Best Insurance life insurance review 2026
A look at Best Insurance’s life insurance policy, who underwrites it, what it includes, how claims work and how it is rated.
- Trustpilot
- 3.8 / 5
- 95 reviews · all products
- Reviews.io
- 4.8 / 5
- 1,430 reviews · all products
- Defaqto
- 2 out of 5 stars
- Level & decreasing term
- Entry age
- 18–60
- 5–40 year terms
In a nutshell
A Brighton-based insurance firm that says it works with a network of insurers, and sells its own-brand term life policy online, underwritten by mutual insurer Shepherds Friendly.
- Best Insurance Life Insurance offers level or decreasing term cover, on a single life basis only, for UK residents aged 18 to 60.
- Cover runs from £10,000 up to £500,000 depending on your age, for terms of 5 to 40 years, and must end by your 70th birthday.
- Terminal illness cover is included as standard, and claims are handled by the insurer, Shepherds Friendly.
- When it launched the policy in October 2025, Best Insurance said you could get an instant quote and buy online after answering nine underwriting questions. If you’d prefer to explore its panel of insurers, it asks you to call.
- Defaqto gives the policy 2 stars out of 5 for both level and decreasing term cover.
- Rated 3.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 95 reviews and 4.8 out of 5 on Reviews.io from 1,430 reviews, across all Best Insurance products.
Who are Best Insurance?
Best Insurance is a trading name of Best Risk Management and Financial Service Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and has its head office at Telecom House in Brighton. It was co-founded by Stuart Boseley and Kesh Thukaram, and says it has 15 years in the business and has sold over 1.2 million policies.
- Trading name of
- Best Risk Management and Financial Service Limited
- FCA firm reference
- 583497
- Company number
- 07095571
- Incorporated
- 4 December 2009
- Head office
- 4th Floor, Telecom House, 125-135 Preston Road, Brighton BN1 6AF
- Life policy underwritten by
- Shepherds Friendly
Best Insurance says it designs its own products and works with a wide network of insurers. Companies House lists its business as life insurance and the activities of insurance agents and brokers, and the firm says it receives a fee and/or commission on some products for introducing business.
Alongside life insurance, its homepage lists accident, sickness and unemployment insurance, home contents insurance, pet insurance and gadget insurance. Its policy documents page also lists Best Income Insurance, a short-term income protection policy that pays a monthly benefit if you’re unable to work.
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2009
Best Risk Management and Financial Service Limited incorporated, with Stuart Boseley and Keshav Thukaram as directors
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2012
Authorised since 5 October 2012, according to the FCA register
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2025
Launches Best Insurance Life Insurance, developed with Shepherds Friendly
Best Insurance Life Insurance is arranged and administered by Best Insurance and underwritten by Shepherds Friendly, which also administers and manages all claims. Shepherds Friendly is a mutual owned by its members rather than shareholders, and its history goes back to Christmas Day 1826, when several groups came together to create a mutually beneficial society.
When it launched the policy in October 2025, Best Insurance said it was also available to other distributors through a white-label model, so partners can offer it under their own brand. For customers, Best Insurance says its online application gives access to Best Insurance Life Insurance, which is provided by a single insurer. To explore its panel of insurers or speak to someone for financial advice, it asks you to call 0330 330 9465.
Compare quotes from a panel of UK insurers
- Quick 3 step process
- 60 second form
- Free quotes, no obligation
Best Insurance life insurance ratings and reviews
Here’s how Best Insurance is rated by customers and by Defaqto. Both customer review scores are for Best Insurance as a whole, not only its life insurance, so they reflect the company’s service across all its products.
| Review site | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 3.8 / 5 · Great | Based on 95 reviews across all Best Insurance products, 43 of them from the last 12 months. Reviews are split: 49% gave 5 stars and 50% gave 1 star. Trustpilot says Best Insurance invites its customers to review, and it had replied to 8% of negative reviews. View on Trustpilot (opens in a new tab) |
| Reviews.io | 4.8 / 5 | Based on 1,430 reviews of Best Insurance as a company. 99% of reviewers say they recommend it. View on Reviews.io (opens in a new tab) |
| Defaqto | 2 stars | Defaqto rates each product from 1 to 5 stars. Best Insurance Life Insurance has 2 stars for both level term and decreasing term cover. View on Defaqto (opens in a new tab) |
Defaqto ratings for each Best Insurance policy
Defaqto rates each product from 1 to 5 stars. It lists Best Insurance’s Life Insurance in two categories, level term and decreasing term life assurance, with 2 stars in each.
| Policy | Range | Defaqto rating |
|---|---|---|
| Level term life insurance | Life Insurance | 2 out of 5 stars |
| Decreasing term life insurance | Life Insurance | 2 out of 5 stars |
Ratings checked on 24 September 2026 and may have changed since. Defaqto ratings: defaqto.com (opens in a new tab)
Put together, customer feedback on Best Insurance is mixed. Its Reviews.io score is high, while its Trustpilot reviews are split almost evenly between 5 stars and 1 star. Both scores cover all of Best Insurance’s products, and some recent Trustpilot reviews are about income protection claims rather than life insurance, with both praise and complaints.
