs-alternative comparison pages combine quantitative data with qualitative analysis — including pros, cons, and frequently asked questions — to help you make informed allocation decisions. For a daily buy/sell signal that synthesizes 11 macro factors into a single recommendation, visit our verdict page.