Reviews Report
- Reviews.com scored Hippo home insurance company a 4.3 out of 5 based on our rubric (coverage, customer experience, and financial stability).
- Hippo policies are commonly underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance Company and Hippo Property & Casualty Insurance Company, each carrying an A- (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating from AM Best (verify the current rating and action date before purchase).
- Hippo emphasizes prevention-first homeowners insurance, including smart-home device offers and discounts through its Hippo Smart program, aligning with 2025 industry trends toward IoT-enabled, proactive risk mitigation (Deloitte Insights).
Founded in 2015, fintech startup Hippo started selling home insurance policies in 2017. Hippo Insurance Services distributes homeowners, condo, and landlord policies through rated underwriting partners (frequently Spinnaker Insurance Company and, in some states, Hippo Property & Casualty Insurance Company). Availability varies by state and underwriting carrier; confirm eligibility on Hippo’s Licenses & Disclosures page. Hippo’s model is digital-first—fast online quotes, digital claims intake, and prevention tools highlighted on its homeowners insurance page.
Hippo’s homeowners package prioritizes modern risks and proactive protection. Standard and optional endorsements may include home office equipment, equipment breakdown, water backup, and service line coverage, with smart-home monitoring and maintenance support designed to reduce loss frequency. Hippo Home Care connects customers with experts for maintenance and repair guidance. This prevention-forward approach reflects 2025 industry shifts: carriers are subsidizing water leak/freeze sensors and other IoT devices to curb non-weather water losses—one of the costliest, persistent perils in homeowners insurance (LexisNexis Risk Solutions Home Trends Report; Deloitte).
Hippo Home Insurance Overview
During recent wildfire and severe-weather seasons, Hippo has emphasized pre-event outreach and mitigation guidance for policyholders, aiming to reduce losses and accelerate recovery. The company’s engagement approach—proactive alerts, digital FNOL, and repair coordination—aligns with broader market trends toward prevention, managed repair networks, and faster claims experiences (J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Property Claims Satisfaction Study; Deloitte claims transformation). Earlier, Hippo drew attention for direct CEO outreach during California wildfires, including sharing a personal phone number with customers, and for building the “away mode” Alexa skill to deter burglaries (USA Today). Customers can also access Home Care Experts for maintenance questions.
Partnered with device providers, Hippo offers eligible homeowners free smart home monitoring systems in some states, with potential premium credits for verified installation/monitoring. Prevention-first adoption is growing across home insurance as carriers target water leaks, freeze, and electrical hazards with sensors and monitoring; programs are increasingly moving from optional discounts to eligibility- and verification-based incentives (Deloitte 2025 outlook; LexisNexis Home Trends). Privacy and device security standards are also evolving via the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark and new state consumer privacy laws tracked by IAPP.
PROS
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Hippo Home Insurance Highlights
Hippo Home Insurance vs. The Competition
| Provider | Reviews.com Score | J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction* | AM Best | Available Discounts |
| Hippo | 4.3 | Not ranked (latest) | A- (Spinnaker/Hippo P&C) | Smart home devices Protective devices/security Claim-free Advance quote New home/updated systems/roof |
| Lemonade | 2.25 | Not ranked (latest) | N/A | Multi-policy discount Protective devices Pay in full |
| Mercury Insurance | 2.75 | Ranked (2024 study) | A | Gated community New home Fire-resistant construction Protective devices Multi-policy |
| Chubb | 3.5 | Ranked (2024 study) | A++ | Burglar/fire alarm Renovated home Residential sprinkler system Suburban rating Masonry construction |
Information current as of 2025; availability, discounts, and ratings may change. Verify J.D. Power inclusion in the latest study and confirm carrier financial strength at AM Best.
*See the latest J.D. Power U.S. Home Insurance Study for carriers included and methodology (1,000-point scale).
Hippo vs. Lemonade
Both brands offer end-to-end digital experiences with fast quotes and streamlined servicing. Hippo leans into proactive risk mitigation with device offers and smart-home credits via Hippo Smart, while Lemonade emphasizes an all-in-one app experience and multi-product ecosystem. For claims, Hippo supports digital FNOL and concierge support; Lemonade highlights automation for simpler losses and has publicized instant-pay capabilities in investor materials (Lemonade IR). Neither Hippo nor Lemonade is currently ranked in J.D. Power’s latest homeowners study; compare NAIC complaint indices for underwriting entities when assessing service quality.
Hippo vs. Mercury Insurance
Mercury sells through agents and promotes a robust menu of homeowners discounts and bundling with Mercury auto (Mercury discounts). Hippo is digital-first and prevention-centric, with smart-home device credits and maintenance support. J.D. Power includes Mercury in its homeowners rankings, whereas Hippo is not ranked; use NAIC complaint indices and BBB/Trustpilot for additional context. Optional endorsements like service line and equipment breakdown may be available from either brand depending on state and eligibility—confirm during quoting.
Hippo vs. Chubb
Chubb focuses on high-value homes with broad “Masterpiece” coverage, risk consulting, and services such as Wildfire Defense Services in eligible areas (Chubb Masterpiece). Hippo emphasizes digital purchase, device-enabled prevention, and smart-home discounts for mainstream homeowners. Chubb appears in J.D. Power rankings and is known for high-touch service delivered through agents; Hippo delivers online servicing and proactive monitoring—two different approaches to a quality experience in today’s market.
Hippo Home Insurance FAQ
Methodology
We evaluated Hippo home insurance based on availability, customer satisfaction indicators, financial stability, and coverage to determine the Reviews.com score and our evaluation. Because some digital-first brands (including Hippo) are not included in the latest J.D. Power homeowners rankings, we pair regulator data and public review sources with financial strength and coverage analysis.
- Coverage: We reviewed core and optional endorsements (e.g., equipment breakdown, service line, water backup, smart-home integration) listed on Hippo’s homeowners page.
- Customer Experience: We reference the NAIC Consumer Complaint Index methodology (NAIC) and consult the NAIC CIS for Hippo’s primary underwriter Spinnaker’s homeowners complaint index (Spinnaker CIS), plus current BBB (Hippo BBB) and Trustpilot ratings.
- Customer Satisfaction: For carriers that are ranked, we use the latest J.D. Power U.S. Home Insurance Study (1,000-point scale). For Hippo (not ranked), we emphasize NAIC/BBB/Trustpilot indicators.
- Financial Stability: We cite current AM Best Financial Strength Ratings for the specific underwriting insurers (e.g., Spinnaker Insurance Company; Hippo Property & Casualty Insurance Company) using AM Best’s Ratings Center and corroborate via Hippo’s SEC filings.
- Discounts: We validated discount categories against recent third-party reviews and Hippo materials (NerdWallet; Forbes Advisor; Policygenius; Hippo Help Center), noting state and underwriter variation.
