Openly
- Policies typically include guaranteed replacement cost coverage for your home's structure.
- Broad coverage for personal belongings.
- No restricted dog breeds.
- No online quotes.
- Not available in all states.
About Openly home insurance
Openly homeowners insurance earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for overall performance. Openly sells premium coverage primarily to owners of high-value homes. Its policies include features that typically cost extra from other insurers, if they’re available at all. The company sells insurance exclusively through independent agents.
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Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.Where Openly home insurance stands out
Guaranteed replacement cost coverage. Not all insurance companies offer guaranteed replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home. It’s even rarer to include it in a standard policy, as Openly does in most states. With this coverage, Openly will pay whatever it takes to rebuild your home after a covered claim, up to $5 million.
Broad personal property coverage. Openly’s default coverage for your belongings is more generous than what you’d find on standard homeowners policies.
No dog breed restrictions. Some home insurers won’t offer liability coverage for certain breeds such as pit bulls or Dobermans. Openly will insure a household with any dog as long as it doesn’t have a history of aggression. Learn more about homeowners insurance and dog bites.
Where Openly home insurance falls short
No online quotes. You’ll need to speak with an agent to get an Openly policy.
Availability. Openly home insurance isn’t yet available in all states.
What Openly home insurance covers
These types of home insurance coverage generally come standard:
- Dwelling
Dwelling coverage pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home after a covered event. It also covers attached structures, such as porches.
Typical amount: Enough to rebuild your home.
- Other structures
Other structures coverage pays to repair or rebuild stand-alone structures on your property, such as a fence or shed.
Typical amount: 10% of dwelling coverage.
- Personal property
Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace stolen or damaged belongings. Personal property coverage comes in one of two options: actual cash value or replacement cost.
Typical amount: 50-70% of dwelling coverage.
- Loss of use
Loss of use coverage, sometimes known as additional living expenses coverage, helps pay temporary living expenses while your home is being repaired. This can cover hotel stays, home rentals and meals.
Typical amount: 20% of dwelling coverage.
- Personal liability
Personal liability coverage pays if you injure someone or cause property damage unintentionally or through neglect.
Typical amount: $100,000 to $500,000.
- Medical payments
Medical payments coverage pays to treat someone injured on your property, regardless of who’s at fault. It also pays if you, a family member or a pet injures someone away from your home.
Typical amount: $1,000 to $5,000.
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
Openly’s default homeowners policy goes significantly beyond these basic coverage types. Most notably, it typically offers guaranteed replacement cost coverage for the structure of your home. That means if your house is destroyed by a covered disaster, in most states Openly will pay whatever it takes to rebuild it the way it was before, up to $5 million.
Openly also offers generous coverage for your personal belongings. Most homeowners policies cover your stuff on a “named perils” basis. That means they’ll pay for damage only from causes specifically named in your policy. Openly covers your belongings on an “open perils” basis instead. With this coverage, Openly will pay for damage from anything except scenarios your policy excludes.
If your things are stolen or destroyed, Openly will pay enough for you to buy brand-new replacements. Some insurers pay less for older items that have lost value over time. Learn more about replacement cost coverage.
Openly policies also include the following:
Ordinance or law coverage, which pays to bring your home up to current building codes during covered repairs.
Water seepage coverage, which pays for damage due to hidden water leaks.
Coverage for refrigerated property, such as food that goes bad when lightning knocks out your electricity.
Landscaping coverage to replace damaged trees or other plants.
Optional Openly home insurance coverage
Depending on where you live, you may be able to add the following optional types of coverage:
Water backup, which pays for damage due to sump pump failure or backed-up sewers or drains.
Home-sharing coverage for people who occasionally rent out all or part of their house.
Buried service lines, which pays to fix damage to underground utility lines you’re responsible for.
Equipment breakdown, which covers appliances if they have a mechanical or electrical failure.
Blanket or scheduled personal property for valuable items.
Personal cyber, which can help you recover from hacks and other online threats.
Earthquake, sinkhole or mine subsidence for homeowners who live in areas where these are a risk.
Under construction for theft of building supplies from a home being renovated.
What's not covered
Standard Openly homeowners insurance policies don’t cover damage due to:
Flooding.
Earthquakes.
Landslides.
Lack of maintenance.
Infestations.
As noted above, Openly sells optional earthquake coverage that you may be able to add to your policy. If you live in an area at risk of flooding, learn how to find the best flood insurance.
Where Openly home insurance is available
Openly insurance is currently available in 24 states.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all homeowners in a given state.
- Find the best homeowners insurance in your state
Discounts
You may be able to save by:
Getting an Openly policy and an auto insurance policy from the same agency.
