Jessa Claeys is an insurance editor for Bankrate with over a decade of experience writing, editing and leading teams of content creators. She is a licensed personal lines insurance producer in Colorado. Jessa currently covers auto, home and life insurance with the goal of helping others secure a healthy financial future. Her work has been published by several insurance, personal finance and investment-focused publications, including BiggerPockets, 401(k) Specialist, BP Wealth and more.
Director of corporate communications, Insurance Information Institute
Mark Friedlander is director of corporate communications at III, a nonprofit organization focused on providing consumers with a better understanding of insurance.
Jessa Claeys is an insurance editor for Bankrate with over a decade of experience writing, editing and leading teams of content creators. She is a licensed personal lines insurance producer in Colorado. Jessa currently covers auto, home and life insurance with the goal of helping others secure a healthy financial future. Her work has been published by several insurance, personal finance and investment-focused publications, including BiggerPockets, 401(k) Specialist, BP Wealth and more.
Director of corporate communications, Insurance Information Institute
Mark Friedlander is director of corporate communications at III, a nonprofit organization focused on providing consumers with a better understanding of insurance.
At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict
,this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of
.Our content is backed by
Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our
.
Editorial integrity
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.
Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU — the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information.
How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict
editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
The Bankrate promise
Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices.
We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making
process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next.
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy,
so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by
highly qualified professionals and edited by
subject matter experts,
who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy.
Our insurance team is composed of agents, data analysts, and customers like you. They focus on the points consumers care about most — price, customer service, policy features and savings opportunities — so you can feel confident about which provider is right for you.
We guide you throughout your search and help you understand your coverage options.
We provide up-to-date, reliable market information to help you make confident decisions.
We reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible.
All providers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide. And we constantly review our criteria to ensure we’re putting accuracy first.
At a glance
3.1
Rating: 3.1 stars out of 5
Bankrate Score
Score breakdown
Home
Rating: 3.1 stars out of 5
3.1
Cost & ratings
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
3.0
Coverage
Rating: 4.33 stars out of 5
4.3
Support
Rating: 1.5 stars out of 5
1.5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
About Bankrate Score
Bankrate's take
Hippo takes a modern approach to home insurance by offering innovative coverage options and a host of potential discounts. The company isn’t rated by J.D. Power for customer service, though, so you may want to seek out reviews before committing to a policy.
Partners with multiple third-party companies to underwrite policies
Smart home devices, like water sensors and security cameras from SimpliSafe and Ring, offered with new policies
Homeowners can receive coverage for electronics, appliances and essential staff
Fast online quote process
New
What’s new with Hippo?
Hippo Insurance temporarily paused writing new policies under its Hippo Home Insurance Program (HHIP) after substantial weather-related losses in Q2 2023. The company announced strategic changes, including policy nonrenewals, commission structure modifications for agents in certain regions and increased deductibles in select states, aiming to enhance the company’s appeal to reinsurers. Since then, Hippo enjoyed modest growth in Q1 2024 and has selectively resumed HHIP business.
Hippo home insurance review
Hippo takes a tech-forward approach to home and condo insurance. Bankrate’s Hippo Insurance review reveals that the company could be a great choice for tech-savvy consumers who value a home insurance company with comprehensive digital tools. The property carrier even offers a smart home kit to eligible customers at no additional charge, with a discount applied as soon as it is activated.
Hippo understands how reliant modern customers are on technology. With this in mind, the company wanted to create the best home insurance for homeowners who want a tech-first approach. This includes higher coverage limits for computers and home office equipment, meaning the company might be a good choice for someone who works from home. Homeowners can also receive coverage for electronics, appliances and essential staff, like a house cleaner or babysitter. Water backup coverage and service line coverage are also offered, but availability may vary based on location and eligibility.
Hippo has plans to expand but it is currently only available in 40 states. But, because Hippo partners with several different underwriting partners, policies may not be available everywhere it claims. The company’s limited availability, lack of J.D. Power customer and claims satisfaction scores and absence of local agencies brought down its Bankrate Score, earning 2.6 out of 5.0 stars for 2024.
Pros and cons of Hippo home insurance
Hippo Insurance’s tech-focused methods may appeal to some, but there are also drawbacks to consider before signing up for a policy.
