Compare the Top 10 Life Insurance Companies in the UK

Get coverage from the best life insurance providers today

With hundreds of different insurers to choose from, finding the best life insurance provider can be a difficult task.

That’s why we’ve come up with easy lists of the best policies for every type of life insurance right here.

Here's a list of the UK's top 10 best life insurance companies in 2018:

List of the best life insurers overall, sorted by ratings

Rating	Company	Payout	Age	Quote
1	Aviva, Review	96% payout during 2016	49 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
2	Zurich, Review	97% payout during 2017	83 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
3	Legal & General, Review	98% payout during 2017	77 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
4	Vitality, Review	99% payout during 2017	75 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
5	Royal London, Review	99.1% payout during 2017	60 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
6	Sunlife, Review	100% payout Claims according their website	85 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
7	Liverpool Victoria (LV), Review	95% payout during 2017	69 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
8	AIG, Review	99.1% payout during 2017	74 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
9	Tesco Life, Review	98.9% payout during 2017	Not accepting new customers	Get Quote >
10	Prudential, Review	97.88% payout during 2017	75 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >

The 8 leading providers of life assurance (whole of life)

Here are a list of providers that offer the best value policies for life assurance in the UK:

Rating	Company	Payout	Age	Quote
1	Aegon	96% payout during 2016	49 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
2	AIG	99% payout during 2017	74 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
3	Royal London	99.1% payout during 2017	60 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
4	Scottish Widows	98.99% payout during 2017	73 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
5	Vitality	99% payout during 2017	73 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
6	Zurich	97% payout during 2017	83 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
7	Canada Life	Unavailable	74 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
8	Legal & General	98% payout during 2017	77 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >

The best 7 companies for critical illness cover

If you’re looking to cover your finances should you get seriously ill and be unable to work, here are the best providers specifically for critical illness cover:

Rating	Brand	Payout	Age	Quote
1	Aegon	96% payout during 2016	49 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
2	Aviva	96% payout during 2016	49 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
3	Legal & General	98% payout during 2017	77 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
4	Liverpool Victoria (LV)	95% payout during 2017	69 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
5	Royal London	99.1% payout during 2017	60 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
6	AIG	99% payout during 2017	74 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
7	Old Mutual Health	100% payout during 2017	85 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >

The top 9 companies for over 50s life insurance

If you’re over 50 and looking for life insurance, then these are the providers who offer the best over 50s life insurance policies:

Rating	Brand	Payout	Age	Quote
1	AA	98% payout during 2017	77 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
2	Legal & General	98% payout during 2017	77 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
3	Liverpool Victoria (LV)	95% payout during 2017	69 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
4	Royal London	99.1% payout during 2017	60 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
5	Aegon	96% payout during 2017	49 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
6	AIG	99% payout during 2017	74 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
7	Fortify Insurance Solutions Limited	98% payout during 2017	65 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
8	Smart Insurance	99.7% payout during 2016	79 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
9	Sainsbury's Bank	98% payout during 2017	80 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >

The top 8 mortgage protection providers

If you’re looking to cover mortgage payments for you and your family, then here’s a list of providers that offer the best policies for protecting your mortgage:

Rating	Brand	Payout	Age	Quote
1	Aegon	96% payout during 2016	49 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
2	AIG	99% payout during 2017	74 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
3	Liverpool Victoria (LV)	95% payout during 2017	69 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
4	Royal London	99.1% payout during 2017	60 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
5	Zurich	97% payout during 2017	83 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
6	3XD	-% payout	63 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >
7	Best Insurance	90% payout during 2017	55 years Maximum age for new cover	Get Quote >

Simply select a company for more information or to get a quote.

If you need to know more or want advice on how to choose between these top life insurance companies, then keep reading. We’ve got you covered.

What should I look for in the best life insurance companies?

