Best Life Insurance Companies of 2026

Northwestern Mutual ranks No. 1 in 2026 for delivering the most consistently positive customer experience in our study. It has the lowest complaint level of any insurer we reviewed, which signals fewer service issues and smoother day-to-day interactions for policyholders. Customers also give the company strong marks for communication, ease of accessing documents, and overall satisfaction — areas that directly affect how simple an insurer is to work with.

Strong trust, strong recommendations, and the fact that everyone surveyed plans to renew make it clear that customers feel genuinely secure sticking with Northwestern Mutual year after year. Combined with its A++ financial strength rating, this mix of low friction, clear communication, and long-term customer confidence sets it apart from every other insurer in the ranking.

Guardian Life ranks near the top in 2026 for delivering one of the strongest overall customer experiences in our ranking. Its high satisfaction scores show that policyholders feel confident navigating their accounts, accessing documents, and getting what they need without unnecessary hurdles. Complaint levels are also low for an insurer of its size, indicating fewer service issues and a smoother experience compared to many of its competitors.

Customers report strong trust in the company and a clear willingness to renew their coverage, reinforcing that Guardian provides a level of consistency and support that people feel comfortable relying on over time. This combination of steady satisfaction, low friction, and strong long-term confidence keeps Guardian among the highest-ranked insurers.

New York Life earns its high 2026 ranking by delivering strong customer satisfaction and exceptional ease of accessing policy documents and services — one of the company’s standout strengths. Policyholders report that managing their accounts and finding what they need feels straightforward, which reflects the company’s consistent handling of everyday service needs. Its high trust and recommendation levels further show that customers feel confident with the support they receive.

People overwhelmingly plan to renew their coverage, demonstrating their confidence in sticking with New York Life over time. Combined with its A++ financial strength rating, this mix of steady satisfaction, easy policy management, and long-term confidence keeps New York Life among the top-performing insurers in 2026.

Mutual of Omaha ranks highly in 2026 for its strong performance in several everyday service areas that matter to policyholders. It earns some of the highest scores for billing, policy changes, and adding riders, indicating that customers find routine tasks easy to manage and well-supported. Trust, recommendation, and renewal intent are also among the strongest in the ranking, reflecting the confidence policyholders have in keeping their coverage with the company.

Its average premium of $353 is also lower than the overall industry average, giving shoppers a balance of strong service and solid value. Combined with lower-than-average complaint levels and a strong A+ financial strength rating, these factors help Mutual of Omaha secure its place as one of the top-ranked insurers this year.

Pacific Life ties with Mutual of Omaha near the top for pairing strong customer satisfaction with one of the lowest complaint levels in the group. Customers say it’s easy to manage their coverage and handle routine tasks, and its low NAIC score shows that the company generates fewer issues than many other national insurers. With an A+ financial strength rating and a $280 average premium that’s well under the $382 industry average, it’s a solid choice for shoppers who want solid coverage without overspending.

Customers trust Pacific Life, recommend it to others, and overwhelmingly plan to stay — a good sign the company feels like a reliable fit. Combined with solid prices and fewer complaints than many competitors, Pacific Life continues to perform among the very best.

MassMutual earns its strong 2026 ranking by pairing an A++ financial strength rating with steady customer satisfaction and a low complaint level of 0.111. Policyholders give the company solid marks for ease of service and overall support, showing that routine tasks like accessing documents and managing account details feel dependable and straightforward. Customers continue to trust the company and plan to renew, which says a lot about how confident they feel sticking with their coverage over time. Its average premium of $350 is also lower than the overall industry average, giving shoppers strong financial stability paired with competitive pricing.

While some satisfaction categories score lower than the very top performers, the combination of strong financial footing, consistent service, and relatively few complaints helps MassMutual remain one of the top insurers in this year’s results.

Amica earns its strong 2026 ranking by receiving the highest customer service score of all companies surveyed and top marks for policy offerings. Policyholders report that getting support and managing their coverage feels especially smooth, and every customer surveyed said they plan to keep their coverage — a rare level of loyalty. This combination of standout service and strong confidence helps Amica maintain its position among the top insurers.

Its NAIC complaint level is higher than several top-ranked competitors, but the company’s exceptional satisfaction ratings and A+ financial strength give shoppers a service-focused option with proven long-term reliability.

Gerber Life secures its 2026 ranking with strong scores for billing, policy offerings, and overall customer satisfaction, showing that policyholders find everyday interactions clear and manageable. Customers also report high trust, strong recommendation levels, and a high likelihood of renewing their coverage, which reflects steady confidence in the company’s support over time. This consistent performance across several service categories keeps Gerber Life in the top half of the ranking.

