Plum Review 2026: Cash ISA, Auto-Saving & Investing

Plum has been one of the UK’s most talked-about money apps since it launched in 2017. It started life as a Facebook Messenger chatbot that squirrelled small amounts of money away automatically, and it has since grown into a full-featured platform offering savings pockets, a Cash ISA paying 4.60% AER (variable) for new deposits opened from 29 May 2026, a Stocks & Shares ISA, individual stock trading, and even a pension. But is it actually worth using in 2026, and which tier — if any — should you pay for? This review gives you the facts, figures, and a frank assessment.

What Is Plum and How Does It Work?

Plum is a UK-based app that connects to your current account via Open Banking (read-only access only — it cannot move money without your permission). It analyses your income and spending patterns and automatically sets aside small amounts it calculates you can afford, typically every four or five days. You can also set up manual round-ups on your card spending, recurring deposits, or trigger saves based on custom rules such as “save £5 whenever I spend at a coffee shop.”

Once money is swept into Plum, you choose where it sits: a basic Primary Pocket (an e-money account), one of the interest-paying savings pockets, the Cash ISA, or an investment product. The app is available on iOS and Android and is designed to feel intuitive even if you have no prior experience of saving or investing.

Plum Subscription Tiers and Costs (2026)

Plum restructured its subscription plans in July 2025, replacing the old Basic/Pro/Ultra/Premium model with four new tiers. As of June 2026, the plans are as follows (all prices per month):

Plan	Monthly cost	Annual cost	Easy Access rate (Lloyds)	Stocks & Shares ISA management fee	Unlimited stock trades
Basic	Free	£0	3.05% AER	0.60% p.a.	No (2 free lifetime, then £0.50 each)
Plus	£3.99	£47.88	3.10% AER	0.45% p.a. (0.15% rebated)	No (£0.15 per trade after 2 free)
Boost	£7.99	£95.88	3.25% AER	0.30% p.a. (0.30% rebated)	No (£0.05 per trade after 2 free)
Max	£14.99	£179.88	3.65% AER	0.15% p.a. (0.45% rebated)	Yes (unlimited free)

Source: withplum.com/subscriptions, June 2026. Rates variable.

The Cash ISA rate of 4.62% AER (variable) is the same across all four tiers — you do not need to pay for a subscription to access it. The first month of any paid tier is free, and you can cancel or switch at any time.

Plum Cash ISA: Current Rate and Key Details

Plum’s Cash ISA is one of its flagship products. For accounts opened from 29 May 2026, the current rate is 4.60% AER (variable) for new deposits, made up of a base rate of 2.54% plus a bonus of 2.06% that applies for the first 12 months. Funds transferred in from another ISA provider currently earn 4.00% AER (variable) during their first year (2.54% base plus a 1.46% bonus). After 12 months, the rate reverts to the base rate plus a much smaller ongoing bonus, which for existing customers entering their second year currently sits at around 2.70% AER. Rates are variable and have moved frequently throughout 2025–2026 in line with the Bank of England base rate.

There are no fees for the Cash ISA itself. Key practical points:

Flexible ISA — you can withdraw money and repay it within the same tax year without losing your annual ISA allowance.
Deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per person. Money in the Cash ISA is held with Citibank and Lloyds Bank, both of which are FSCS-eligible institutions.
You can save up to £20,000 in the current 2025/26 tax year across all your ISAs combined.
ISA transfers in are accepted free of charge.
The account is provided by Saveable Limited (FCA no. 739214).

Easy Access Savings Pockets

If you prefer a standard savings pocket rather than an ISA, Plum offers an Easy Access Savings Account provided by Lloyds Bank PLC. The rate varies by subscription tier: 3.05% AER on Basic, rising to 3.65% AER on Max. Money held here is also FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per person through Lloyds Bank.

There is also a 95-Day Notice Pocket paying 3.87% AER (variable) — available from the Boost tier upwards — for those happy to lock funds away in exchange for a higher return. A Plum Interest Money Market Fund (investing in BlackRock’s ICS Sterling Liquidity Fund) offers a further alternative, with a current gross yield varying by tier (3.71% for Max subscribers), though this carries investment risk and is subject to additional fees.

