Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Interactive Brokers vs Plum
Where Interactive Brokers and Plum differ
| Compare |  Interactive Brokers |  Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | £2 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, StocksCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Funds |
| Regulators | SEC, FCA, SIPC | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Platforms | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation | Mobile app |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate | ISA, SIPP, Lisa |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Margin rate | 4.38% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 3.38% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, FCA, SIPC.
- Regulators: only Plum offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Founded is lower at Interactive Brokers: 1978 vs 2016.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Bonds, Forex, Futures.
- Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
- Platforms: only Plum offers Mobile app.
- Account types: only Interactive Brokers offers IRA, Joint, Corporate.
- Account types: only Plum offers Lisa.
- Support channels: only Interactive Brokers offers Community.
Our verdict on each
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.
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 | Interactive Brokers | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Stock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. | 9.3Stock dealing is £0, the account fee is £0 and management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. | 8.9 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.5 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Interactive Brokers | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Interactive Brokers | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes |
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
| Lisa | No | Yes |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Interactive Brokers | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 44 of 471 | 168 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 11 of 151 | 67 of 151 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC | Plum Fintech Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1978Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.15% to 0.6% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | £1 |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF, CashCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Plum | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Margin rate | 4.38%below the median | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 3.38%above the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 43 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
- The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
- bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
- bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
- An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.
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
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
- Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.
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.
Questions about each
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.
Is my money protected?+
The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.
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.
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