Provider comparison
People's Pension vs Penfold
Side-by-side comparison from the PerkIQ directory. Cover, pricing, regulator status, and fit at a glance.
Category
Pension & Retirement
Pension & Retirement
Best for
1-10,000+ employees
1-500 employees
Pricing model
0.5% AMC; small monthly admin charge
0.75% AMC for members
UK presence
Since 2012
Since 2018
Regulator
TPR
TPR
Strapline
People's Pension is a not-for-profit master trust, one of the UK's largest workplace pension providers with over 6 million members. Strong default fund performance and competitive fees.
Penfold is a digital workplace pension built for modern SMEs and self-employed workers. Simple setup, transparent fees, and a beautiful app that members actually engage with.
What's included
- Master trust authorised by TPR. Independently governed by an experienced trustee board, with regulatory oversight from The Pensions Regulator.
- Strong default fund. Multi-asset, responsibly-managed default fund that has consistently outperformed peers over rolling 5-year windows.
- Direct payroll integrations. Native integrations with Sage, Xero, Iris, BrightHR and others for automated contribution submission.
- Online employer dashboard. Self-service employer portal for managing enrolments, contributions, and opt-outs without paperwork.
- Mobile-first member experience. Polished iOS and Android app where members see balances, change contributions, switch funds, and project retirement income.
- Self-serve employer setup. Sign up online and start auto-enrolment in under 30 minutes. No paperwork or broker required.
- Sustainable default fund. ESG-aligned default fund with explicit climate and exclusion screens.
- Self-employed + employer in one app. Contractors and consultants can continue contributing between gigs without opening a separate scheme.
Who it's for
- SMEs and larger employers: an established, not-for-profit master trust with broad payroll compatibility.
- High-turnover or lower-paid workforces: straightforward administration and universal acceptance.
- Employers wanting a recognised, low-fuss scheme: a long-standing provider focused on core auto-enrolment.
- Employers wanting cutting-edge engagement tools: the member experience is functional rather than app-led.
- Schemes needing bespoke, advised governance: better served by a tailored arrangement.
- Modern SMEs: a clean, app-led pension that members actually open and engage with.
- Businesses with contractors or self-employed staff: employees and the self-employed can use one app, useful for blended workforces.
- Employers prioritising simplicity: quick setup and transparent fees over legacy scale.
- Very large employers: master trusts like NEST or Smart Pension offer more scale and track record.
- Schemes needing complex, advised governance: Penfold is built for straightforward auto-enrolment.
At a glance
- TPR authorised
- Not-for-profit (B&CE)
- 6m+ members
- Auto-enrolment ready
- Strong default fund
- Direct & broker channels
- TPR authorised
- Founded 2018, London
- Self-employed & employer plans
- Mobile-first member experience
- 0.75% AMC
- Free employer onboarding
Pick the right one with data, not a sales pitch
Score your benefits stack with PerkIQ and you'll see which of these (or another provider entirely) closes the biggest gaps for your team.
Information on this page is editorial, gathered from public sources and the providers' own materials, and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation. For a quote, contact each provider directly or speak to an FCA-authorised broker. PerkIQ is not a reseller and earns no commission on provider sign-ups.