Best Insurance’s homepage says it is rated 4.8 out of 5 by its customers, the same as its Reviews.io score, and its Mortgage Life Insurance page shows “Rated 4.9/5”. It’s worth reading a selection of recent reviews on the review sites as well as the headline scores.
What does Best Insurance life insurance cover?
Best Insurance Life Insurance pays a lump sum if you die, or are diagnosed with a terminal illness, during the policy term. It only pays out in those two cases, and the insurer will not pay a claim outside these conditions. The policy covers one person: no joint or multiple life options are available.
You choose how much cover you need, from £10,000 up to a maximum that depends on your age, and how long the policy should last, from 5 to 40 years, as long as it ends by your 70th birthday. The payout could help your family with:
- Mortgage or rent payments
- Household bills and everyday living costs
- Childcare, school or university costs
- Outstanding loans and credit cards
- A cash gift or inheritance for the people you love
The payout is not subject to UK income tax or capital gains tax, but it may be subject to inheritance tax if your estate is large enough.
Best Insurance life insurance policy options
Best Insurance says its online application gives access to one life insurance policy, Best Insurance Life Insurance, which is provided by a single insurer. You choose a level or decreasing payout, and cover lasts for a set term of 5 to 40 years, ending by your 70th birthday at the latest. To explore policies from its panel of insurers, Best Insurance asks you to call.
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Level termThe payout stays the same throughout the term.
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Decreasing termThe payout reduces over time and is designed to match a repayment mortgage at a fixed 8% interest rate. It is the cheaper option.
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Panel insurersTo explore policies from Best Insurance’s panel of insurers, or for financial advice, Best Insurance asks you to call 0330 330 9465. Its online application is for Best Insurance Life Insurance.
Level term life insurance
With Best Insurance’s level payout option, the amount paid out stays the same throughout the term. The key features say a level payout may be chosen, for example, to provide a fixed sum for a beneficiary or to pay off an interest-only mortgage.
Decreasing term life insurance
With the decreasing payout option, the payout reduces over time and is the cheaper alternative. It is designed to match the reducing amount owed on a repayment mortgage with a fixed interest rate of 8%.
If your mortgage has a higher interest rate, or the term and amount of cover are less than the amount you owe, the policy will not pay off your mortgage in full.
Single life cover only
Best Insurance Life Insurance covers one person, and no joint or multiple life options are available. Best Insurance’s separate life insurance quotes page, which offers to compare policies from several insurers, says policies can be arranged on a single life or joint life basis. To explore policies from its panel of insurers, Best Insurance asks you to call 0330 330 9465.
Applying online or by phone
When it launched the policy in October 2025, Best Insurance said the online application needs just nine underwriting questions about your health, lifestyle and family medical history, and lets you get an instant quote and buy cover entirely online. It said its team can also guide you through the process by phone, and the terms and conditions confirm the eligibility and underwriting checks can be completed online or over the phone.
The terms and conditions say Best Insurance can only give factual information about this policy, not personalised advice.
Maximum payout by age
The minimum payout is £10,000 and the maximum depends on your age when you take out the policy. If you have more than one Best Insurance Life Insurance policy, the total you can receive from all of them together can’t exceed the maximum.
| Age when you apply | Maximum payout |
|---|---|
| 18–45 | £500,000 |
| 46–50 | £400,000 |
| 51–55 | £300,000 |
| 56–60 | £200,000 |
Best Insurance life insurance at a glance
The key limits for each payout option. The maximum term is 40 years or until your 70th birthday, whichever is sooner, so if you’re 50 when you apply, the longest term is 20 years.
| Limit | Level term | Decreasing term |
|---|---|---|
| Age when you apply | 18–60 | 18–60 |
| Cover must end by age | 70 | 70 |
| Policy term | 5–40 years | 5–40 years |
| Minimum cover | £10,000 | £10,000 |
| Maximum cover | Up to £500,000 (by age) | Up to £500,000 (by age) |
| Single or joint | Single only | Single only |
| Terminal illness cover | Included | Included |
| Premiums | Level, monthly | Level, monthly |
Limits from the Best Insurance Life Insurance key features and terms and conditions, checked 24 September 2026.
