Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (2024)

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Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (1)

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Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (2)

Our ratings take into account the card’s rewards, fees, rates along with the card’s category. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

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  • Comprehensive cover for your handset
  • Wide range of policy options
  • Competitive premiums from top providers

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Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (3)

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Mobile Phone Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best For 2024

Mark Hooson

Editor

Updated: Jan 04, 2024

With the exception of some jewellery, a smartphone is probably the most valuable item we carry around with us on a daily basis. And, despite manufacturers’ best efforts, it’s also one of our most fragile belongings.

Add that to the enduring demand for the very latest handsets, and you’ve got the perfect conditions for accidental damage, loss, or theft, making mobile phone insurance a must.

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  • EAT
  • Our top cover picks for your phone
  • Methodology
  • What is mobile phone insurance?
  • Why would I need mobile phone insurance?
  • What does mobile phone insurance protect against?
  • What doesn't mobile phone insurance cover?
  • How much does gadget insurance cost?
  • Does my home insurance cover my phone?

Why you can trust Forbes Advisor’s ratings

Our top cover picks for your phone

We carried out research (December 2023) to find out which mobile phone insurance providers offer the best coverage at the best prices to help you protect your handset. For more on how the providers are ranked, refer to our methodology.

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Dynamo Gadget Silver

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (4)

5.0

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (5)

Our star ratings are based on a range of criteria and are determined solely by our editorial team. See our methodology for more information.

Monthly cost

£5.10

Max annual claims

Unlimited

Max excess

£200

Why We Picked It

Low monthly payments, no limit on the number of claims you can make each year and 90 days’ worth of overseas cover earn this policy our number one spot.

Pros & Cons

  • Great value
  • Lower excesses are available

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CoverCloud Elite 125

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (8)

5.0

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (9)

Our star ratings are based on a range of criteria and are determined solely by our editorial team. See our methodology for more information.

Monthly cost

£5.43

Max annual claims

Unlimited

Max excess

£175

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (10)

Monthly cost

£5.43

Max annual claims

Unlimited

Max excess

£175

Why We Picked It

CoverCloud’s Elite 125 policy is cheap at £5.43 per month, offers unlimited claims per year and unlimited worldwide cover. What’s more, the excess of £175 drops to £125 after the first 30 days.

Pros & Cons

  • Great value
  • Repairs and replacements fall under existing device warranty

FEATURED PARTNER OFFER

Dynamo Gadget Gold

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (11)

5.0

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (12)

Our star ratings are based on a range of criteria and are determined solely by our editorial team. See our methodology for more information.

Monthly cost

£5.47

Max annual claims

Unlimited

Monthly cost

£5.47

Max annual claims

Unlimited

Excess

£150

Why We Picked It

Cheap premiums, no limits on the number of claims you can make per year and up to 90 days of worldwide cover make Dynamo Gadget’s Gold policy competitive.

Pros & Cons

  • Great value
  • Longer overseas protection is available

FEATURED PARTNER OFFER

FreshCover

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (15)

5.0

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (16)

Our star ratings are based on a range of criteria and are determined solely by our editorial team. See our methodology for more information.

Monthly cost

£5.57

Max annual claims

Unlimited

Excess

£150

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (17)

Monthly cost

£5.57

Max annual claims

Unlimited

Excess

£150

Why We Picked It

Fresh Cover offers no limits on claims, a reasonable level of excess and unlimited worldwide cover for £5.57 per month.

Pros & Cons

  • Great value
  • Repairs fall under existing device warranty

FEATURED PARTNER OFFER

SwitchedOn Ultimate Cover 150

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (18)

5.0

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (19)

Our star ratings are based on a range of criteria and are determined solely by our editorial team. See our methodology for more information.

Monthly cost

£5.75

Max annual claims

Unlimited

Excess

£200

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (20)

Monthly cost

£5.75

Max annual claims

Unlimited

Excess

£200

Why We Picked It

Premiums are still great, even as the lowest ranked policy in our list. There’s no limit on the number of claims you can make each year and policyholders get 120 days’ worth of overseas cover.

Pros & Cons

  • Great value
  • Less competitive excess (£200) if you claim within the first month

Methodology

Using data from our partner Comparison Creator, we looked at insurance deals for a 128GB Apple iPhone 15.

We then ranked the results from the least to the most expensive, while taking into account other factors such as the excess amounts that customers have to pay when making a claim, along with any policy exclusions.

