Where can you get the best life insurance policy out there today? When you're younger, you may feel invincible, as if you'll never grow old or need anything as "grown-up" as life insurance. Then there is a tragic loss of a friend or loved one which shakes your foundation and makes you realize that maybe it could happen to you, too. For example, perhaps you've had your first child, leading you to realize that if something were to happen to you, it would be important to provide for his future.
Best Option
Ladder says they focus on three things to help their customers: speed, ease, and affordability. The special feature of their term life insurance products is called "laddering," in which an insured person can choose to increase or decrease coverage at any time. This company seems to understand the needs of today's life insurance shoppers with their all-digital process and flexible term life coverage.
Completely digital and customizable with money-back guarantee
Ladder is a 100% digital company providing term life insurance with "no doctors, no needles, no paperwork." Additionally, if you're not completely happy, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee with no cancellation fees. The laddering process permits the insured person to adjust coverage as life's changes dictate. If your child grows up or you pay down your mortgage, you won't need as much insurance, whereas if you buy a new home or add to your family, you may want to increase your coverage. There is no limit to how often you can change the policy, and there is no fee for this service. This is the only company to offer such a flexible policy and we love it.
Let's get started
In just a few minutes and with a few questions, Ladder can provide you up to $3,000,000 in term life insurance. (If you want more coverage, they may require a free medical exam.) Questions you are asked include your height and weight, birthdate, gender, state of birth and citizenship status, basic family health, nicotine use, and annual income. From those answers, you are provided with a recommended coverage amount and cost per day. You can tinker with it to change the years of coverage (from 10-30) and amount of coverage. After seeing the estimate, you are asked more questions such as occupation, hobbies with a high risk, travel plans, drug use, criminal activity, more health questions (including asking for medical conditions not disclosed), other life insurance, and then your name, email address, physical address, phone number, drivers license, physician's information. From here you are given a recommended policy and cost, and you can complete the application for coverage.
Term life only, with flexibility
Ladder offers only term life insurance, but they refer to it as "flexible term life insurance." The term lengths are available from 10 to 30 years, but your age plus the term length cannot exceed 70 (though rules differ in New York). While the policy may be approved online within five minutes, it's possible it could take up to a few weeks if the company chooses to get medical records from your doctor.
Website provides guidance
The easy-to-navigate website for Ladder also includes some helpful information as you navigate the life insurance process. Life insurance basics gives answers to FAQs, while a blog offers advice for newlyweds, insurance tips for stay-at-home partners, and other topics of interest. An insurance calculator can help you figure out just how large of a policy you want.
Costs can be adjusted to meet your needs
Ladder boasts that they provide coverage that "doesn't break the bank" or have hidden fees. A $300,000 20-year policy with our sample information was estimated to cost $1.55 per day (about $47 per month) while a 10-year policy with $100,000 in coverage cost $0.69 per day (about $21 per month). This is, of course, just an estimate but it helps to give you a ballpark without giving out too much of your personal information. While your premium for a term policy typically stays the same, if you choose their "laddering" feature, your decreased coverage would lower the premium while increased coverage would make it higher.
Customers are raving about Ladder
With accreditation from the BBB, Ladder has earned an impressive "A+" rating receiving just three complaints over the past three years. Trustpilot reviewers have overwhelmingly approved of Ladder's insurance policies, giving the company 4.9 out of 5 stars in over 2,800 reviews, nearly 2,600 of them 5-star ratings. Happy customers mentioned they were pleased with the advice from their agent while others were grateful not to have to talk to anyone at all during the process (we like this flexibility for client preference). Positive experiences also mentioned the easy and straightforward process as well as the reasonable prices. "I don't know how they do it, but they make the whole process of insurance super easy and massively affordable!" raved one pleased customer. The small amount of negative reviews on the platform were nearly two years old but complained about misleading premiums being advertised, poor customer service, and difficulty reaching a person with a question.
Our top choice for online life insurance
When you want a term life policy without a lot of hassle, Ladder offers a unique product which has received rave reviews. With a 30-day money-back guarantee and changing coverage as your needs change, Ladder has climbed to the top of our life insurance list.
Great
Promising life insurance or a will "in 10 minutes," Ethos offers a streamlined process for those seeking coverage. The company was founded in 2016 by someone who was upsold an expensive life insurance policy he didn't need and couldn't afford, so he wanted to make it easier for people to find simple and affordable coverage. Ethos is licensed to provide insurance in 49 states plus Washington, D.C. (New York is excluded.)
All-digital broker with a guarantee
Promising that they "do life insurance differently," Ethos has a 100% online, hassle-free application process. Additionally, they do not require medical exams (for most people) and offer same-day coverage. If that wasn't enough, Ethos even offers a money-back guarantee. If you're unhappy with your policy in the first 30 days for any reason, they will refund your payment in full and there are no cancellation fees. As a life insurance broker, Ethos offers you the convenience of comparing policies from some of the top companies without added policy costs. They work with such companies as Legal & General America, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., TruStage, Protective Life Insurance Company, Mutual of Omaha, and John Hancock Life Insurance Company (USA.)
