Ladder vs SelectQuote
Last updated July 2026
Ladder
Life insurance that flexes with your life
Advantages
- Unique laddering feature lets you increase or decrease coverage without a new policy
- Term coverage from $100,000 up to $8 million (highest no-exam limits of any digital insurer)
- No medical exam required for most applicants under $3 million
- Fully underwritten by Fidelity Security Life (A- AM Best)
- Cancel anytime with no fees; refund of unused premium in first 30 days
Drawbacks
- Only offers 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year term
- Adjustments to coverage over $3M can still trigger an exam
- Newer name than legacy carriers, though underwritten by an established one
SelectQuote
Life insurance comparison with a phone-first agent
Advantages
- Operating since 1985, deep experience with life underwriting
- Compares quotes from 20+ carriers
- Agents are life insurance specialists, deep product knowledge
- Also brokers Medicare, home, and auto
Drawbacks
- Very phone-heavy, expect calls after requesting a quote
- Digital experience lags Policygenius by a wide margin
- Less transparent comparison view, agent controls what you see
Ladder and SelectQuote both play in life insurance, but they're aimed at different buyers. Ladder is built for buyers whose coverage needs will change over time and want flexibility built in. SelectQuote is built for buyers who want a specialist agent walking them through the whole process. Which one fits depends on which of those descriptions sounds more like you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Ladder | SelectQuote |
|---|---|---|
| Product Lineup | -- | Term, whole, universal, final expense |
| Product Type | Term life only (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 yr) | -- |
| Maximum Coverage | $8M | $10M+ through carrier partners |
| Application Time | ~10 minutes; instant decision for most | Quote by phone; bind in 4-8 weeks |
| Underwriter | Fidelity Security Life; some policies via Allianz | -- |
| Medical Exam | No exam for most under $3M | Varies by carrier; no-exam options available |
| Issue Ages | 20-60 | -- |
| Adjustable Coverage | Yes, raise or lower coverage as needs change | -- |
| Riders Included | Accelerated death benefit standard | -- |
| Carrier Network | -- | 20+ carriers (Banner Life, Protective, John Hancock, etc.) |
| Agent Support | -- | Assigned specialist agent |
| Digital Tools | -- | Basic quote tool; heavy phone workflow |
| Bundling Options | -- | Medicare, home, auto |
Ladder Wins
Ladder takes it overall (8/10 vs 7/10), but SelectQuote is still the sharper pick for buyers who want a specialist agent walking them through the whole process.
Ladder's standout strength: Unique laddering feature lets you increase or decrease coverage without a new policy. Its biggest drawback (only offers 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year term) is easier to live with than SelectQuote's (very phone-heavy, expect calls after requesting a quote). SelectQuote isn't out of the running though — its own standout strength is operating since 1985, deep experience with life underwriting. If you fit the profile of buyers who want a specialist agent walking them through the whole process, that alone can flip the decision.
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