Glimzer vs Xplan: an honest comparison for UK advice firms
You're weighing Glimzer against Iress Xplan. We don't try to tell you what Xplan does; that's Iress's story to tell. Instead, this page shows what Glimzer does on each dimension that matters, and what to confirm with Iress directly so you can compare fairly.
30 minutes. No sales pressure.
At a glance
Enterprise depth, or focused speed.
Xplan is one of the most capable platforms in UK advice: an enterprise-grade, deeply customisable front-to-back office system used by some of the UK's largest wealth firms. That capability is a genuine strength. For its current features, pricing and terms, check Iress's own public documentation.
Glimzer is the growth CRM for financial advice firms: a newer, deliberately focused platform built to show advisers how the firm is performing and where to act: a sales pipeline built for advice, business-performance reporting and first-class introducer tracking, in one modern place that works out of the box without a configuration project.
The comparison
The comparison, dimension by dimension.
We don't describe Xplan's features, pricing or terms here; they change, and Iress's own documentation is the right source. Each row shows what Glimzer does and the question to put to Iress so you can compare like for like.
| Glimzer | What to check with Xplan | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Growth CRM: see and grow your firm, not just store it. Pipeline, business performance and introducer tracking in one place. | Ask what the platform is primarily designed around, and whether growth visibility or record-keeping leads the product. |
| Sales pipeline built for advice | Kanban stages, heat and health scoring, weighted pipeline value, expected fees, and a clear next step on every opportunity. | Ask how new business is tracked day to day: stages, lead scoring, weighted values and expected fees on each opportunity. |
| Business-performance reporting | See how the firm is performing and where to act: pipeline, revenue and activity at a glance. | Ask what firm-level dashboards and reports are included as standard, and what needs exports or extra BI tools. |
| Introducer & referral tracking | First class: see who referred each client and which relationships drive new business. | Ask whether introducer and referral tracking is built in or needs an add-on, and how source-of-business is reported. |
| Configurable workflows | Pipeline stages, reviews and tasks set up around how your firm works. | Ask how workflows, tasks and custom fields are configured, who does that configuration, and what it costs. |
| Runs alongside your existing CRM | Yes. The sales pipeline runs standalone alongside your current system; expanding to the full CRM later is optional. | Ask whether any module can be licensed standalone alongside your current system, or whether it is all-or-nothing. |
| Investment platform data | Multiple UK investment platforms through a single FINIO integration. | Ask which platform valuation feeds your firm would actually use, how they are delivered, and whether they cost extra. |
| Migration | We migrate you ourselves. Free fast migration is a current design-partner offer (subject to change). | Ask who carries out the migration, how long it typically takes, what it costs, and what you are expected to do yourselves. |
| Contracts | No lock-ins, no long contracts. Leave anytime. | Ask about minimum terms, notice periods and auto-renewal before you sign, and get the answer in writing. |
| Pricing transparency | Role-based monthly prices published on our pricing page. | Ask for full pricing in writing, including seats, add-ons, onboarding and anything usage-based. |
| Data residency | Data hosted in UK data centres, encrypted at rest and in transit. | Ask where client data is hosted, whether it ever leaves the UK, and what certifications back that up. |
| Support | Hands-on, founder-level support from a team that knows UK advice. | Ask what support is included in the licence, its hours, and any response-time or uptime commitments. |
Xplan is a trademark of its respective owner; Glimzer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Xplan. This page does not describe Xplan's features, pricing or terms; those change and are best confirmed directly with Xplan from their own documentation. If anything here is inaccurate, email contact@glimzer.com and we'll correct it promptly.
Fit
Who each platform suits.
Xplan may suit
Larger firms and networks that want a deeply customisable front-to-back office platform and have the resource to configure and maintain it.
Glimzer is built for
Growth-minded UK advice firms, introducer- and referral-driven, across wealth and financial planning, pensions and investments.
Honesty first
When Glimzer is not the right fit.
An honest comparison cuts both ways.
You need an enterprise feature set, module for module, with deep custom configuration. Glimzer is deliberately focused on pipeline, clients and running an advice firm.
You depend on specific deep integrations we don't yet offer. Ask us, and we'll tell you honestly before you commit to anything.
You want the reassurance of a platform with decades of market history; we're an early-stage company and say so plainly.
Start small
Not an all-or-nothing decision.
Add Glimzer's pipeline alongside Xplan first; expanding later is optional.
Run Glimzer's sales pipeline standalone alongside your current system, prove the value on new business, and expanding to the full Glimzer CRM later is optional. We migrate you ourselves: free fast migration is a current design-partner offer (subject to change). Separately, and always: no lock-ins, no long contracts, leave anytime.
Recognised by the judges of the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab, a programme run in partnership with FinTech Scotland and the FCA · Member of FinTech Scotland, the NatWest Accelerator and Manchester Digital · Connects to multiple UK investment platforms through a single FINIO integration
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Is Glimzer a replacement for Xplan?
It can be. Glimzer can run the whole firm: pipeline, clients, reviews, fees, documents and reporting. Some firms switch fully; others start by running Glimzer's sales pipeline alongside Xplan, and expanding later is optional.
Can Glimzer import my Xplan data?
Yes. We handle migration personally and work with you to move your data across cleanly. Free fast migration is a current design-partner offer (subject to change).
Which is better for a growing firm?
It depends on what you value. Glimzer is built specifically for growth-minded UK firms that want pipeline visibility and introducer tracking without a configuration project. Firms with the scale and resource to configure a broad enterprise platform may prefer Xplan. Book a 30-minute demo and we'll be honest about fit.
How do the contracts differ?
With Glimzer there are no lock-ins and no long contracts: you pay monthly and can leave anytime. Vendors' minimum terms, notice periods and renewal arrangements vary and change, so ask Iress for their current terms in writing before you sign.
Where is my data stored with Glimzer?
All data is hosted in UK data centres and encrypted in transit and at rest. Glimzer is Cyber Essentials certified and ICO registered.
Xplan alternative
Thinking about switching? Start with the switcher's view.
Glimzer vs Intelliflo
How Glimzer compares with the market-leading back office.
CRM for financial advisers
The growth CRM for UK financial advice firms and financial planners.
Sales pipeline for financial advisers
Kanban, heat scoring, weighted value, fees and next steps.
Decide with the product in front of you.
Book a 30-minute demo and we'll show you Glimzer on your firm's kind of work, and be honest about fit.
No sales pressure.