Thorough quote process without being lengthy
To receive a speedy quote, Ethos asks for your gender, age, ZIP code, health (average, great, or excellent), nicotine use, and estimated credit. You'll have a basic estimate for a monthly rate on the policy, along with an adjustable coverage amount and term length. To get a real rate, you will be asked for some additional information - goal for life insurance, financial dependents, coverage timeline, number of children, estate plan, remaining debt, country and state of birth, birthdate, legal name, driver's license, Social Security number, personal and family medical history, and current prescription information (to give them an idea of your health without an exam). You may be asked about your legal and driving history, health insurance history, employment and income status, lifestyle and hobbies, and drug and alcohol use. The entire process takes about five minutes. Ethos says you can withdraw from the application process at any time without a penalty, and if you decide to go forward with their offer, you confirm with an electronic signature to receive coverage. A licensed expert will help to make sure your coverage is what you need.
Choose from three policy types
Ethos offers three types of policies: term life, whole life, and guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance. When you answer their brief questions, they make a basic decision for you about which would best meet your needs from the following options:
Riders may be added to offer extra protection, though specific ones are not listed on the Ethos website.
Easy-to-use website with helpful explanations
The Ethos website is very easy to navigate, with plenty of informational sections to help you understand the complicated insurance process. With lists of FAQs to sections on choosing the best type of insurance for your situation, the website is a great tool as you are deciding what you need. The appropriately named page "Life Insurance 101" gives a crash course in all things related to buying a life insurance policy.
Get a fast estimate without too much personal information
A 10-year term policy for $100,000 coverage started between $15 and $24 per month when we calculated on Ethos. A chart on their website shows the costs of two term policies of differing coverage amounts to provide further estimates. For example, a healthy, 35-year-old non-smoking female may pay $21 a month for a 20-year term policy with $500,000 in coverage. However, since the "instant quote" is easy to get and provides a general idea without giving personal information, that's the best way to find out a cost estimate.
Free estate planning tools
Eligible Ethos policyholders are given the opportunity to try estate planning tools for free, if desired. This includes creating a legal will, a living trust, power of attorney, healthcare directive, and medical consent, though they are not available in South Dakota or Washington.
Over 3,000 5-star reviews
As a BBB-accredited business, Ethos has earned an "A-" rating as a result of receiving 38 complaints in the past three years (though their website says they have an "A+"). The decline seems related to a number of complaints filed recently (10 in the past month at the time we visited the website). Across online review platforms, people are overall pleased with the company, giving them 4.5 to 4.7 stars out of 5 - with over 3,000 5-star reviews. Satisfied customers say Ethos offers a simple process, is user-friendly, has great prices, and provides knowledgeable assistance. Negative experiences include difficulty canceling and receiving a refund, getting harassing phone calls after deciding not to go with the company, and having their information shared with third-party affiliates. It seems most people who buy policies with Ethos posted high ratings, while others complained of solicitation calls after quitting the application process.
Excellent choice for life insurance broker
If you prefer to compare rates and policies in one place, Ethos offers the best option among the platforms on our list. With a money-back guarantee and free estate planning tools, we confidently recommend their services.
Very Good
Fabric by Gerber Life offers fast and affordable instant term life insurance coverage without a medical exam to help you protect your children's futures. The co-founders started Fabric by Gerber Life to assist parents in doing some of the intimidating tasks on their to-do lists, such as purchasing life insurance.
Satisfaction guarantee and a free will
Offering a 30-day money-back guarantee, Fabric by Gerber Life wants to make sure you are happy with the life insurance policy they provide for you. They claim you will not receive any sales calls, which is a huge advantage for those shopping for life insurance (especially when you read reviews of some of the competitors). The policies are issued by Western & Southern Financial Group, Gerber Life Agency's parent company, which dates back to 1888. (Fabric by Gerber Life started in 2015 but was acquired by Gerber Life in 2022.) Another benefit is their 100% free digital will that can be made online in five minutes by answering a few questions, then printing it out and having it witnessed to make it legally binding.
Quick quotes lead to a policy in under 10 minutes
In order to receive a quick quote in just a few clicks without giving much personal information, find the drop-down life insurance menu and click on "get a quote." Based on your age, gender, state of residence, tobacco use, and health rating (ok, good, or excellent), you're offered an estimate (not a quote). Adjust the coverage amount and policy length as desired to find what you're wanting. To find the policy that's right for you in under 10 minutes, Fabric by Gerber Life asks you to input your age, state, and desired coverage amount. To get your price you have to provide an email address and then you are asked to take their "honesty pledge" and there's a cute "pinky promise" graphic at the top of the page to confirm a list of items.