Strengthening your home against windstorm damage.
Getting a quote at least eight days before your policy takes effect.
Choosing to have documents delivered electronically.
Discounts vary by state.
More Nerdy Perspective
When comparing quotes from different home insurers, make sure you understand what is and isn’t included with each policy. Companies like Openly that insure higher-end homes may include coverage that other insurers charge extra for — so a quote that appears higher than others may end up being a better value for your home. Learn more about how to shop for homeowners insurance.
Consumer satisfaction
One strong sign of consumer satisfaction is how many people complain about their insurance company to state agencies. Openly scores highly on this measure, drawing a low proportion of home insurance complaints compared to other U.S. insurers.
How we determined our complaint scores We analyzed three years' worth of complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. When comparing insurers, we accounted for company size and total premiums.
- What Reddit users say about Openly
Reddit is an online forum where users share their thoughts in “threads” on various topics. The popular site includes plenty of discussion on financial subjects like home insurance, so we sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on how users feel about insurers. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.
Reddit comments about Openly are mixed, especially when it comes to claim handling. Some posters share positive experiences, while others complain about poor communication or unsatisfactory claim resolution.
Comments about the company’s premiums are also split. Some Redditors say Openly has surprisingly affordable rates, but others report dramatic price hikes at renewal.
Get home insurance quotes in minutes
Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.How to file a claim with Openly
You can file an Openly claim online, by calling your agent or by calling the company at 888-808-4842. If you don’t have your own preferred contractors, you can use Openly’s Managed Repair Program to find vetted professionals.
Here are some key things to remember when filing a home insurance claim:
Document the damage. Take photos and create an inventory of damaged items. Provide details like labels and model numbers if possible, especially for more expensive items. Once you've documented the damage, you can make temporary repairs if it's safe to do so.
File your claim as soon as possible. This is especially important if the damage was caused by a storm, as it likely means other homes in the area were also affected.
Save your receipts. You may end up spending money on temporary repairs or living expenses before getting a payment from your insurance company. Keep all receipts so you can submit them for reimbursement later.
For more information, see how to file a home insurance claim.
How to contact Openly customer service
Phone: Call 888-808-4842 Monday through Friday.
Email: You can submit a request form on Openly’s contact page.
Live chat: Openly’s live chat agents are available Monday through Friday.
Online tools
Website: The Openly website has a sleek design and basic coverage information, but it lacks an online quote function. Instead, you can submit your details in an online form and the company will match you with a local agent.
Mobile app: Openly doesn't have a mobile app.
Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
- See all NerdWallet home insurance reviews
How we rate homeowners insurance
NerdWallet’s star ratings reward companies for consumer-first features and practices. We evaluate factors such as consumer experience, coverage, discounts and financial strength.
In our research, we analyzed:
More than 270 million homeowners insurance rates.
More than 100 insurance companies.
Nearly 200 homeowner profiles.
View our complete homeowners insurance rating methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What other types of insurance does Openly offer?
What other types of insurance does Openly offer?
Openly sells only homeowners insurance. Its policies are available for primary homes, vacation or secondary homes, and houses used as rental properties.
How long has Openly been in business?
How long has Openly been in business?
Openly was founded in 2017. One of its underwriters, Rock Ridge Insurance, was founded in 2001. The other, MS Transverse, was founded in 2018.
Who is Openly backed by?
Who is Openly backed by?
Openly has received funding from a number of venture capital firms. Its policies are underwritten by Rock Ridge Insurance Company or MS Transverse Insurance Company.
Can I trust a new insurance company like Openly?
Can I trust a new insurance company like Openly?
You want to make sure the insurance company you choose for your home will be around if a disaster happens. While there are no guarantees, you can look up the financial standing of an insurance company by checking the websites of credit rating firms such as AM Best and Demotech. Note that the company itself may not have a rating, but the carriers that underwrite its policies might. For example, both of Openly’s underwriters — Rock Ridge and MS Transverse — have strong financial strength ratings on the AM Best website.
Why did Openly raise my home insurance rates?
Why did Openly raise my home insurance rates?
While small increases are fairly standard, many homeowners have been hit by big rate hikes in recent years. Inflation has made it more expensive to rebuild houses, so insurance companies are paying more in claims. Another issue is the growing frequency and severity of hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters. They’ve caused billions of dollars in damage in recent years.
Star rating methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts, claims process and website functionality. 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 or star ratings.
Here’s how we weighted each category to come up with our list of the best home insurance companies:
Consumer experience (40%).
Financial strength (30%).
Coverage (25%).
Discounts (5%).
Read our full home insurance ratings methodology for more details.
Complaint methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. 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.
