Comparison

Entrust Self vs GBI Direct

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Entrust Self

Manage your self-directed IRA investments, including alternative assets like real estate and private equity, directly from your mobile device. This app allows existing account holders to fund their accounts, purchase investments, and handle all aspects of their retirement planning on the go.

Highlights
  • Invest in alternative assets
  • Manage IRA contributions and beneficiaries
  • Access online learning center for strategies
  • Fund accounts and purchase investments
  • Submit and manage forms
  • Browse private offerings on Entrust Connect
  • Manage real estate expenses with myDirection Visa
Read full description

SELF-DIRECTED IRA INVESTING STREAMLINED Looking for a way to plan for retirement that suits your needs and expertise? With Entrust, you can do so via a self-directed IRA (SDIRA) that allows you to invest in what you want. With a SDIRA, you’re not limited to stocks, bonds, or other traditional investments. Instead, you can invest in alternative assets such as real estate, private equity, private lending, precious metals, and more. An Entrust Self-Directed IRA allows you to: • Invest - Transfer or rollover your existing IRA or 401(k) to start investing in alternative assets • Manage - Purchase alternative assets, make contributions, set up beneficiaries, and more • Take control - Discover strategies and techniques to help you diversify and grow your retirement savings via our online learning center With our app, you can manage your SDIRA on the go. The Entrust app is currently designed for existing account holders. Don’t have an account yet? Go to theentrustgroup.com/open-a-self-directed-ira to get started. SDIRA INVESTING ON THE GO With the Entrust app, invest with your SDIRA from anywhere. Use it to: • Fund your account • Purchase alternative investments • Complete, edit, and submit necessary forms • Browse private offerings on Entrust Connect • Open additional accounts EASY ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT Managing your SDIRA and investments has never been more convenient: • View and download statements and tax forms • Make payments • Manage beneficiaries • Update personal information • Complete and submit fair market valuations • Take distributions • Give account access to your advisor EFFORTLESS REAL ESTATE ASSET MANAGEMENT Say goodbye to writing checks. Use the myDirection Visa debit card to manage real estate expenses: • Apply for the myDirection card • Add funds to your card • Certify transactions • Add your card to Apple Wallet EXPLORE NEW OFFERINGS Looking for new investment ideas? Consider our online marketplace, Entrust Connect. Use it to find private offerings that other Entrust clients have already invested in. The marketplace is continually updated and includes offerings for almost every interest. SAFE & SECURE Your data security is our priority. The Entrust app meets or exceeds all privacy and security standards set by Apple. This includes multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access. It also works with Apple’s keychain access, so users can securely pre-populate their credentials. WE’RE HERE FOR YOU Got questions about the Entrust app or your account? Contact us directly via secure message within the app. Disclaimer: Entrust does not promote any investments. Rather, Entrust provides the administration, information, and tools to make self-direction straightforward and compliant. We help you get started quickly and stay with you every step of the way.

About

GBI Direct

Invest in physical precious metals like gold and silver with institutional-grade access. Buy, sell, store, or take delivery of metals securely. Automate investments and manage retirement accounts with ease.

Highlights
  • Buy, sell, store, and take delivery of precious metals
  • Institutional-grade access to physical markets
  • Secure vault storage with trusted security partners
  • On-demand delivery to your location
  • Automated monthly investments (MetalStream)
  • Precious metals IRA accounts and rollovers
Features
Read full description

About this app The GBI Direct app puts the same platform used by some of the world’s largest financial institutions to buy and sell precious metals at your fingertips, making managing your GBI account easy and convenient. Download now to buy, sell, store, or take delivery of gold, silver, platinum or palladium, in minutes. Trusted Platform: Billions Managed and Traded GBI Direct is a world leader in precious metals investing. with $6+ billion in assets under administration and billions more in trading volume. You get institutional-grade access to physical precious metals markets. Every order you place is bid out to our trusted network of global mints, refiners and wholesalers, providing you with highly competitive pricing when you buy and sell. Secure Vault Storage & On-Demand Delivery Choose U.S. or overseas vault locations including Salt Lake City, New York, London, Zurich, or Singapore. Your vaulted metals are guarded round-the-clock by the most- respected names in security: Brinks, Loomis, and Malca-Amit. Want to store your metal at home? Simply log in to request delivery and we’ll send it to you. An App Always Ready for Opportunity Best of all, you get liquidity when you need it – just like trading a stock. You can sell instantly, even in the tightest markets, while you’re on the golf course or waiting at the airport. Or you can take advantage of a soft market and add to your holdings when you feel the price is right. The GBI Direct app gives you flexible tools to invest in physical precious metals on your terms, all in a few taps. Real Help via Phone or Email We’re more than an app – we’re here to help. Our U.S.-based, non-commissioned support team provides honest, straightforward assistance when you’re opening an account, funding, investing, and more. Automatic Investing with MetalStream Choose MetalStream to accumulate precious metals with automated monthly investments into real, physical bullion. You set the rules. Start, adjust, or stop anytime you want. There are no extra fees or charges. And you can invest in any amount, starting at $25/month. Retirement Investing with IRAs Precious metals IRAs provide the same benefits as physical precious metals investing, with amazing tax benefits including income deductions and tax-deferred or tax-free distributions. With the GBI Direct app, you can start a new account or easily rollover from a 401k, or transfer from an existing IRA.

Screenshots

Entrust Self4 screens
GBI Direct4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: GBI Direct at 4.4 against Entrust Self's 4.2. GBI Direct also leads on ratings volume (32 vs 10). Entrust Self's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GBI Direct holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 32 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Entrust Self's written reviews are positive against 67% of GBI Direct's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Entrust Self ships an update every 2 months, GBI Direct every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Entrust Self versus GBI Direct: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEntrust SelfGBI Direct
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (10 ratings)4.4 (32 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings1032 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEntrust Administration, Inc.GBI, LLC

Customer experience

Entrust Self

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

GBI Direct

All ratings30 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Entrust Self

No in-app purchases

None

GBI Direct

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Entrust Self free?
Entrust Self is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GBI Direct free?
GBI Direct is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Entrust Self or GBI Direct?
GBI Direct is rated higher. Entrust Self averages 4.2 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while GBI Direct averages 4.4 from 32 ratings.
Do Entrust Self or GBI Direct have ads?
Both Entrust Self and GBI Direct show ads.
Which is updated more often, Entrust Self or GBI Direct?
Entrust Self ships an update every 2 months, and GBI Direct every 5 weeks. Most recently, Entrust Self was updated on September 19, 2026 and GBI Direct on October 25, 2026.

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