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.
Edited By Ross Martin
Root or Progressive: Which company is best for you?
Root and Progressive both offer car and home insurance but have different approaches in pricing — Progressive is the more traditional option while Root is more tech-forward with its app-based model. Depending on who you are as a driver or homeowner, one insurer may be better than the other.
Read on to learn more about these companies and decide which one is right for you.
Root car insurance
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Progressive car insurance
Progressive has grown substantially in recent years, coming in third-largest in share of the auto insurance market. The company has a large selection of policy offerings and discounts, meaning it may appeal to drivers looking for reasonably affordable rates. The company has also become one of the top companies for commercial auto insurance coverage. Find out more about Progressive's auto insurance coverage below.
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Which company comes out on top?
Tie
These companies cater to particular customer bases, so we're calling this a tie; Root's pricing strategy could be a better option for people who don't drive often, while drivers who commute regularly and value a number of coverage options and discounts may find that Progressive checks those boxes.
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Ratings comparison: Root vs. Progressive
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 | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Financial strength (A.M. Best) | Not Rated | Superior |
| JD Power (claims satisfaction) | Not Rated | Below Average |
| JD Power (customer satisfaction) | Not Rated | Below Average |
| NAIC rating | Below Average | Good |
| 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?
Progressive
Progressive was evaluated by more organizations than was Root, earning positive assessments for financial security and record of customer complaints, but negative ratings for claims satisfaction and customer service. Nonetheless, it 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 Progressive above Root.
The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey methodology
Findings are based on an online quantitative survey of 4,134 current U.S. auto and home insurance customers, with Census-balanced sampling by age, gender and region. Categories with n=<20 responses are considered insufficient sample size and are not reported. This survey was developed by The Zebra and executed by independent research firm Maru/Blue in 2021.
Root vs. Progressive: discount comparison
See below for a comparison of the companies' discount options for car insurance.
| Discount comparison | Root | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Good student | ✓ | |
| Multiple policies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-theft device(s) | ✓ | |
| Good driver | ✓ | |
| Defensive driver | ||
| Affinity membership alum | ||
| eSign or ePay | ||
| Telematics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Annual Mileage | ✓ |
Telematics options: Root vs. Progressive
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. Progressive's Snapshot, like Root, prices premiums based on an app that evaluates how you drive.
Learn more in our comparison of Root car insurance vs Progressive Snapshot.
- Root Insurance
Root is one of the most prominent telematics-first insurance companies. Root uses its telematics app to gather information and calculate premiums for its customers. 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.
- Progressive Snapshot
Snapshot is Progressive's telematics option. The app tracks drivers' behavior while behind the wheel (including hard braking, speeding and more) to give a more accurate level of risk. Good drivers stand to save an average of $145 on their premium according to the company.
Zebra Tip: Turn to Root for telematics
Root's intuitive app and usage-based pricing model places it at the forefront of insurance technology.
Roadside assistance: Root vs. Progressive
Find below summaries of the roadside assistance offerings available from Root and Progressive.
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.
Progressive
Progressive partners with a company called Agero to provide roadside assistance. These services can be used for more than just your car — it also applies for boats, motorcycles or RVs. When added to your policy, Progressive's roadside assistance program offers:
- Fuel delivery
- Flat-tire changes
- Battery jump-start
- Battery recharge for EVs
- Lock-out services
- On-scene labor
- Winching services
Root vs. Progressive: home insurance
Root and Progressive both offer homeowners insurance that can be bundled with car 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).
Progressive homeowners review
Progressive offers homeowners insurance in all 50 states plus Washington D.C. While the company provides basic coverage options, homeowners looking for more robust policies might find Progressive's options lacking.
- The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey – 4.1/5: While a rating above 4 stars is sufficient, Progressive home ranked last overall among the 15 carriers surveyed.
- J.D. Power Rating – Below average: J.D. Power rates Progressive auto insurance as below-average in overall customer satisfaction.
- Financial Strength – Superior: A "Superior" financial strength rating from AM Best shows Progressive has a solid ability to pay out claims.
- NAIC Rating– Poor: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) received significantly more customer complaints than average regarding Progressive homeowners insurance in 2020.
Which company comes out on top?
Progressive
Progressive is much more established compared to Root, although it has middling ratings and reviews for homeowners insurance. However, 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. Progressive: homeowners discount comparison
Progressive and Root both offer home insurance discounts for customers. Compare these discounts head-to-head below.
| Discount comparison | Root | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Progressive 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 Progressive 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 | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
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The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
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The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
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The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
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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.