Its complaint levels are higher than many top-ranked insurers, but its solid service scores and dependable customer sentiment help it remain a reliable option in this year’s results.

Prudential ties with State Farm for the No. 9 spot, standing out for its strong billing satisfaction, high trust, and customers who overwhelmingly plan to keep their coverage — three signals that policyholders feel consistently supported over time. Customers also give solid marks for policy offerings and overall satisfaction, and its average premium of $338 is more than 11% more affordable than the industry average, offering a competitive option for shoppers who want both reliability and value.

Its complaint level is higher than that of several top-ranked competitors, but its solid performance across certain categories, including good satisfaction with policy offerings, helps it remain comfortably positioned in the top tier.

State Farm ranks in the top 10 thanks to strong scores for customer satisfaction and a complaint level that’s lower than many national competitors. Policyholders say the company makes it easy to get help, make changes, and understand their coverage — a reflection of the support customers receive through State Farm’s large agent network. Its solid ratings for service, ease of accessing documents, and overall experience show that people often feel comfortable managing their policy here.

While some satisfaction categories fall below those of the highest-ranked insurers, State Farm’s blend of steady service, lower-than-average complaints, and A+ financial strength makes it a dependable choice for shoppers who value personal support.

John Hancock stands out for making everyday policy management feel straightforward. Customers give high marks for how easy it is to access documents and services, which helps take the stress out of routine account tasks. There’s also solid satisfaction with its term coverage and a strong intent to keep coverage, indicating that many policyholders feel comfortable maintaining their plans. With an average annual premium of $349 — below the industry’s $382 norm — shoppers get a well-established company that offers competitive pricing and steady support.

The company’s complaint level is higher than that of some similarly ranked insurers, and satisfaction with rider changes and no-exam options is more limited. Even so, its combination of accessible service, lower-than-average premiums, and strong financial footing earns it a good overall score.

Lincoln Financial stands out for its strong scores in billing, policy changes, and overall customer satisfaction — areas that show how smoothly it handles everyday policy needs. Customers also give high marks for recommendation and renewal intent, and its average premium of $292 is more than 23% below the industry average of $382, making it a great option for shoppers who want dependable support at a competitive price.

Some categories land lower, including ease of accessing services and certain no-exam preferences, and its complaint level is higher than several top-ranked competitors. Even so, the mix of helpful day-to-day support and competitive pricing keeps Lincoln Financial a solid choice.

AAA comes in at No. 13 with strong satisfaction across many everyday service categories. Customers give the company high marks for ease of service, billing, and overall support, which suggests that managing a policy feels straightforward for most people. Its average annual premium of $385 is slightly above the industry average of $382, offering familiar brand recognition paired with a predictable experience.

The company’s complaint level is much higher than that of top-ranked competitors, and some categories trail slightly behind the strongest performers. Still, AAA’s solid satisfaction scores and consistent customer feedback help it remain a steady option for shoppers who appreciate its simplicity and name recognition.

Customers say Corebridge Financial makes things easier with clear billing, flexible rider options, and ease of making policy changes that keep ongoing policy management stress-free. Its average premium of $272 is almost 28% lower than the industry average and the lowest in our ranking, helping shoppers keep more room in their monthly budget while still getting reliable coverage from a well-established insurer.

Corebridge’s complaint level is one of the highest in the group, and some service categories score below the top performers. Still, its strong customer satisfaction across coverage options, competitive pricing, and high renewal intent keep it a viable choice for shoppers seeking solid value.

Globe Life comes in at No. 15 with strong satisfaction scores across service, billing, and policy offerings. High recommendation and renewal plans make it clear that customers trust the company and feel at ease staying with their policies over time.

Its complaint level, however, is one of the highest in the entire ranking, which may signal more issues to navigate compared with top-tier insurers. Still, Globe Life’s steady satisfaction scores and approachable coverage options help it remain a dependable pick for shoppers seeking simplicity.

Transamerica appears at the bottom of the 2026 ranking but still offers advantages for families who want straightforward policy options at an affordable price point. The company’s biggest strength is affordability — its average premium of $273 is among the lowest in the entire group, which can make coverage more accessible for budget-focused buyers. People are generally happy with the term coverage and plan to renew at a strong rate, making it a reliable pick for families who just need simple, affordable coverage from a brand they recognize.

The tradeoff is a significantly higher complaint level than all other insurers and lower satisfaction across many service categories, which may translate to more friction when managing a policy. Even so, for shoppers prioritizing price above all else, Transamerica remains one of the most affordable national carriers in this year’s ranking.