Life insurance comparison UK

Just as if you were shopping for any other form of insurance, comparing multiple life insurance quotes is essential in finding the best deal.

From comparing different policy types to comparing insurers and premium prices, every little helps when looking for the right policy to meet your needs (at a price that’s within your budget).

Reassured can help you conduct a free life insurance comparison from our panel of top UK insurers, including:

This article also includes information about insurers that we don’t work with, such as Royal London, British Seniors and Co-op. The information has been taken from each insurers website and is correct as of 18/03/24.

We can save you time and money by comparing quotes and presenting you with our best available deals.

Quotes are fee-free, without obligation and start from just 20p-a-day † , so why not get in touch?

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Life insurance price comparison

A life insurance quote comparison can help you secure a great price on a policy that meets your needs.

However, it’s important to be aware that the quotes you receive will be based on your personal circumstances.

This is because, as part of the standard application process, you’ll be required to provide key information about yourself and your chosen policy. This includes:

  1. Age
  2. Smoking status
  3. Health & wellbeing
  4. Occupation
  5. Lifestyle
  6. Policy type
  7. Sum assured
  8. Policy term

The exception to this an over 50s plan where no medical information is required. Instead, the price you pay will be based on your age, level of cover and (sometimes) your smoking status.

Below is a life insurance rates comparison for each policy type:

Level term life insurance

The pricing table below is based on a non-smoker, in good health, for a level term life insurance policy with a 20 year term and £150,000 of cover:

Age Aviva AIG logo Legal & General
20£3.72£4.45£4.99
25£4.49£4.79£5.34
30£5.59£5.85£6.63
35£7.98£7.91£9.19
40£11.00£11.26£13.38
45£16.25£17.00£20.27
50£26.80£27.19£33.48

Decreasing term life insurance

The pricing table below is based on a non-smoker, in good health, for a decreasing term life insurance policy with a 20 year term and £150,000 of cover:

Age Aviva AIG logo Legal & General
20£3.74£4.72£4.99
25£4.22£4.81£4.99
30£4.91£4.96£5.45
35£5.73£5.65£6.66
40£7.59£7.74£8.38
45£10.74£11.11£12.41
50£17.42£16.83£18.31

Whole of life insurance

The pricing table below is based on a non-smoker, in good health, for a whole of life insurance policy with £50,000 of cover:

Age Zurich logo AIG logo
20£32.08£31.63
25£33.96£32.02
30£36.97£35.84
35£42.74£41.19
40£49.55£48.86
45£57.49£54.94
50£61.03£63.38

Over 50 life insurance

The pricing table below is based on a non-smoker, in good health, for an over 50s plan with £4,000 of cover:

Age SunLife logo OneFamily logo
50£14.02£12.00
55£15.79£14.00
60£17.69£16.00
65£21.08£20.00
70£27.93£27.00
75£39.37£39.00
80£54.67£65.00
85£73.83Cover not available at this age

Life insurance with critical illness cover

The pricing table below is based on a non-smoker, in good health, for a life insurance with critical illness cover policy, with a 20 year term, and £50,000 of cover:

Age Legal & General AIG logo LV= Aviva
20£9.43£8.75£9.55£9.15
25£11.26£11.56£12.45£11.71
30£14.43£14.90£18.29£14.99
35£19.22£19.87£21.76£19.97
40£27.48£27.92£29.37£27.96
45£39.02£40.51£45.29£39.84
50£57.04£56.06£66.71£58.19

Joint life insurance

The pricing table below is based on non-smokers, in good health, for a joint level term life insurance policy with a term of 20 years and £150,000 of cover:

Age Aviva Legal & General AIG logo
20£6.30£7.44£8.13
25£8.08£9.13£9.31
3010.46£12.19£11.00
35£14.00£17.30£14.48
40£20.08£25.49£20.90
45£30.20£38.52£32.73
50£50.46£60.64£50.51

Reassured can help you with a life insurance cost comparison to help you find a great deal on a policy that meets your needs.