Continue the process
Following that, you give your personal information including name, gender, birthdate and place, citizenship status, home address, and phone number. To continue the process, input employment and income information, hobbies, nicotine use, travel, legal troubles, height and weight, health questions, physician information, Social Security number, drivers license, and beneficiary information. Then they will review the information and application. The process took a bit longer than some others and asked for a lot of information to get a quote. You can tailor your term length and coverage amounts to your personal needs and get covered instantly. It was a bit of a process to get to the actual quote, but we appreciated the ability to receive a quick estimate.
Easy-to-follow information on website
Fabric by Gerber Life's user-friendly website offers a lot of information if you want to read about the ins and outs of life insurance or understand something more clearly. FAQs to help you better follow the process can also be found on the website.
Term life with more coverage for less money than competitors
Fabric by Gerber Life asserts that there are never any hidden fees and coverage can be canceled by you at any time, with customers between ages 25 to 50 getting their best prices. The website provides some cost estimates from actual customer policy purchases - $26.45 per month for a $500,000 policy with a 30-year term, $28.02 per month for a $750,000 policy with a 10-year term, and $19.76 for a $250,000 policy with a 20-year term - just to mention a few. Elsewhere on the Fabric by Gerber Life website, it says a 25-year-old female with $100,000 in coverage can get insurance for $7.85 per month (term unspecified). Additionally, the website says $1 per day can get you $1,500,000 in life insurance; a comparison chart shows that Fabric by Gerber Life's $1 per day gets significantly more coverage than competitors Bestow, Ethos, Prudential, Ladder, and State Farm.
Apps to make it easier
Fabric by Gerber Life offers apps for iOS and Android to help with the to-do list. On the app, you can apply for life insurance, create a will at no cost, open investment accounts for kids, and more. Google Play users have rated the app 3.8 out of 5 stars, complaining of bugs and forced closing. The Apple App Store rates it quite a bit better with 4.8 out of 5 stars, though recent reviewers also mention the bugs they are experiencing. The app is not a requirement to get life insurance, but if it works, it could be more convenient for users.
Happy customers overall
Fabric by Gerber Life is accredited by the BBB with an "A+" rating and no complaints. Across online review platforms, users give the company 3.9 to 4.6 stars out of 5 across nearly 2,400 reviews. Positive reviews say the process was easy and smooth, as well as fast and affordable. One noted that she liked not having to wait for a phone call from a sales rep for a quote. Negative reviews cited difficulty connecting with a live person, receiving a timely answer, being flooded with solicitation emails, and having to answer "invasive" questions to get a quote. With many of the reviewers talking about the no-cost will or the investment accounts, it's hard to know how many are actually rating the life insurance products.
A great choice for term life
For those seeking term life at a low cost, Fabric by Gerber Life offers a great choice. With an option to get a complimentary will and a money-back guarantee, we suggest checking out what this life insurance company has to offer for you.
Very Good
Online life insurance broker Everyday Life claims to have the largest selection of online policies with licensed experts available to help you get a personalized life insurance policy. Their mission is to simplify the process and provide live experts to answer your questions and get you coverage within 15 minutes.
Simplified online insurance from trusted providers
Working as a broker with a simplified online process, Everyday Life streamlines life insurance shopping by only offering what you need or want. They do not provide the insurance policies themselves but instead connect you with one of their recommended companies when you complete their quote form. Legal & General, Prudential, TruStage, SBLI, Fidelity Life, and Assurity are some insurers they work with. The easy-to-complete form will provide you with a quote or, if you would prefer a free consultation with one of the Everyday Life experts, you can schedule a phone call using their online tool. The company says they are different because their background is in finance and technology instead of insurance, centering their service around finding the best financial solution online quickly.
True quotes without personal contact information
Everyday Life has a quote calculator called "The Ultimate Life Insurance Calculator," designed to analyze your information using predictive intelligence, giving you a custom policy that adapts to your needs. Input your gender, age, state, and nicotine use. After submitting the information, you are asked to choose the type of policy you want, provide customization, and apply online. Alternatively, there is a button you can click to get help making a choice. After choosing you are asked for your address, date of birth, employment status, height, weight, health issues, income, and unlawful behaviors.
Customize your quote
Then you are provided with a quote for a policy, which you can customize based on your preferences. We really like the fact that we can get a true quote without providing an email address or phone number. The policy benefits are listed on this page, including why they suggested the amount of coverage they did as well as the recommended company. If you choose to select the policy and continue, you are then completing an online application. However, if you still want more information on the policy, you'll have to call them.
Term life, no-exam term, and whole life offered
Everyday Life offers traditional term life, simplified issue term life, and whole life. Some of their term policies may be convertible to permanent insurance. Here's what you should know:
Calling their insurance "Smart Life Insurance" with the technology of Predictive Protection, Everyday Life says they are the only company in the industry that "automatically calibrates" your insurance to fit your life.
