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E-Gold Vs Gold ETFs- Which is a Better Option?

Updated on April 24, 2025 , 29884 views

E-Gold Vs Gold ETFs? Which is a better Gold Investment option? Which avenue has a higher yield? These are some of the common questions often asked by an investor wanting to invest in these non-physical form of gold. Well, both the forms are unique in trading with each having its own benefits in essential parameters like returns, taxation, holding period, etc. Therefore, we will see how both- Gold ETFs and E-Gold differ from each other and which form makes a better gold investment option!

e-gold-vs-gold-etfs

E- Gold

E-Gold is a unique gold investment product launched by the National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL). This product enables investors to Buy Gold in an electronic form on the NSE’s trading platform and the gold bought by you will reflect in your Demat account.

E-Gold is one such investment that allows investors to buy gold in a smaller denomination, such as 1gm, 2gm, 3gm, etc. The gold units that you would buy here will be credited to your Demat account in T+2 days. Similarly, for instance, if you have sold today, the same will debited from your Demat account in 2 days (from the date of sale).

E-gold is less expensive compared to gold ETFs as the latter is exposed to various charges like asset management fees, security service fees, etc. To know the current value of your investment in gold ETFs, you have to track the NAV of that fund but in the case of e-gold, the value is that of the prevailing gold price.

Gold ETFs

Gold ETFs has become one of the most popular modes of gold investments. Gold ETFs are also the Underlying of open-ended Gold Mutual Funds that help you to invest your money in gold. The underlying gold purity is 99.5%. Gold ETFs are also known as paper gold. These are listed and traded on major stock exchanges and investors are assigned units where each unit usually represents one gram of gold.

In gold ETFs, investors can trade in their existing Demat account. Gold ETFs offers investors a secure way to access the gold Market. They also provide the benefit of liquidity as it can be traded at any time during the trading period.

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E-Gold Vs Gold ETFs: Know the Key Differences

Trading Time

Gold ETFs can be traded only between 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays. Whereas, e-gold can be traded from 10:00 am to 11:30 pm on weekdays.

Conversion to Physical Form

Both the forms can be converted into physical gold, but the minimum quantity for each varies. The minimum quantity for e-gold is 8 grams, while, in gold-ETF, one can convert only when it exceeds a certain size of 500gm to 1Kg.

E-Gold is the Most Cost

Efficient form and is able to trace gold prices more closely than gold ETFs. However, e-gold loses out to gold ETFs when it comes to taxation.

But, now, when you know the key difference between these two forms, invest in an avenue that offers secure investment with better returns!

Parameters Gold ETFs E-Gold
Separate Demat Account No Yes
Holdings Owned by AMCs Yes
Conversion to Physical Gold Minimum 0.5-1 kg Investors directly hold gold units in demat account
Short Term Capital Gains Less than 1 year- 20% tax on returns Less than 3 years- 20% tax on returns
Long Term Capital Gains After 1 year- 10% tax returns After 3 years- 10% tax on returns
Recurring Expenses 0.40% 1%
Returns Highest at it's the most cost-effective Slightly lower than gold ETF
Pricing Linked to International Gold Price Linked to Indian Gold Price
Convert to Jewelry Not available Available with selected Jewellers

Best Gold ETFs to Invest 2025

Some of the best underlying Gold ETFs to Invest are as follows:

1. IDBI Gold Fund

The investment objective of the Scheme will be to generate returns that correspond closely to the returns generated by IDBI Gold Exchange Traded Fund (IDBI GOLD ETF).

IDBI Gold Fund is a Gold - Gold fund was launched on 14 Aug 12. It is a fund with Moderately High risk and has given a CAGR/Annualized return of 7.6% since its launch.  Return for 2024 was 18.7% , 2023 was 14.8% and 2022 was 12% .

Below is the key information for IDBI Gold Fund

IDBI Gold Fund
Growth
Launch Date 14 Aug 12
NAV (25 Apr 25) ₹25.2353 ↑ 0.02   (0.08 %)
Net Assets (Cr) ₹104 on 31 Mar 25
Category Gold - Gold
AMC IDBI Asset Management Limited
Rating Not Rated
Risk Moderately High
Expense Ratio 0.65
Sharpe Ratio 1.62
Information Ratio 0
Alpha Ratio 0
Min Investment 5,000
Min SIP Investment 500
Exit Load 0-12 Months (1%),12 Months and above(NIL)

Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.

