Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
InvestEngine vs Police Friendly
Where InvestEngine and Police Friendly differ
| Compare |  InvestEngine |  Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £100 | £50Lower |
| Markets | ETFs | Stocks, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Corporate | ISA, Lisa, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 0% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Police Friendly scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only InvestEngine offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Police Friendly offers Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Founded is lower at Police Friendly: 1893 vs 2019.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Police Friendly: £50 vs £100.
- Markets: only InvestEngine offers ETFs.
- Markets: only Police Friendly offers Stocks, Funds.
- Account types: only InvestEngine offers SIPP, Corporate.
- Account types: only Police Friendly offers Lisa, Jisa.
- Support channels: only InvestEngine offers Help centre.
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.
Police Friendly
Police Friendly is a UK friendly society for long-term savers, not active traders, offering ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA accounts with a minimum deposit of £50. Regulated in the UK and backed by FSCS up to GBP 85,000, it fits households saving steadily for a home or a child's future.
Score breakdown
| Area | InvestEngine | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Higher | 8.6Low entry at £50 on isa, lisa and jisa accounts, offset by a charge on non-qualifying withdrawals. |
| Offer | 8.8The isa, sipp and corporate account range wraps one ETF plan for savers and firms alike. | 9.1Higher |
| Trust | 8.4 | 9.2Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | InvestEngine | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Account types | InvestEngine | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
| Lisa | No | Yes |
| Jisa | No | Yes |
Availability and regulation
| Country | InvestEngine | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
Available in 1 country for both.
A third option
Capital.com has minimum deposit at £20, against £100 for InvestEngine and £50 for Police Friendly.
Capital.com reviewHow they place
| Ranking | InvestEngine | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 187 of 490 | 138 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 41 of 85 | 29 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 13 of 21 | 5 of 21 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | InvestEngine | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | InvestEngine (UK) Limited | Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2019 | 1893Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Phone |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | InvestEngine | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | £1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | InvestEngine | Police Friendly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £100above the median | £50above the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £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%.
Police Friendly
Pros
- A minimum deposit of £50 makes the entry point manageable for steady savers.
- All three wrappers, isa, lisa and jisa, sit with one provider.
- Members are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 if the firm fails.
Cons
- A government charge cuts non-qualifying withdrawals, which limits access before the account matures.
- The investment range is limited to stocks and funds, with no wider market for ISA money.
- The £50 minimum deposit runs ahead of CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5.
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).
Police Friendly
Who it suits
- UK savers who want ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA accounts under one roof.
- Police service members and their families, drawn to a provider run as Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited.
- Long-term investors content with a stocks and funds range and no trading tools.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after a wide market range: eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with the smallest possible deposit: CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5.
- Shoppers who judge cost by the entry deposit alone, since £50 sits above CFI at $0.
Current offers
Police Friendly
Current offer
Bonus
Open a Lifetime ISA - Earn up to GBP50 in Gift Cards: Up to GBP50 gift card
Pay GBP100 or more per month, or GBP50+ with Escalator; GBP30-99 gets GBP25; quote AUTUMN26
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | InvestEngine | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
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.
Police Friendly
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £50, which is more than some rivals ask at the start. CFI opens at $0 and Vantage at $5, so Police Friendly suits savers who can commit a modest sum each month rather than the smallest possible stake.
Is my money protected if the provider fails?+
Investors are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 under the UK compensation scheme, and the firm is authorised under the reference 110026. The regulator named is Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority, which supervises both conduct and prudential standards.