Helpful articles on life insurance topics
Once you are on the calculator page, it's impossible to navigate to the main information website without starting a new search for the company's website, which was slightly frustrating. However, it's worth looking around the website to explore their Life Insurance Glossary, which puts into simple language common terms encountered when seeking a life insurance policy. A very helpful article called "The Essential Guide to Smart Life Insurance" is also available, taking the time to break down what insurance should include, what people need, when they should have life insurance and when they don't need it, and the costs. One "oops" we noticed is that the FAQ page is incomplete, a small blemish upon an otherwise excellent website.
Easy-to-compare cost estimates
A general cost estimate for Everyday Life policies is given when you input the basic information on the calculator. For example, a $500,000 traditional term life policy for 20 years starts at $18.25 per month, while a simplified issue with $100,000 starts at $42.50 per month. On the other hand, a $50,000 whole life policy starts at $58.50 per month.
Customers are pleased
An accredited business by the BBB, Everyday Life has earned an impressive "A+" rating with no complaints in the seven years the company has been in business. Across online review platforms, the company has received 4.8 out of 5 stars, from over 250 reviews. Some reviews are helpful, such as calling the process quick, easy, and hassle-free. Positive reviews were happy that the online application was not repetitive, customer service people were knowledgeable and friendly, and one reviewer even called it the "100% best insurance experience ever." Some reviews were a little strange, such as including a selfie in it, hoping the policy "all works out," and saying, "I'm a bit lost" while giving the company 4 stars.
An up-and-comer in the online life insurance field
Providing easy-to-understand quotes without personal contact information, Everyday Life knows what shoppers want. While the company is still working to establish themselves as a name in the broker field, with what we've seen, we can recommend giving them a chance as you look for a life insurance policy.
Good
Beginning as a software startup in 2001, eFinancial has helped over 900,000 policy holders since 2010 receive over $135 billion in coverage. As a result, they bring together the best technology with a personal touch to the life insurance market. They say they're "in the business of helping you take care of your family."
Lots of options for policy providers
As a broker, eFinancial offers convenience of looking at many different life insurance companies at the same time, without an added cost to your policy. Top-rated providers Fidelity Life, Protective, Mutual of Omaha, Carebridge, Prudential, and Transamerica are some of the companies used by eFinancial to give their policy quotes. It's great that you have so many options if you choose to use eFinancial.
No quote without personal contact information
To receive a fast and free life insurance quote, provide your name, gender, date of birth, email, and rating for your overall health. They say you will get a quote in under a minute (but emphasize that this is just a starting point, noting that eFinancial's licensed agents work closely with clients by phone to meet their exact needs). Agents are available by phone if you would prefer to talk to someone to compare quotes. They say they want to be a "one-stop resource" for all of your life insurance needs by helping you compare in a single call or online quote, assigning a dedicated agent, offering top companies, and working with you one-on-one at every stage of life. According to their FAQs, same-day coverage is available in many cases. While other companies give you a quote right there on the website, eFinancial thanks you for contacting them and says an agent is reviewing your information and will contact you shortly before offering links to three companies (redirecting you to start the process all over again).
Term life, permanent life, and final expense policies
There are three types of life insurance policy options offered by eFinancial: term life, permanent life, and final expense. Some policies will include a trial period or allow to convert a term life policy into a permanent plan. Here are some things to know:
Riders can further customize your policy as needed, for an extra cost. Available riders from eFinancial include living benefit, accidental death benefit, waiver of premium disability, terminal illness, guaranteed issue life insurance, return of premium, child, and inflation. An agent can best guide you as to which of these riders you may want, while the glossary on the eFinancial website will explain the basics for you.
Excellent website tools
The eFinancial website offers many tools to aid you on your life insurance quest. There is a term life insurance calculator which provides an estimate to help you figure out just what you will need in a policy. An extensive FAQ page helps to answer questions you may not even think to ask, while the glossary page defines the tricky terms you may come across as you seek the policy to best fit your needs. The website also offers a blog to explain topics including how to compare life insurance quotes, benefits of whole life insurance, expenses that life insurance covers, and common life insurance scams.
No general prices to be found here
According to their FAQs, a $250,000 term life policy for a healthy 30-year-old woman can start at $15 per month. Policies can be paid for in either monthly or annual installments. Unfortunately, no estimates are available without giving your personal information. We wish eFinancial would provide a general idea for those who are just looking but don't want to give out personal information or get on a call list (see the complaints of those who did).
Customers mostly happy but beware the sales calls
A BBB accredited business, eFinancial has earned an "A+" rating, with less than 10 complaints in the past year. Across online review platforms, users are mostly happy with the service received from this life insurance broker, with over 1,100 5-star reviews. Rankings range from 3.6 to 3.9 out of 5 stars on smaller review sites to 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Pleased customers rave about the attention received from their agents, the simple process, and the professionalism of the agents. Alternatively, some negative reviews accuse the company of "misleading and duplicitous" practices, calling them "complete scammers" for lowered coverage amounts after being issued a policy, and saying they have "been bombarded with incessant daily calls" after their online quote inquiries. It seems that those who actually choose to get a policy from eFinancial are very happy, while those who are just shopping find them frustrating to deal with.