Our award-winning broker service is fee-free to use, so why not get in touch?

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Life insurance policy comparison

If you’ve just started on your journey of securing life cover, you may wonder what policy options are available and how they differ.

The most popular forms of life insurance include:

Each policy can be well suited to protecting different aspects of your life.

What is life insurance?

Life insurance is a financial protection policy which could provide loved ones with a lump sum pay out if you pass away while your policy is active.

These funds could be vital in helping your family meet future living costs, such as paying the mortgage and household bills.

The pay out could also help to cover funeral costs or allow you to provide an inheritance.

Comparing the different types of life insurance can help you understand your options and allows you to choose the one that best meets your needs.

Below is a life insurance policy comparison chart, comparing the key features of each type:

Policy typeProvides cover for a specified period?Provides lifelong cover?Provides a guaranteed pay out?Is the pay out fixed?Does the pay out reduce over time?What is the policy best used for?How much does it cost?
Level term life insurance Icon green tick Icon ruby cross Icon ruby cross Icon green tick Icon ruby cross Helping to protect an interest-based mortgage and/or family living costsFrom 20p-a-day via Reassured †
Decreasing term life insurance Icon green tick Icon ruby cross Icon ruby cross Icon ruby cross Icon green tick Helping to protect a repayment mortgageFrom 20p-a-day via Reassured ¥
Whole of life insurance Icon ruby cross Icon green tick Icon green tick Icon green tick Icon ruby cross Guaranteeing an inheritance and/or helping to cover inheritance tax billsFrom 27p-a-day via Reassured ±
Over 50 life insurance Icon ruby cross Icon green tick Icon green tick Icon green tick Icon ruby cross Helping to cover funeral costs and/or providing a small inheritanceFrom 20p-a-day via Reassured +


The policy that’s best for you will ultimately depend on your personal circumstances, budget and what you’d like to cover.

Why not use an experienced broker to compare fee free quotes for the life insurance policies listed above?

Reassured can help you compare quotes from some of the UK’s best insurers.

How much life insurance do you need?

Before conducting a comparison of life insurance, why not work out how much cover you might need? Simply fill in the fields which apply to you for an instant calculation.

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£137,934 is the estimated mortgage debt per household in the UK.

The purchase of a home is likely to be the largest financial commitment any of us will make in our lifetime. Your life insurance should cover your remaining mortgage balance to allow your loved ones to stay in the family home should anything happen to you.

Source: Moneynerd.co.uk
£
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The average monthly household budget in the UK is £2,548 (that’s £30,576 per year), which is spent on transport, food & drink, utilities (gas, electricity, water etc), clothing, council tax and leisure activities.

With energy prices hitting a record high and the cost of living rising sharply in the UK, you may wish to factor in utility bills and family living expenses into your cover.

Source: Nimblefins.co.uk
£
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The average personal debt of UK adults has risen to £34,566 (not including mortgage debt), with credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts being the most common forms of debt.

Factoring in any debts into your life insurance cover means that, if they need to be paid back from your estate after your passing, your loved ones won’t miss out financially.

Source: Money.co.uk
£
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According to SunLife, the average cost of a funeral in the UK is £3,953 (with the overall cost of dying at £9,200).

Funeral costs have increased by 116% since 2004 and are a significant cost which should be factored into the amount of life insurance you secure.

Source: SunLife.co.uk
£
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When factoring in cover for your children, you may wish to calculate the amount based on how long it is until they reach financial independence.

This could include childcare (£7,000 per year for part-time care), school expenses (£1,519 per school year for uniforms, lunches, stationary etc), as well as an additional sum for further education (this could be a contribution of up to £5,000 per year).

Sources: Daynurseries.co.uk, Primarytimes.co.uk & Savethestudent.org
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2 in 5 adults say they are relying on an inheritance to fund their retirement.

