Gold IRA vs Roth IRA
“Gold IRA” describes what an IRA may hold; “Roth IRA” describes a tax treatment. A self-directed Roth IRA may be able to hold qualifying precious metals if the custodian permits them.
Do not compare unlike concepts
The useful decision is usually whether traditional or Roth tax treatment fits your situation, then whether a self-directed account and physical precious metals fit your investment goals.
RMD distinction
The IRS states that original owners of Roth IRAs are not required to take minimum distributions during their lifetime, while traditional IRA owners generally are subject to RMD rules at the applicable age.