The best life insurance companies are financially sound, have the life insurance products you need, excel at customer service, and have affordable rates. We found that the best life insurance company overall is Nationwide, but other options might be a better fit, depending on your needs. For instance, Protective is our top choice for term coverage, and State Farm is the best for customer satisfaction.
For our life insurance ratings, we evaluated dozens of life insurance carriers in the following categories, giving each category a specific weight percentage based on its importance: policy types and features (21%), financial stability (17%), application process (16%), customer satisfaction (15%), customer service (14%), riders and living benefits (9%), and life insurance rates (8%). Analyzing these key categories helps us identify which life insurance companies could be the best fit for your particular life insurance needs.
In the company information below, we mention NAIC complaint index scores. The NAIC complaint index is a tool in which the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) shows whether a company has received more or fewer complaints than other insurers, after adjusting for market share.
12 Best Life Insurance Companies of November 2023: Compare Rates & Coverage
- Best Overall: utm_carrier=Nationwide&utm_journey=term&utm_source=4845858&utm_click=n0e3403721bcd42c4a83a2080d7239e0a14" rel="nofollow noopener nocaes" style="background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-summary-list-top-pick); outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: var(--config-prm-link-text-decoration-line); text-decoration-thickness: var(--config-prm-link-text-decoration-thickness); text-underline-position: auto; transition: var(--transition-prm-link);" target="_blank">Nationwide
- Best Term Life Insurance: Protective
- Best Buying Experience: Haven Life
- Best Convertible Term Life Insurance: rm-link-text-decoration-line); text-decoration-thickness: var(--config-prm-link-text-decoration-thickness); text-underline-position: auto; transition: var(--transition-prm-link);" target="_blank">MassMutual
- Best Return-of-Premium Term: rney=term&utm_source=4845858&utm_click=n0e3403721bcd42c4a83a2080d7239e0a14" rel="nofollow noopener nocaes" style="background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-summary-list-top-pick); outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: var(--config-prm-link-text-decoration-line); text-decoration-thickness: var(--config-prm-link-text-decoration-thickness); text-underline-position: auto; transition: var(--transition-prm-link);" target="_blank">Mutual of Omaha
- Great Traditional Insurer: Guardian
- Best for Military: USAA
- Great for Dividends and No-Medical Exam Life Insurance: auto; transition: var(--transition-prm-link);" target="_blank">Penn Mutual
- Cheapest Term Premiums: Banner by Legal & General
- Best for Customer Satisfaction: State Farm Life Insurance
- Best Whole Life Insurance: New York Life
- Largest Life Insurance Company: utm_carrier=NorthwesternMutual&utm_journey=bridge&utm_source=4845858&utm_click=n0e3403721bcd42c4a83a2080d7239e0a14" rel="nofollow noopener nocaes" style="background-image: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-summary-list-top-pick); outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: var(--config-prm-link-text-decoration-line); text-decoration-thickness: var(--config-prm-link-text-decoration-thickness); text-underline-position: auto; transition: var(--transition-prm-link);" target="_blank">Northwestern Mutual
Compare life insurance quotes with our partner Covr Financial from multiple providers before buying.
" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; visibility: hidden;">BEST OVERALLNationwide
- AM Best Rating: AM Best is a credit rating agency that assigns insurance companies a letter grade from “A++” to “D.” A company’s grade indicates its ability to pay its claims and honor its financial obligations.A+
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Three living benefits included with most policies, generous no-exam requirements, strong financials, and satisfied customers make Nationwide our top pick.
No-exam life insurance available to very healthy applicants
Low NAIC complaint index
Living benefits included on most policies
Allows credit card payments
No live chat available
BEST TERM LIFE INSURANCEProtective
- AM Best Rating: AM Best is a credit rating agency that assigns insurance companies a letter grade from “A++” to “D.” A company’s grade indicates its ability to pay its claims and honor its financial obligations.A+
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Lowest pricing along with Banner and Haven among 91 companies
Offers term coverage for up to 40 years
Allows credit card payments
Offers no-medical-exam coverage
Ranked 15th out of 22 companies for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power's life insurance study
BEST BUYING EXPERIENCEHaven Life
- AM Best Rating: AM Best is a credit rating agency that assigns insurance companies a letter grade from “A++” to “D.” A company’s grade indicates its ability to pay its claims and honor its financial obligations.A++
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Haven Life offers a smooth online quote, application, and buying experience. Plus, it's backed by the