Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Plum vs TradeUP
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Plum |  TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | ETFs, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Minimum deposit | £2 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Platforms | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Plum scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Plum offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only TradeUP offers SIPC.
- Markets: only Plum offers Funds.
- Markets: only TradeUP offers Options.
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.
TradeUP
TradeUP suits retail investors who want free stock dealing and low options costs from a US broker holding SIPC membership. Stock trades cost $0 and investor protection stands at SIPC up to USD 500,000. Markets are limited to etfs, options and stocks, so it suits single market US investors.
Score breakdown
| Area | Plum | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock dealing is £0, the account fee is £0 and management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios. | 9.0Stock trades cost $0 and options contracts cost $0.65, with no account charge listed. |
| Offer | 8.9Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.5 | 8.6Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Plum | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 36754 |
How they place
| Ranking | Plum | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 168 of 471 | 188 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Plum | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Plum Fintech Limited | TRADEUP SECURITIES INC |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Plum | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | TradeUP | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £2below the median | Not confirmed | £20 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
Median across 38 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.
TradeUP
Pros
- Stock trades carry a fee of $0 on a commission free model
- Options contracts cost $0.65
- Client accounts sit with SIPC protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000
Cons
- Trading is limited to etfs, options and stocks
- The regulated entity is TRADEUP SECURITIES INC, so claims are made in the US
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.
TradeUP
Who it suits
- Retail investors buying and holding US shares and ETFs
- Options traders who keep contract costs low
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, which covers a wider set of stocks, etfs and forex
- Vantage, which adds forex, cfds and stocks
- CFI, which lists stocks, etfs and forex
Country by country
| Country | Plum | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 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.
TradeUP
How much does it cost to buy shares?+
Buying and selling shares carries a fee of $0, and the pricing model is commission free. There is no listed account charge or inactivity charge to offset that, so the dealing cost sits entirely on the trade.
What does an options contract cost?+
An options contract is charged at $0.65. Options are part of the etfs, options and stocks range, so contracts can be traded alongside shares and ETFs in the same account.