This is a sponsored post by Lemonade. We only partner with brands that have a good reputation and that we believe are helpful to our readers.
If you’re shopping for homeowners insurance, there are many options to choose from. Trying to determine which insurer is right for you can be overwhelming.
To help you with your research process, we compared home insurance policies offered by Lemonade Insurance Company (Lemonade) and Hippo Insurance Services (Hippo).
These two popular online home insurance providers can help protect your house and belongings when disaster strikes.
We analyzed the similarities and differences between the two home insurance companies by examining their websites, getting personalized quotes, evaluating verified customer reviews and more.
This information can help you decide which online home insurer is best for your needs.
In This Article
Lemonade vs. Hippo Comparison
When it comes to protecting your home, having the best homeowners insurance is important.
The coverage you need plays a huge role in deciding which home insurance company is best for you.
When it comes to home insurance, having a policy with not enough coverage could be problematic if you need to submit a claim.
Not having enough coverage could leave you paying massive out-of-pocket costs for repairs in the event of a claim.
Ensuring you opt for the right coverage for your needs can be a great way to save money.
While there are several similarities, there are some key differences between Lemonade and Hippo that you should understand before choosing one over the other.
Similarities
What do does Hippo and Lemonade homeowners insurance cover?
Both Hippo and Lemonade offer similar coverage options for homeowners.
These similarities include:
- Dwelling coverage
- Personal property coverage
- Liability coverage
- Fences and outbuildings
- Loss of use coverage
Both offer an additional “scheduled” personal property add-on.
Scheduled personal property is different from standard coverage in that it insures items that may not be covered on a standard policy.
Some examples of such items may include:
- Jewelry
- Fine art
- Bicycles
- Cameras
- Musical instruments
Scheduled personal property is different from standard in that it is:
- Covered at an agreed-upon value
- Covered for additional perils (i.e. mysterious disappearance, accidental damage)
- No deductible applies in the event of a claim.
Additionally, certain categories of scheduled items may not be eligible for coverage under a standard policy, or may have coverage limitations
Differences
There are several differences between Lemonade and Hippo when it comes to homeowners insurance coverage offerings.
Hippo provides a home-based business coverage add-on.
With Lemonade, you have the opportunity to bundle your coverage with other Lemonade insurance offerings such as car and pet insurance.
Purchasing a life insurance policy through Lemonade’s partner can get you a discount on Lemonade’s other products.
However, other products cannot get you a discount on life insurance policies.
Hippo only offers homeowners insurance, so it’s not a “one-stop-shop” for your home insurance needs.
However, unlike many other homeowners insurance companies, it also offers Hippo Home Care to help you care for and maintain your home.
Lemonade does compete with this feature by offering various resources, including a blog and an insurance dictionary.
Pricing
It’s difficult to compare pricing on the best homeowners insurance policies since coverage needs can vary and it’s difficult to illustrate every policy aspect or factor (such as location) used in pricing.
However, we did get quotes through both agencies so that you can see the prices when comparing policies for the same home.
Here is a quote breakdown of coverage we requested for 2016, 2,900 Sq. Ft., 2-story home in Cypress, TX (*Note pricing will vary based on state, size, and age of home):
| Coverage Type | Lemonade | Hippo |
| Dwelling coverage | $550,000 | $540,000 |
| Personal property | $275,000 | $270,000 |
| Personal liability | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Standard deductible | $2,500 | $5,400 |
| Wind/hail deductible | $27,500 | $5,400 |
| Hurricane deductible | Included in wind/hail | $10,800 |
| MONTHLY TOTAL | $215.92 | $191 |
Lemonade also quoted a discount for fire protection, theft protection, dwelling age, and having a high insurance score.
The total cost quoted by Lemonade was $215.92 per month.
With Hippo, we were offered three plans. The mid-range option Illustrated above was the closest to what Lemonade offered.
Keep in mind that the Hippo standard deductible was over twice as much as what Lemonade quoted.
The total cost quoted by Hippo was $191 per month.
Although the Lemonade price was roughly $25 higher each month, its standard deductible was much lower. This means that your immediate out-of-pocket costs will be lower when you file a claim.
Ultimately, you should request quotes from both to determine the best homeowners insurance policy for you.
Giveback
One unique feature in Lemonade’s business model is their Giveback.
