Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freetrade vs Plum
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Freetrade |  Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1Lower | £2 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Platforms | App, Web | Mobile app |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | ISA, SIPP, Lisa |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99% | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 1% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee (£0), Account fee (£0), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Plum scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Freetrade offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Plum offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Freetrade: £1 vs £2.
- Markets: only Freetrade offers Bonds.
- Platforms: only Freetrade offers App, Web.
- Platforms: only Plum offers Mobile app.
- Account types: only Freetrade offers Jisa.
- Account types: only Plum offers Lisa.
- Support channels: only Freetrade offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Freetrade
Freetrade suits UK beginners who want to buy shares, ETFs, bonds and funds without paying a dealing charge or an annual account fee. Regulation sits with the Financial Conduct Authority and holdings are covered by the FSCS, though a currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies and support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
Plum
Plum is a UK app aimed at beginners who want to start small and pay nothing to hold or trade. Stocks, ETFs and funds sit behind fractional shares, the account fee is £0 and the minimum deposit is £2, so small amounts can be put to work in a SIPP, ISA or LISA.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freetrade | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Stock trade fees of £0 and an account fee of £0 sit alongside a 0.99% currency conversion charge. | 9.3HigherStock dealing is £0, the account fee is £0 and management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherA UK platform with isa, sipp and jisa accounts, plus a demo account, fractional shares and stocks, etfs and bonds. | 8.9 |
| Trust | 8.5 | 8.5 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Freetrade | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Freetrade | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| Lisa | No | Yes |
| Jisa | Yes | No |
Cost in a real example
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
Freetrade
£0
48 × £0 + 1 × £0
Plum
£0
48 × £0 + 1 × £0
Both come to the same total.
Excludes currency conversion fee (not stated by Plum). Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Freetrade | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 171 of 490 | 160 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 36 of 85 | 33 of 85 |
| Brokers for beginners | 49 of 88 | 43 of 88 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 9 of 21 | 7 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 8 of 22 | 6 of 22 |
Pick Freetrade if, pick Plum if
Pick Freetrade if minimum deposit and markets matter most.
Pick Plum if cost matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freetrade | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Freetrade Limited | Plum Fintech Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2016 | 2016 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Freetrade | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.15% to 0.6% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freetrade | Plum | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £1lowest quarter | £2below the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.99%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | 1%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 34 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Freetrade
Pros
- Dealing commission of £0 and an account fee of £0 keep the running cost of an ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA low.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, with protection stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
- Fractional shares and a demo account let you size positions in small amounts and practise before committing money.
Cons
- A currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies whenever you hold investments in more than one currency.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed for account or transfer questions.
- The account range is limited to isa, sipp and jisa, so there is no general investment account for shares outside a wrapper.
Plum
Pros
- Stock trades cost £0 and the account fee is £0, so holding and dealing carry no charge.
- The account opens from £2 and the smallest investment is £1, which suits small regular amounts.
- Fractional shares on a Mobile app let a small sum hold part of a share rather than a whole one.
Cons
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so an urgent question waits for a written answer.
- The market list is stocks, etfs and funds and portfolio types run to etf and cash, so the account is narrow beside a full trading platform.
- The minimum deposit of £2 ranks 89 of 213, and CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0.
Who each suits
Freetrade
Who it suits
- UK beginners opening a stocks and shares ISA or Junior ISA with small monthly amounts
- Long-term investors who want to hold a simple share and ETF portfolio without a dealing charge
- SIPP holders who prefer an app and web platform to a phone-only service
Who should look elsewhere
- People who need a general investment account outside a tax wrapper
- Investors who trade frequently in several currencies, because the 0.99% conversion fee applies each time
- Anyone who wants to speak to support by phone, as support runs on email, chat and help centre only
Plum
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a SIPP, ISA or LISA going from a first deposit of £2.
- Investors who want to pick their own shares and are content with portfolio types of etf and cash.
- Readers who care most about the cost of a trade, since dealing is £0 and the account fee is £0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting a lower floor than the £2 minimum, since CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0.
- Readers comparing purely on dealing costs, since eToro also charges $0 for a stock trade.
- People who want to fund from a higher starting amount: Vantage lists a minimum deposit of $5.
Country by country
| Country | Freetrade | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Freetrade
How much does it cost to buy shares on Freetrade?+
The dealing charge is £0 and the account fee is £0. Those two cover the trading and holding side of a stocks and shares ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA. The charge that appears is currency conversion at 0.99%, which only shows up if part of your portfolio sits in another currency.
Who regulates Freetrade and is my money protected?+
Freetrade Limited is regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with register reference 783189. Protection for eligible holdings is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which is the ceiling the scheme pays if the firm cannot return your money. It covers firm failure rather than market losses.
Plum
How much does it cost to use Plum?+
Stock trades cost £0 and the account fee is £0, so there is no dealing charge and no annual subscription to pay. The cost that can appear is the management fee of 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios, which applies to the managed side rather than to every account. On the cost of holding and dealing, Plum sits at the cheap end of the field.
Is Plum regulated, and is my money protected?+
Plum is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and the account is held with Plum Fintech Limited. The stated investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which is the compensation available if the firm cannot pay a valid claim. That is the standard UK arrangement for a firm holding investments, and it is the part to check before depositing.