Why compare life insurance quotes?
Life insurance policies can last for decades or more, so it’s a good idea to shop around for a good fit.
Doing your research and comparing quotes can help you find the right policy at the right price.
When you click "Get quotes" above, you'll have access to quotes from top-rated life insurance companies in the U.S.
You'll answer a few questions about your health and lifestyle and be presented with the best policy options for your needs within 10 minutes.
NerdWallet’s picks for life insurance
NerdWallet crunched the numbers to compare over 50 life insurance companies’ financial strength, customer complaint rates, availability of policy details and ease of communication.
Here are the companies that earned the highest scores, along with how much you can expect to pay for a term life insurance policy worth $500,000 if you're a healthy nonsmoker. Term life insurance is the simplest and most affordable type of coverage, and it's a good fit for most people in the market for life insurance.
Company | NerdWallet rating | What you'll pay per month for term life insurance* |
|---|---|---|
MassMutual Best overall | Female: $28.33 Male: $34.88 | |
Guardian Best for health conditions | Female: $26.18 Male: $31.33 | |
Northwestern Mutual Best customer experience | Female: $41.25 Male: $39.92 | |
Pacific Life Best for permanent life insurance | Female: $23.53 Male: $27.86 | |
Thrivent Best for social responsibility | Female: $53.32 Male: $63.64 | |
* Sample rates are based on a $500,000, 20-year term life insurance policy for a healthy, nonsmoking 40-year-old man and woman. | ||
Company | NerdWallet rating | What you'll pay per month* |
|---|---|---|
Guardian Best for health conditions | Female: $26.18 Male: $31.33 | |
MassMutual Best for cash value growth | Female: $28.33 Male: $34.88 | |
Northwestern Mutual Best for blended term | Female: $41.25 Male: $39.92 | |
Thrivent Best for social responsibility | Female: $53.32 Male: $63.64 | |
New York Life Best for high coverage amounts | Not provided. | |
Pacific life Best for conversion flexibility | Female: $23.53 Male: $27.86 | |
Penn Mutual Best for term life versatility | Female: $23.48 Male: $27.83 | |
AARP Best for older applicants | Not provided. | |
* Sample rates are based on a $500,000, 20-year term life insurance policy for a healthy, nonsmoking 40-year-old man and woman. If rates are not displayed, that means the insurer didn't supply them to us or doesn't offer term policies with that coverage amount. | ||
Company | NerdWallet rating |
|---|---|
Guardian Best for health conditions | |
MassMutual Best for cash value growth | |
Northwestern Mutual Best for blended term | |
Thrivent Best for social responsibility | |
New York Life Best for rider options | |
Penn Mutual Best for a long history of dividends | |
AARP Best for small coverage amounts | |
What you’ll need for a life insurance quote
Getting a life insurance quote is pretty easy, especially when you do it online.
To get started comparing life insurance quotes, you’ll need to provide information about your:
Date of birth.
ZIP code.
Gender.
Marital status.
Height and weight.
Tobacco usage in the past five years.
Approximate annual income.
Shopping for life insurance with NerdWallet
Finding your best price is as simple as a few steps:
Tell us a bit about you and your health.
Get estimated rates from our partner Policygenius.
A few more questions, and then receive your quote.
In all, the process takes a matter of minutes. And depending on the type of coverage, you may be able to compare quotes and buy a policy the same day.
Step by step: How to compare life insurance quotes
Here’s how we recommend comparing quotes to find the best life insurance policy for you:
1. Choose a policy type
Start by deciding what kind of life insurance you want. There are two main types of life insurance: term and permanent.
Term life insurance
Term life insurance is simple and inexpensive — often the cheapest type of life insurance.
Term policies cover you for a period of time, such as 20 years, and pay out to beneficiaries if you die during the term.
In NerdWallet's view, term life is sufficient for most people.
Permanent life insurance
Permanent life insurance is designed to last your entire life.
This type of coverage typically costs more than term life, but it offers additional features like cash value that grows over time.
Types of permanent life include, whole life and universal life insurance.
2. Calculate how much coverage you need
You’ll want to get quotes for the same level of coverage — for example, $500,000 — to compare them most easily.
