Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Plum vs Police Friendly
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Plum |  Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £2Lower | £50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, FundsCovers more | Stocks, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa | ISA, Lisa, Jisa |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals |
| Platforms | Mobile app | 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 8.9.
- Regulators: only Plum offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Police Friendly offers Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Founded is lower at Police Friendly: 1893 vs 2016.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Plum: £2 vs £50.
- Markets: only Plum offers ETFs.
- Account types: only Plum offers SIPP.
- Account types: only Police Friendly offers Jisa.
- Support channels: only Plum offers Help centre.
- Support channels: only Police Friendly offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | Plum | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock dealing is £0, the account fee is £0 and management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios. | 8.6Low entry at £50 on isa, lisa and jisa accounts, offset by a charge on non-qualifying withdrawals. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.1Higher |
| Trust | 8.5 | 9.2Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Plum | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Plum | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| Lisa | Yes | Yes |
| Jisa | No | Yes |
A third option
Spreadex has minimum deposit at £0, against £2 for Plum and £50 for Police Friendly.
Spreadex reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Plum | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 160 of 490 | 138 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 33 of 85 | 29 of 85 |
| Stocks and shares ISA providers | 7 of 21 | 5 of 21 |
| Lifetime ISA providers | 4 of 13 | 3 of 13 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Plum | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Plum Fintech Limited | Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2016 | 1893Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Phone |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Plum | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.15% to 0.6% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | £1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Plum | Police Friendly | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £2below the median | £50above the median | £25 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
Median across 16 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
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
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.
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 | Plum | Police Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
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.