7 Best Life Insurance Companies in November 2024

MassMutual and Guardian top our list of the best life insurance companies for 2024.

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Updated · 2 min read
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Written by Katia Iervasi
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Edited by Lisa Green
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Fact Checked

NerdWallet’s editorial team evaluates dozens of life insurance companies to find the best ones. We look closely at customer complaints data, consumer experience and financial strength. We also assess the types of policies on offer and the ways you can buy coverage. The seven best life insurance companies on our list earned a perfect five-star score.

The best life insurance companies at a glance

NerdWallet's life insurance content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in life insurance. We follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure the content on our site is accurate and fair so you can make financial decisions with confidence and choose the products that work best for you.

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Best life insurance company overall: MassMutual

Best overall
insurance-product-card-logo

MassMutual

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: MassMutual offers a solid range of term, whole, universal and variable universal life insurance, plus free coverage for low-income parents.

on Nerdwallet

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

Yes

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term, permanent & no-exam
Best overall
insurance-product-card-logo

on Nerdwallet

MassMutual

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: MassMutual offers a solid range of term, whole, universal and variable universal life insurance, plus free coverage for low-income parents.

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

Yes

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros

Wide range of term and permanent life insurance policies.

Supports online claims.

Cons

Most policies require a medical exam.

Overview: Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., or MassMutual, is one of the largest life insurers in the country. Founded in 1851, it offers a wide range of products, from term life to variable universal life insurance — a type of permanent policy with flexible premiums and investment opportunities. MassMutual is a mutual life insurance company, which means it’s owned in part by its policyholders and pays out dividends to qualifying members. Its 2024 dividend payout is set to be the highest yet at almost $2.2 billion

.

Policies offered: Term, whole, universal and variable universal.

» Read the full review: MassMutual life insurance


Best life insurance company for health conditions: Guardian

Best for health conditions
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Guardian Life

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: Guardian sells term, whole, universal and variable universal policies, and caters to people living with HIV with tailored coverage.

on Nerdwallet

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term & permanent
Best for health conditions
insurance-product-card-logo

on Nerdwallet

Guardian Life

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: Guardian sells term, whole, universal and variable universal policies, and caters to people living with HIV with tailored coverage.

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term & permanent
Pros

Drew significantly fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company its size.

Offers unique coverage options, such as survivorship insurance and policies for HIV-positive applicants.

Cons

Minimal policy details on the site.

Overview: Guardian was founded in 1860 and has paid life insurance dividends to its eligible policyholders since 1868. The company is set to pay out $1.4 billion in dividends in 2024, the largest sum in the company’s history

. The insurer stands out for its lenient underwriting standards and is known for making life insurance accessible for people living with certain health conditions, like HIV.

The insurer drew significantly fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company its size. Aside from life insurance, Guardian also sells a range of products including dental, vision and cancer insurance.

Policies offered: Term, whole, universal and variable universal.

» Read the full review: Guardian life insurance


Best life insurance company for customer experience: Northwestern Mutual

Best for customer experience
insurance-product-card-logo

Northwestern Mutual

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: The biggest life insurer in the country, Northwestern Mutual offers term and permanent life insurance, and has the lowest complaint ratios of the life insurers we review.

on Nerdwallet

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term & permanent
Best for customer experience
insurance-product-card-logo

on Nerdwallet

Northwestern Mutual

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: The biggest life insurer in the country, Northwestern Mutual offers term and permanent life insurance, and has the lowest complaint ratios of the life insurers we review.

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term & permanent
Pros

Far fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company its size.

Highly rated for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power study.

Cons

Company website doesn’t give specifics about coverage amounts or riders.

Limited riders available.

Overview: Founded in 1857, Northwestern Mutual is the largest seller of individual life insurance in the United States, according to the latest data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Universal life policyholders have flexible payment and coverage options, while term life customers have the opportunity to convert their policy to permanent coverage without taking a medical exam.

The company is set to pay $7.3 billion in dividends to qualifying policyholders in 2024

. Northwestern Mutual received significantly fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size, making it a trustworthy choice for shoppers.

Policies offered: Term, whole, universal and variable universal.

» Read the full review: Northwestern Mutual life insurance


Best life insurance company for high coverage amounts: New York Life

Best for high coverage amounts
insurance-product-card-logo

New York Life

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: New York Life offers term, whole, universal and variable universal life insurance. Their level term policy offers 10-, 15-, and 20-year terms.

on Nerdwallet

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term & permanent
Best for high coverage amounts
insurance-product-card-logo

on Nerdwallet

New York Life

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: New York Life offers term, whole, universal and variable universal life insurance. Their level term policy offers 10-, 15-, and 20-year terms.

