Root vs Nationwide: Which is Better for You?
- Winner: Nationwide
- Nationwide is more expensive but has significantly better ratings than Root.
- Your experience with Nationwide and Root will vary based on individual rating factors.
Why you can trust The Zebra
Ross joined The Zebra as a writer and researcher in 2019. He specialized in writing insurance content to help shoppers make informed decisions.
Ross h…
Credentials
- 5+ years in the Insurance Industry
Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…
Credentials
- Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
- Associate in Insurance (AINS)
- Professional Risk Consultant (PRC)
- Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
Kristine joined The Zebra in 2019 as an in-house content researcher and writer, with a property and casualty insurance license. Before joining The Ze…
Credentials
- Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
- 6+ years of Experience in the Insurance Industry
Root vs. Nationwide: What's the difference?
The Zebra's choice: Nationwide
While Nationwide is more expensive, it received much better ratings than Root.
Root:
- Cost: $47/month for full coverage
- Customer service: 3.5
- Claims handling: 2.5
- Digital experience: 4
- Trust: 2
- Overall rating: 2.9
Root comes out on top when it comes to cheaper rates and claims handling scores
Nationwide:
- Cost: $88/month for full coverage
- Customer service: 3.6
- Claims handling: 2
- Digital experience: 4
- Trust: 4.5
- Overall rating: 3.6
Nationwide takes the win for customer service and trust scores
Root vs. Nationwide: discount comparison
See below a comparison of the companies' discount options for car insurance.
Telematics options: Root vs. Nationwide
Each of these companies stands as a solid option for drivers interested in usage-based insurance. Telematics sits at the heart of Root's product, powering its entire pricing strategy. Nationwide also offers telematics insurance in the form of its SmartRide program.
Root is one of the most prominent telematics-first insurance companies. Root uses its telematics app to gather information and calculate customer premiums. Rates are then set based on the insured's driving habits and frequency, rather than solely on demographic and historical information like past driving record or credit history.
SmartRide is Nationwide's telematics offering. The primary benefit of the program is the opportunity it gives safe drivers to save money. The app tracks customers' driving habits and offers feedback to reduce risks and incidents on the road.
Zebra Tip: Turn to Root for telematics
Root sits at the vanguard of next-gen insurance technology, thanks to its intuitive app and usage-based pricing practices.
Roadside assistance: Root vs. Nationwide
Find below summaries of the roadside assistance offerings available from Root and Nationwide.
Root
Every Root policy includes roadside assistance, helping drivers in the event of car trouble. One of the few extra coverages available from Root is rental car coverage. If you purchase this coverage, Root will reimburse costs up to a specific amount for a rental car until your vehicle is fixed or replaced after a collision. Root also reimburses its customers for rides through Lyft.
Nationwide
Nationwide partners with Agero to provide roadside assistance services. Drivers who add roadside assistance receive access to:
- Towing
- Battery jump start
- Fuel delivery
- Flat-tire change
- Winching services
- Lock-out services
Root vs. Nationwide: home insurance
Root and Nationwide both offer homeowners insurance. Consult our comparison below to find out which company might be the best fit for you and your home.
Root homeowners insurance review
Root allows existing auto insurance customers to bundle homeowners insurance through a partnership with Homesite. Root home insurance is not available as a standalone insurance policy — a customer must be enrolled in Root's car insurance program to be eligible.
Though the company is seen as financially stable, it receives more customer complaints than average. Customers looking for top-notch customer satisfaction may do well to look into a policy with a more established carrier. In addition, Root homeowners insurance quotes can only be found via the company's mobile app, not its website. Root claims customers who bundle home and auto policies receive 10% discounts on their home insurance premium.
- Customer satisfaction (J.D. Power) — Not rated: Root’s home insurance partner, Homesite, is currently unrated by J.D. Power.
- Claims satisfaction (J.D. Power) — Not rated
- Financial strength — Excellent: Homesite’s financial outlook is considered stable by AM Best.
- NAIC Rating — Above average: Homesite received more customer complaints than average, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Nationwide homeowners review
Nationwide is a popular option for homeowners insurance, due to its solid product offerings and relatively affordable rates. The company earned roughly average reviews from various third-party reviewers and consumers, placing 10th in The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey.
- The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey — 4.3/5: Nationwide placed 10th overall in The Zebra's homeowners insurance customer survey.
- Claims satisfaction (J.D. Power) — Above average: J.D. Power's property claims satisfaction study for 2021 gave Nationwide an above-average score of 892 out of 1,000.
- Customer satisfaction — (J.D. Power) — Below average: Nationwide earned below-average marks in J.D. Power's study of customer satisfaction.
- Financial strength — Superior: AM Best rates Nationwide an A+.
- NAIC Rating — Above Average: Nationwide received fewer complaints than did other major homeowners insurance companies.
Which company comes out on top?
Nationwide
Nationwide is among the most established homeowners insurance companies in America, and that's reflected in its solid ratings and reviews. It's worth noting that Root home insurance may be a great fit for existing Root car insurance customers, thanks to the 10% discount.
Root vs. Nationwide: homeowners discount comparison
Nationwide and Root both offer home insurance discounts for customers. Compare these discounts head-to-head below.
| Discount comparison | Root | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Claims free | ✓ | |
| Recent home buyer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Early signing | ✓ | |
| Newer/more durable roof | ✓ | ✓ |
| Protective devices (smoke/burglar alarms, etc...) | ✓ | ✓ |
| New home construction | ✓ |
Zebra tip: Research potential discounts when choosing an insurance company
Both Nationwide and Root offer a strong collection of home insurance discounts. Be sure to do your due diligence to ensure you take advantage of as many of these clauses as possible when signing your contract.
Other insurance products and bundling options
Root and Nationwide offer a variety of insurance products, along with the option to bundle policies for extra savings. Compare product offerings from the two carriers below.
| Other products | Root | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Boat insurance | ✓ | |
| Condo insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Life insurance | ✓ | |
| Homeowners insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Travel trailer insurance | ✓ | |
| Renters insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| RV insurance | ✓ | |
| Motorcycle insurance | ✓ | |
| Mobile home insurance | ||
| Umbrella | ✓ | |
| ATV insurance | ✓ | |
| Pet insurance | ✓ | |
| Commercial insurance |
Find the best insurance policy for your needs.
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.
