The Best Pet Insurance Companies for 2020

There’s no doubt that you have many choices when it comes to finding pet insurance. When taking into account the biggest companies in the market alone, you come up with 12 distinct choices. So to make the process easier, below we’ve ranked and assessed those 12 pet insurance companies against each other in terms of financial strength, products offered, digital experience, customer satisfaction, company background and some main differentiators of each company. That way, you can find the best pet insurance companies that work for your pet and budget.

>>MORE: Top Companies for Cheap Pet Insurance

Nationwide Pet Insurance

Underwritten by Nationwide General Insurance Company.

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: A+ (100/100)

Highlights:

• One of the most notable points of Nationwide is that it covers exotics in addition to cats and dogs. It’s the only insurance company in the U.S. that currently covers exotics like birds, reptiles and rodents.  
• Nationwide is also well known for its comprehensive three plans that go from a wide range of wellness coverage options right on the main plan to an affordable major medical option. There are no wellness reimbursement programs to mess around with.
• Nationwide folded VPI under its brand umbrella around 2014, so those plans are now one and the same.

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: Nationwide is the same company that covers home, auto and other insurance policies. The customer service line is quick to pick up and the reps are helpful, which can sometimes be an issue with pet insurers. If you like the idea of getting pet insurance from a well-known national brand, this is your company.

Best Product: 95/100

The three plans basically cover all your animal’s needs, from wellness exam fees on the higher plans to major medical on the lower.

Good Digital Experience: 90/100

The site does an amazing job of outlining what is all covered right on the main page. You don’t have to spend time fishing around for this information like on some other sites.

Customer Satisfaction: 85/100

Online customer complaints for this company through Yelp seem to revolve around typical complaints that apply to the pet insurance industry as a whole. People don’t like that the price increases as the dog ages, that pre-existing conditions are not covered and some people report problems with claim processing hiccups. However, the company has an A+ with the BBB and a 4.3/5 with Consumers Advocate.  

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 4.6/5. Read full review of Nationwide.

Embrace Pet Insurance

Underwritten by American Modern Insurance Group, listed under Munich Reinsurance America

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: A+ (100/100)

Highlights:

• It’s the largest and most well-known pet insurance company in the U.S.  
• Embrace has a wellness rewards plan where you can earn money back for routine and preventative care.
• Covers both accidents and illnesses.

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: Embrace was started as a Wharton Business Plan Competition winner in 2003, selling its first policy in 2006. It also gives part of its proceeds to pet-related charities.

Best Product: 95/100

Embrace’s policies are very comprehensive. It even covers dental trauma right in the main plan. It also covers allergy testing, lab tests and physical therapy, as a few examples. The wellness plan optional reimbursement coverage rounds out this comprehensive base plan well.  

Good Digital Experience: 90/100

The system is easy, loads quickly and does a good job of providing links for you to see what is covered and what is not.

Customer Satisfaction: 80/100

Embrace has an A+ with the BBB, a 4.4/5 with Consumers Advocate and a 3.5-star rating with ConsumerAffairs.     

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 4.6/5 . Read full review of Embrace

ASPCA Pet Insurance

Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: A (95/100)

Highlights:

• ASPCA is notable in that it’s one of the few pet insurance plans that will handle dental disease right on the main plan.
• You’ll get the satisfaction of knowing you’re getting pet insurance from an organization built around preventing cruelty to animals.
• The accident-only coverage is a great option for people who want the peace of mind of coverage, but are on more of a budget.

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: This is the plan offered by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals. The pet insurance portion started up in 1997. 

Best Product: 95/100

The difference in complete care versus accident-only coverage is hard to come by.  It also offers coverage for things like hereditary conditions and dental disease. It also offers preventative care as an add-on. But like all pet-insurance, it does not cover pre-existing conditions.       

Good Digital Experience: 90/100

The site loads quickly and is easy to navigate. It also is very easy to switch between the complete care and accident-only plans with the click of a link to compare costs. 

Customer Satisfaction: 85/100

The company has an A+ rating with the BBB. However, its 2-star rating with the Yelp is due to denied claims, ineligibility for continued care and other issues. It also has a 3.5/5 rating with Consumers Advocate.  

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 4.6/5 . Read full review of ASPCA

>>MORE: Compare the 4 Biggest Pet Insurance Companies

AKC Pet Insurance

Underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: Not Rated. Score Rating Not Applicable.

Highlights:

• AKC is notable for its 30-day free look that gives your money back if you don’t like the policy within the first 30 days. This is hard to come by in the pet insurance world.
• These plans are great with a wide array of discounts, like multi-pet or AKC certification discounts.
• Some add-ons even cover things like cremation and burial expenses. 

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: Just as it sounds like, this is the pet insurance offered by the American Kennel Club. However, it does cover all breeds and mixed breeds, as well as non-AKC registered pets.  

Best Product: 85/100

This product gets a fairly good rating, thanks to all the optional add-ons on top of the base plan that make it stand out in the market. For instance, you can add on different levels of coverage for exam fees and routine care. 