We overlaid this information with editorial judgment to arrive at our Forbes Advisor star ratings.

What is mobile phone insurance?

Mobile phone insurance pays you money to repair or replace your handset if it’s damaged, lost or stolen. You pay a monthly premium for the protection and, if you need to make a claim on your policy, you’ll pay an up-front excess fee to get things started.

The more expensive your phone and the more comprehensive cover you need, the more you’ll pay each month.

If you make a successful claim, the insurer will either get your phone repaired or pay out cash for you to buy a replacement.

Why would I need mobile phone insurance?

The latest and greatest handsets can cost north of £1,000 and new technologies such as folding displays can make repairs prohibitively expensive or impossible. Without a mobile phone insurance policy in place, you’ll be left to pay for repairs or replacement out of your own pocket.

If your handset is part of your pay monthly contract, you could still be on the hook for a lost or irreparably damaged handset that you can’t use for months or even years, yet still need to pay for a working phone in tandem.

Even the most conscientious and careful mobile users can be unlucky, and a mobile phone insurance policy can offer some peace of mind that you won’t be left to foot the bill if push comes to shove.

Estimated repair cost without insurance (iPhone)

Cracked Screen (Front Only)Back Glass DamageCracked Screen And Back Glass DamageRear CameraOther Damage
iPhone 14£289£169£399£169£579
iPhone 14 Pro£349£519£619£219£669
iPhone 14 Pro Max£389£559£669£219£719
iPhone 14 Plus£349£199£449£169£629
iPhone 13£289£369£169£479
iPhone 13 Mini£239£319£169£369
iPhone 12£289£369£169£479
Source: Apple.com, 2023

Estimated repair cost without insurance (Samsung)

Screen, panel and frame repairScreen and panel repair
Galaxy S23 5G£269£164
Galaxy S23+ 5G£219£164
Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G£289£224
Galaxy S22£209£164
Galaxy S22+£219£164
Galaxy S22 Ultra£289£224
Source: Samsung.com, 2023

What does mobile phone insurance protect against?

Protection varies from one policy to the next, but it’s possible to protect your phone against:

  • Accidental damage
  • Liquid damage
  • Theft
  • Loss
  • Mechanical breakdown

Not every policy will include this kind of cover as standard, but it’s available if you’re willing to pay for it.

What doesn't mobile phone insurance cover?

A mobile phone insurer is unlikely to approve a claim that arises because you’ve not taken reasonable care of your phone to prevent it from being lost, stolen or damaged. For example, if you left your iPhone unattended on a bar and it was stolen, the insurer is likely to reject your claim.

Insurers’ policies come with different exclusions, which mean some will provide greater levels of cover than others. It’s therefore important to read policy wording documents carefully to understand what you’re signing up.

How much does gadget insurance cost?

Average Cost of Gadget Insurance
Most Commonly Insured GadgetsAverage Monthly CostAverage Annual Cost
iPhone 15 128GB£5.87£61.85
iPhone 15 Plus 128GB£6.51£69.40
iPhone 15 Pro 128GB£8.22£88.77
iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB£10.10£109.23
iPhone 14 128GB£5.62£60.74
iPhone 14 Plus 128GB£6.54£70.39
Samsung S23 128GB£7.14£72.22
Samsung S23+ 256GB£10.67£111.71
Samsung S23 Ultra 256GB£12.34£134.30
Google Pixel Fold 256GB£13.15£138.10
Google Pixel 8 128GB£6.52£69.20
Google Pixel 8 Pro 128GB£9.02£97.53
Source: Comparison Creator, information correct as of January 2024

Does my home insurance cover my phone?

It depends. Your home insurance policy might not cover you against accidental damage, or your phone could be worth more than your policy’s single-item limit, and so wouldn’t be fully covered.

You’ll also need to check the policy offers ‘cover away from home’ in the event that your phone is lost, stolen or damaged when you are out.

In short, it’s best not to assume that your home insurance offers the protection you need for your phone. At very least, you should dig out the policy wording to see how far the cover extends.

This is also true for any cover you might get through your bank account. Many banks offer mobile phone insurance as an added perk of their accounts, but you should make sure your device is registered with the bank and that the cover provided is sufficient to replace your handset if necessary.

Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

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Can I get mobile phone insurance for a second-hand phone?

It’s possible, but each insurer handles used phones differently. All of them impose maximum device age limits, and some will only cover second-hand phones if they’re refurbished and come with a 12-month warranty. It’s best to check with an insurer before buying a policy – and be specific about your phone’s age and where you bought it from.

