An Xplan Alternative with AI Across Your Tech Stack
Choose Workspace to bring clients, pipeline and fees together, or keep your existing tech stack and use Weave across it. Compare the operational fit for your firm below.
30 minutes. No sales pressure.
Why firms look at alternatives to Xplan.
Said plainly, and with credit where it's due.
For firms with the scale and resource to configure and run a broad, deeply customisable platform, Xplan may well be the right choice. We don't describe Xplan's features, pricing or terms here; they change, and Iress's own documentation is the right source. Instead, the comparison below shows what Glimzer does and what to confirm with Iress directly.
Advisers who come to us usually want something simpler: a system that works out of the box, is quick to use day to day, and shows them how the firm is performing across pipeline, introducers and revenue. That is the job Glimzer is built for.
Glimzer and Xplan at a glance.
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.
Swipe across to compare Glimzer and Xplan.
| Glimzer | What to check with Xplan | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Workspace CRM for financial advice firms. 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. |
| Works across your existing tech stack | Use Weave across your CRM, Microsoft 365 and supported business tools. Choose Workspace when you want to move your CRM to Glimzer. | 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. Migration scope and costs are confirmed in your proposal. | 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 | Workspace, Weave and a combined package, with indicative early-access prices published on the pricing page. | Ask for full pricing in writing, including seats, add-ons, onboarding and anything usage-based. |
| Data residency | Workspace and Weave customer content is stored and processed in the UK, with encryption 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 implementation and ongoing 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.
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. If that's your firm, it may well be the right tool.
Glimzer is built for
UK financial advice firms ready for a connected CRM with Workspace, or looking to add Weave AI alongside their existing systems.
When Glimzer is not the right fit.
We'd rather tell you now than after a demo.
You need an enterprise platform with every front-to-back module under one roof and deep custom configuration. Glimzer is deliberately focused on pipeline, clients and the day-to-day running of an advice firm.
You're a large enterprise or network that needs specific deep integrations we don't yet offer. Ask us, and we'll tell you honestly.
Growth and pipeline visibility genuinely aren't priorities for your firm right now.
Ready to move, or keeping your tech stack?
Choose Workspace for a new CRM, or use Weave across your current systems.
Workspace brings client records and operations together, with Weave available as an optional add-on. Standalone Weave uses context from your CRM, Microsoft 365 and supported business tools to prepare work for review.
Migration and terms.
White-glove migration is included for accepted design partners, with scope and timing agreed before onboarding. Other firms receive a tailored proposal. See our published pricing for the full terms.
Glimzer was selected for FinTech Scotland's Financial Regulation Innovation Lab, with the FCA involved throughout · Member of FinTech Scotland, the NatWest Accelerator and Manchester Digital · Connects to multiple UK investment platforms through a single FINIO integration
Frequently asked questions.
Can I migrate my data from Xplan to Glimzer?
Yes. We handle migration end to end and work with you to move your data across cleanly, whichever system you are coming from. Accepted design partners receive migration at no cost, with scope and timing agreed before onboarding. Other firms receive a tailored proposal.
Do I have to replace Xplan all at once?
Use Weave across your existing CRM, Microsoft 365 and supported business tools. Choose Workspace when you want to move your CRM to Glimzer.
Is there a contract or lock-in with Glimzer?
No. There are no lock-ins and no long contracts: you pay monthly and can leave anytime, and you can export your data in standard formats whenever you like.
Where is my data stored?
All data is hosted in UK data centres and encrypted in transit and at rest. Glimzer is Cyber Essentials certified and ICO registered.
How is Glimzer different from a broad back-office suite?
Glimzer is a Workspace CRM: it is built to show advisers how the firm is performing and where to act, across pipeline, introducers and business performance, rather than primarily to store records. It works out of the box without a configuration project, and is best suited to growth-minded UK advice firms.
Glimzer vs Xplan
The dimension-by-dimension comparison for evaluators.
CRM for financial advisers
The Workspace CRM for UK financial advice firms and financial planners.
Sales pipeline for financial advisers
Kanban, heat scoring, weighted value, fees and next steps.
Pricing
Monthly, role-based pricing. No lock-ins, no long contracts.
Choose a New CRM or Keep Your Tech Stack.
Bring client records, pipeline and fees together in Workspace, or use standalone Weave across your CRM, Microsoft 365 and supported business tools.
Request a demoYour client data.
Protected at every step.
Glimzer is built on enterprise-grade security to protect your firm’s work and your clients’ data. UK hosting, encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access controls and daily backups keep protection built into every step.
Your data stays yours. Customer inputs, outputs and documents are not used to train underlying AI models.
- Cyber EssentialsCertified
- UK GDPRData protection
- UK hostingCustomer data
- No model trainingYour data stays yours