Good Digital Experience: 90/100

The company has an intuitive site that is great at allowing you to customize different parts of your plan, like deductible, incident limit, coinsurance and annual limit. This goes above and beyond other sites for plan customization.   

Customer Satisfaction: 90/100

AKC pet insurance has a BBB rating of A+. It also has an overall satisfaction rating of 4/5 stars though ConsumerAffairs, which is pretty amazing for a website that people go to primarily to complain.      

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 4.4/5 . Read full review of AKC Pet Insurance

Hartville Pet Insurance

Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: A (95/100)

Highlights:

• You might notice that the ASPCA and Hartville quote process look fairly similar. Hartville has been a partner with the ASPCA since 2006.  
• Like ASPCA, there is dental coverage right on the main plan and accident-only coverage.
• This company is known for comprehensive coverage of conditions like even behavior issues.

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: This company was founded in 1997. It was one of the original pet insurers.  

Best Product: 90/100

The coverage is fairly comprehensive for things like illnesses, accidents and hereditary conditions. Again, the accident-only coverage is a solid option worth factoring into the rating.  There are also two tiers of added preventative care.    

Good Digital Experience: 95/100

The website is responsive and easy to navigate. There is a bit of a loading screen, but nothing too invasive. Lots of well-placed links lead you to the information, alternative plans or add-ons you might be looking for. 

Customer Satisfaction: 70/100

Hartville has an A+ with the BBB and a 3.5/5 with Consumers Advocate. However, it is not listed with Yelp or ConsumerAffairs.    

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 4.4/5 . Read full review of Hartville Pet Insurance

Pets Best Pet Insurance

Underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: Not rated. Score Rating Not Applicable 

Highlights:

• The company runs on three-tier plans for greater customization, each with their own level of what’s all covered. 
• There is also a two-tier wellness plan add-on so you can further customize what is covered and what is not.
• This is another company that offers accident-only coverage for a more budget-friendly option. 

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: Pets Best was founded in 2005 by a veterinarian after he had to perform euthanasia on a dog. The story is that after putting down the dog, the daughter of the dog’s family saw the vet in the store and said, “You’re the man who killed my dog.” Since then, the company has been working to put an end to euthanasia that happens because care becomes too expensive.    

Best Product: 95/100

The highly customizable levels of care mean you can get as little or as much coverage as you deem necessary.  

Good Digital Experience: 90/100

The site is well designed and intuitive. It’s one of the best sites for outlining exactly what you’ll have covered as you update your monthly premium in real-time.  

Customer Satisfaction: 75/100

Pets Best has an A+ with the BBB. However, it has a 3.9/5 with Consumers Advocate and two starts with Yelp. Complaints are all over the place, with everything from slow claims processes to price increases.  

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 4.3/5 . Read full review of Pets Best

Figo Pet Insurance

Underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: A- (90/100)

Highlights:

• Has three flexible plans that run from $10,000, $14,000 or unlimited annual benefit. 
• Figo is tech-savvy and offers Pet Cloud, which can help you connect with local pet owners.
• Figo has one of the most responsive and well-designed websites for the quote process. 

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: Figo pet insurance has been in business for six years. The company works out of Chicago’s Google Tech Hub Network.  

Best Product: 90/100

Figo covers a wide range of care, including hereditary and congenital conditions, prosthetics and hip dysplasia. Figo also offers an optional add-on that covers vet exams, which many pet insurers don’t cover.

Good Digital Experience: 95/100

The digital experience for Figo is seamless. Prices update in real-time with little to no lag. The site’s design is attractive and easy to navigate.  

Customer Satisfaction: 70/100

Figo has a B+ with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), 3.5 stars on Yelp and a 4/5 with Consumers Advocate.     

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 4.3/5 . Read full review of Figo Pet Insurance

PetPlan Pet Insurance

Underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: A+ (100/100)

Highlights:

• PetPlan is another solid option for comprehensive coverage of things like behavior and holistic therapies.
• There are no age restrictions.
• Can adjust easily between premiums, deductibles and maximum benefits. 

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: The company was originally from the U.K. and goes all the way back to 1976. Then it came to North American in 2003. Today, it’s the exclusive pet insurance provider for the AARP. 

Best Product: 90/100

PetPlan is known for its wide array of coverage, like specialist treatments and even vet exam fees.  

Good Digital Experience: 80/100

The detailed sliding bars offer a wide range of customization in deductible and annual benefit amounts.

Customer Satisfaction: 70/100

PetPlan has some fairly negative customer reviews. While it has an A+ rating with the BBB and a 4.4/5 with Consumers Advocate, it also has 2.5 stars on Yelp and an average customer rating of one star with the BBB.  

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 4.3/5 . Read full review of PetPlan

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Underwritten by ACE American Insurance Company

AM. Best Financial Strength Rating for Policy Underwriter: A++ (100/100)

Highlights:

• Healthy Paws in part foundation and gives back to animals in need.
• Works under one comprehensive plan, which can be good for people who want a simple process.
• It’s on the more affordable end of the largest pet insurers. 

