Practical, honest guides for precious-metals investors: how to track a stack, how spot prices work, gold purity and weight, and how the main ways to track a portfolio compare.
Looking for a straightforward way to track gold, silver, platinum and palladium in one place? This comparison sets out the realistic options for monitoring a physical precious-metals stack in 2026. We look at Hold Gold, a free browser-based tracker, against two honest alternatives many people already use: a do-it-yourself spreadsheet and generic stock-focused investment apps. Each suits a different person, so we explain what each does well, where it falls short, and who it genuinely fits best.
Tracking a precious-metals portfolio means more than knowing how many coins you own. To understand what your stack is really worth, you need to record each holding accurately, value it against current spot prices, and review it over time as markets move. This guide walks through the essentials: what details to capture for each item, how spot price and premium fit together, how to value across multiple metals and currencies, and how to set goals so your tracking actually informs your decisions.
Spot price is one of the most quoted yet most misunderstood numbers in precious metals. It is the reference point for valuing a stack, but it is rarely the price you actually pay or receive. This guide explains what spot price really means, how gold and silver are quoted, why the price you see at a dealer differs from spot, and how to make sense of day-to-day movements without being misled by short-term noise.
Two coins can both weigh an ounce yet contain different amounts of actual gold. That is because purity and weight work together to determine real metal content. If you track or value precious metals, understanding karats, fineness and the troy ounce is essential. This guide explains how purity is expressed, how weight is measured, how to combine the two to find true metal content, and why these details matter when you value your holdings against spot prices.