DateValue
31 Mar 20₹10,000
31 Mar 21₹10,000
31 Mar 22₹11,326
31 Mar 23₹13,151
31 Mar 24₹14,541
31 Mar 25₹19,184

IDBI Gold Fund SIP Returns

   
My Monthly Investment:
Investment Tenure:
Years
Expected Annual Returns:
%
Total investment amount is ₹300,000
expected amount after 5 Years is ₹426,080.
Net Profit of ₹126,080
Invest Now

Returns for IDBI Gold Fund

Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 25 Apr 25

DurationReturns
1 Month 9.5%
3 Month 18.2%
6 Month 22.9%
1 Year 31.9%
3 Year 21.4%
5 Year 13.6%
10 Year
15 Year
Since launch 7.6%
Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
YearReturns
2024 18.7%
2023 14.8%
2022 12%
2021 -4%
2020 24.2%
2019 21.6%
2018 5.8%
2017 1.4%
2016 8.3%
2015 -8.7%
Fund Manager information for IDBI Gold Fund
NameSinceTenure
Sumit Bhatnagar1 Jun 240.75 Yr.

Data below for IDBI Gold Fund as on 31 Mar 25

Asset Allocation
Asset ClassValue
Cash1.33%
Other98.67%
Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
NameHoldingValueQuantity
LIC MF Gold ETF
- | -
99%₹92 Cr119,347
↑ 12,271
Treps
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -
1%₹1 Cr
Net Receivables / (Payables)
Net Current Assets | -
1%-₹1 Cr

2. Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund

An Open ended Fund of Funds Scheme with the investment objective to provide returns that tracks returns provided by Birla Sun Life Gold ETF (BSL Gold ETF).

Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund is a Gold - Gold fund was launched on 20 Mar 12. It is a fund with Moderately High risk and has given a CAGR/Annualized return of 8.2% since its launch.  Return for 2024 was 18.7% , 2023 was 14.5% and 2022 was 12.3% .

Below is the key information for Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund

Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund
Growth
Launch Date 20 Mar 12
NAV (25 Apr 25) ₹28.0678 ↓ -0.11   (-0.40 %)
Net Assets (Cr) ₹555 on 31 Mar 25
Category Gold - Gold
AMC Birla Sun Life Asset Management Co Ltd
Rating
Risk Moderately High
Expense Ratio 0.51
Sharpe Ratio 1.65
Information Ratio 0
Alpha Ratio 0
Min Investment 100
Min SIP Investment 100
Exit Load 0-365 Days (1%),365 Days and above(NIL)

Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.

DateValue
31 Mar 20₹10,000
31 Mar 21₹9,940
31 Mar 22₹11,371
31 Mar 23₹13,025
31 Mar 24₹14,416
31 Mar 25₹18,985

Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund SIP Returns

   
My Monthly Investment:
Investment Tenure:
Years
Expected Annual Returns:
%
Total investment amount is ₹300,000
expected amount after 5 Years is ₹426,080.
Net Profit of ₹126,080
Invest Now

Returns for Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund

Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 25 Apr 25

DurationReturns
1 Month 9.1%
3 Month 17.9%
6 Month 22.2%
1 Year 31.7%
3 Year 21.1%
5 Year 13.1%
10 Year
15 Year
Since launch 8.2%
Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
YearReturns
2024 18.7%
2023 14.5%
2022 12.3%
2021 -5%
2020 26%
2019 21.3%
2018 6.8%
2017 1.6%
2016 11.5%
2015 -7.2%
Fund Manager information for Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund
NameSinceTenure
Priya Sridhar31 Dec 240.16 Yr.

Data below for Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund as on 31 Mar 25

Asset Allocation
Asset ClassValue
Cash1.87%
Other98.13%
Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
NameHoldingValueQuantity
Aditya BSL Gold ETF
- | -
100%₹511 Cr67,773,270
↑ 3,265,683
Clearing Corporation Of India Limited
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -
1%₹3 Cr
Net Receivables / (Payables)
Net Current Assets | -
0%-₹2 Cr

3. Kotak Gold Fund

The investment objective of the scheme is to generate returns by investing in units of Kotak Gold Exchange Traded Fund.