Pros
Fast online quotes
Smart devices offered with each policy at no extra cost
Customizable policies
Cons
Not available in all states
Some may prefer a more traditional experience
No ratings from J.D. Power
Hippo home insurance cost
The average cost of home insurance in the U.S. is $2,181 for $300,000 in dwelling coverage, according to our 2024 study of quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services. Although Hippo’s average home insurance rates are not available, national average rates could serve as a point of comparison when evaluating home insurance quotes.
Hippo home insurance customer satisfaction
Hippo is a newer insurance company and is currently not rated by J.D. Power for customer or claims satisfaction. However, there are other third-party ratings to consider when comparing home insurance companies, like AM Best. AM Best specializes in the insurance industry and assigns letter grades that reflect a company’s overall historical financial health and its past ability to pay claims. According to its website, Hippo has an AM Best rating of A- (Excellent), which indicates it has successfully been able to meet its claims obligations in the past.
Hippo home insurance customer complaints
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is another organization that could give you a helpful overview of a company’s interactions with its customers. The organization’s complaint index records the number of complaints received for an insurance company (by product line) and compares it to an average baseline. A baseline complaint index of 1.00 indicates an average number of complaints.
Because Hippo does not underwrite its home insurance, there is not an NAIC Complaint Index available for the company. The NAIC does, however, assign complaint indexes for one of Hippo’s largest underwriting partners, Spinnaker. From 2021 to 2023, Spinnaker’s complaint index has rapidly climbed. However, keep in mind that Spinnaker is just one of Hippo’s multiple underwriting partners; customer complaints will vary based on which company underwriters your policy.
Hippo home insurance discounts
Hippo offers numerous discounts that may help policyholders save on homeowners insurance. Hippo calculates the discounts you qualify for during the online quote process. Potential discount opportunities include:
Affinity discount: You may earn a discount on your home insurance policy for being a member of certain groups, like professional associations, membership clubs or alumni groups.
Hail-resistant roof discount: If your roof is made of qualifying hail-resistant materials, you might earn a discount on your premium.
HOA discount: If your home is located in a qualifying homeowners association, you might save on your Hippo home insurance policy.
Smart home discount: Hippo provides smart home devices to policyholders and rewards homeowners for keeping them activated. As part of a partnership with Xfinity, Hippo homeowners who own Xfinity Home Security systems may earn a discount.
Loss-free discount: You could save money if you have no losses over a period of three or five years.
Theft protection devices: Installing theft alarms or living in a community with 24/7 security could land you a discount.
Homebuyer discount: For new policies, a discount may apply to those who acquired their home on the effective date of the new policy or within the 12 months leading up to it. Upon renewal, customers might be eligible for a discount, provided it was part of the original policy term and there have been no interruptions in coverage.
Companion policy discount: Enjoy a discount on your home insurance when you also purchase auto insurance coverage through Hippo.
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Get personalized home insurance quotes
Answering a few quick questions to check your availability with Hippo
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
Compare Hippo to other insurers
Whether you’re looking for the best or cheapest home insurance, shopping around and comparing home insurance companies may help you find the right fit. If you’re interested in Hippo but aren’t sure if it’s the best option for your needs, you might want to consider these carriers:
Hippo vs. Kin
Kin is available in many states where Hippo currently doesn’t offer coverage, so it might be appealing to homeowners in those states. Its full coverage area includes Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia and Texas. Kin is also challenging the traditional insurance model by using technology to help refine its quoting system. Kin uses property records, permit data and aerial imagery in addition to the more traditional home insurance rating metrics to help give more accurate rates.
If you want to work with local agents, State Farm could be a good choice. As the largest property and casualty insurance company by market share in the nation, State Farm is a well-known carrier that offers local agents and robust digital tools. State Farm also sells auto insurance, along with other products, which might be appealing if you’d like to bundle your policies with the same carrier.
Lemonade might appeal to homeowners who want to handle their policies digitally. The Lemonade app is where you’ll handle most policy changes, claims and other management tasks, although phone service is available if you need it. Lemonade is also a Certified B Corporation. Corporate sustainability is built into its operating structure, which may appeal to you if you value social and environmental responsibility.
Our insurance editorial team includes licensed agents with decades of combined experience, and we used our intimate knowledge of the industry to conduct this in-depth Hippo insurance review.
46
years of industry expertise
122
carriers reviewed
20.7K
ZIP codes examined
1.2M
quotes analyzed
Is Hippo a good insurance company?
Hippo might be a good insurance company if you’re looking for a focus on home maintenance and loss prevention. Hippo particularly stands out for offering a smart home kit to customers; many companies offer discounts for smart home devices but few actually offer the devices themselves. However, Hippo’s third-party ratings for customer satisfaction are mixed and may depend on the underwriting company you're paired with. You may want to read Hippo Insurance reviews and find out which underwriting company you would be assigned to before you purchase a policy.