Just above average
When seeking online life insurance, we would like to get an idea of a price before we give out our contact information and eFinancial won't do that. When combined with their established history and customer satisfaction ratings, we place them as an above-average option with some room to improve, when searching for life insurance online.
Average
SBLI (which stands for Savings Bank Life Insurance) has been protecting you and your loved ones with affordable life insurance solutions since 1907 in 49 states and Washington, DC (New York is excluded). With over a million customers and $180 billion of life insurance in force, SBLI puts their policyholders first to provide trusted service, affordable pricing, and broad coverage options.
Personal touch
The main difference between themselves and other life insurance providers, according to SBLI, is what they call "The SBLI Idea." This means they guarantee to put you first and treat you like a friend in all of their dealings with you. The company was founded to be an easy solution for working-class families. The six ways they are different include not being publicly traded but instead owned by policyholders, only selling life insurance, providing unique solutions for their clients, being a small company, offering affordable protection, and listening to customers.
Quick quotes
Saying "peace of mind is just a few clicks away," SBLI offers you a quick quote option on their website. The required information is coverage amount, term length, birthdate, gender, name, email, phone number, ZIP code, nicotine use, and general health. After you click to get the quote, an estimated cost will appear at the bottom of the webpage, providing a monthly cost, coverage, and term length. You can then change the coverage amount, term length, or both to see how your cost would differ. Finally, you click on the apply button to start the process. We like that we can get a general idea without having to answer too many questions, though we prefer quote calculators that don't ask for our personal contact information.
Term life or whole life available but may take weeks
Offering two types of policy, SBLI provides options for term life and whole life insurance. The policies can take a few days to a few weeks to complete, unlike what many other companies are offering lately. Here's how it shakes out:
Helpful website features
The easy-to-navigate SBLI website includes helpful articles about how life insurance works, how much coverage is needed, and more, to make it easy for everyone to understand. Additional articles under "Your Guide to Life Insurance" help to break down the topic into digestible pieces - even telling you at the top how long to expect the article to take to read. This can be helpful if you're short on time or attention. Also, the FAQ page provides bite-sized answers to important life insurance inquiries.
Comparing costs is easy
The quick quote tool provides an easy way to see what a policy at SBLI may cost. One estimate for a healthy, 24-year-old non-smoking male with $100,000 in coverage and a 10-year policy came in at $9.57 per month. The same policy for 30 years was only slightly higher at $11.69 per month. Being able to view these options and change coverages makes it easier to compare with similar policies from other companies.
Additional helpful offerings
All SBLI policyholders get access to LegacyShield, a place to store documents, create a will, and more. Final wishes, photos, and videos can be stored in their secure digital vault. All financial accounts and life insurance policies may be viewed in a single, convenient dashboard. You can share access to this with trusted contacts. Also, their access to the Estate Guru platform permits you to make such documents as a will, trust, power of attorney, and advance directive at an affordable cost with exclusive discounts for SBLI policyholders. As part of the LegacyShield service, customers may also vote for which health organizations the company supports - such as Alzheimer's Association, American Red Cross, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Customer satisfaction is above average
SBLI is accredited by the BBB and has an excellent "A+" rating with only four complaints in the past year. Over 1,800 Trustpilot reviewers rank the company 4 out of 5 stars, which is great but not as high as we'd like to see for a company that's been around for over a century. Positive experiences mention excellent customer service, professional service, and easy process. Negative reviewers mentioned problems with autobilling, the length of time medical testing took, and phone-heavy interactions.
Just an average option
SBLI offers many great benefits for online insurance shoppers - until it comes down to actually getting the policy. By letting shoppers know it can take days or weeks to get a policy, SBLI reminds us of their age and the traditional underwriting process. For that reason we place them as just an average option when looking for a life insurance policy.
Fair
Lemonade says they offer "the most coverage for your family, at the lowest possible price." It's currently available in 49 states plus Washington, D.C. (New York is the exception.)
Money-back guarantee
If you haven't heard of Lemonade yet, the key to this company is their mission: "to create the world's most loved insurance brand." They are a "public benefit corporation" and certified B-Corp. To make sure you are happy with your policy, Lemonade offers a 30-day "look period" which comes with a money-back guarantee to refund your first month's premium if canceled within that timeframe.
No quote online without a phone call
Once you have answered some initial questions (name, address, gender, birthdate, height and weight, nicotine, citizenship, basic health, financial and criminal questions, and contact information) with the AI bot Maya on the Lemonade website, you will be transferred to a phone call with a live agent at Legal & General. Only after answering any additional questions will you be offered coverage (or not). A medical exam may or may not be required. On the phone call is where you will finish up the application and customize your policy as needed. They say about 90 percent of applications are approved. This is disappointing for a company specializing in making things easy for younger generations who prefer to avoid phone calls.
