PPF vs Gold — fixed government return or a physical hedge?
PPF is fully fixed, tax-free, and government-backed; gold has no guarantee but reacts differently to inflation and market stress. Compare both on the same contribution.
PPF Calculator vs Gold Calculator — 15-year comparison
Opens Compare Lab pre-loaded with both, in your own currency — adjust any input and the chart updates instantly.
Compare now →A government-backed, long-term savings scheme with a 15-year lock-in, a capped annual contribution, and fully tax-free interest and maturity.
Best for: The fixed, tax-free core of a long-term goal like retirement, where you can commit to the lock-in.
Physical or digital gold, valued by weight at the prevailing market price, plus making charges and GST on physical purchases.
Best for: A smaller diversifying allocation (typically 5–15% of a portfolio) as an inflation and crisis hedge, not a primary growth holding.
Can gold be part of a retirement portfolio alongside PPF?
Yes — many retirement plans include a modest gold allocation for diversification alongside fixed instruments like PPF, rather than choosing exclusively one or the other.
Where do these numbers actually come from?
The same calculation engine that powers our standalone calculators and Compare Lab — nothing here is a separate or simplified estimate. Every assumption (rate, tenure, tax) is visible and adjustable once you open the comparison with your own numbers.