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term & permanent
Pros

Ranks above average in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction study for life insurance.

Drew fewer complaints to state regulators than typically expected for a company of its size.

Cons

Quotes aren't available online.

Overview: New York Life is a mutual company, which means it’s owned by its policyholders. As such, you may be eligible to vote in board elections if you’ve held a permanent policy for more than a year and earn dividends — the insurer is set to pay out $2.2 billion in 2024

.

The company is one of the largest life insurance companies in the U.S. and drew fewer complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size. It ranked above average in J.D. Power’s 2023 customer satisfaction study for life insurance

. One of its whole life policies includes a flexible payment option, allowing you to pay off your premiums early.

Policies offered: Term, whole, universal and variable universal.

» Read the full review: New York Life insurance


Best company for permanent life insurance: Pacific Life

Best range of permanent life insurance
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Pacific Life

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: Pacific Life sells a broad range of policies, and stands out for providing detailed and easy-to-digest information about each type on its website.

on Nerdwallet

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term & permanent
Best range of permanent life insurance
insurance-product-card-logo

on Nerdwallet

Pacific Life

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: Pacific Life sells a broad range of policies, and stands out for providing detailed and easy-to-digest information about each type on its website.

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Far fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term & permanent
Pros

Drew significantly fewer complaints than expected to state regulators for a company of its size.

Offers a variety of term and permanent policies with many riders to choose from.

Cons

Select policies are not available in New York.

Quotes are not available online.

Overview: Pacific Life has been in business for more than 150 years, and has drawn significantly fewer complaints than expected for a company of its size over the past three years. It has a stellar lineup of permanent life insurance policies, including a competitive indexed universal life insurance policy. These policies typically grow investments based on stock market indexes like the S&P 500. They also have a guaranteed floor, which means your life insurance cash value won’t fall below a certain value if the stock market dives.

Policies offered: Term, universal, variable universal and indexed universal.

» Read the full review: Pacific Life insurance


Best life insurance company for customer satisfaction: State Farm

Best for customer satisfaction
insurance-product-card-logo

State Farm

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: State Farm topped the list in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Life Insurance Study for customer satisfaction, and offers highly customizable term, whole and universal policies.

on Nerdwallet

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term, permanent & no-exam
Best for customer satisfaction
insurance-product-card-logo

on Nerdwallet

State Farm

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Bottom line: State Farm topped the list in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Life Insurance Study for customer satisfaction, and offers highly customizable term, whole and universal policies.

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros

Drew fewer life insurance complaints to state regulators than expected for a company of its size.

Ranked first in J.D. Power’s latest customer satisfaction study for life insurance.

Broad range of term products, including instant answer life insurance.

Cons

Life insurance policies not available in Massachusetts.

Some restrictions for Android smartphones when accessing policy details through online portal.

Overview: When you think of State Farm, you probably think of its auto insurance products. But it also offers a decent range of life insurance policies, including return-of-premium life insurance — if you outlive the term, you get a refund of the premiums you paid into the policy. State Farm also offers a single-premium option for its whole life policy and a final expense policy that can help cover funeral costs.

State Farm ranked first out of 22 companies in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Life Insurance Study for customer satisfaction, and has consistently topped this list in recent years — pointing to its positive reputation among policyholders

.

Policies offered: Term, whole and universal.

» Read the full review: State Farm life insurance


Best life insurance company for older applicants: AARP

Best for older applicants
insurance-product-card-logo

AARP

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
No medical exams are required for life insurance policies through AARP, although you have to be a member to buy one.

on Nerdwallet

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term, permanent & no-exam
Best for older applicants
insurance-product-card-logo

on Nerdwallet

AARP

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
No medical exams are required for life insurance policies through AARP, although you have to be a member to buy one.

Financial strength rating

Exceptional

Online purchase

No

NAIC complaints

Fewer than expected

Policies offered

Term, permanent & no-exam
Pros

No medical exams required.

Fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators.

Anyone age 50 and up can get access through AARP membership.

Cons

Term life insurance premiums rise every five years.

Overview: AARP’s Life Insurance Program offers coverage to its members in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The policies are underwritten by New York Life, one of the biggest life insurance companies in the U.S.

