Best Silver ETFs To Buy In 2026

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Best Silver ETFs To Buy In 2026:

iShares Silver Trust (SLV) - expense ratio of about 0.50% per year
Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) - expense ratio of approximately 0.65% per year
ETFMG Prime Junior Silver Miners (SILJ) - expense ratio of approximately 0.69%
The abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR) - expense ratio of approximately 0.30%
ProShares UltraShort Silver (ZSL) - expense ratio is about 0.95%

Silver ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) are funds that invest in silver and are traded on an exchange. They are a convenient way for investors to access silver and silver prices without having to physically store the metal. Traders Union experts explain how silver ETFs work, their main advantages and disadvantages, and provide a step-by-step

Top 8 silver ETFs to invest in

Traders Union specialists have selected the best silver ETFs to invest in.

iShares Silver Trust (SLV)

The fund was launched on April 21, 2006 and has since become one of the most popular investment vehicles. SLV invests in physical silver stored in vaults. The fund has an expense ratio of about 0.50% per year, which means that for every $100 invested in the fund, the investor must pay approximately $0.50 per year in commissions and other expenses. That's a very low rate for the industry. The iShares Silver Trust does not pay dividends because its primary asset is physical silver, and the fund's income depends on changes in the price of silver on the market.

Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL)

The fund was established on April 19, 2010. It provides investors with the opportunity to gain exposure to silver mining operations around the world. SIL invests in the equities of companies that focus on the exploration and development of silver ore deposits. SIL includes holdings of large and mid-sized corporations in the global silver mining market as well as some smaller players in the industry that focus on regional markets. The SIL fund has an expense ratio of approximately 0.65% per year. Important: The fund's portfolio includes stocks, not physical silver itself.

ETFMG Prime Junior Silver Miners (SILJ)

The exchange-traded fund, also called the Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF, was founded in 2012 and is one of the most popular ETFs targeting small and mid-sized silver mining companies. It includes both companies that specialize exclusively in silver and those for which silver is one of several metals they mine. The ETF has a relatively low expense ratio of approximately 0.69%. Because SILJ focuses on companies in the small to mid-sized segment, it is more volatile and riskier than funds containing larger companies.

The abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR)

The Aberdeen Standard Physical Silver Shares ETF is another ETF designed to invest in silver. SIVR was launched on July 24, 2009. SIVR is a direct way to invest in silver stored in specially equipped vaults. It provides transparency and ease of asset ownership for investors who prefer to have direct physical cover for their investments. The abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF has an expense ratio of approximately 0.30%, minimum. Since SIVR is focused on physical silver holdings, its dividend yield is zero.

ProShares UltraShort Silver (ZSL)

The fund was established in 2008. It is managed by ProShares, a firm specializing in the creation and management of funds focused on trading using short-term strategies and leveraged instruments. The fund's assets include derivatives, futures, options and other instruments. Overall, ProShares UltraShort Silver is designed for those investors who are interested in quick speculation in the silver market. It is a fund, as the name implies, with ultra-short-term positions aimed at achieving double the return from daily changes in the price of silver, meaning its performance is different from that of silver as a commodity.

GraniteShares Silver Trust (SIL)

The fund was established on April 15, 2017. SIL has an expense ratio of approximately 0.50%. The assets managed by GraniteShares Silver Trust include silver held in vaults. This means that the fund does not invest in stocks of silver-related companies, but instead owns the metal itself. This fund should not be confused with the Global X Silver Miners ETF, which has the same token label, SIL. They are two different unique tokens (it happens). GraniteShares SIL invests in physical silver, while Global X SIL focuses on silver mining companies.

ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ)

ProShares Ultra Silver is a progressive ETF that focuses on twice the daily movement in the price of silver rather than simply physically owning the metal, so it doesn't have assets under management in the traditional sense. The fund uses financial derivatives, such as futures or options, and financial leverage to magnify the impact of silver price changes on its own price. If the price of silver increases by 1%, the price of the AGQ ETF increases by about 2% (at least that's how it is declared). The fund's inception date is December 20, 2008. AGQ's expense ratio is about 0.95%.

The Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV)

A fund designed to invest in physical silver, launched in April 2010. The expense ratio for PSLV is typically around 0.45% per annum. PSLV has good trading volume on exchanges, which provides investors with liquidity when buying and selling shares in the fund. According to the latest data, the fund has more than $1 billion in assets under management. There is currently a surge in investment interest in PSLV for many reasons. The fund physically holds silver in vaults, allowing investors to avoid the complexities and costs associated with actually storing the metal.