What are real-life customers saying about Hippo?
Another great way to take the temperature on a potential home insurance provider is to review feedback from real-life customers. To do so, Bankrate looked to Reddit. Reddit may not be an official third-party insurance reviewer, but it can provide valuable insights from actual Hippo home insurance policyholders.
Reddit
Many praised Hippo’s low average rates, but the consensus around the claims process was mixed. Some praised Hippo’s speedy response times and transparency throughout the claims process; however, other policyholders had more negative experiences with the Hippo claims department.
Reddit User 1*
Jan 27, 2023
Hippo Homeowners Insurance Review
“I've had Hippo Homeowners Insurance for about a year now. Never had to use my homeowners insurance in the past 10 years until this week after a big storm came through. Currently have a claim submitted to Hippo. They had a desk adjuster assigned to my claim within 24hrs and sent out an independent adjuster within 48hrs…Hippo came back with a pretty fair estimate the first time around. Currently doing a little typical back and forth to get a few more things covered which were missed during the inspection. First round of checks were received within a week and half of initial claim submission - VERY IMPRESSED.”
Reddit User 2*
Jan 16, 2022
Hippo claims department
“We've had a Hippo claim open for nearly two months (actually since January, now being mid-May, but we didn't move on it until early March), and it's been seriously been nightmare…we engaged another roofer to find out what was really wrong, but due to the need to fix it quickly, we ended up paying out of pocket and not even requesting claims reimbursement for it since they simply weren't responding.”
The claims process will vary based on multiple factors like your location, home age and extent of the damage — but this inconsistency could be exacerbated by the fact that Hippo uses multiple underwriting partners.
*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.
Hippo home insurance advertises that it is available in 40 states excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. However, because Hippo uses multiple underwriting companies, it may not be available in all of the 40 states it claims to write policies in.
Hippo tools and benefits
On its website, Hippo offers home maintenance checklists organized by season. It may feel overwhelming to figure out how to keep your home in good condition, but Hippo’s checklists might ease some of the stress. The company even offers a service, called Hippo Home Care, which lets you call or email an expert for advice to help you work through home issues.
Frequently asked questions about Hippo
If you need to file a home insurance claim with Hippo, you can call 1-855-999-9746 or file a claim online. If filing over the phone, you’ll be paired with one of Hippo’s dedicated claims concierges to walk you through the process. You’ll likely need your policy number, the date of the loss and some details about what happened. Your Hippo claims representative will review the claims details and your coverage and will guide you through the process to resolving your loss.
Hippo claims that its average response time for claims is five to seven days, or between 30 to 50 percent faster than competitors. Keep in mind that this is simply a response time, not a payout time frame. According to Hippo’s website, the time it takes to receive a payout usually ranges from several weeks to several months. Your claims experience could vary depending on your state laws, your policy and the type of claim you filed. To learn more about its claims process, contact Hippo.
Earthquakes, floods, windstorms and other natural disasters are often not covered by standard home insurance. A typical homeowners policy with Hippo usually includes liability coverage, some personal property coverage, coverage for damage to your home and possibly other structures coverage. If you’re looking for expanded protection against events that aren’t covered, you might be able to purchase endorsements. Hippo has partnered with other insurers to help its customers get additional coverage for these events. Reach out to Hippo to learn more.
As part of National Nonprofit Day, Hippo highlighted employees who regularly volunteer their time to charitable causes. The company also advertises home insurance policies that leverage the power of technology to make coverage more affordable and minimize risk. However, beyond that, Hippo does not offer details about its sustainability or corporate responsibility initiatives.
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze January 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates for our base profile are based on the following characteristics and coverage levels:
40 year old
Married male and female homeowners
2017 build year
Primary home
Good credit score
Clean claim history
Dwelling coverage
$300,000
Other structures coverage
$30,000
Personal property coverage
$150,000
Loss of use coverage
$60,000
Liability coverage
$500,000
Medical payment coverage
$1,000
The homeowners also have a $1,000 deductible, a $500 hail deductible and a 2 percent hurricane deductible (or the next closest deductible amounts that are available) where separate deductibles apply.
These are sample rates and should be used for comparative purposes only. Your quotes will differ.
