Last Updated: July 1, 2026
Plum is an automated saving and investing app with four plan tiers from free to £14.99/month. It uses AI-driven rules (Plum Brain) to analyse your spending and automatically move spare money into savings or investments. Features include Easy Access Savings Pockets, Cash ISA, Lifetime ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA from £1, and pension tools. Plum is strongest for hands-off saving automation, not for the best standalone savings rates or advanced trading.
Plum is an automated saving and investing app that connects to your bank account and uses AI to move spare money into savings without you lifting a finger. This Plum review covers the four plan tiers, how the automation actually works, and whether the app earns its place on your phone in 2026.
Quick Verdict: Plum Review
This Plum review finds the app worth it if you want help saving more without thinking about it. The app watches your spending patterns, calculates what you can afford to set aside, and moves the money automatically. That hands-off approach is the core product. Everything else (investing, ISA wrappers, pension tools) is built on top of the automation engine.
Plum is less suited if you want the best standalone savings rate or the most powerful self-directed investment platform. Compare the Cash ISA rate against Raisin and the investing fees against Trading 212 before committing larger sums. Plum's advantage is the automation, not the headline rates or the trading interface.
Plum Plans and Pricing
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | Automated saving rules, spending analytics, Plum Brain, 1 Savings Pocket |
| Plus | £3.99 | Multiple Pockets, Cash ISA access, round-ups, 2x saving rules, 25-day interest |
| Pro | £5.99 | Stocks and Shares ISA, LISA access, pension tools, 4x saving rules, 45-day interest |
| Max | £14.99 | All features, priority support, higher limits, full investment and pension suite |
The free Basic plan covers the core automation. Plus adds the Cash ISA and more saving rules. Pro unlocks investing, the Lifetime ISA, and pension tools. Max is for people who want everything Plum offers without feature gates. Most users will find what they need in Plus or Pro.
How Plum's Automation Works
As covered throughout this Plum review, the app connects to your bank account through open banking and analyses your income, spending, and upcoming bills. The “Plum Brain” algorithm calculates how much you can safely set aside without affecting your ability to pay bills and live normally. It then moves that money into a Plum Savings Pocket automatically.
You can customise the rules. Set a maximum amount per transfer, choose specific days, or turn on round-ups that save spare change from each transaction. The more aggressive the settings, the more Plum saves. You can also dial it back if you find it moving too much.
The psychological advantage is real: money that leaves your current account before you notice it is money you do not spend. Plum's automation turns saving from a deliberate choice you have to make each month into a background process that happens regardless.
Investing and ISA Features
Plum's investment products are designed for people who want exposure to markets without picking stocks themselves. You choose a risk level and Plum builds a diversified portfolio. You can invest from as little as £1.
The Stocks and Shares ISA (Pro and Max plans) wraps your investments in a tax-efficient wrapper. The Lifetime ISA (Pro and Max) adds the 25% government bonus for first-home purchases or retirement. Plum also offers a Cash ISA (Plus and above) for tax-free cash savings.
Investment fees vary by plan. Check the current fee schedule in the app before committing significant sums, as the percentage-based charges compound over time and can meaningfully affect long-term returns compared to cheaper platforms.
Common Questions
Is Plum safe?
Yes. Plum is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Cash held in Plum savings accounts is covered by FSCS protection up to £85,000 per person through the partner banks that hold the deposits. Investments are covered by FSCS protection up to £85,000 in the event of Plum or the underlying platform failing, though this does not protect against investment losses from market movements.
How does Plum decide how much to save?
Plum's algorithm analyses your income, regular spending, and upcoming bills to calculate an affordable amount. It looks at spending patterns over several weeks to understand your financial rhythm, then suggests transfers that should leave you with enough for bills and day-to-day living. You can adjust the intensity up or down. The system learns over time and refines its suggestions as it gathers more data about your spending.
Which Plum plan is best value?
Start with the free Basic plan to test the automation. If you find it saving meaningful amounts and you want the Cash ISA or multiple saving Pockets, upgrade to Plus at £3.99/month. Pro at £5.99/month makes sense if you also want to invest through Plum. Max at £14.99/month only makes sense if you use all the features and the higher limits matter to you.
Can I use Plum just for saving without investing?
Yes. The Basic and Plus plans cover saving features without pushing you into investments. You can use Plum's automation to build a cash savings buffer without ever opening an investment account. The savings are held with partner banks and earn interest depending on the current rate and your plan tier.
Is Plum better than Moneybox for a Lifetime ISA?
Moneybox is the UK's largest Lifetime ISA provider and the app is purpose-built around home-buying goals. Plum also offers a LISA (on Pro and Max plans) alongside its automation features. Pick Moneybox if the LISA is your main reason for signing up. Pick Plum if you want the LISA as part of a broader automated saving and investing setup.
How do I withdraw money from Plum?
Withdrawals are made through the app to your linked bank account. Cash savings typically arrive within one to two working days. Investment withdrawals take longer because the underlying funds need to be sold first, typically five to ten working days. There are no withdrawal fees on Plum, though investment sales may crystallise gains or losses for tax purposes outside an ISA wrapper.
I use Plum's auto-invest feature weekly and have money invested through the platform. The automation is what keeps me using it. I do not have to remember to transfer money or decide how much to invest each month. Plum figures it out and does it.
I also have savings on Raisin and investments elsewhere. Plum is not my only platform and I would not recommend it as the only place you keep your money. The automation is the unique selling point. Everything else (rates, investment options, pension tools) is good enough but not best-in-class.
The free plan is a good way to test whether the automation works for you. If Plum consistently saves money you would have otherwise spent, upgrading to Plus or Pro is easy to justify. If the automation does not click with your financial habits, no plan tier will fix that.
I’m Steven, founder of MoneyAppReviews. I test money apps, referral programs, and EV tools in real life before I write about them. I drive a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range, use Octopus Intelligent Go for home charging, and regularly track costs, savings, and app performance over time. I focus on practical, evidence-based reviews that help people decide what is actually worth using, not just what pays the highest commission.