Royal London and Legal & General: quick overview
Both Royal London and Legal & General (L&G) are among the UK's largest and most established life insurers. Royal London is a mutual insurer (owned by its policyholders), while L&G is a FTSE 100 listed company. Both have excellent financial strength ratings.
Pricing comparison
For a 35-year-old non-smoker in good health, £200,000 level term over 25 years:
- Royal London — approximately £12–£17/month
- Legal & General — approximately £10–£15/month
L&G is frequently one of the cheapest options in the market. Royal London is competitive and often wins on policy features and service.
Policy features
Both insurers offer level and decreasing term life insurance, with optional critical illness cover. Royal London stands out for its Helping Hand support service — offering access to health and wellbeing services during the policy, not just at claim time. L&G offers a comprehensive online application and a strong partner network.
Critical illness cover comparison
Both offer comprehensive CIC. Royal London's CIC covers a wide range of conditions and includes children's CIC as standard on many policies. L&G's CIC has clear, well-defined condition definitions and competitive pricing.
Claims records (2024)
- Royal London — paid 99.3% of life insurance claims, 91.2% of CIC claims
- Legal & General — paid 98.5% of life insurance claims, 90.8% of CIC claims
Customer service
Royal London regularly scores highly in customer satisfaction surveys. L&G is rated well and has a large, efficient claims team. Both have Financial Ombudsman Service complaint rates well below the industry average.
Who should choose Royal London?
- Those who value mutual ownership and policyholder ethos
- People who want access to Helping Hand services
- Those prioritising claims experience and service
Who should choose Legal & General?
- Those primarily focused on getting the lowest possible premium
- People who want a straightforward online experience
- Those who already have an L&G product (e.g. workplace pension)
Frequently Asked Questions
Often slightly, yes — but the price difference is usually small. Royal London's additional policy benefits (like Helping Hand) can offset this.
Both have excellent claims records. Royal London's life insurance claims payout rate (99.3%) is marginally higher than L&G's (98.5%) in 2024.
Yes — our comparison tool shows quotes from both insurers alongside other major UK providers, so you can compare side by side.