Factoring in an inheritance to your sum assured could allow loved ones to live a more financially comfortable life. Alternatively, you could leave a cash gift to a charity of your choosing.

Source: Moneyage.co.uk
£
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If you’re lucky enough to have your own savings or are part of the 30% of UK residents who already have a life insurance policy in place, this can provide financial protection for loved ones.

By entering your current cover, savings or death in service amount you can reduce the sum assured you require.

Source: Scottishbusinessnews.net
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Your total cover estimate

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How to conduct the best life insurance comparison

When comparing life insurance, it’s essential to explore the various policy options available and obtain multiple quotes.

This will allow you to find to the right cover for your needs at the most affordable price.

Here are the different methods you could use when conducting a life insurance comparison:

  1. Your own research - You could look at a number of insurers and one by one gather information and quotes. However, this could become a laborious task calling multiple teams and filling out multiple application forms.
  2. Life insurance comparison sites - A life insurance comparison site allows you to compare multiple life insurance quotes at once, making taking out a policy quick and easy. However, if you’re not sure what you’re looking for, there’s no one on hand to answer your questions.
  3. A life insurance broker - A life insurance broker can provide you with all the information you need about the different options available and provide you with multiple quotes from a range of insurers.

Why not put Reassured to work? We can find you our best quotes from our panel of leading UK insurers.

Level term life insurance comparison

Level term life insurance key points

  • Provides cover for a specified period (often up to 40 years)
  • A lump sum pay out is made if you pass away during the policy term
  • Pay out remains level (the same) throughout the policy term
  • Maximum sum assured up to £1,000,000
  • Medical information required during the application process
  • Terminal illness cover included at no extra cost
  • Available from 20p-a-day through Reassured

Level term life insurance is a popular choice for those who are looking to help protect an interest only mortgage (or other large debts) and/or family living costs.

This is due to the pay out remaining fixed (level) throughout the policy term.

You’ll be covered for a specified period and a pay out will be made to your loved ones if you pass away during this time.

Below is a level term life insurance comparison between some of the UK’s top insurers:

InsurerAge limitsPolicy termPolicy features
Aviva 18 - 771 - 50 years
(policy must cease before your 91st birthday)
  • Separation benefit
  • House purchase cover
  • Aviva DigiCare+ app
  • Free parent cover
  • Free terminal illness cover
Legal & General 18 - 771 - 50 years
(policy must cease before your 90th birthday)
  • Wellbeing support (provided by RedArc Assured Limited)
  • Guaranteed insurability option
  • Accidental death benefit
  • Free life cover (if you’re moving home, up to a maximum of 90 days)
  • Free terminal illness cover
AIG logo 17 - 862 - 70 years
(cover by cease before you’re 90th birthday)
  • Free access to Smart health
  • Child support fund
  • Waiver of premiums
  • Guaranteed insurability option
  • Free terminal illness cover
LV= 17 - 845 - 50 years
(cover must cease by your 90th birthday)
  • LV= doctors service
  • Guaranteed insurability option
  • Free terminal illness cover
Royal London review logo 18 - 705 - 50
(cover must cease by age 80)
  • Payment holiday
  • Guaranteed insurability option
  • Free terminal illness cover
Zurich logo 16 - 831 - 50
(cover must end by age 89)
  • Milestone benefit
  • Separation benefit
  • Multi-fracture cover
  • Free terminal illness cover

The information above has been taken from each insurers website and is correct as of 18/03/24. We don’t work with Royal London. While some insurers offer cover to those aged 16 and 17, Reassured only provide cover to those aged 18 and over.

As you can see from the table, policy terms, conditions and additional benefits can vary between providers.

Therefore, it’s essential to compare multiple quotes. Contact Reassured for your free level term life insurance quote comparison.