Members can apply for a term or whole life policy by answering a few health questions, with no life insurance medical exam required. AARP also sells a guaranteed issue whole life policy via New York Life, which bypasses both the questionnaire and medical exam for eligible applicants.

Policies offered: Term, whole and guaranteed issue whole life.

» Read the full review: AARP life insurance


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Best term life insurance companies in November 2024

Term life insurance provides temporary coverage for a set number of years, usually one to 30. It’s the cheapest and most popular type of coverage, and insurers can stand out in the market for offering competitive prices, riders and more. These term life insurance companies all scored five stars, and most offer a range of term lengths:

Best whole life insurance companies in November 2024

Whole life insurance typically lasts your entire life. As a type of permanent life insurance, it also builds cash value over time. We’ve compared whole life companies based on factors like coverage flexibility and the potential to earn dividends. These companies scored five stars:

Best no-medical-exam life insurance companies in November 2024

With no-medical-exam life insurance, the application process is streamlined. Depending on the policy you choose, you might have to answer some questions about your health and lifestyle, though some policies skip both the exam and questionnaire. These companies scored four and a half stars or more:

How to choose the best life insurance for you

Shopping for coverage? Follow these steps to find the right life insurance for your needs.

1. Decide on a type of life insurance

Term life insurance is sufficient for most people. It lasts a set number of years — like 10, 20 and 30 — and is designed to cover you for the years when you have the most financial obligations. The premiums stay the same, so you'll know exactly how much the policy will cost over time.

If you need lifelong coverage, permanent life insurance is another option. There are a few policies that fall under this umbrella, including whole life insurance, universal life insurance and variable life insurance. These policies typically don't expire as long you keep up your premiums, and they build cash value at either a fixed or variable rate. Once you've accumulated enough cash value, you can begin to withdraw or borrow against those funds.

2. Calculate how much coverage you need

The next step is determining how much life insurance you need. Check out our comprehensive guide to learn different ways to crunch the numbers.

A simple way to calculate your life insurance needs is to think about everything you pay for now and everything you expect to pay for in the future. This list could include everyday expenses like child care, utility bills and groceries, as well as long-term costs like college tuition and mortgage payments. Once you have a number, subtract the value of any assets you own. The final dollar figure is the gap a life insurance policy can help to fill.

3. Get prices from a handful of companies

The cost of coverage varies among companies, so aim to compare life insurance quotes from multiple insurers.

Although many companies sell similar policies, some focus on certain products — such as whole life — or on particular customers, such as seniors who need life insurance. You can narrow down your options by focusing on the companies that specialize in the type of insurance you’re looking for.

More about top-rated life insurance companies

Looking for a specific type of life insurance policy? Check out NerdWallet’s top picks across these categories:

How we rank the top life insurers

When NerdWallet evaluates life insurance companies, our editorial team considers both the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account and why:

Policies offered. There are many types of life insurance on the market, and they fall into three key categories: term life insurance, permanent life insurance and no-exam life insurance. The right policy for you depends on your needs and budget, but the best life insurance companies offer a broad range of coverage types to cater to most people.

Financial strength. We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. For life insurance, NerdWallet typically recommends considering insurers with ratings of A- or higher. The top life insurance companies have an exceptional financial strength rating of A+ or A++.

Complaints. 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.

Buy online. We consider it a bonus when an insurer allows you to apply for and buy a policy completely online.

Frequently asked questions

The average cost of life insurance is $26 a month, according to Covr Financial Technologies. This is based on a healthy, nonsmoking 40-year-old buying a 20-year, $500,000 term life policy. Life insurance rates vary between policies and insurers, so it's important to compare life insurance quotes from a handful of companies to make sure you're getting the best possible price for the coverage you need.

There are two main types of life insurance. Term life insurance offers temporary coverage for a set period of time, like 10, 20 or 30 years, and pays out if you die within that time frame. Permanent life insurance typically lasts your entire life. It also has a cash value component that grows over time, and once it reaches a certain level, you can begin to take out loans against your policy.

If you want to skip the life insurance medical exam, you can still buy life insurance, though your options may be more limited. Some types of no-medical-exam life insurance may still require you to answer questions about your health and lifestyle, while others bypass both the questionnaire and medical exam.

The cheapest life insurance companies can vary based on your age, gender, smoking status and the type of coverage you want. It's worth comparing quotes from multiple companies to get the most competitive rate.

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