Additional profiles:
Coverage A, Dwelling: $150,000, $350,000, $450,000, $750,000
Coverage B, Other Structures: $15,000, $35,000, $45,000, &75,000
Coverage C, Personal Property: $75,000, $175,000, $225,000, $375,000
Coverage D, Loss of Use: $30,000, $70,000, $90,000, $150,000
Coverage E, Liability: $500,000
Coverage F, Medical Payments: $1,000
Bankrate Scores
Our Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.
Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.
5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Overall Score
Cost & ratings50%
Coverage & savings30%
Support20%
Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways a home insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.
Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.
What policyholders are saying about Hippo
Hippo has 25 reviews
Dive into community reviews below and see what others think about Hippo.
3.7
25
ratings
Star ranking and total number reflects the lifetime customer reviews received while this lender has been an advertiser on Bankrate.
To help serve you with relevant information, the customer reviews shown are limited to only those that this advertiser has received during the past 12 months.
64% of consumers recommend this insurer
Score breakdown
5 stars
32%
4 stars
32%
3 stars
20%
2 stars
8%
1 star
8%
Score by category
Overall rating3.7 / 5
Original cost3.5 / 5
Coverage4.0 / 5
Customer Support4.3 / 5
How we got these ratings
In May 2024, Bankrate collaborated with market research firm SliceMR to survey over 1,500 insurance customers nationwide, asking policyholders to rate their insurer’s cost, coverage, customer support and overall experience on a five-point scale. Bankrate and SliceMR collected and analyzed these customer ratings, along with website analytics and responses to three open-ended questions regarding customer experience. Responses are based on individual policyholders’ policy details and personal experience, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. Users received an incentive for their feedback. All ratings are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by insurance carriers. User-generated ratings are separate from carrier Bankrate Scores — which are calculated based on our proprietary methodology — and may not match.
Community Reviews
See what users like you are saying about Hippo.
Anonymous Policyholder
August 20, 2024
What made you choose this insurer over others for your auto and/or home insurance?
It has better prices
How does this insurer compare to insurance companies you’ve had in the past?
It’s the same one in the past which is the same prices
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost2/ 5
Customer Support5/ 5
Coverage4/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
August 20, 2024
What made you choose this insurer over others for your auto and/or home insurance?
Because they provide the best insurance service for Auto
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
1. If they keep providing good insurance service I will stay 2. If they keep providing good customer services I will stay. 3. If they provide wide coverage I will stay. 4. If they stop providing all these services may consider another insurance company for my Auto
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost4/ 5
Customer Support5/ 5
Coverage5/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
August 20, 2024
How does this insurer compare to insurance companies you’ve had in the past?
Assess the quality of customer service
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
Innovative solutions
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost3/ 5
Customer Support5/ 5
Coverage4/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
August 20, 2024
How does this insurer compare to insurance companies you’ve had in the past?
Consider working with an independent insurance agent who can help you shop around.
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
Excellent customer service
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost4/ 5
Customer Support4/ 5
Coverage3/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
August 20, 2024
How does this insurer compare to insurance companies you’ve had in the past?
Ease and efficiency of filing and resolving claims
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
Exceptional customer service.
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost3/ 5
Customer Support5/ 5
Coverage4/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
August 20, 2024
What made you choose this insurer over others for your auto and/or home insurance?
Ease and efficiency of filing and resolving claims
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost2/ 5
Customer Support3/ 5
Coverage3/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
August 20, 2024
How does this insurer compare to insurance companies you’ve had in the past?
Range of policies and coverage levels covered
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
Excellent customer service
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost3/ 5
Customer Support3/ 5
Coverage4/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
August 20, 2024
What made you choose this insurer over others for your auto and/or home insurance?
I got dropped by my previous home owners insurance because of too many claims in a 3 year period. They were the only ones that would take me.
How does this insurer compare to insurance companies you’ve had in the past?
Their premiums are 4 to 5 times higher than what i had previously.
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost1/ 5
Customer Support4/ 5
Coverage3/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
August 20, 2024
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
They work with me
Insurance Type
Home
Score by category
Original cost3/ 5
Customer Support2/ 5
Coverage2/ 5
Anonymous Policyholder
August 20, 2024
What made you choose this insurer over others for your auto and/or home insurance?
I onlyhave homeowners because the price was good and the coverage is great.
Name the number one reason that you’d recommend staying with this insurer and the number one reason that you’d consider leaving for a different company.
I would stay because the price is right. I would leave because I cannot select my payment date.
Edited by
Reviewed by
