At a Glance
| Prudential | MetLife | |
|---|---|---|
| Prudential | MetLife | |
| AM Best rating | A+ (Superior) | A+ (Superior) |
| Individual life insurance | Yes — full range available | No — exited individual market in 2017 |
| Group life insurance | Yes | Yes — major employer market |
| Policy types (individual) | Term, universal, variable universal, indexed UL | N/A (see Brighthouse Financial) |
| Online quote available | Term life — yes | Group only (through employer) |
| Founded | 1875 | 1868 |
| J.D. Power ranking | Above average | Not independently ranked for individual |
Figures reflect industry-wide data compiled from multiple 2026 sources. Your actual quote depends on your age, health, coverage amount, and policy type.
Where Prudential Wins
- Individual life insurance availability: Prudential is one of the few major insurers that still actively sells a full range of individual life policies — MetLife does not
- Broad product range: Prudential offers term, universal life, variable universal life, and indexed universal life — giving buyers flexibility across budget and risk tolerance
- Online term quotes: Prudential offers online term life quotes without requiring an agent appointment upfront
- Strong underwriting for complex cases: Prudential is known for competitive underwriting on applicants with health complications — including diabetes, past cancer, and other conditions that some insurers penalise heavily
- Living benefits riders: Prudential's term and universal life policies include chronic illness and terminal illness accelerated death benefit riders — useful coverage additions at little or no extra cost
Where MetLife Wins
- Group life insurance at work: MetLife is one of the largest group benefits providers in the US — if your employer offers life insurance, there's a good chance MetLife administers it
- Voluntary benefits integration: MetLife's workplace benefits platform integrates life, dental, vision, and disability — making it a strong employer-sponsored benefits provider
- Global footprint: MetLife operates in 40+ countries — relevant for multinational employers and expatriates needing coverage across borders
- MetLife Legal Plans: A leading provider of legal benefit plans, adding broader employee benefits value beyond life insurance alone
- Brand recognition: MetLife's brand (including Snoopy) remains one of the most recognised in financial services — though brand recognition doesn't affect individual policy buyers since MetLife no longer serves that market directly
How to Decide
Choose Prudential if: You're shopping for individual life insurance — Prudential is a leading option for term, universal, and variable universal life, with competitive pricing particularly for applicants with health conditions.
Choose MetLife if: Your life insurance need is employer-sponsored group coverage — MetLife is a top-tier group benefits provider and may already be your insurer through work.
For individual life insurance shopping, Prudential is the straightforward answer here since MetLife simply doesn't compete in that market anymore. If you encounter "MetLife life insurance" in your research, note that the individual policies are now issued by Brighthouse Financial — a separate company spun off from MetLife. For a broader look at how these companies stack up against the rest of the market, see MoneyVerge's guide to the best life insurance companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
MetLife no longer sells individual life insurance in the US — it spun off its individual life and annuity business as Brighthouse Financial in 2017. MetLife remains a major provider of group life insurance through employer benefit plans. If you're shopping for an individual policy, Prudential, Brighthouse Financial, or other carriers are the relevant comparison points.
Yes — Prudential holds an A+ AM Best rating, offers a broad range of individual life products, and is particularly well-regarded for underwriting complex health cases (diabetes, heart conditions, past cancer) more competitively than many peers. It consistently ranks above industry average in customer satisfaction surveys.
MetLife spun off its individual life, annuity, and long-term care insurance business as a separate publicly traded company called Brighthouse Financial in 2017. Existing MetLife individual policies were transferred to Brighthouse Financial. MetLife itself now focuses on group benefits, institutional business, and international markets.
You can't directly compare individual life rates between Prudential and MetLife since MetLife doesn't sell individual policies. If comparing Prudential to Brighthouse Financial (MetLife's spun-off individual life business), rates vary by age, health, policy type, and coverage amount — always compare live quotes for your specific situation.