What affects the cost of Best Insurance life insurance?
The price you’re offered depends on your circumstances and the cover you choose. Best Insurance’s policy documents list the factors that affect the premium, and its life insurance page lists the details it asks for when you get a quote:
- Your age when you apply
- Your sex
- Your health and lifestyle
- Whether you use tobacco or nicotine products
- Your height and weight
- Your personal and family medical history
- Level or decreasing cover
- How long you want cover for
- How much cover you want
Premiums are level, so you pay the same amount throughout the policy. They are paid monthly from a personal UK bank or building society account, and can’t be paid from a limited company account. When it launched the policy in October 2025, Best Insurance said it had also scrapped the minimum monthly premium requirement.
Best Insurance’s separate life insurance quotes page, which offers to compare policies from several UK insurers, mentions premiums starting from £5 a month and, elsewhere on the same page, quotes from £6 a month.
In general, cover costs less the younger and healthier you are when you take it out. Comparing plans from several insurers is the simplest way to see what’s available for your circumstances.
Best Insurance life insurance benefits & extras
Best Insurance Life Insurance pays out only on death or diagnosis of a terminal illness within the term. These features come with it:
| Benefit | What it does | Available with |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal illness cover | Included as standard. Pays the full payout if you’re diagnosed with an illness that has no known cure, or can no longer be cured, and your consultant expects it to lead to death within 12 months. Shepherds Friendly verifies the diagnosis and medical evidence. The policy then ends, so nothing more is paid on death. | Available with: Level and decreasing cover |
| Reducing your cover | If your circumstances change, you can lower the payout or shorten the term, to no less than 5 years. This also lowers your premiums, but you can’t increase the payout or term again later. | Available with: Level and decreasing cover |
Writing a Best Insurance policy in trust
Best Insurance’s terms and conditions explain what happens if you put the policy into trust: the payout does not go directly to your estate or named beneficiaries, but is paid into the trust created during your lifetime. When a claim is made, the trustees must provide the trust deed and their details.
By contrast, if you don’t have a will, the payout typically goes into your estate and is distributed after probate, which can sometimes be a lengthy process and delay access to the money.
A trust can help the payout reach your family more quickly, as it usually doesn’t need to go through probate, and it may help reduce inheritance tax. A broker can explain how it works.
Read how trusts work, and what other insurers offer, in our guide to life insurance in trust.
Does Best Insurance pay out?
Claims on Best Insurance Life Insurance are administered and managed by the insurer, Shepherds Friendly. A payout is made once all the necessary documents are submitted and the claim is approved.
Best Insurance’s own website shows two different headline claims figures: “Claims Settled Successfully 100%” on its About us and Life Insurance pages, and “Over 98% of Claims Paid*” on its life insurance quotes page, which offers to compare policies from several insurers.
Shepherds Friendly publishes figures for its own products: it says it paid 96% of its Income Protection claims in 2024, and 100% of claims on its Over 50s Life Insurance. These are not figures for Best Insurance Life Insurance, which launched in October 2025.
If details you gave when applying were inaccurate or incomplete through carelessness or by mistake, the insurer can adjust or cancel the policy. If details were deliberately withheld or misrepresented, it can cancel the policy without refunding premiums, or refuse claims. Answering every question fully and honestly when you apply helps make sure your policy pays out when it’s needed.
How to make a Best Insurance life insurance claim
Life insurance claims go to Shepherds Friendly rather than Best Insurance. You can start a claim with the online claim form, by phone on 0808 149 3445 or by email. The policyholder, their family, their next of kin or the executor of their estate can make a claim.
For a death claim, Shepherds Friendly provides a claim form to complete, and an official death certificate is needed. If there is no named beneficiary and the policy forms part of the estate, it may ask for a grant of probate or letters of administration. If the policy is held in trust, the trustees provide the trust deed and their details.
For a terminal illness claim, Shepherds Friendly verifies the diagnosis and medical evidence, which may include getting an independent medical opinion. The payout is made by direct bank transfer, and a terminal illness payout goes to the policyholder.