The cover they offer

Before thinking about the company you’re taking out a life cover policy with, the first thing you need to consider is whether they offer policies that suit your needs. These top life insurance companies all offer a wide range of options, but if you have a specific requirement from a policy, such as critical illness cover, then make sure to check it’s available.

Payout percentage

A good way to assess a life insurer is how often it pays out on its policies, as the last thing you want to happen is for your family to be deprived of the payout on a small technicality. Despite the widespread belief that life insurers often don’t pay out, the reality is that there are many with payout rates above 95%, so don’t settle for insecurity.

Customer service

The best life insurance companies should have the best customer service. You’re likely to be taking out a life coverage policy that will last for over a decade at least, so it’s definitely a good idea to make sure the company you’re dealing with has a good reputation for dealing with requests and questions from its customers.

Flexibility

It can be comforting to know that a company offers a degree of flexibility once you have taken out a policy. Nobody knows what the future holds, and you may get to a point where you want to lower or raise your premiums and amount of coverage, or to make adjustments like adding extra features to your policy. Some top life insurers’ policies are set in stone once signed, so if you’d rather have the option to make changes at a later date, find a company that allows this.

Value for money

This one’s a no-brainer: you want to find a company that offers you a good level of coverage at a reasonable price. But one thing to bear in mind is to remember that the definition of ‘a good level of coverage’ and ‘reasonable price’ depend on your circumstances; don’t be bamboozled into taking out more coverage than you need and always make sure you are confident you can afford your premiums in the long term.

Additional features

When picking between the best insurers out there, you’ll often find some great perks being offered when you take out a policy. These can range from quick online access to healthcare for you and your family, to free gifts and discounts at a variety of shops. Having a look at your options often means you can find some excellent deals hiding amongst different companies’ policies.

How can I tell if a company is right for me?

A good place to start when deciding on a top life insurance company is to consider their reputation. In today’s world of easily posted user reviews, it is easier than ever to see behind each company’s shiny ads and find out the experiences that their customers have had.

Of course, finding a great life insurance company has to be done in tandem with finding the best life insurance policy. A company with a brilliant reputation is no use to you if they don’t offer any policies that match what you’re looking for. When comparing top life insurance companies to find the best, make sure you’re comparing the ones that you can actually take out a policy with.

Make sure you take payment methods into considerations. Various providers will offer various payment methods, so choose the ones that are the most suitable to you. You can check if provider offers direct bank transaction, paypal, wire transfer or other money transfer methods.

What kind of life cover policies can I get?

There are many different features you can add to life cover policies, such as critical illness cover, but policies largely fall into three types:

• Level term

This means that you take out a policy for a set time (usually around 20 or 30 years), and both your premiums and benefit amount stay the same throughout. If you pass away during the term of the policy (before the 20 or 30 years have elapsed), then the cash benefit is paid to your family. If you live beyond the term, the policy ends and doesn’t pay out.

• Decreasing term

Similarly to level term, a decreasing term policy is taken out for a set number of years and ends once those years have elapsed if you are still alive. Where decreasing term policies vary is that, while your premiums remain the same throughout the term, the benefit amount reduces. Decreasing term policies are designed to cover debts that fall over time, such as a mortgage.

• Life assurance

Also known as ‘whole of life’, these policies insure you until you die as long as you keep paying the premium costs. They’ll either pay out a cash sum, or put your premiums towards an investment portfolio that pays out its value upon your death. Over 50s policies are life assurance policies aimed at helping cover the cost of your funeral or leave a little extra behind for your family once you’re gone.

Is it worth paying more to be covered by one of the best life insurance companies?

You don’t have to. Actually, you’ll find that it’s usually the top life insurance companies that are able to offer the best deals, particularly when it comes down to extras such as free gifts and perks.

How can I get covered by the best life insurance companies?

We can help you with that. Using our reviews you’ll easily be able to find the right policy for you, from the most reliable life insurance companies around.

We cut through all the advertising lingo to find out which top insurers really offer both the best policies and the best customer service out there. Click below to get a great quote now.