Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Plum vs Vanguard
Plum vs Vanguard: the differences
| Compare |  Plum |  Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £2 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Account fee | £0 | $20 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Platforms | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Vanguard scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Markets: only Vanguard offers Options, Bonds.
- Account types: only Plum offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only Vanguard offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
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.
Vanguard
Vanguard suits beginner US investors who want straightforward retirement investing without a trading bill, with stock trades at $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The catch is an account fee of $20, plus $1 for every options contract traded.
Score breakdown
| Area | Plum | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock dealing is £0, the account fee is £0 and management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios. | 8.9Stock trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, but the account itself carries an account fee of $20. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 8.5 | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Plum | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 168 of 471 | 128 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 34 of 86 | 26 of 86 |
| Brokers for beginners | 43 of 88 | 34 of 88 |
| Robo-advisors | 67 of 151 | 46 of 151 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Plum | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Plum | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
Pick Plum if, pick Vanguard if
Pick Plum if cost matter most.
Pick Vanguard if offer and markets matter most.
Sources 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
Vanguard
- investor.vanguard.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investguiding.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- vanguard.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Plum | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Plum Fintech Limited | The Vanguard Group, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Plum | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.15% to 0.6% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | £1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, CashCovers more | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Plum | Vanguard | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $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.
Vanguard
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens at $0, so entry costs nothing
- stocks, etfs and options covers the range most long term investors need in one place
- Account types include ira, roth ira and joint, which suits retirement saving
Cons
- An account fee of $20 applies to the account whatever the trade volume
- Options cost $1 per contract against $0 for stock trades
- Forex, crypto and CFDs are not among its stocks, etfs and options
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.
Vanguard
Who it suits
- Beginners building a retirement pot in the US
- Investors holding funds and ETFs alongside individual stocks
- Anyone who accepts an account fee to keep trading costs low
Who should look elsewhere
- Day traders who want no account fee, since eToro charges $0
- Traders wanting forex, crypto or CFDs alongside shares, which CFI lists in stocks, etfs and forex
- Anyone put off by an opening balance, since Vantage requires $5 where Vanguard asks $0
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.
Vanguard
What does it cost to buy shares at Vanguard?+
Buying shares costs $0, and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $0. The running cost is an account fee of $20 rather than a charge on each trade, so frequent trading does not add commission.
Is there an account fee?+
There is. The account fee is $20, and it is the main ongoing cost here. Investors who expect to hold rather than trade repeatedly can absorb it, while active traders would feel it more on smaller balances.