- Life claims phone
- 0808 149 3445
- Claims email
- bestinsuranceclaims@shepherdsfriendly.co.uk
- Online claim form
- forms.office.com (opens in a new tab)
- Best Insurance (life policy)
- 0345 646 2049
Key policy terms
A few terms that are worth knowing before you apply. Always check the policy terms and conditions for the exact product you’re offered.
| Term | Best Insurance policies |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | UK residents aged 18 to 60 (the Channel Islands and Isle of Man are excluded) |
| Cooling-off period | 30 days after your application is accepted, with a full refund of premiums paid |
| Cancelling later | Allowed at any time, but premiums paid are not refunded after the 30 days, and once you’ve contacted Best Insurance to cancel, the policy can’t be reinstated |
| Missed premiums | Cover is paused while you’re behind on premiums; the policy is cancelled if it isn’t up to date 30 days after the first missed premium, and you then have 30 days to reinstate it |
| Suicide exclusion | First year of the policy |
| Terminal illness | Claim if the illness can’t be cured and your consultant expects it to lead to death within 12 months |
| Cash-in value | None at any time |
| Changes to report | Name, address or country of residence, within two calendar months |
| Protection | Shepherds Friendly is covered by the FSCS, so you may be entitled to compensation if it can’t meet its obligations; for long-term policies such as this, the scheme covers 100% of the claim with no upper limit |
| Complaints | Complaints about the sale or administration of the policy go to Best Insurance, and complaints about the product, underwriting or claims can go to Shepherds Friendly. Best Insurance’s complaints page says that if you remain dissatisfied with its decision, or don’t get a final answer within 8 weeks, you can refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service |
Is Best Insurance life insurance good?
Best Insurance Life Insurance is a single life term policy that you can buy online: when it launched the policy in October 2025, Best Insurance said the online application needs just nine underwriting questions and gives an instant quote. It is underwritten by Shepherds Friendly, a mutual whose history goes back to 1826 and which also handles claims. Terminal illness cover is included as standard, and premiums stay the same throughout the policy.
The trade-offs are the policy’s limits: you must apply before your 61st birthday, cover ends by 70, the maximum payout is lower the older you are when you apply, and there are no joint policies. Defaqto gives the policy 2 stars out of 5, and customer reviews of Best Insurance, which cover all its products rather than this policy alone, are mixed. The right insurer for you depends on your needs and the price you’re offered, so it’s worth comparing Best Insurance with other insurers.
Pros
- Online application that, at its October 2025 launch, needed nine underwriting questions and gave an instant quote
- Underwritten by mutual insurer Shepherds Friendly
- Terminal illness cover included as standard
- Choice of level or decreasing payout
- Premiums stay the same throughout the policy
- Eligibility and underwriting checks can be done over the phone as well as online
Cons
- Single life only, with no joint policies
- You must apply before your 61st birthday, and cover ends by 70
- Lower maximum payout the older you are when you apply: £200,000 at 56–60
- 2-star Defaqto rating for level and decreasing term
- Trustpilot reviews of Best Insurance as a whole split between 5 stars and 1 star
- No cash-in value
Best Insurance life insurance policy documents
Before you take out a policy, it’s worth reading the key features and terms and conditions for the exact product you’re offered. These official Best Insurance documents are a good place to start. Your terms and conditions and policy schedule are also emailed to you when you take out the policy.
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Best Insurance Life Insurance key features (opens in a new tab)
A summary of the policy: who can apply, the level and decreasing options, payout limits, costs, risks and cancellation rights.
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Best Insurance Life Insurance terms and conditions (opens in a new tab)
The full policy terms, including age limits, when a claim won’t be paid, terminal illness, how to claim, missed premiums and complaints.
Documents are published by Best Insurance and open on its website.
Best Insurance life insurance FAQs
You can apply for Best Insurance Life Insurance if you’re aged 18 to 60; the last day to apply is the day before your 61st birthday. Cover must end by your 70th birthday.
Best Insurance Life Insurance is arranged and administered by Best Insurance and underwritten by Shepherds Friendly, which also administers and manages all claims.
The minimum payout is £10,000. The maximum is £500,000 if you’re 18 to 45 when you apply, £400,000 at 46 to 50, £300,000 at 51 to 55 and £200,000 at 56 to 60.
When you apply for cover you will be asked questions about your health and lifestyle, and based on this and the amount of cover requested, the insurer will decide if a medical is required or not.
When it launched the policy in October 2025, Best Insurance said its online application needed just nine underwriting questions about your health, lifestyle and family medical history.
Not with Best Insurance Life Insurance, which covers one person only. To explore policies from Best Insurance’s panel of insurers, you can call 0330 330 9465.
Yes, it’s included as standard. It pays out if your illness can’t be cured and your consultant expects it to lead to death within 12 months. The payout is made in full and the policy then ends.