Decreasing term life insurance comparison

Decreasing term life insurance key points

  • Provides cover for a specified period (often up to 40 years)
  • A lump sum pay out is made if you pass away during the policy term
  • Pay out decreases throughout the policy term
  • Maximum sum assured up to £1,000,000
  • Medical information required during the application process
  • Terminal illness cover included at no extra cost
  • Available from 20p-a-day through Reassured

Decreasing term life insurance is often the most affordable option. This is because the sum assured will reduce throughout the policy term.

For this reason, it’s ideal for helping to protect a repayment mortgage as the pay out sum can reduce in line with your remaining mortgage balance.

You’ll be covered for a specified period and a pay out will be made to your loved ones if you pass away during this time.

Below is a decreasing term life insurance comparison between some of the UK’s top insurers:

InsurerAge limitsPolicy termPolicy features
Aviva 18 - 771 - 50 years
(policy must cease before your 91st birthday)
  • Separation benefit
  • House purchase cover
  • Aviva DigiCare+ app
  • Free parent cover
  • Free terminal illness cover
Legal & General 18 - 745 - 50 years
(cover must cease before your 90th
birthday)
  • Wellbeing support (provided by RedArc Assured Limited)
  • Accidental death benefit
  • Make changes to your policy
  • Free life cover (if you’re moving home, up to a maximum of 90 days)
  • Free terminal illness cover
AIG logo 17 - 862 - 70 years
(cover by cease before you’re 90th birthday)
  • Free access to Smart Health
  • Child support fund
  • Waiver of premiums
  • Guaranteed insurability option
  • Free terminal illness cover
LV= 18 - 845 - 50 years
(cover must cease by your 89th birthday)
  • LV= doctors service
  • Make changes to your policy
  • Free terminal illness cover
Royal London review logo 18 - 705 - 50
(cover must cease by age 80)
  • Payment holiday
  • Guaranteed insurability option
  • Free terminal illness cover
Zurich logo 16 - 831 - 50
(cover must end by age 89)
  • Milestone benefit
  • Separation benefit
  • Multi-fracture cover
  • Free terminal illness cover

The information above has been taken from each insurers website and is correct as of 18/03/24. We don’t work with Royal London. While some insurers offer cover to those aged 16 and 17, Reassured only provide cover to those aged 18 and over.

Comparing multiple quotes can allow you to secure a great deal on decreasing term life insurance.

Through Reassured you could even conduct a level vs decreasing term quote comparison to ensure you’re getting the right cover for your needs.

Compare Quotes from Top UK Insurers »

Whole of life insurance comparison

Whole of life insurance key features

  • Provides cover for the rest of your life
  • A lump sum pay out is guaranteed when you pass away
  • Pay out remains level (the same) throughout the policy term
  • Maximum sum assured up to £1,000,000
  • Medical information is required during the application process
  • Available from 27p-a-day through Reassured ±

Whole of life insurance provides lifelong cover, therefore guaranteeing a pay out when you pass away.

It can be well suited to those later in life who want to guarantee an inheritance for their loved ones and/or help to cover any inheritance tax bills.

Not all UK insurers offer whole of life insurance as an option.

Below is a comparison table of whole of life insurance from some of the UK’s top insurers:

InsurerAge limitsPolicy features
Zurich logo 16 - 83
  • Can be taken out on a joint basis
  • Terminal illness cover
  • Free cover during underwriting
  • Milestone benefit
  • Make changes to your policy
  • Waiver of premium can be added for an extra cost
Legal & General 18 - 84
  • Can be taken out on a joint basis
  • Make changes to your policy
  • Waiver of premiums can be added for an extra cost
Royal London review logo 18 - 89
  • Helping hand service (giving you access to health and wellbeing support)
  • Make changes to your policy
  • Waiver of premiums can be added for an extra cost
AIG logo 17 - 84
  • Can be taken out as a joint policy
  • Make changes to your policy
  • Waiver of premiums can be added for an extra cost

The information above has been taken from each insurers website and is correct as of 18/03/24. We don’t work with Royal London. While some insurers offer cover to those aged 16 and 17, Reassured only provide cover to those aged 18 and over.