Kotak Gold Fund is a Gold - Gold fund was launched on 25 Mar 11. It is a fund with Moderately High risk and has given a CAGR/Annualized return of 9.8% since its launch.  Return for 2024 was 18.9% , 2023 was 13.9% and 2022 was 11.7% .

Below is the key information for Kotak Gold Fund

Kotak Gold Fund
Growth
Launch Date 25 Mar 11
NAV (25 Apr 25) ₹37.1718 ↓ -0.20   (-0.53 %)
Net Assets (Cr) ₹2,835 on 31 Mar 25
Category Gold - Gold
AMC Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co Ltd
Rating
Risk Moderately High
Expense Ratio 0.5
Sharpe Ratio 1.57
Information Ratio 0
Alpha Ratio 0
Min Investment 5,000
Min SIP Investment 1,000
Exit Load 0-6 Months (2%),6-12 Months (1%),12 Months and above(NIL)

Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.

DateValue
31 Mar 20₹10,000
31 Mar 21₹10,059
31 Mar 22₹11,509
31 Mar 23₹13,122
31 Mar 24₹14,508
31 Mar 25₹18,984

Kotak Gold Fund SIP Returns

   
My Monthly Investment:
Investment Tenure:
Years
Expected Annual Returns:
%
Total investment amount is ₹300,000
expected amount after 5 Years is ₹415,684.
Net Profit of ₹115,684
Invest Now

Returns for Kotak Gold Fund

Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 25 Apr 25

DurationReturns
1 Month 9.3%
3 Month 18.1%
6 Month 22.2%
1 Year 31.3%
3 Year 20.5%
5 Year 13%
10 Year
15 Year
Since launch 9.8%
Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
YearReturns
2024 18.9%
2023 13.9%
2022 11.7%
2021 -4.7%
2020 26.6%
2019 24.1%
2018 7.3%
2017 2.5%
2016 10.2%
2015 -8.4%
Fund Manager information for Kotak Gold Fund
NameSinceTenure
Abhishek Bisen25 Mar 1114.03 Yr.
Jeetu Sonar1 Oct 222.5 Yr.

Data below for Kotak Gold Fund as on 31 Mar 25

Asset Allocation
Asset ClassValue
Cash2.27%
Equity0.23%
Other97.5%
Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
NameHoldingValueQuantity
Kotak Gold ETF
- | -
100%₹2,647 Cr370,486,639
↑ 9,910,421
Triparty Repo
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -
1%₹16 Cr
Net Current Assets/(Liabilities)
Net Current Assets | -
0%-₹9 Cr

4. SBI Gold Fund

The scheme seeks to provide returns that closely correspond to returns provided by SBI - ETF Gold (Previously known as SBI GETS).

SBI Gold Fund is a Gold - Gold fund was launched on 12 Sep 11. It is a fund with Moderately High risk and has given a CAGR/Annualized return of 7.9% since its launch.  Return for 2024 was 19.6% , 2023 was 14.1% and 2022 was 12.6% .

Below is the key information for SBI Gold Fund

SBI Gold Fund
Growth
Launch Date 12 Sep 11
NAV (25 Apr 25) ₹28.2586 ↓ -0.15   (-0.53 %)
Net Assets (Cr) ₹3,582 on 31 Mar 25
Category Gold - Gold
AMC SBI Funds Management Private Limited
Rating
Risk Moderately High
Expense Ratio 0.29
Sharpe Ratio 1.59
Information Ratio 0
Alpha Ratio 0
Min Investment 5,000
Min SIP Investment 500
Exit Load 0-1 Years (1%),1 Years and above(NIL)

Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.