With Giveback, up to 40% of the unclaimed money from premiums is tallied up and donated to a nonprofit of the policyholder’s choosing.
It’s important to note that Lemonade takes only a flat fee out of each customer’s premium payments.
Thanks to this business model, you know that if you don’t submit a claim, some of the money you spent protecting your home will go to a cause Lemonade customers care about.
As a Lemonade policyholder, you know that a portion of what other insurers call profit goes towards social good.
Discounts
If being able to save money on your home insurance policy is important to you, the discounts offered by insurers may be of interest.
Here is how Lemonade and Hippo stack up when it comes to discounts.
Lemonade Discounts
With Lemonade, you can access many opportunities to receive discounts on your homeowners insurance policy.
Lemonade will give you discounts on your home insurance policy for:
- Theft protection devices
- Bundled policies (such as car insurance)
- Smoke alarms
It’s important to note that this list is not all-inclusive.
Hippo Discounts
Like Lemonade, Hippo also offers many opportunities to reduce your premium.
Hippo will give you discounts on your homeowners insurance policy for:
- Loss-free policy periods (no claims filed)
- Theft protection devices
- Smart home devices
- Policies purchased through group partners
- Qualifying hail-resistant roofs
- HOA discounts (with qualified HOA partners)
Hippo gives free smart home monitoring systems to all homeowners insurance clients. Essentially, they provide you with what you need to take advantage of the smart home devices discount.
See the Hippo website for more details and other ways to take advantage of their available discounts.
Policy Availability
Both Lemonade and Hippo provide homeowners insurance policies in several states. However, Hippo is currently available in more states than Lemonade.
Here are the states offer coverage:
| State | Lemonade | Hippo |
| Alabama | N | Y |
| Alaska | N | N |
| Arizona | Y | Y |
| Arkansas | N | Y |
| California | Y | Y |
| Colorado | Y | Y |
| Connecticut | Y | Y |
| District of Columbia | Y | Y |
| Delaware | N | Y |
| Florida | N | Y |
| Georgia | Y | Y |
| Hawaii | N | N |
| Idaho | N | N |
| Illinois | Y | Y |
| Indiana | Y | Y |
| Iowa | Y | N |
| Kansas | N | Y |
| Kentucky | N | Y |
| Louisiana | N | N |
| Maine | N | Y |
| Maryland | Y | Y |
| Massachusetts | Y | N |
| Michigan | Y | Y |
| Minnesota | N | Y |
| Mississippi | N | Y |
| Missouri | Y | Y |
| Montana | N | N |
| Nebraska | N | Y |
| Nevada | Y | Y |
| New Hampshire | N | Y |
| New Jersey | Y | Y |
| New Mexico | N | Y |
| New York | Y | N |
| North Carolina | N | N |
| North Dakota | N | N |
| Ohio | Y | Y |
| Oklahoma | Y | N |
| Oregon | Y | Y |
| Pennsylvania | Y | Y |
| Rhode Island | N | Y |
| South Carolina | N | Y |
| South Dakota | N | N |
| Tennessee | Y | Y |
| Texas | Y | Y |
| Utah | N | Y |
| Vermont | N | Y |
| Virginia | Y | Y |
| Washington | N | Y |
| West Virginia | N | Y |
| Wisconsin | Y | Y |
| Wyoming | N | N |
Customer Experience
How do Lemonade and Hippo compare when it comes to the customer experience?
Here are some key considerations that potential policyholders should remember.
Getting a Quote
Getting a quote is easy with Lemonade. It’s also easy to get a quote with Hippo. Each has an online application that is easy to fill out.
Each home insurance company promises that you’ll get your quote within minutes.
Signing Up
Both homeowners insurance companies claim that signing up takes just a few minutes.
You will need to have some basic information about your home and the type of coverage that you want before you can sign up.
This information includes, but is not limited to:
- Your home’s age
- Square footage
- When was the roof built or last replaced
- The value of the items you want covered
- Safety devices you have installed in your home (smoke detectors, etc)
- Any other residents in your home
Making Payments
When it comes to paying your premiums, both homeowners insurance companies give you more than one option.
With Lemonade, you can pay via:
- Your mortgage company’s escrow account
- A credit card
- Your debit card
If you choose to pay with your credit card, you have the option of paying monthly or yearly.
Be aware though, if you’re buying a new home your lender will likely require you to pay a lump sum in your first year.