Reassured's advised team can help you help you with a whole of life insurance quotes comparison from top UK insurers. Simply get in touch for your fee-free quotes.

Over 50 life insurance comparison

Over 50 life insurance (over 50s plan)

  • Guarantees acceptance to UK residents aged 50 - 85
  • Provides cover for the rest of your life
  • A lump sum pay out is guaranteed when you pass away
  • Maximum sum assured up to £20,000 (depending on needs and budget)
  • No medical information is required
  • Available from 20p-a-day through Reassured

Over 50 life insurance (or an over 50s plan) guarantees acceptance to those over 50, without the need to provide medical information.

As no medical information is required, insurers tend to offer a lower maximum sum assured. Typically, this is around £10,000 - £20,000.

Most commonly, the funds are used to help cover funeral costs and/or provide a small inheritance.

Insurers also often add a waiting period to policies. This refers to the first 12 or 24 months of the policy where no pay out will be made for death due to natural causes. But you’ll be covered for accidental death during this time.

Full cover will commence once this period has ended. Once in place, cover lasts for life and guarantees a pay out when you pass away.

Below is a comparison table of over 50 life insurance some of the UK’s top insurers:

InsurerAge limitsPolicy features
SunLife logo 50 - 85
  • 1 year waiting period
  • Accidental death cover
  • Funeral benefit option + a £250 contribution
OneFamily logo 50 - 80
  • Free terminal illness cover
  • Funeral funding benefit + a £300 contribution
  • Premium payments cease at age 90
  • 2 year waiting period
British Seniors logo 50 - 80
  • Free health & wellbeing services
  • 1 year waiting period
Co-op logo 50 - 80
  • Wellbeing support
  • Later life care advice
  • Premium payments cease at age 90
  • 1 year waiting period
  • Flexibility to reduce payments

The information above has been taken from each insurers website and is correct as of 18/03/24. We don’t work with British Seniors or Co-op. While some insurers offer cover to those aged 16 and 17, Reassured only provide cover to those aged 18 and over.

Conducting an over 50 life insurance comparison is essential in finding an affordable policy.

At Reassured we can provide over 50s plans starting from just 20p-a-day. Contact us today for our best over 50s quotes.

Life insurance and critical illness cover comparison

Life insurance with critical illness cover key points

  • Provides cover for a specified period
  • A pay out will be made if you pass away or fall critically ill during the policy term
  • Medical information is required during the application
  • Available from 33p a day through Reassured º

Critical illness cover can be added to your life insurance policy for an additional cost in your monthly premiums.

This allows a claim to be made if you’re diagnosed with a (specific) serious illness or you pass away.

The early pay out critical illness cover could provide helps to replace lost income while you’re unable to work, allowing you to keep up with your current standard of living.

Typically, at least 30 conditions are covered. This includes some forms of cancer, stroke and heart attack. However this can be more or less depending on the insurer.

Below is a comparison table between leading UK insurers and the critical illness cover they offer:

InsurerAvailable toNumber of conditions covered
Aviva 18 - 6452 conditions
Legal & General 18 - 6736 conditions
AIG logo 17 - 5951 conditions
LV= 17 - 5939 conditions
Royal London review logo 18 - 6948 conditions
Zurich logo 16 - 6939 conditions

The information is correct as of 18/03/24. We don’t work with Royal London. While some insurers offer cover to those aged 16 and 17, Reassured only provide cover to those aged 18 and over.

As you can see, the number of conditions covered can vary significantly. Therefore, it’s essential to compare quotes to get the most comprehensive cover.

Reassured can help you compare life insurance with critical illness cover quotes starting from just 33p-a-day.