Not sure how much coverage you need? Our calculator can help.
3. Shop around
Get quotes from three or four insurance companies to find the best available price. You can get quotes in several ways:
Buy life insurance directly from the insurer
Check out Nerdwallet's best life insurance companies to find the right insurer for you.
Buy coverage through an agent or broker
A life insurance agent or broker can help you navigate your options and fill out your application.
Shop for life insurance online
Most insurance companies offer life insurance quotes online. This makes it easy to shop around for the best coverage.
4. Check the companies’ reviews
Price is important, but there are a few other key things to keep in mind.
Before you make a decision, check the companies’ reviews. NerdWallet’s life insurance reviews consider important factors like financial strength, complaint rates and ease of use.
A well-rated company offering a competitive price could be a great option.
» MORE: Best life insurance companies
5. Apply for coverage
When you've found the right policy, it's time to apply. Whether you apply for life insurance online, in person or over the phone, you may be asked to provide your Social Security number, driver’s license number or list of current medications. So gather the information you need before you start the life insurance application process.
✏️ How NerdWallet rates life insurance companies
When NerdWallet evaluates life insurance companies, our editorial team considers the insurer's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the things that matter most to customers buying a long-term financial product. Our ratings take into account the following details about each insurer:
Financial strength (40%). We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s financial stability and ability to pay claims far into the future. For life insurance, NerdWallet typically recommends insurers with ratings of A- (Excellent) or higher. The top life insurance companies have an exceptional financial strength rating of A+ or A++ (Superior).
Consumer complaints (40%). These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Our top-rated life insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints, so you can expect a smoother customer experience.
Policy detail availability (10%). Ideally, a consumer should be able to find basic policy details on an insurer’s website. Our methodology gives higher scores to transparent insurers who include information about their policy options, coverage amounts and term lengths (if applicable) and clearly display these details in easily accessible places on their site.
Ease of communication (10%). Insurers who allow consumers to contact them by email, phone and live chat earn the highest scores.
We regularly reassess insurers and adjust scores as needed. Our star ratings are a guide to help you shop for a life insurance policy, and we encourage you to compare companies to find the best fit for your needs.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs life insurance?
Who needs life insurance?
In general, people need life insurance if their death would place a financial burden on others. Examples include breadwinners, parents, homeowners, business owners and people with co-signed debt.
What is a life insurance quote?
What is a life insurance quote?
Term life is the most affordable type of life insurance. It lasts for a set number of years and does not build cash value. Term life is typically sufficient for most people.
Can you get a life insurance quote online?
Can you get a life insurance quote online?
Yes. Many life insurance companies offer free term quotes online. However, when shopping for permanent coverage, such as whole life or universal life, you may need to speak with an insurance agent to get a full quote.
How much life insurance do I need?
How much life insurance do I need?
The amount of life insurance you need depends on how much money you want your beneficiaries to receive when you die. Ten times your annual income is a common estimate, but rules like this are not universal and may not reflect your specific situation. Take into account your current finances and future obligations — such as income, debts and daily expenses — when calculating your coverage needs.
How are life insurance rates calculated?
How are life insurance rates calculated?
Life insurance premiums are calculated using a variety of factors, such as age, health, driving history, policy length and coverage amount. Insurers use this information to estimate your life expectancy, and then they set your premium based on the risk of insuring you.
What is the average monthly cost of life insurance?
What is the average monthly cost of life insurance?
Life insurance premiums are typically based on your age and health, and they can differ significantly among policies. For example, the average monthly cost of a $500,000, 20-year term policy for a healthy 40-year-old is $26, according to Covr Financial Technologies, a life insurance brokerage. To compare, the average monthly cost of a whole life policy with the same coverage amount is $510.
Life insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s life insurance ratings are based on consumer experience, complaint index scores from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for individual life insurance, and weighted averages of financial strength ratings, which indicate a company’s ability to pay future claims. Within the consumer experience category, we consider ease of communication and website transparency, which looks at the depth of policy details available online. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2021-2023. To assess how insurers compare with one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.