Term life, but not for everyone
Lemonade does not hide the fact that certain people likely won't be covered. They say those with a history of heart disease, cancer, or other-life threatening conditions "may not be eligible for a policy at this time." Some people will need to do a medical exam while others may not be required. Starting at $100,000 in coverage, Lemonade says they have an "unlimited coverage range," noting payouts may be as high as $100,000,000. Their term life policies are not guaranteed renewable and will expire when the term ends. Though Lemonade is relatively new to insurance, they partner with Legal & General, in business for over 180 years, to write their life insurance policies. This is a change from the last time we reviewed Lemonade, when they used Bestow as their policy underwriter. Also new since our last review is the 40-year term policy, something not often seen in life insurance.
Fun website with easy-to-understand articles
The Lemonade website has a fun vibe to it, filled with cheeky humor and aimed at Millennials and Gen Z. "Life Insurance 101" has articles to help you make the best decisions, even if it's not their term life policy offering. While their life insurance articles aren't quite as funny as the rest of their offerings, they do attempt to make it easier to understand the often confusing topic of life insurance.
Low prices featured
Lemonade mentions that they have policies as low as $8 per month. Their blog claims their term life insurance pricing is "among the top 3 in the US." However, no costs are listed on the website and you'll have to call to get a quote.
An online service (and app)
Lemonade is a website and app-based insurance. Typically, insured members utilize their online accounts to get quotes, make claims, and access coverage, though it's hard to tell if life insurance claims can also be made on the app. The highly-rated app is available for both Android and iOS.
Low rating and mixed reviews
Disappointingly, Lemonade is not ranking well with the BBB, earning a "B-" rating for nearly 600 complaints filed against them in the past three years, over a third of them in the past year. Since the company also does home, auto, renters, and pet insurance, these numbers may not necessarily reflect their life insurance offerings, but it's still reason for concern. Across online review platforms, the company has averaged a respectable 4.2 to 5 stars out of 5 across 4,000+ reviews. Negative reviews cite customer service complaints and increased rates on other policies. Positive reviews mention fast turnaround time on claims and a supportive, friendly company. However, since most of these reviews are for all of their other insurance products, we suggest considering other options for life insurance unless you are already a Lemonade fan and want to get a bundle discount.
Below average choice
Lemonade disappoints by not offering an online quote without a phone call. The BBB rating of "B-" has us concerned as well, so we suggest looking elsewhere for life insurance until or unless those things change.
Subpar
Insurance broker SelectQuote offers the tagline "We shop. You save" and claims to be America's #1 Term Life Sales Agency. The company was started in 1985 to help consumers shop for term life insurance with unbiased comparisons between carriers.
Let them shop for you
As a broker, SelectQuote has access to top companies to offer you a single place to get the best policy with the least amount of time spent searching. They work with top carriers including Prudential, Mutual of Omaha, Legal & General, Protective, Pacific Life, Symetra, Corebridge Financial, and Protective.
You don't really get a quote without a phone call
While you could call them to speak to an insurance agent, the SelectQuote website indicates you could also get a free quote by entering your ZIP code, birthdate, gender, health rating (below average to excellent), height and weight, estimated income, coverage and term length desired, smoking status, health conditions, traffic violations, risky hobbies, name, email, address, and phone number. However, our free quote was held up there with a page saying we had to call to find out more information. This does not result in a fast online quote, which is frustrating to say the least. Elsewhere on their site we noted that online-only quotes are just estimates and therefore suggest calling to talk to their licensed agents, making it seem like this was their plan all along, even after you provide your personal information.
Term life, permanent life, no-exam, and final expense offered
SelectQuote offers many types of policies: term life, permanent life, no medical exam life insurance (instant term life, accelerated underwriting life, guaranteed issue life), and final expense:
Website is nothing special
SelectQuote's website appears to have a lot of information, but we found it to be repetitive, saying the same things in different ways, not providing much new information. Part of the issue seems to be that they really push shoppers to make a phone call to their agents in order to get a quote.
Costs are difficult to determine without a phone call
SelectQuote offers term life insurance for as low as $9 per month, according to their website, but no estimates are available without providing all of your information. (Even then, you may be told to call them, as we were directed to do.) They claim that a 15-minute call with one of their agents may save you up to $6,000 over the life of your policy. Example rates are given for term life insurance for ages ranging from 25 to 55 with excellent health in differing coverage amounts and term lengths, so that could give you something to consider in your search for the right policy. Of course, keep in mind that they are just estimates and not personalized to your life situation. The highest rate shown was for a $1,000,000 coverage, 10-year term life policy on a 55-year-old male in excellent health; the rate is estimated at $120.84 per month.
Good reviews...