DateValue
31 Mar 20₹10,000
31 Mar 21₹9,722
31 Mar 22₹11,159
31 Mar 23₹12,913
31 Mar 24₹14,265
31 Mar 25₹18,680

SBI Gold Fund SIP Returns

   
My Monthly Investment:
Investment Tenure:
Years
Expected Annual Returns:
%
Total investment amount is ₹300,000
expected amount after 5 Years is ₹426,080.
Net Profit of ₹126,080
Invest Now

Returns for SBI Gold Fund

Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 25 Apr 25

DurationReturns
1 Month 9.2%
3 Month 18.2%
6 Month 22.2%
1 Year 31.1%
3 Year 21%
5 Year 13.1%
10 Year
15 Year
Since launch 7.9%
Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
YearReturns
2024 19.6%
2023 14.1%
2022 12.6%
2021 -5.7%
2020 27.4%
2019 22.8%
2018 6.4%
2017 3.5%
2016 10%
2015 -8.1%
Fund Manager information for SBI Gold Fund
NameSinceTenure
Raj gandhi1 Jan 1312.17 Yr.

Data below for SBI Gold Fund as on 31 Mar 25

Asset Allocation
Asset ClassValue
Cash1.34%
Other98.66%
Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
NameHoldingValueQuantity
SBI Gold ETF
- | -
100%₹3,232 Cr439,902,410
↑ 29,358,199
Net Receivable / Payable
CBLO | -
1%-₹27 Cr
Treps
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -
1%₹20 Cr

5. Invesco India Gold Fund

To provide returns that closely corresponds to returns provided by Invesco India Gold Exchange Traded Fund.

Invesco India Gold Fund is a Gold - Gold fund was launched on 5 Dec 11. It is a fund with Moderately High risk and has given a CAGR/Annualized return of 7.8% since its launch.  Return for 2024 was 18.8% , 2023 was 14.5% and 2022 was 12.8% .

Below is the key information for Invesco India Gold Fund

Invesco India Gold Fund
Growth
Launch Date 5 Dec 11
NAV (25 Apr 25) ₹27.3305 ↓ -0.21   (-0.76 %)
Net Assets (Cr) ₹142 on 31 Mar 25
Category Gold - Gold
AMC Invesco Asset Management (India) Private Ltd
Rating
Risk Moderately High
Expense Ratio 0.45
Sharpe Ratio 1.6
Information Ratio 0
Alpha Ratio 0
Min Investment 5,000
Min SIP Investment 500
Exit Load 0-6 Months (2%),6-12 Months (1%),12 Months and above(NIL)

Growth of 10,000 investment over the years.

DateValue
31 Mar 20₹10,000
31 Mar 21₹10,219
31 Mar 22₹11,561
31 Mar 23₹13,495
31 Mar 24₹14,930
31 Mar 25₹19,501

Invesco India Gold Fund SIP Returns

   
My Monthly Investment:
Investment Tenure:
Years
Expected Annual Returns:
%
Total investment amount is ₹300,000
expected amount after 5 Years is ₹426,080.
Net Profit of ₹126,080
Invest Now

Returns for Invesco India Gold Fund

Returns up to 1 year are on absolute basis & more than 1 year are on CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) basis. as on 25 Apr 25

DurationReturns
1 Month 9%
3 Month 17.3%
6 Month 21.9%
1 Year 31%
3 Year 20.6%
5 Year 13.7%
10 Year
15 Year
Since launch 7.8%
Historical performance (Yearly) on absolute basis
YearReturns
2024 18.8%
2023 14.5%
2022 12.8%
2021 -5.5%
2020 27.2%
2019 21.4%
2018 6.6%
2017 1.3%
2016 21.6%
2015 -15.1%
Fund Manager information for Invesco India Gold Fund
NameSinceTenure
Krishna Cheemalapati1 Mar 250 Yr.

Data below for Invesco India Gold Fund as on 31 Mar 25

Asset Allocation
Asset ClassValue
Cash3.81%
Other96.19%
Top Securities Holdings / Portfolio
NameHoldingValueQuantity
Invesco India Gold ETF
- | -
98%₹124 Cr166,343
↑ 11,350
Triparty Repo
CBLO/Reverse Repo | -
3%₹4 Cr
Net Receivables / (Payables)
Net Current Assets | -
1%-₹1 Cr

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Disclaimer:
All efforts have been made to ensure the information provided here is accurate. However, no guarantees are made regarding correctness of data. Please verify with scheme information document before making any investment.
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