Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
IQ Option vs Plum
Where IQ Option and Plum differ
| Compare |  IQ Option |  Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | £2 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Options | Stocks, ETFs, Funds |
| Regulators | CySEC | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Platforms | Web, Desktop, iOS, Android | Mobile app |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | €10 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits; withdrawals vary | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA, SIPP, Lisa |
| Maximum retail leverage | 30:1 EU, up to 500:1 offshore | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- IQ Option scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only IQ Option offers CySEC.
- Regulators: only Plum offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Founded is lower at IQ Option: 2013 vs 2016.
- Markets: only IQ Option offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Plum offers Funds.
- Platforms: only IQ Option offers Web, Desktop, iOS.
- Platforms: only Plum offers Mobile app.
- Features: only IQ Option offers Demo account, Crypto.
- Features: only Plum offers Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
IQ Option
IQ Option suits beginners who want a small deposit and a demo account before trading real money. It charges a stock trade fee of $0 under a commission-free model, and CySEC regulation in Cyprus brings an EU investor protection scheme worth knowing before you start.
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 | IQ Option | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Stock trade fee of $0 and a commission-free model, but an inactivity fee of €10 and a minimum deposit of $10. | 9.3HigherStock dealing is £0, the account fee is £0 and management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 8.9 |
| Trust | 8.7Higher | 8.5 |
Choosing between them
Pick IQ Option if offer matter most.
Pick Plum if cost matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | IQ Option | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | CySEC 247/14 | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | IQ Option | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 142 of 471 | 168 of 471 |
| Brokers for beginners | 36 of 88 | 43 of 88 |
Sources behind this comparison
IQ Option
- brokertrending.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxscouts.com.au: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingcenter.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- dailyforex.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- forexbrokersonline.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 | IQ Option | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Crypto, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | IQ Option Europe Ltd | Plum Fintech Limited |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2013Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | IQ Option | 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 | IQ Option | Plum | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | €10above the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
Median across 14 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
IQ Option
Pros
- Stock trade fee of $0 on a commission-free model, a common pricing shape on this site
- A demo account is listed, so you can practise before funding
- Minimum deposit of $10 keeps the entry point low
Cons
- An inactivity fee of €10 applies, while the site median for this fee is €0
- Retail accounts that lose money sit near a site median of 70.15%
- The minimum deposit ranks low at position 100 of 213
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
IQ Option
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a demo account and a commission-free model
- Traders focused on options, forex, CFDs and crypto rather than a long share portfolio
- Anyone who will only trade with money covered by a stated protection scheme
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, if a lower minimum deposit matters more than the market list
- Vantage, if you want a smaller entry requirement and fewer listed asset types
- eToro, if you want a wider range of listed instruments including futures
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
IQ Option
What does it cost to trade stocks on IQ Option?+
The stock trade fee is $0, and the pricing model listed is commission-free. That makes costs easy to read on the surface, but the instrument and trade size still drive the total outlay. Leverage magnifies both the cost and the result, so check your position size before opening a trade.
Is there an inactivity fee?+
Yes. An inactivity fee of €10 applies, which sits above the site median of €0. On this measure IQ Option ranks at position 39 of 56 brands. Close unused accounts or trade occasionally if you would rather not pay it.
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.