Aviva vs Legal & General life insurance

How the two compare on core cover

On the fundamentals, Aviva and Legal & General are closely matched. Both offer level term life insurance (a fixed lump sum over a fixed term), decreasing term designed to track a repayment mortgage, and an over-50s plan with guaranteed acceptance and no medical questions. With both, critical illness cover can be added for an extra premium, and terminal illness cover — which pays the sum assured early if you are diagnosed with an illness expected to cause death within 12 months — is built into eligible policies at no extra cost.

Because the building blocks are so similar, the practical decision usually comes down to the price for your circumstances and the small print — maximum ages, cover limits, how each insurer underwrites your health and occupation, and the optional benefits you bolt on. For a refresher on how these cover types and payouts work, see the life insurance hub, or our guides on mortgage life insurance and over-50s cover.

Where they differ most: the support services

The most visible difference between the two is the package of extra services bundled in at no extra cost. Aviva includes DigiCare+, a health and wellbeing app you can use from day one without making a claim — typically offering 24/7 access to a GP, mental-health counselling sessions, and a second medical opinion from a specialist if you receive a serious diagnosis, often extendable to your partner and children. Legal & General takes a more claims-time approach, including Wellbeing Support — personalised help from experienced nurses (provided via RedArc) covering illness, bereavement and mental health — alongside a Care Concierge service to help navigate later-life care.

Neither set of extras is “better” in the abstract: Aviva’s leans towards everyday health access, Legal & General’s towards support during the major events that lead to a claim. Which is more useful depends on what you value — it is worth weighing alongside the core price and cover, not instead of it.

How to choose between Aviva and Legal & General

Because both are financially strong, established insurers with similar cover and strong claims records, there is rarely a single “right” answer — the better-value option genuinely varies from person to person. The reliable approach is to decide how much cover and what term you need first, then get a like-for-like quote from both (and ideally other insurers too), comparing the total premium, the optional benefits included, and the small print on age and health limits. A premium that looks a few pounds cheaper can be the more expensive choice if the cover or terms differ. For more on getting the amount right, browse the life insurance hub and related guides, including cover for smokers.