Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
InvestEngine vs Plum
InvestEngine vs Plum: the differences
| Compare |  InvestEngine |  Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £100 | £2Lower |
| Markets | ETFs | Stocks, ETFs, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Mobile app |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Corporate | ISA, SIPP, Lisa |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 0% | 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 8.7.
- Regulators: only InvestEngine offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Plum offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Founded is lower at Plum: 2016 vs 2019.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Plum: £2 vs £100.
- Markets: only Plum offers Stocks, Funds.
- Platforms: only InvestEngine offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Platforms: only Plum offers Mobile app.
- Account types: only InvestEngine offers Corporate.
- Account types: only Plum offers Lisa.
Our verdict on each
InvestEngine
InvestEngine suits beginners who want their money spread across ETFs without picking shares themselves. Costs stay thin: an account fee of £0, a stock trade fee of £0 and a single portfolio management charge of 0.25%, with deposits and withdrawals free.
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 | InvestEngine | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0 | 9.3HigherStock dealing is £0, the account fee is £0 and management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios. |
| Offer | 8.8The isa, sipp and corporate account range wraps one ETF plan for savers and firms alike. | 8.9Higher |
| Trust | 8.4 | 8.5Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | InvestEngine | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 187 of 490 | 160 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 41 of 85 | 33 of 85 |
| Brokers for beginners | 57 of 88 | 43 of 88 |
| Robo-advisors | 83 of 153 | 66 of 153 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 13 of 21 | 7 of 21 |
| SIPP providers | 12 of 22 | 6 of 22 |
Also worth a look
Spreadex has minimum deposit at £0, against £100 for InvestEngine and £2 for Plum.
Spreadex reviewSources behind this comparison
InvestEngine
- investengine.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- blog.investengine.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.investengine.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Plum
- withplum.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- finextra.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | InvestEngine | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | InvestEngine (UK) Limited | Plum Fintech Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2019 | 2016Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | InvestEngine | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25% | 0.15% to 0.6%Lower |
| Minimum investment | £1 | £1 |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF, CashCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | InvestEngine | Plum | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £100above the median | £2below the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | £0at the median | £0 |
| Interest on cash | 0%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 34 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
InvestEngine
Pros
- An account fee of £0 and a stock trade fee of £0 leave almost nothing to pay for holding or trading.
- Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000, with the platform regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- The platform list covers Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares make small regular buys work.
Cons
- Shares are not among its markets (etfs), so the range stays on funds rather than a general dealing list.
- Support runs on email and help centre, with no phone number for urgent account questions.
- Cash waiting to be invested earns 0%.
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
InvestEngine
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a curated portfolio and can start from a minimum investment of £1.
- ISA and SIPP holders in the UK who would rather not pay an account fee.
- Investors who only need help by email and are happy to stay inside a single asset class.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for anyone who wants to open with a minimum deposit of $0 rather than £100.
- Vantage, for anyone who wants a smaller entry point, since its minimum deposit is $5.
- eToro, for traders who want share dealing, because shares are not among its markets (etfs).
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 | InvestEngine | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
InvestEngine
What does it cost to hold an InvestEngine account?+
The account fee is £0 and a stock trade costs £0, so buying and holding leaves most of the pot intact. The only ongoing charge is the portfolio management fee of 0.25%, which is taken on the portfolio rather than per trade. Cash left uninvested earns 0%.
Is my money protected if the platform fails?+
The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator named on the licence, and the platform states investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The account is run by InvestEngine (UK) Limited, a UK company, so UK rules and the protection scheme both apply to the account.
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.