Joint life insurance comparison

Joint life insurance key points

  • Covers two lives under one policy
  • Available with term life insurance, term life insurance with critical illness cover and whole of life insurance
  • One lump sum pay out is made (usually after the first death)
  • Could help you save up to 25% (compared to two single policies)

Joint life insurance protects two lives under one policy, allowing the policyholders to save money as there’s only one premium to pay.

Often a popular choice for couples who have shared assets to protect (such as a mortgage).

However, only one pay out will be made. Most commonly, this is after the first death occurs.

This could leave the surviving partner needing to secure a new policy, potentially facing higher premiums due to older age.

When comparing quotes, it could be beneficial to compare both joint life insurance and two single policies to find the most suitable option for your personal circumstances.

The table below shows a price comparison between joint life insurance and two single policies.

Quotes are based on non-smokers in good health for a level term life insurance policy with a 20 year term and £150,000 of cover:

AgeJoint life insuranceTwo single policiesPrice difference (%)
20£6.30£7.44-15%
25£8.08£8.98-10%
30£10.46£11.18-6%
35£14.00£15.82-11%
40£20.08£22.00-9%
45£30.20£32.50-7%
50£50.46£53.60-6%


As you can see from the table, a joint life insurance policy could help you save money on a policy.

However, if your budget allows, two single policies could allow you to provide more comprehensive protection.

Compare joint life insurance vs two single policies through Reassured. Simply get in touch for your fee-free quotes.

Life insurance companies’ ratings comparison

Insurer ratings can be a useful tool in helping you understand the products and services they offer.

When conducting a comparison of life insurance, ratings and reviews could help you make your decision on who to secure a policy with.

The table below shows a life insurance ratings comparison between some of the UK’s leading insurers.

The rating we have used are from:

Insurer 5 star defaqto rating Fairer Finance logo Trustpilot logo
Royal London review logo 5 stars80%Great
(4.1)
Aviva 5 stars 80%Great
(4.0)
Legal & General 5 stars74%Great
(3.8)
LV= 5 stars70%Excellent
(4.4)
Zurich logo 5 stars68%Great
(4.0)
AIG logo 4 stars75%Average
(3.1)

The information used in this table is correct as of 18/03/24. We don’t work with Royal London. Please note that Trustpilot scores are based on all products offered by these insurers and aren’t specific to life insurance.

Reassured can help you compare quotes from some of the top rated insurers listed above.

We’re also proud to be rated as ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with over 75,000 customer reviews.

Why not check out our best life insurance providers guide where we break down insurer reviews and ratings to establish who offers the best life insurance? »

Online life insurance quotes comparison

Comparing life insurance quotes online puts you in control of when and where you secure a policy.

You’ll have access to a range of quotes at your fingertips, allowing you to choose the one that’s right for your needs and budget.

An online life insurance comparison is ideal for applicants who:

  • Know exactly what they want
  • Are in good health with no high-risk factors

Compare life insurance quotes online with Reassured

Through Reassured you can now conduct a life insurance comparison online, allowing you to benefit from the following:

  • Instant quotes from top UK insurers
  • Your choice of level or decreasing term cover
  • Free terminal illness cover with all term life insurance policies
  • Fast, free & no-obligation quotes

Head over to our dedicated buy life insurance online page for more information. Your loved ones could be protected in under 11 minutes ^ .

Compare life insurance [Find our best deals]

At Reassured, our main aim is to help you find the right policy to meet your needs at our best price.

We do this by conducting a life insurance comparison from our panel of insurers, which includes leading UK providers and smaller specialists.

A friendly member of our team will also be with you each step of the way to provide support and answer any questions you might have.

Alternatively, we offer an online quote comparison service - allowing you to quickly and easily compare quotes and secure a policy at your own leisure.

Take the first steps in financially protecting your loved ones and get in touch today. Quotes are fee-free and without obligation.

FREE Life Insurance Comparison » Find Your Perfect Policy

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