Silver ETFs in comparison
Name	Inception Date	Expense Ratio	Annual Dividend Yield	Performance Over One Year	Assets Under Management
iShares Silver Trust (SLV)	2006	0.50	0.00	4.69%	Physical silver
Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL)	2010	0.65	0.54%	2.15 %	Stocks
ETFMG Prime Junior Silver Miners (SILJ)	2012	0.69	0.01%	2.40%	Stocks
The abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR)	2009	0.30	0.00	5.52%	Physical silver
ProShares UltraShort Silver (ZSL)	2008	0.95	0.00	1.98%	Futures, options, derivatives
GraniteShares Silver Trust (SIL)	2017	0.50	0.00	4.87%	Physical silver
ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ)	2008	0.95	0.00	4.67%	Futures, options, derivatives
The Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV)	2010	0.45	0.00	4.22%	Physical silver

Best brokers to buy silver ETF

TU's broker review will help you decide which silver ETFs to invest in.

Best brokers to buy silver ETF
	Max. Regulation Level	Min. deposit, $	Max. leverage	Currency pairs	TU overall score	Open an account
ZForex	Not regulated	10	1:1000	50	7.89	Go to broker Your capital is at risk.
Plus500	Tier-1	100	1:300	60	7.54	Go to broker 80% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
OANDA	Tier-1		1:200	68	6.85	Go to broker Your capital is at risk.
FOREX.com	Tier-1	100	1:50	80	6.82	Study review
IG Markets	Tier-1	1	1:200	80	6.78	Study review
Interactive Brokers	Tier-1		1:30	100	6.77	Study review

What is a silver ETF?

LoAn ETF, or Exchange-Traded Fund ("exchange-traded fund"), is an investment fund that is sold and bought on an exchange like regular stock. It pools assets from various investors and invests them in specific assets such as stocks, bonds or, in this case, silver. Unlike physically buying and storing the precious metal, silver ETFs allow investors to easily trade on the exchange and give them access to the silver market without having to physically buy and store it.rem

There are two main types of silver ETFs. The first is funds that are fully backed by physical silver. The fund manager buys real silver on the market. This is usually done through a trusted supplier, which can be a bank or a specialized vault for precious metals. Once the silver is purchased, it is stored in a vault, which may be in Switzerland, for example, or other countries with high security standards. This ensures that the physical assets of the fund are safe and protected.

Then such a fund issues ETF shares that represent ownership interests in that silver. The number of ETF shares is usually proportional to the amount of silver purchased by the fund. Silver ETF shares are traded on an exchange on behalf of investors. When investors buy or sell ETF shares, they exchange shares of silver held in the fund's portfolio. In this way, silver ETF assets are built through the purchase and storage of physical silver, which is then used to issue ETF shares available for trading on an exchange.

The second type are funds that invest in silver futures rather than holding the physical metal. The fund manager invests in silver futures according to the fund's investment strategy. In both cases, investors can purchase silver ETF shares on the exchange just like regular stocks. Most silver ETFs track a specific index of the price of silver or its futures, such as the price of silver on the London Metal Exchange (LME). Investors can sell their ETF shares on the exchange at any time at the current market price, providing high liquidity.

Are silver ETFs right for you?

Investing in silver ETFs can be a tempting choice for many investors, but as with any financial instrument, it has pros as well as cons. TU professionals review the main advantages and disadvantages of silver ETFs.

Diversification. Investing in silver ETFs is a good way to diversify your portfolio and protect it from market fluctuations by including precious metals.
Liquidity. Silver ETFs typically have high liquidity, which means investors can easily buy and sell their shares on the exchange at the current market price without significantly affecting that price.
Transparency. Most silver ETFs provide transparency about the composition of their portfolio, allowing investors to track exactly which silver assets are in the fund. Active portfolio management is typically practiced.
Access without a physical purchase. Silver ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to changes in the price of silver without having to physically purchase and hold the metal. This is convenient and saves time and effort. Inflation protection. Silver is often seen as a good hedge against inflation. During periods of high inflation, the price of silver usually rises, helping to maintain purchasing power.
Price stability. Unlike some other assets, the price of silver may be more stable or have a lower correlation to other assets such as stocks or bonds. This reduces the overall risk of the portfolio.

Transaction costs and commissions. Investing in silver ETFs may include certain transaction costs and commissions associated with trading on the exchange and managing the fund, which reduce the overall return on investment.
Volatility. Silver can be quite volatile, causing the ETF's share price to fluctuate. This creates risk for investors who are not prepared for short-term market fluctuations.
Currency risk. If the Silver ETF is traded in a currency other than the investor's currency, there is currency fluctuation risk that affects the overall return on the investment.
Dependence on industrial demand. Because silver has a wide range of industrial uses, the price of the metal may be affected by changes in industrial demand. During periods of economic instability, this is an additional risk factor.
Operational risks. Silver ETFs carry operational risks associated with managing the fund, storing silver and trading on the exchange. For example, improper storage of the metal or liquidity problems on the exchange reduce the ETF's share price.