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: Healthy Paws got its start in 2009 and its headquarters are in Bellevue, Wash. The company was created when an insurance executive and a shelter director met in a no-kill shelter.  

Best Product: 70/100

Healthy Paws has a fairly comprehensive plan, covering things like x-rays, diagnostic treatment, alternative treatment and prescription meds, which many plans don’t do. However, there are no options for preventative or routine care and exam fees.

Good Digital Experience: 70/100

The quote system works decently, but the site asks some questions that could be difficult to answer, like the exact month and year your pet was born.   

Customer Satisfaction: 90/100

The company has an A+ with the BBB, a 4-star rating through Yelp and a 5/5 rating Consumers Advocate. 

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 4.1/5 . Read full review of Healthy Paws

Trupanion Pet Insurance

Underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: Not Rated. Score Rating Not Applicable 

Highlights:

• This company is known for its one easy plan full of comprehensive coverage.
• All the plans have an unlimited annual payout and 90 percent reimbursement, which is pretty generous for the industry.  
• Different plan tiers vary by deductible amounts.   

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: Trupanion started in Canada in 1999 and came to the U.S. in 2005. Everything about this company is focused on its one generous and easy-to-understand plan.

Best Product: 80/100

Trupanion is a little tricky to rate. On one hand, it does have its one plan with no payout limits and a high reimbursement rate. It also covers a wide variety of illnesses. However, it doesn’t cover wellness or routine care, not even with an add-on or reimbursement program. Also, it won’t cover exam fees.

Good Digital Experience: 90/100

The site is easy to use and loads well. It’s easy to find what’s all covered and not covered.  

Customer Satisfaction: 75/100

Trupanion has a B+ with the BBB, but a 4.8/5 through Consumers Advocate. However, it has quite a few complaints on Yelp, with a 2.5-star rating there, for things like denying claims and sudden price increases. 

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 4.1/5 . Read full review of Trupanion

PetFirst Pet Insurance

Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: A (95/100)

Highlights:

• Plan main differences are annual benefit and deductible. 
• The 14-day money-back guarantee is somewhat unique. 
• Accident coverage begins the next day after payment.  

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: PetFirst was started in 2003. It was started after the founder had to put down his dog and he wanted to offset the costs of owning a pet.    

Best Product: 70/100

The wide range of discounts and referral program can mean additional savings. However, the annual benefit seems a bit low, at $2,000 to $10,000. It does have a money-back routine care rider, however. There’s also a very long list of what is not covered, including dental. 

Good Digital Experience: 50/100

This is one of the clunkiest quote systems to use. There are awkward pop-up windows, new quotes take hitting a back button a few times and on some days the quote process didn’t load at all for us.

Customer Satisfaction: 85/100

PetFirst does have an A+ rating through the BBB and a 4.4/5 rating through Consumers Advocate. The company has a 2.5-star rating with Yelp, with missing paperwork being a common complaint.  

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 3.8/5 . Read full review of PetFirst Pet Insurance

24petwatch Pet Insurance

Underwritten by The North River Insurance Company

AM. Best Financial Score for Policy Underwriter: A (95/100)

Highlights:

• Plans vary by how much you are getting in annual limit, ranging from $3,000 to $20,000.
• The plans are fairly comprehensive, covering things like medications. 
• Has something called a $2.50 “Pay Plan Fee” per month, need to watch out for hidden fees.

Best Pet Insurance Companies Overview: 24petwatch is part pet insurance company and part animal protection service. It also offers microchipping and lost pet reporting services. The company has been around since 2003. 

Best Product: 60/100

The $3,000 annual limit on the lowest plan might be too low to cover large injuries or serious illnesses in one year. It does have a wellness care add-on. However, the plan does not seem to cover dental under its main plans.   

Good Digital Experience: 80/100

The process has you advance through more screens than average and then requires that you know your pet’s birthday by month and year. However, the site is overall intuitive, and it’s easy to find what is covered and what is not.  

Customer Satisfaction: 50/100

This company is not accredited with the BBB, only has a 2.2/5 rating with Consumers Advocate and it’s not accredited with ConsumerAffairs.  

BravoDollar Editor Rating: 3.6/5 . Read full review of 24petwatch Pet Insurance

Best Pet Insurance Companies Based on Price

A key concern when looking at pet insurance is the price. Below we’ve ranked the best pet insurance for low price quotes:

>>MORE: Top Companies for Cheap Pet Insurance

Final Thoughts:

All of the companies have their positives and negatives. However, the three that stand out the most are:

• Nationwide: For its comprehensive coverage and highly customizable tiers of plans 
• Healthy Paws: For its low prices, extremely high financial strength rating, spirit of giving back and one easy plan 
• ASPCA: For its comprehensive coverage, accident-only plan option, and preventative care add-on