Does mobile phone insurance cover me abroad?

The insurers in our list offer at least 45 days’ cover per year overseas, while some offer year-round cover for travel. If you travel a lot, be sure to check the policy you’re buying meets your needs.

Is mobile phone insurance worth it?

It depends on who you ask. Phones can be incredibly expensive these days, and repairs can be equally expensive if they’re even possible. For many of us, simply buying a replacement outright would be prohibitively expensive.

If you don’t think you could find the £600-£1,000 it costs to buy the latest and greatest handsets, it’s worth asking yourself if you can afford £5 or £6 a month so that you don’t have to worry about it.

My gadget is still under warranty - do I need insurance?

Manufacturers’ warranties only really cover mechanical failure. They provide no level of protection against theft, loss or accidental damage and so they can’t be solely relied on.

Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (21)

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What Perks Do Network Providers Offer?

5G Coverage By Network Provider

The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive payment from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. This comes from two main sources.

First,we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The payments we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market.

Second, we also include links to our advertisers’ offers in some of our articles. These “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the listings or commentary our editorial team provides in our articles or other impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Advisor.

While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Advisor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

  • Advisor
  • Gadget Insurance
  • Best Mobile Phone Insurance Providers
Mobile Insurance: Our Pick Of The Best (2024)

FAQs

Is cellphone insurance worth it? ›

If you're not prepared to spend hundreds of dollars to repair or replace your phone at any moment, cell phone insurance can save you time, money, and the headache of being stranded with a broken phone.

How do I make a successful mobile insurance claim? ›

When reporting the incident, the insurance company will require you to provide documentation to support your claim. This may include a police report, a copy of the insurance policy, proof of ownership of the phone and proof of the incident. The documentation required may vary depending on the incident and the policy.

What carriers have best coverage? ›

Verizon has the best 4G LTE coverage that spans across 70% of the United States. That's 2% more than AT&T and 8% more than T-Mobile. It covers 327 million people in over 2.68 million square miles. Depending on your location, you may even get Verizon 5G cell service.

What is the number 1 phone carrier? ›

With an extensive national network, Verizon is the leading wireless provider. It receives top scores for network coverage, speed, and reliability. Verizon's plan and device flexibility, combined with excellent business features, makes it the clear winner in our best overall cell phone provider category.

What does cell phone insurance not cover? ›

First, many insurance policies won't cover natural wear and tear that happens over time. Your cell phone insurance policy also isn't likely to cover you if you've made changes to your phone. For example, after-market modifications or DIY repairs may disqualify you from coverage, even if the damage is unrelated.

How long should you keep cell phone insurance? ›

If you buy a phone through an installment plan, you should carry phone insurance until you've made the last payment. When purchasing an expensive phone, you should consider keeping insurance as long as it has a high resale or trade-in value.

What covers mobile insurance? ›

Apart from theft, a mobile insurance plan also covers events of software damages or other hardware issues to these expensive gadgets, in addition to accidental drops, liquid damage, screen damage, and many other scenarios that you might encounter.

How does mobile insurance work? ›

Mobile phone insurance is designed to protect your phone against common situations that might happen. There are different levels of cover available, but many will include: Accidental damage - If you accidentally damage your phone, including cracking your screen, your insurer will pay for repairs or to replace it.

What is disadvantage of mobile cover? ›

The main disadvantages of phone cases is heating problem. At first, you may think that using the case reduces the heat of the phone. But in reality, it seems to be right, but inwardly it is identical. Whether the metal body or the plastic body of the cell phone is in the open air, the temperature is exchanged.

How long does a mobile insurance claim take? ›

How long does the claim process take? *In the event of a TOTAL LOSS – your handset will be replaced within 48hours. *In the event of DAMAGE to your handset – we undertake to fix and return your handset to you within 5 days. If parts need to be imported, we will discuss this with you as this can cause a delay.

Which banks offer phone insurance? ›

Can you get phone insurance through your bank? Banks such as Barclays, Halifax, Nationwide, Natwest and Bank of Scotland provide us with more than just bank accounts. Most banks offer a variety of different services including business banking, mortgages, and insurance.

How long does it take for at mobile claim to be approved? ›

Once a claim is approved, your replacement device will be shipped overnight, at no charge where available, for delivery within one to two business days. Claim approvals may take up to several days depending on the type of claim and timely receipt of all needed documentation. Holidays may impact shipping times.

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