Accredited by the BBB, SelectQuote has earned an impressive "A+" rating with only 21 complaints in the last year. Complaints involve having policy costs doubled when it came time to pay and one person receiving "over 3000 phone calls" from the company - and the majority of the other complaints are also about unsolicited phone calls from them. These complaints are marked "resolved" when the company responded that they would put them on the "do not call list," but we find it concerning that such action is needed in the first place.
...but not for life insurance specifically
On Trustpilot, the company has received 4.3 out of 5 stars from over 11,000 reviews, though this includes the company's other insurance products (home and auto, as well as Medicare). It was hard to find specific life insurance reviews. Positive reviews rave about the easy process, great customer service, and helpful staff. Some negatives mention pushy agents, denials of coverage, doubled quotes, and multiple phone calls a day. It seems that the people who are happiest are the ones who choose to go with the broker's services, though claims of doubled quotes are concerning. We suggest reviewing all paperwork and bills carefully if you go with SelectQuote.
Look elsewhere first
While SelectQuote claims to be the place to save because they do the shopping for you, it's hard to get any information unless you want to get on the phone with them. We recommend some of the other broker options on our list if you want to comparison shop for life insurance.
Weak
InsuranceQuotes is an insurance broker for multiple types of insurance, including life insurance. The life insurance companies represented include Globe Life, SmartFinancial, Mutual of Omaha, Ethos, USAA, Colonial Penn, and Burial Insurance, connecting customers with local agencies across the United States. The website is backed by All Web Leads, Inc. (AWL), providing digital insurance since 2005.
Promises quotes to compare side-by-side but...
As a broker, InsuranceQuotes offers multiple types of policies from some of the most well known providers across the country. This means you can compare different types of companies easily if you know what you're looking for, but this site makes it difficult to explore online if you are trying to receive guidance. When you fill out the application, you will find that it's not as easy as they make it sound. Once you complete the form on InsuranceQuotes, you will be matched with the proper local agents to help you get a policy from one of over a hundred of the nation's top providers. The questions you may be asked will include general health, height and weight, blood pressure and cholesterol, financial debt, income, type of work, and risky hobbies, as well as personal contact information including phone number and email.
...not like you think
While the website says you can instantly see and compare quotes from top insurers side by side, clicking on each company opens a new window asking for more information. Most companies had us start over to get a quote, not transferring over what we just did at the InsuranceQuotes website. We found this process to be frustrating and not at all as described ("Get quotes from multiple national and local companies in one form"). Additionally, at the bottom of the listing of companies we were matched with, we found that a local company had been matched with us to contact us. According to the website, you can talk to an agent if you want help, but it seems as if you will be receiving a call whether or not you want one.
Term life, whole life, and others available
InsuranceQuotes offers term life with terms from 1 to 30 years, whole life, universal life, and cash value. Coverage starts as low as $10,000 and may go over $10,000,000. No medical exam and guaranteed acceptance were also available.
Difficult to read, dated website
The website for InsuranceQuotes is very dated in appearance, with some pages having fonts that are as small as 8 or 9 point. The ads for their partner insurance companies redirect to other websites, which can be hard to keep track of what you're doing. Since the website has you fill out the information for a quote and redirects you to the insurance providers' websites, it feels more like a search engine than a helpful service. It's tedious to sift through the text-heavy website and find the information you're looking for, especially since there are many typos on the site. However, if you are looking for basic information on why you should have life insurance, the differences in policy types (complete with pros and cons), and how to find the best policy for your needs, you can read all about that on their life insurance page.
No costs anywhere
No costs are listed anywhere on the InsuranceQuotes website. To get any prices, you are redirected to apply on the providers' websites. This extra step is free but makes us wonder why you would even bother to use this broker when it makes you do more work.
Customers are frustrated
An accredited business with the BBB, All Web Leads, Inc. has earned an "A+" rating, with only 12 complaints over the past three years. The complaints are regarding harassing phone calls from companies related to the leads generated on InsuranceQuotes. Reviews for the broker are sparse but what we found was far below acceptable with 1.9 out of 5 stars. It seems we weren't the only ones frustrated by their process to get a quote. One reviewer ranted that it was a "complete waste of time" in which he had to "fill in the forms again. Many didn't work, and they didn't provide the insurance I was looking for at all. A horrendous experience." Other reviews were from insurance agents complaining that the leads received were not good for them. With these types of experiences, we recommend looking at one of our top ranked brokers instead.
Choose a better option
InsuranceQuotes may say they offer multiple quotes for you to compare side-by-side, but in practice, they don't deliver. With complaints about harassing phone calls, we suggest staying far away from this online life insurance broker.
Poor
US Insurance Online does not provide insurance policies but instead acts as a search engine for those seeking quotes for all types of policies.