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Investing: Stocks & Shares ISA and General Investment Account

Plum gives you access to both a Stocks & Shares ISA and a General Investment Account (GIA). You can invest in ready-made, curated funds — 13 on Basic, up to 26 on Max — or trade individual US and UK stocks. The key fee to understand is the annual management fee on your invested balance:

Basic: 0.60% per year (no rebate)
Plus: 0.60% charged, but 0.15% rebated back to your Primary Pocket (net 0.45%)
Boost: 0.60% charged, but 0.30% rebated (net 0.30%)
Max: 0.60% charged, but 0.45% rebated (net 0.15%)

On top of this, each fund carries its own underlying fund manager charge (OCF), which typically ranges from around 0.08% to 0.90% depending on the fund. For individual UK and US stocks, there is no annual management fee, but you pay a per-trade fee (free for your first two lifetime trades on Basic through Boost; unlimited free on Max) plus a foreign exchange conversion fee ranging from 0.15% (Max) to 0.60% (Basic) on currency trades.

Important: investing means your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you put in. Plum does not provide personalised financial advice.

How Your Money Is Protected

Protection varies depending on which Plum product you use:

Primary Pocket (e-money): Plum’s core account is provided by Modulr FS Limited, an FCA-authorised Electronic Money Institution. Your funds are safeguarded in segregated accounts in line with the Electronic Money Regulations 2011, but they are not covered by the FSCS. No compensation scheme applies if Modulr fails.
Easy Access Savings Account: Held with Lloyds Bank PLC. FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per eligible person.
Cash ISA: Held with Citibank and Lloyds Bank. FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per person per institution, so up to £240,000 in total across both banks.
Investments (ISA and GIA): Held by Saveable Limited under FCA Client Asset Sourcebook (CASS) rules, keeping your assets separate from Plum’s own money. FSCS covers up to £85,000 per person for investment claims against an authorised firm.

The key takeaway: the more you rely on the Primary Pocket rather than a named savings account, the weaker your statutory protection. Move money into a savings pocket or Cash ISA to access FSCS coverage.

Looking for the best easy-access savings rates in one place?

Our round-up compares the top accounts available to UK savers right now, including rates from Plum, high-street banks, and challenger providers.

Compare Easy Access Savings Rates →

Plum Pros and Cons

Pros

Competitive Cash ISA rate — 4.60% AER (variable) for new deposits as of late June 2026, with no fees.
Automation genuinely works: Plum’s Open Banking analysis helps people save without needing to think about it.
Free Basic tier unlocks auto-saving, the Cash ISA, and access to investment funds — solid value for no monthly cost.
Flexible ISA means withdrawals do not permanently reduce your annual allowance.
Wide product range in one app: savings, ISA, stocks, pension — useful if you want a single dashboard.
FSCS protection on savings pockets and the Cash ISA, up to £120,000 per institution.
MoneySavingExpert lists Plum as a top pick for auto-saving apps.

Cons

Cash ISA introductory bonus drops off sharply after 12 months — the rate for second-year customers is currently around 2.70% AER, well below the headline figure.
The Primary Pocket (your “wallet” within the app) is not FSCS-protected — easy to overlook.
Paid tiers (£47.88 to £179.88 a year) are expensive if you only use the savings features; the rate uplifts on savings pockets are modest.
Max tier costs £179.88 annually — only justifies itself for frequent active investors who need unlimited free trades and the lowest management fee.
The Stocks & Shares ISA does not allow individual stock picking — funds only; stocks are in a separate General Investment Account (not ISA-wrapped).
Rates are variable and have changed regularly; always check the current rate before committing.
Fund choice is narrower than dedicated investment platforms such as Vanguard or interactive investor.

Who Is Plum Best Suited To?

Plum works particularly well if you struggle to save consistently and want a nudge. The automated round-ups and AI-powered savings rules remove friction, and the free Basic tier gives you access to a competitive Cash ISA and investment funds without spending a penny on a subscription. It is a strong option for first-time investors who want a gentle introduction to funds alongside their savings.

The paid tiers appeal most to active investors who trade frequently and can benefit from reduced management fees and free stock trades — particularly the Max tier at £14.99 a month. If you are purely a cash saver, however, you can do just as well — or better in some cases — at a dedicated bank or building society without paying any subscription.

Plum is less suitable for those who want a high-street bank’s level of brand familiarity, or who need a dedicated current account with a debit card as their primary account (though it does offer a Visa Debit card as a secondary spending card).

How Does Plum Compare to Moneybox and Chip?

The three apps often appear in the same conversation, and each has a different emphasis.

