Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
M1 vs Plum
What sets them apart
| Compare |  M1 |  Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | £2 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Funds |
| Regulators | SIPC | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | ISA, SIPP, Lisa |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Margin rate | 5.9% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Mobile app |
| Maximum retail leverage | Up to 50% of portfolio value | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 3.35% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- M1 scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only M1 offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only Plum offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Founded is lower at M1: 2015 vs 2016.
- Markets: only M1 offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Plum offers Funds.
- Account types: only M1 offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Account types: only Plum offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Support channels: only Plum offers Email.
- Features: only M1 offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
M1
M1 is a low-cost brokerage built for retirement savers and small investors who want shares, ETFs and crypto in a single account. Stock trades run at $0 and it places 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, though the managed portfolios want $10,000 to 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 | M1 | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5Higher | 9.3Stock dealing is £0, the account fee is £0 and management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios. |
| Offer | 9.0HigherCosts carry the offer: 0% management fee, $0 stock trades and a $0 minimum deposit. | 8.9 |
| Trust | 8.6Higher | 8.5 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | M1 | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 69670 | Not confirmed |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | M1 | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Account types | M1 | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | No | Yes |
| SIPP | No | Yes |
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Lisa | No | Yes |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | M1 | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 145 of 471 | 168 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 29 of 86 | 34 of 86 |
| Robo-advisors | 55 of 151 | 67 of 151 |
Sources behind this comparison
M1
- m1.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- millennialmoneyman.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- thecollegeinvestor.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- bestroboadvisors.org: 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 | M1 | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | M1 FINANCE LLC | Plum Fintech Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2015Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Help centreCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | M1 | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0%Lower | 0.15% to 0.6% |
| Minimum investment | $10,000 | £1 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | M1 | Plum | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | Not confirmed | £0at the median | £0 |
| Margin rate | 5.9%below the median | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Interest on cash | 3.35%above the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 43 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
M1
Pros
- Placing 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, so an account opens without a funding hurdle.
- Placing 1 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, with a stock trade costing $0.
- Uninvested cash earns 3.35%, and Pie portfolios mix etf, cash and crypto.
Cons
- Margin borrowing at 5.9% can cost more over a held position than the $0 trade fee saves.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone or live chat listed.
- Managed portfolios want $10,000 to start, well above the $0 brokerage entry point.
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
M1
Who it suits
- Self-directed investors who want to trade shares and ETFs without a per-trade charge.
- Retirement savers, since accounts include ira, roth ira and joint.
- People who want crypto alongside equities in the same account, under stocks, etfs and crypto.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and M1 stops at stocks, etfs and crypto.
- Readers who want a wider asset list in the same app, because CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Managed portfolio buyers starting below $10,000, a floor that sits well above the $5 deposit Vantage asks to open an account.
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 | M1 | Plum |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
M1
What does it cost to trade shares at M1?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens with a $0 minimum deposit, so there is no per-trade commission and no funding hurdle. The running cost sits in the spread and in currency conversion when shares priced in dollars are bought. Margin borrowing is charged at 5.9% and is the line most likely to run up a bill.
Is my money protected at M1?+
Protection runs through the scheme listed as SIPC, with cover stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. It is the only regulator on file, so there is a single scheme to claim against and a single register to check. The membership record reads SIPC member 69670. The stated figure is a ceiling on the payout, not a stand-in for the balance itself.
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.