No help here
Claiming to provide rates you can compare within minutes with one short quote form, US Insurance Online appears to provide a helpful service for those shopping for life insurance. In practice, however, there is not much here that those seeking insurance will find. Click on the Start My Quote button and be directed to a form that is identical to that of InsuranceQuotes. It was only then, after a search of the website, did we find that in small print on the bottom of the page, this website is also run by All Web Leads, Inc., the same company behind InsuranceQuotes. However, this page has the name AWL Insurance Agency instead. A quick search verifies that they are one and the same, though they have different addresses and listings on the BBB. While completing the form may lead you to other companies, more often than not, customers are asked to re-input their information, resulting in added work for no added benefit.
Information is lacking
As an insurance broker website, US Insurance Online provides quotes for various types of coverage including short-term life, no exam, term life, and whole life. However, there is not much information to be found on their webpage to explain these terms. In fact, the webpage design is seriously lacking on US Insurance Online. It appears to have been made decades ago and never updated. There are blocks of text with selected words in bold. Additionally, the words chosen to describe why you should have life insurance are anything but delicate ("none of us will live forever" and leaving your loved ones with "bills to only make it worse").
Frustrating webpage
At the bottom of the life insurance page are colored blocks with links to click, a style that reminds us of the old search engine ads. With such basic titles as "life insurance articles" and "how to file a claim," you think you know what you're going to get when you follow the link. However, each and every link leads you back to the exact same page you start on without providing the promised informational articles or details for filing a claim.
Reviews are scarce
Affiliated with AWL Insurance Agency, US Insurance Online has no listing on the BBB for itself. However, AWL is unaccredited and has earned an "A" rating with a couple of complaints in the past year. The complaints were related to policy errors. It's hard to find a lot of reviews for US Insurance Online. Scattered across online platforms, users complain about the difficulty in reaching a live customer service representative, receiving harassing sales calls, and feeling this company is a scam.
One to avoid
While we like the idea of receiving a bunch of quotes just by filling out one form, US Insurance Online does not make that happen. With a dated website that has nothing helpful to offer and scattered complaints about harassing sales calls, we suggest staying far away from this company.
Continued from above...
When you're younger, you may feel invincible, as if you'll never grow old or need anything as "grown-up" as life insurance. Then there is a tragic loss of a friend or loved one which shakes your foundation and makes you realize that maybe it could happen to you, too. For example, perhaps you've had your first child, leading you to realize that if something were to happen to you, it would be important to provide for his future.
Perhaps you and your partner bought a house together and realize you don't want to leave her responsible for the entire mortgage if you suddenly died. Or, the unexpected diagnosis comes for a family member and you're now considering your own mortality. Possibly you've always meant to purchase life insurance but don't want to take the time to look into how to go about it. Whatever it is that has you thinking about life insurance, know that it's possible to get coverage for your loved ones quickly and efficiently online.
Shopping for life insurance online offers incredible convenience. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, you can browse available services and policies. Many brokers make it possible to compare more than one company's offering on a single website. Established companies provide name recognition while newer companies may offer more flexibility in their offerings. Online calculators can help you adjust coverage amounts and terms to get an estimated monthly payment that works for your budget.
Different policy types are available to meet your unique needs. A term policy is best for making sure the mortgage is covered or providing money for a child's education. These are often the cheaper option because the policy ends when the term expires. While some terms will allow for you to convert to a whole life policy at the end of the term, this is not always the case.
Whole life is a locked-in premium at whatever age (and health) you are when you purchase the policy, which means not having to renew at the end of a term when you are significantly older or may be in poor health. These policies even accrue cash value to borrow against in the future. As a result, whole life (or permanent) insurance is significantly more expensive because there is no end to the policy (except death), as long as you make payments.
How do you know what kind of coverage to choose? Coverage should be determined by the purpose of the insurance. If it's specifically to cover the mortgage, then you want it to be for the amount owed. Others may simply want to cover the cost of final expenses, in which case a small policy would make sense. The most conventional purpose is to replace lost income of a loved one. There are formulas to help you to decide just how much you want, but perhaps four times the annual income is a good place to start. An agent or financial planner can help you identify the right amount for your situation and personal needs.
Often a job may provide you with life insurance. Keep in mind that it likely only provides a fraction of the coverage you would want. Therefore, purchasing your own separate policy is a way to supplement this coverage.
There are many factors to consider when comparing life insurance policies. Here are the top ones on our list:
At Top Consumer Reviews, we want to help you care for your family and secure their financial wellbeing with an appropriate life insurance policy. To aid your search, we've evaluated and rated the most popular places to buy life insurance online so you can go with the best and avoid the rest. We hope to help you rest assured with your life insurance choices and the knowledge that you have made arrangements to take care of your loved ones for years to come.
Compare Any 2 Products
Top Products.
Top Reviews.
Top Consumer Reviews.
Reviews
Browse through thousands of reviews.
Social Media
Like us? Follow us! We'd love to have you join our community.
Newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest reviews. We'll keep you informed, and we'll never sell your information to anyone.