Moneybox leans heavily into structured, goal-based saving and is particularly strong for Lifetime ISA savers and first-time buyers using its LISA with the 25% government bonus. Its round-up saving is smooth, but its investing range has historically been more limited than Plum’s. Moneybox does not currently offer stocks and shares alongside a Cash ISA in the same seamless interface.

Chip competes most directly with Plum on auto-saving and interest rates. Chip has at times offered market-leading easy-access rates and its own AI-savings engine. However, Chip’s investment offering is more limited than Plum’s, and its free tier has been more restricted in recent iterations. Both apps operate on a subscription model for premium features.

The bottom line: if auto-saving into a Cash ISA is your priority, all three apps are worth comparing on their current rates (which change frequently). If you also want to invest in a Stocks & Shares ISA or individual stocks within the same app, Plum currently offers the broadest range of features at the free Basic tier.

Illustrative comparison. Rates variable; check each provider for the latest figure before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Plum safe and regulated?

Yes. Plum Fintech Limited is registered with the FCA as an account information service provider (FCA no. 836158). The savings and investment products are provided by Saveable Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA (no. 739214). Payment services are provided by Modulr FS Limited, an FCA-authorised Electronic Money Institution. The Cash ISA and Easy Access Savings Account carry FSCS protection through the partner banks (Citibank, Lloyds Bank, Investec Bank) up to £120,000 per person per institution. However, the Primary Pocket (e-money) is not FSCS-protected.

What is the current Plum Cash ISA rate?

As of 29 May 2026, Plum’s Cash ISA pays 4.60% AER (variable) on new deposits for the first 12 months, made up of a base rate of 2.54% plus a 2.06% bonus. Transfers in from other ISA providers earn 4.00% AER (variable) in year one. After 12 months, the rate drops significantly — currently around 2.70% AER for second-year customers. Always check the current rate on the Plum Help Centre before applying, as it changes regularly. Source: help.withplum.com.

Do I need a paid subscription to use the Cash ISA?

No. The Plum Cash ISA is available on the free Basic tier. The same headline rate of 4.62% AER (variable) (as shown on the Plum website for accounts opened in June 2026) applies regardless of whether you pay for Plus, Boost, or Max. There are also no fees charged by Plum for the Cash ISA itself.

Can I invest in a Stocks and Shares ISA on the free plan?

Yes, but with some limitations. The Basic (free) tier gives you access to 13 ready-made funds within a Stocks & Shares ISA and a 0.60% annual management fee (before any rebate). Higher tiers reduce the effective management fee and unlock more funds (up to 26 on Max) and cheaper or free stock trades. Note that individual stocks are held in a General Investment Account, not inside the ISA, on any tier.

Is the auto-saving feature reliable?

Plum’s auto-saving algorithm has been refined over several years and is generally well-regarded. It reads your account balance and upcoming bills and aims to save money only when it calculates you can afford it. You can adjust the “mood” of its saving (from cautious to aggressive) or switch it off entirely. MoneySavingExpert names Plum’s free auto-saving as a top pick specifically because it does not require a paid subscription to work. That said, as with any automated system, you should review the transfers it makes and keep an eye on your current account balance.

Our Verdict

Plum is a genuinely useful app, and the free Basic tier is one of the better offers in the UK auto-saving space. The Cash ISA rate of 4.60% AER on new deposits is competitive as of June 2026, and the fact that you get it for free — with no subscription and no ISA fees — is a real selling point. The automation works, the FSCS protection on savings pockets is solid, and the breadth of products (savings, ISA, stocks, pension) under one roof is hard to match at this price point.

The caveats are worth stating clearly. The headline rate has a 12-month bonus baked in — check what you will actually earn in year two before treating Plum as a long-term home for your savings. The paid tiers only make financial sense if you are an active investor. And the e-money Primary Pocket is not FSCS-protected, so do not leave large sums sitting there uninvested.

For UK savers who want a painless way to build a Cash ISA or dabble in investing without paying platform fees, Plum’s free tier earns a strong recommendation. Active investors weighing up whether to pay £179.88 a year for Max should crunch the numbers carefully against dedicated platforms.

You can also compare rates across all major providers in our guide to the best easy-access savings accounts in the UK, and read our reviews of Moneybox and Chip to compare your options.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Rates and subscription costs are correct as of 30 June 2026 but are subject to change. Investing involves risk; the value of your investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invest. FSCS protection applies to eligible deposits and investments as described; always verify current terms on the provider’s website. GetSmartSaver.co.uk is not authorised to give financial advice — if you are unsure whether a product is right for you, consult an independent financial adviser.