Are you winning or losing in the workplace pension ‘postcode lottery’?

Millions of employees are being failed by outdated and poorly designed pension platforms, making them a form of ‘postcode lottery’.

That’s what the findings of a new report from BehindLogin show. The report ‘Master Trust Pension App Experience Benchmark 2025‘ analysed 10 major workplace pension providers and found there were stark differences in how easy the platforms were to access and use, and how tricky it could, therefore, be for customers to keep on top of what’s going into their pension, how their funds are performing, and whether they’re on track to have enough money in retirement.

Why does this matter so much? Well, unlike with say, banking or your personal pensions, you don’t get to choose the provider of your workplace pension. If your employer picks a bad one, you’re stuck – no matter how poor the app, fund performance, or fees.

You can transfer your pension after you’ve left the job (and we’ve got all the pension fund performance figures here if you’re looking to swap) but if you’re still with your employer and you want to access the benefits of a workplace pension, you’re locked in to whichever brand your company chooses.

The good news is that not all pension providers are making things hard for customers.

The report highlights a few that are offering smart, easy-to-use tools that are explained in plain English, which can actually help savers engage with their pensions. But the report was clear that too many are stuck in the past with clunky platforms, confusing interfaces, and off-putting, jargon-heavy language.

That’s not just inconvenient – it’s dangerous. If poor digital tools stop you from checking and staying on top of your pension, then you could miss out on opportunities to take actions worth tens of thousands of pounds to you in retirement.

We’re also saying that at a time when the UK faces a looming retirement income crisis, this lack of engagement is a national concern.

Winners and Losers

The report awards top spot to Standard Life, praising its user-friendly customer journeys, its ability to demystify charts and figures, and impressive forecasting tools that allow customers to plan ahead with more accuracy and see the tangible benefits of saving more. Runner-up was Scottish Widows, followed by Legal & General, both of which showed that it is possible to make managing pensions straightforward and engaging.

Of the ten workplace pension providers tested in total, NatWest Cushon, Nest, Aegon and Fidelity PlanViewer had the lowest scores overall, with BehindLogin noting that providers at the bottom end of the table have been evolving too slowly for a fast-moving world, and need to do more to encourage trust, engagement, and better outcomes for millions of savers.

We’re calling on pension providers to view digital tools not as an afterthought, but as a critical lever for boosting financial literacy and long-term savings.