Updated October 13, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Plum vs Skipton Building Society
Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Where Plum and Skipton Building Society differ
| Compare |  Plum |  Skipton Building Society |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £2 | £1Lower |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Prudential Regulation Authority |
| Platforms | Mobile app | Skipton Online, Skipton App |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, LisaCovers more | Lisa |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | 25% government charge on non-qualifying withdrawals |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.05% |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Plum offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Skipton Building Society offers Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Skipton Building Society: £1 vs £2.
- Platforms: only Plum offers Mobile app.
- Platforms: only Skipton Building Society offers Skipton Online, Skipton App.
- Account types: only Plum offers ISA, SIPP.
- Support channels: only Plum offers Email, Help centre.
- Support channels: only Skipton Building Society offers Chat, Phone.
- Features: only Plum offers Fractional shares.
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.
Skipton Building Society
Skipton Building Society offers a Cash Lifetime ISA aimed at savers working toward a first home in the UK or later life savings. It suits people happy to leave savings untouched until later life or use them for a first home and to manage everything online.
Score breakdown
| Area | Plum | Skipton Building Society |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock dealing is £0, the account fee is £0 and management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios. | 9.2 |
| Offer | 8.9Higher | 8.7 |
| Trust | 8.5 | 8.6Higher |
What each covers
| Account types | Plum | Skipton Building Society |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| Lisa | Yes | Yes |
If neither fits
Spreadex has minimum deposit at £0, against £2 for Plum and £1 for Skipton Building Society.
Spreadex reviewSources behind this comparison
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
Skipton Building Society
- skipton.co.uk: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Plum | Skipton Building Society |
|---|---|---|
| Investment platforms and apps | 34 of 86 | 80 of 86 |
| Lifetime ISA providers | 4 of 13 | 12 of 13 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Plum | Skipton Building Society |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Plum Fintech Limited | Skipton Building Society |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Chat, Phone |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Plum | Skipton Building Society |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Skipton Building Society | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £2below the median | £1below the median | £20 |
| Stock trade fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.05%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 43 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.
Skipton Building Society
Pros
- Provides a Cash Lifetime ISA aimed at first homes and later life
- Supports online opening and management through web and mobile app
- Accepts transfers from other Lifetime ISAs including for older savers
Cons
- Provides a single savings purpose tied to a first home or later life
- Account opening and management stays online with email and security steps
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.
Skipton Building Society
Who it suits
- UK residents aged 18 to 39 planning ahead
- Savers transferring an existing Lifetime ISA
Who should look elsewhere
- People needing flexible access to savings
Current offers
Skipton Building Society
Current offer
Bonus
GBP 250 Cashback offer: GBP 250 cashback
Skipton Lifetime ISA customers buying first home with a Skipton mortgage, completing 6 April 2018 to 30 June 2027, paid once
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Plum | Skipton Building Society |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Skipton Building Society
What does Skipton Building Society offer for long term savers?+
Skipton Building Society provides a Cash Lifetime ISA that supports saving for a first home in the UK or for retirement. The account is aimed at UK residents aged 18 to 39. It sets clear expectations about keeping savings in place until a qualifying use.
Who can open the Cash Lifetime ISA?+
The Cash Lifetime ISA is available to UK residents aged 18 to 39 who meet government Lifetime ISA requirements. People aged 40 or over can use it when transferring from another Lifetime ISA. Applicants provide a valid email address and meet residency rules explained in the declaration.