Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Plum vs PU Prime
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Plum |  PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £2 | $50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Mobile app | MT4, MT5, PU Web Trader, PU Prime mobile App |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:1000 |
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Key differences
- Plum scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Plum offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only PU Prime offers SIPC.
- Markets: only Plum offers Funds.
- Markets: only PU Prime offers Forex, CFDs, Metals.
- Platforms: only Plum offers Mobile app.
- Platforms: only PU Prime offers MT4, MT5, PU Web Trader.
- Support channels: only Plum offers Email.
- Features: only Plum offers Fractional shares.
- Features: only PU Prime offers Demo account, Copy trading.
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.
PU Prime
PU Prime is a US broker for beginners who want forex, CFDs and metals on MT4, MT5 or the PU Prime app, with copy trading and a demo account on the same platform. Its $50 entry sits above lighter $0 and $5 floors, and money is held under SIPC cover.
Score breakdown
| Area | Plum | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock dealing is £0, the account fee is £0 and management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios. | 8.7 |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 8.5 | 8.6Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Plum | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 3337 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Plum | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | Plum | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 168 of 471 | 182 of 471 |
| Brokers for beginners | 43 of 88 | 51 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Plum | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Plum Fintech Limited | TD PRIME SERVICES LLC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Plum | PU Prime |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | PU Prime | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
Median across 15 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.
PU Prime
Pros
- Covers forex, CFDs, metals, stocks and ETFs in one account (stocks, etfs and forex)
- Pick from MT4, MT5, PU Web Trader or the PU Prime mobile app (MT4, MT5 and PU Web Trader)
- A demo account and copy trading sit alongside the live accounts (demo account, copy trading and mobile app)
Cons
- The $50 entry is above the $0 and $5 starting points in this comparison
- Support runs through a help centre only, per help centre
- Retail trading losses run high across the site at 70.15%, so leverage of 1:1000 carries real risk
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.
PU Prime
Who it suits
- Beginners building a first account on forex or CFDs
- Traders who want copy trading alongside manual deals
- Anyone happy to hold money with a US SIPC member rather than a UK or EU regulated firm
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, if a $0 entry point matters more than US regulation
- eToro, if a wider market spread including crypto and futures fits a long term investor better
- Vantage, if a $5 floor suits a smaller first deposit
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.
PU Prime
What is the minimum deposit at PU Prime?+
The stated entry point is $50 for a new account. That sits above the $0 and $5 starting points in this comparison, so a first deposit has to be larger here than with either.
Is PU Prime regulated and is my money protected?+
Protection runs through SIPC up to USD 500,000, listed under SIPC. The membership is recorded as SIPC member 3337, so the holding company can be traced against a public register rather than a claim on the website.