Hippo offers premium payments via:
- Your escrow account
- A credit card
- Your debit card
- An ACH withdrawal from your bank account
If you pay your Hippo premium through your bank or credit/debit card, you can pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.
Filing a Claim
Both Lemonade and Hippo make it easy to make a claim and ensure your claim is resolved quickly.
Lemonade
Lemonade is unique in how it handles claims. You must file your claim using the Lemonade app.
Using the app, you’ll upload a video briefly describing what happened along with any evidence to support your claim.
The insurer’s goal is to get you paid as fast as possible. Many Lemonade customers receive payment for their theft claims within just a few minutes of filing. And because
Lemonade makes reviewing claims more efficient. Even claims that have to be reviewed by Lemonade representatives are paid out faster, since Lemonade’s claims experts can devote their attention to the most complex cases.
Additionally, all claim payouts are minus any deductible and any non-covered damages.
Hippo
Submitting a claim with Hippo is simple. Just call Hippo’s customer service line or email the home insurance company directly at claims@myhippo.com.
Hippo says that once your claim has been evaluated, the adjuster will issue payment for any parts of the claim that are covered by your policy.
Your policy’s deductible and any special coverage limits that are exceeded may reduce the amount of your claim.
Checks are typically written to you or to your mortgage company if you have a mortgage on the home. If this is the case, you’ll need to work with your lender to negotiate the release of the funds and repair of the property.
In the event that your mortgage is paid off, the money will be issued to your name only.
Customer Support
Both Lemonade and Hippo have excellent customer service.
To reach Lemonade’s customer service center, you can call them at 844-733-8666.
Another option is to contact a Customer Experience representative through the Lemonade app or the company’s website.
Hippo’s customer service line can be reached at 800-585-0705.
You can also contact Hippo customer service by email at support@hippo.com.
Customer Reviews
Both Hippo and Lemonade have online customer reviews that can better inform you in making your decision.
Here is how the homeowners insurance companies rank on rating websites:
| Company | Trustpilot Score | BBB Rating |
| Lemonade | 4.5 out of 5 (790 reviews) | 3.79 out of 5 (241 reviews) |
| Hippo | 2.8 out of 5 (3 reviews) | 3.57 out of 5 (147 reviews) |
Remember that Lemonade offers more than just homeowners insurance. This likely explains the higher number of reviews compared to Hippo.
Lemonade received praise for its ease of use, app and customer service. Hippo received positive feedback for its pricing, customer service and convenience.
Most complaints about both homeowners insurance companies revolved around two main issues, including premiums and claims. This is typical of home insurance company reviews.
Overall, Lemonade outranks Hippo on both Trustpilot and BBB.
Which Company is Right for You?
This is a question each homeowner has to answer for themselves. There are many similarities between the two home insurance companies.
Both Hippo and Lemonade offer:
- Quotes within minutes
- Easy online applications
- Excellent customer service
- Robust coverage and extras
However, there are also benefits you’ll find with one company and not the other.
Hippo’s free smart devices for your home are highly appealing. If you don’t already have such a device, a smart home device can help you better protect your home.
These devices can help keep your house safe from:
- Burglary
- Theft
- Fire
- And more
Lemonade also offers a discount for smart home devices, however, which gives the customer the opportunity to select the smart device they prefer.
Additionally, Lemonade’s socially conscious model and commitment to putting extra profits toward policyholder-chosen charities is a huge draw for many potential clients.
Getting a quote from both Lemonade and Hippo is free. Take the time to visit both websites and review quotes from each.
Then evaluate to see which Insurer has the combination of cost, reputation, and customer experience that best suits your needs.
Just be sure you’re getting quotes for the same coverage from each company in order to get a true apple-to-apples comparison.
Summary
Lemonade and Hippo offer homeowners insurance that can help keep your home and belongings safe. You can get a quote, purchase a policy and manage everything entirely online.
Both home insurance companies are committed to speed and efficiency when it comes to obtaining insurance and paying out claims.
Ultimately, the best homeowners insurance companies offer robust coverage, low prices and excellent customer service. Hippo and Lemonade seem to fit all of those parameters.
To choose the right insurer between the two, evaluate their offerings and select the one that offers the coverages and perks you need.
See the link above to get a comparison of Well Kept Wallet’s selection of the best homeowners insurance companies, where Lemonade ranks #1.
