Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Nutmeg vs Police Friendly
Where Nutmeg and Police Friendly differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £500 | £50Lower |
| Markets | ETFs, Funds, Stocks, BondsCovers more | Stocks, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | no set-up, trading or exit fees | 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP | ISA, Lisa, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Nutmeg scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Nutmeg offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Police Friendly offers Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Founded is lower at Police Friendly: 1893 vs 2012.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Police Friendly: £50 vs £500.
- Markets: only Nutmeg offers ETFs, Bonds.
- Account types: only Nutmeg offers SIPP.
- Account types: only Police Friendly offers Lisa, Jisa.
- Support channels: only Nutmeg offers Chat, Help centre.
Our verdict on each
Nutmeg
Nutmeg suits UK investors who want a managed portfolio held in an ISA or SIPP rather than a self-directed dealing account. The cost of that convenience is a single management fee of 0.25% to 0.75%, with a £0 stock trade fee and FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 in place.
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 | Nutmeg | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherManagement fees of 0.25% to 0.75% run above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the entry floor is high. | 8.6Low entry at £50 on isa, lisa and jisa accounts, offset by a charge on non-qualifying withdrawals. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.1 |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.2Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Nutmeg | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 552016 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Choosing between them
Pick Nutmeg if cost, offer, and markets matter most.
Pick Police Friendly if minimum deposit matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Nutmeg | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 92 of 490 | 138 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 20 of 85 | 29 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 3 of 21 | 5 of 21 |
| Lifetime ISA providers | 2 of 13 | 3 of 13 |
| Junior ISA providers | 2 of 14 | 4 of 14 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Nutmeg | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | J.P. Morgan Personal Investing Limited | Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2012 | 1893Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Nutmeg | Police Friendly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £500highest quarter | £50above the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
Median across 16 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Nutmeg
Pros
- One ongoing charge to read: management fees of 0.25% to 0.75%, with no set-up, trading or exit fees on top.
- Holdings span etfs, funds and stocks, so a managed basket can still cover a wide spread of asset types.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the account.
Cons
- Management fees of 0.25% to 0.75% sit above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the cost rises as the balance grows.
- The opening deposit is £500 and later money goes in from £100 to £500, higher than the robo-adviser median of €60.06.
- The portfolio range is etf, esg and cash only, so there is no crypto or thematic option to tilt towards.
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
Nutmeg
Who it suits
- UK investors who want a managed portfolio inside an ISA or a SIPP and accept a single ongoing charge for the service.
- People who would rather not research individual funds, since the holdings run to etf, esg and cash approaches chosen and held for you.
- Investors who want a phone line as well as written support, since email, chat and phone includes phone, chat, email and a help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small first payment, since the £500 deposit is well above the robo-advisor lower quartile of €0, and Axos Invest begins at $100 in US dollars.
- Shoppers who want the lowest ongoing charge, since eToro runs a 0% management fee and Vivid Standard charges 0.5% to 1.5%, against Nutmeg's 0.25% to 0.75%.
- Investors who want accounts in US dollars, because Axos Invest takes $100 in dollars while Nutmeg's £100 to £500 sits in pounds.
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
Nutmeg
Current offer
Bonus
Earn £100 when you invest £1,000: GBP 100 cash reward
Invest at least £1,000 in one payment into a General Investment Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA or Personal Pension and keep it invested for at least 6 months; new contributions only, transfers excluded; reward paid as unallocated cash within 55 days; new clients only, cannot be combined with other new-client offers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
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 | Nutmeg | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Nutmeg
What does Nutmeg charge to manage my money?+
The charge is a single management fee of 0.25% to 0.75%, which sits above the robo-adviser median of 0.35% in this group. There are no set-up, trading or exit fees to add on top. Money can go in from £100 to £500, so the cost is a percentage of what you hold rather than a price per deal.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £500, and once the account is open money can go in from £100 to £500. That first payment is the step most readers notice, and it sits above the lower quartile of €0 across robo-advisers here.
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.