Claims are administered and assessed by the insurer, Shepherds Friendly, and a payout is made once all the necessary documents are submitted and the claim is approved. Best Insurance’s own pages show two different headline figures: “Claims Settled Successfully 100%” and “Over 98% of Claims Paid*”.
Shepherds Friendly’s published figures, such as 96% of its Income Protection claims paid in 2024, are for its own products.
Best Insurance’s terms and conditions cover policies put into trust: the payout is paid into the trust rather than to your estate or named beneficiaries, and the trustees provide the trust deed when claiming.
A trust can help the payout reach your family more quickly, as it usually doesn’t need to go through probate, and it may help reduce inheritance tax. A broker can explain how it works.
You can cancel at any time. If you cancel within 30 days of your application being accepted, you’ll get a full refund of any premiums paid. After that, you won’t get your premiums back, and once you’ve contacted Best Insurance to cancel, the policy can’t be reinstated.
Claims are handled by Shepherds Friendly. Use the claims phone line on 0808 149 3445, email bestinsuranceclaims@shepherdsfriendly.co.uk or fill in the online claim form. For a death claim, an official death certificate is needed.
Sources
The facts on this page come from these sources.
- Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons file page: Telecom House, 125–135 Preston Road, Brighton (February 2020).JPG — CC0 photo of the building housing Best Insurance's head office (opens in a new tab), commons.wikimedia.org, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance (Best Risk Management and Financial Service Limited) — Contact us — Best Insurance (head office, phone, email, enquiry types incl. making a claim) (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance (Best Risk Management and Financial Service Limited) — About us — Best Insurance (founders, values, company figures) (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance — Mortgage Life Insurance page (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance — Best Insurance launches new life product (news article, 7 October 2025) (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance — Best Insurance Life Insurance policy terms and conditions (TL-TC-BestInsurance-30092025) (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance — Best Insurance Life Insurance key features (TL-KF-BestInsurance-30092025) (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Defaqto — Defaqto Star Ratings (Life & Protection) for Best Insurance (opens in a new tab), defaqto.com, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Trustpilot — Trustpilot: Bestinsurance (www.bestinsurance.co.uk) — TrustScore 3.8, 95 reviews, company-wide (all Best Insurance products) (opens in a new tab), uk.trustpilot.com, accessed 24 September 2026.
- REVIEWS.io — Reviews.io (Reviews.co.uk): Best Insurance — 4.8 rating, 1,430 reviews, company-wide (opens in a new tab), reviews.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance (Best Risk Management and Financial Service Limited) — Best Insurance homepage (products sold, company claims, customer rating, contact details) (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Financial Conduct Authority — FCA Financial Services Register: BEST RISK MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL SERVICE LIMITED, firm reference number 583497 (opens in a new tab), register.fca.org.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Companies House — Companies House: BEST RISK MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL SERVICE LIMITED (07095571) — company overview (opens in a new tab), find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance (Best Risk Management and Financial Service Limited) — Regulatory disclosure and complaints — Best Risk Management and Financial Service Limited (FCA 583497, company 07095571) (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance — Policy Documents page (income protection, accident and mortgage payment products) (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance — Best Income Insurance (short-term income protection) insurance product information document (opens in a new tab), retailapi.bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Companies House — Companies House: BEST RISK MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL SERVICE LIMITED (07095571) — officers (opens in a new tab), find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Shepherds Friendly (The Shepherds Friendly Society Limited) — About Shepherds Friendly — the insurer that underwrites Best Insurance Life Insurance (history, mutual status, regulation) (opens in a new tab), shepherdsfriendly.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance — Life insurance quotes landing page (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Best Insurance — Life Insurance page (opens in a new tab), bestinsurance.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
- Shepherds Friendly (The Shepherds Friendly Society Limited) — Shepherds Friendly (underwriter of Best Insurance Life Insurance) published claims figures: 100% of Over 50s Life Insurance claims paid; 96% of Income Protection claims paid in 2024 — not specific to Best Insurance policies (opens in a new tab), intermediary.shepherdsfriendly.co.uk, accessed 24 September 2026.
Related pages
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Best life insurance
What to compare when you choose a policy.
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Term life insurance
Cover for a set number of years, with level or decreasing cover.
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Decreasing term life insurance
The payout falls over the term, often in line with a mortgage.
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Income protection
A monthly payment if you can’t work due to accident or illness.
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Life insurance in trust
How a trust works and how it can affect the payout.