Given all these factors, investors should carefully weigh the pros and cons of investing in silver ETFs and make an informed decision according to their goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.

How to buy a silver ETF?

TU experts present step-by-step instructions on how to purchase a silver ETF.

Step 1: Open an account with a broker

The first step is to open an account with a broker that provides access to ETF trading on an exchange. You should make sure that the broker you choose supports ETF trading and offers access to international exchanges where silver ETFs are traded.

Step 2: Research and Select Silver ETFs

You need to research and select a specific silver ETF, verifying that it has sufficient liquidity, low commissions, and matches the investor's risk level, goals and strategy

Step 3: Calculate the quantity of shares to purchase

Next, the investor needs to decide how many shares of the silver ETF he or she wants to purchase. This may depend on the available capital to invest, risk profile and intentions.

Step 4: Place a buy order

Log in to your broker account and find the ETF trading section. Then enter the silver ETF symbol (usually a ticker symbol, e.g. "SLV" for iShares Silver Trust) and specify the number of shares the investor plans to buy. Select the order type (market, limit, etc.) and submit the buy order.

Step 5: Confirm the purchase

Once the buy order has been sent, the trader will be provided with a confirmation of the transaction. It is imperative to make sure that all the details are correct and only then confirm the transaction.

Step 6: Wait for the order to be executed

Once the buy order has been confirmed, you need to wait for the trade to be executed. This usually takes place within a few seconds or minutes, especially if a market order is selected.

Step 7: Check the account

Once the order has been executed, it is worth checking the account with the broker to make sure that the silver ETF shares have appeared in the portfolio. The buyer now owns a share in a fund that invests in silver.

Important to stay abreast of macroeconomic events

In the case of silver, it is particularly important to stay abreast of macroeconomic events, the geopolitical environment and changes in the financial markets, as these factors have a direct impact on the price of silver and silver ETFs. The state of industrial demand and investment interest plays a large role in shaping the prices of such metals. Tracking news, industry changes, and analyst reports should all become a daily ritual for the silver investor.

Conclusion

Investing in silver ETFs offers a flexible, liquid, and cost-effective way to gain exposure to the silver market without the complexities of physically owning the metal. Whether you opt for funds backed by physical silver like iShares Silver Trust (SLV) or Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV), or choose ETFs focused on silver mining equities such as Global X Silver Miners (SIL), each approach comes with its own risk and reward profile. The key is to align your choice of ETF with your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and desired exposure—be it stable long-term holding or leveraging short-term price movements. Ultimately, staying informed about global macroeconomic trends and the silver market is crucial, as these dynamics directly impact your investment. For those seeking diversification and inflation protection, silver ETFs present a compelling option in a modern portfolio.

FAQs

What are the key differences between physical silver ETFs and silver miner ETFs?

Physical silver ETFs invest directly in silver bullion, holding the metal in secure vaults, and their share prices directly reflect silver's market price. Silver miner ETFs, on the other hand, invest in stocks of companies involved in silver mining and related activities. The performance of miner ETFs is influenced by both the price of silver and company-specific factors such as management, production costs, and overall mining sector performance.

How do leveraged and inverse silver ETFs work compared to standard silver ETFs?

Leveraged silver ETFs aim to amplify the daily price movements of silver, often targeting a multiple of the asset's moves, through the use of derivatives like futures and options. Inverse silver ETFs are designed to move in the opposite direction of silver prices, allowing investors to potentially profit when prices fall. Both types carry higher volatility and risk compared to standard silver ETFs, which simply track the price of silver or silver-related assets.

What factors can affect the price movement of silver ETFs?

Silver ETF prices are influenced by fluctuations in the global price of silver, which is affected by macroeconomic events, inflation, changes in industrial demand, geopolitical developments, and trends in the financial markets. Currency fluctuations and operational factors within the ETF, such as fund management and storage, can also impact returns.

Are dividends paid by all silver ETFs, or only certain types?

Not all silver ETFs pay dividends. Physical silver ETFs typically do not pay dividends because they hold the metal itself, which does not generate income. Some ETFs that invest in silver mining companies may pay dividends if the underlying companies distribute earnings to shareholders. Investors should review the specific ETF structure to determine its dividend policy.

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Team that worked on the article

Oleg Tkachenko is an economic analyst and risk manager having more than 14 years of experience in working with systemically important banks, investment companies, and analytical platforms. He has been a Traders Union analyst since 2018.

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Dr. BJ Johnson is a PhD in English Language and an editor with over 15 years of experience. He earned his degree in English Language in the U.S and the UK.

Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets.

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