Root vs Allstate: Which is Better for You?
Read on to see which company is best for you.
Root or Allstate: Which company is best for you?
Root and Allstate both offer car and home insurance options — Root is more tech-forward with its app-based model, while Allstate is the more traditional option. Read on to learn more about these companies and decide which one is right for you.
Root car insurance
Root was among the early adopters of telematics technology, which helps to assign insurance rates based on driving habits instead of traditional rating factors. In fact, the company aims to discontinue using credit scores — a practice it calls "discriminatory" — by the year 2025. Root car insurance could be a solid option for those with a clean driving history or those who drive limited mileage.Â
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Allstate car insurance
Allstate is the fourth largest company in auto insurance market share. For drivers with complex needs, Allstate is a great option due to its extensive coverage options and wide geographic availability. However, rates tend to be a bit more expensive than those of some other comparable companies.
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Which company comes out on top?
Tie
These companies cater to particular customer bases — Root's pricing strategy could be a good fit for drivers who seldom drive, while people who commute regularly and value better coverage options and savings may find Allstate to have what they're looking for. Because it's too close to call, we're calling this a tie.
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Ratings comparison: Root vs. Allstate
Unbiased third-party publications evaluate insurance companies, measuring claims satisfaction, the number of customer complaints and other factors. We've gathered some of these ratings to provide perspective on the two companies' customer satisfaction standards, complaint ratios and financial stability.
| Ratings comparison | Root | Allstate |
|---|---|---|
| Financial strength (A.M. Best) | Not Rated | Excellent |
| JD Power (claims satisfaction) | Not Rated | Average |
| JD Power (customer satisfaction) | Not Rated | Average |
| NAIC rating | Below Average | Excellent |
| The Zebra's editorial review score | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey | Not Rated | 4.3/5 |
Which company scores best?
Allstate
Not only was Allstate evaluated by more entities than was Root, it earned positive assessments for financial security and record of customer complaints. It also scored a strong 4.3 out of 5 in The Zebra's in-depth customer satisfaction survey. Additionally, The Zebra's editorial reviews — taking into account myriad factors — placed Allstate above Root.
The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey methodology
Methodology:
These results are based on a survey of 2,722 U.S. insurance policyholders assessing satisfaction with their car and homeowners insurance providers. The survey was conducted using Survey Monkey and designed by our in-house team. It aimed to collect detailed insights from a census-balanced sample reflecting age, gender, and region.
Questionnaire
The questionnaire included demographic questions about age and gender identification and detailed inquiries into insurance experiences. Key topics:
- Duration with insurance provider and coverage specifics, including teen drivers.
- Claim filing experiences and satisfaction with claims handling.
- Customer service interactions, trust in providers, and likelihood of recommending their insurance.
- Use and satisfaction with digital tools and usage-based insurance programs.
Respondents rated their satisfaction on a Likert scale from 1 to 10 and provided qualitative feedback.
Data Analysis
Data were analyzed focusing on descriptive and inferential statistics to identify satisfaction trends and demographic impacts. Data cleaning and weighting were applied to ensure accuracy, alongside strict confidentiality protocols to protect data security.
Root vs. Allstate: discount comparison
See below for a comparison of the companies'Â discount options for car insurance.
Telematics options: Root vs. Allstate
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.
Allstate also offers two telematics insurance programs: Drivewise, like Root, prices premiums based on an app that evaluates how you drive, while Milewise assesses your mileage.
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.
Allstate Drivewise relies on a mobile app to track customers' driving. In addition to receiving 3% cashback for signing up, drivers can potentially earn discounts and rate reductions by driving safely. Allstate's app is available to both policyholders and "non-customers" alike to view driving data and receive feedback.
In Allstate's pay-per-mile insurance program, Milewise, mileage is tracked using a plug-in device and could benefit low mileage drivers. Allstate plans to expand Milewise to additional locations.
Zebra Tip: Turn to Root for telematics
Root is at the forefront of next-gen insurance technology, thanks to its intuitive app and usage-based pricing practices.
Roadside assistance: Root vs. Allstate
Find below summaries of the roadside assistance offerings available from Root and Allstate.
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.Â
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Allstate
Allstate offers three levels of roadside service alongside or separately from an Allstate insurance policy. Annual roadside membership plans and pay-per-use plans are available. If you have Allstate insurance, you can add roadside coverage to your policy. The pay-per-use coverage allows you to pay only for service when you need it (typically with a charge of $119 per tow and $84 for other services like tire changes, jump starts, fuel delivery and locksmith services).
Root vs. Allstate: home insurance
Root and Allstate 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 partners with Homesite to allow existing auto insurance customers to bundle homeowners insurance. 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 and could receive a 10% discount by bundling.
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 insurance provider. In addition, Root homeowners insurance quotes can only be found via the company's mobile app, not its website.
- 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).
Allstate homeowners review
In The Zebra's customer satisfaction survey of 15 popular homeowners insurance companies, Allstate finished in ninth place. Allstate's home insurance tends to be more expensive than other similar home insurance companies. The higher-than-average price of an Allstate policy could be worth it if good customer service and efficient claims processing are important to you.
While Allstate doesn't have the longest list of home insurance discounts, the company offers a number of add-on coverages.
- The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey — 4.3/5: Allstate earned satisfactory marks in The Zebra's consumer survey.
- Claims satisfaction (J.D. Power) — Average: Allstate was rated as average in claims satisfaction by J.D. Power.
- Customer satisfaction (J.D. Power) — Above average: Allstate was among the top performers in J.D. Power's most recent study of customer satisfaction.Â
- Financial strength — Excellent: Allstate's finances earn an A+ from A.M. Best.
- NAIC Rating — Above Average: Allstate's home insurance received fewer customer complaints than the national median.
Which company comes out on top?
Allstate
Allstate 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 if you're already a Root car insurance customer, Root home insurance may be a good option, especially with the 10% bundling discount.
Root vs. Allstate: homeowners discount comparison
Allstate and Root both offer home insurance discounts for customers. Compare these discounts head-to-head below.
| Discount comparison | Root | Allstate |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Allstate and Root offer a competitive selection of home insurance discounts. Be sure to do your due diligence to ensure you qualify for as many of these discount opportunities as possible when signing your contract.
Other insurance products and bundling options
Root and Allstate 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 | Allstate |
|---|---|---|
| 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.