Overall, State Farm offers the best life insurance in California and nationwide, earning a MoneyGeek score of 99 out of 100 for its customer service, affordability,and coverage options. We also recommend GEICO, Haven, Nationwide and Mutual of Omaha as some of the best affordable alternatives.
Best Life Insurance Companies in California (June 2025)
Updated: June 8, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Life insurance rates don’t change by state, but in California, the best providers are State Farm, GEICO, Haven, Nationwide, and Mutual of Omaha.
GEICO delivers California's cheapest life insurance option, with monthly rates beginning at $4.
To get the best life insurance in California, we recommend deciding on coverage beforehand, researching costs and companies, and comparing plenty of providers.
Best Life Insurance Providers in California
| State Farm | 99 | $6 |
| GEICO | 98 | $4 |
| Haven | 97 | $8 |
| Nationwide | 97 | $5 |
| Mutual of Omaha | 96 | $5 |
*Rates presented are for coverage levels between $250-$500K for a 20 year term life insurance plan for a 40-year-old man in good health who does not smoke.
Best Life Insurance in California by Category
While the top life insurance provider is a solid choice for many, your best option might differ based on your needs. Below, we explore top providers for various consumer profiles.
| Young Adults | Progressive | $2 |
| Seniors | GEICO | $21 |
| Smokers | Nationwide | $9 |
| High Coverage | Nationwide | $14 |
Compare Personalized Best California Life Insurance Picks
To make finding life insurance easier, we've added a filterable table that lets you see recommendations tailored to your unique needs and profile. Rates vary based on coverage, age, gender, health and term.
Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Select
Age:41-50
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Gender:M
Select
Coverage Level:250k-500k
Select
Term:10
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Health Level:Excellent
| State Farm | 99 | $13 |
| GEICO | 98 | $8 |
| Nationwide | 97 | $9 |
| Haven | 97 | $13 |
| Mutual of Omaha | 96 | $9 |
| Protective | 95 | $15 |
| Prudential | 94 | $10 |
| AAA | 92 | $10 |
| Allstate | 92 | $12 |
| Transamerica | 90 | $8 |
Rates in this table differ from the main comparison due to the broader age range (41 to 50 vs. 40) and flexible term selection rather than a fixed 20-year term.
How to Find the Best Life Insurance in California
Explore our key tips to help you navigate the best life insurance options in California.
- 1
Decide coverage beforehand
Determining how much life insurance you need is crucial before purchasing. It ensures you can compare prices fairly and avoid being oversold by agents.
- 2
Research costs for your profile
Investigate the average life insurance costs for your coverage level and personal profile. Usually, your location won't impact life insurance rates, making evaluating offers on a broader scale easier.
- 3
Compare company reputations
Though rates usually don’t vary by state, understanding a company's reputation locally can help secure a better fit. Use J.D. Power, online forums and independent agents to evaluate providers.
- 4
Compare quotes through multiple avenues
Pricing can vary depending on the source, whether it be an independent agent, online resource, or insurance agent, so explore multiple avenues for the best results.
Best Life Insurance in California: Bottom Line
In California, our top three life insurance recommendations are State Farm, GEICO and Haven based on MoneyGeek's analysis. To find the right fit, determine a coverage level and compare quotes for the best deal.
California Life Insurance: FAQ
Explore our expert answers to common questions about life insurance for Californians.
What is the best life insurance in California?
In California, State Farm provides the best overall life insurance, with top-rated customer service nationwide, affordable pricing at around $6 monthly, and comprehensive term life options.
How do you get the best life insurance in California?
Finding the best life insurance in California means setting coverage goals, analyzing costs, and evaluating insurer reputations before comparing quotes to make an informed decision.
Do life insurance rates differ by state?
Life insurance rates are generally consistent across states, though specific policy features and riders might differ due to state regulations.
How We Decided the Best Life Insurance in California
MoneyGeek created a scoring system to compare life insurance companies across five categories and ranked them based on their scores. We selected companies to review based on their broad national coverage and ability to provide an online quote.
MoneyGeek's Scoring System
In our unique scoring system, companies can earn up to five points in each of five categories. We then use these category scores to calculate an overall MoneyGeek score out of 100. We applied the following base weightings to score insurers:
- Affordability: 60%
- Financial Stability: 5%
- Buying Process: 5%
- Customer Satisfaction: 20%
- Product Diversity: 10%
Each company's score incorporates:
- Cost data obtained through online quotes
- Financial strength ratings from AM Best and the number of years in business
- Customer satisfaction data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) customer complaint index (we reviewed annual complaint data from 2020 to 2022, the most recent year available)
- Availability of tools to aid in the buying process, such as online product materials and multiple payment options
- Diversity of life insurance products offered
Sample Customer Profile
MoneyGeek used a standard profile to obtain life insurance quotes in California:
- 40-year-old nonsmoker
- Average height and healthy weight
- Excellent health rating
We modified the profile by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use, health rating and geographic location to collect a variety of quotes and determine the best life insurance company for several types of customers. We collected quotes for term life insurance with varying term lengths and coverage amounts, as well.
When necessary, we identified trends in the dataset and used those patterns to calculate projections and extend the data beyond what was originally collected.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Mark earned a master's degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor's degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.