Best Gadget Insurance Companies in 2023

November 7, 2020

In today’s world, we can’t imagine ourselves without gadgets. We all have different types of expensive devices that we use to communicate with and work on. The last thing that we want is to break or lose our gadget accidentally. 

Sometimes things happen, but that is where choosing the best gadget insurance can help. By getting our devices insured, we get protection in scenarios like loss, breakage, theft, or water damage. We can get compensated for the cost of gadget replacement.

So, let’s take a look at the top gadget insurance providers to see how they compare and which are the most preferable ones. To make the best decision, we decided to cover the following in this review:

  • The methodology 
  • A buying guide 
  • Comparison table
  • Detailed reviews

Our article includes FAQs, a comparison table and detailed reviews of the gadget insurance companies in the USA:

Product
Rating
Key Features
Website
1
OVERALL RATING
4.5
Expert Review
  • Extends your warranty coverage from 1 year to 2
  • Up to 2 incidents of accidental damage coverage per year
PRICE: $
Get a Deal
2
OVERALL RATING
4.5
Expert Review
  • Comprehensive protection for electronic devices
PRICE: $
Get a Deal
3
OVERALL RATING
4.5
Expert Review
  • Provides coverage for different gadgets like PC, phones, and other electronic items used around the house
PRICE: $
Get a Deal
4
OVERALL RATING
4.5
Expert Review
  • Don’t limit coverage to a certain brand
  • Deductible ranges from $25 to $149 and depends on the type of damage
  • Provide affordable policies
PRICE: $
Get a Deal
5
OVERALL RATING
4.5
Expert Review
  • Focus on phone damage
  • Functions like an extended warranty
PRICE: $
Get a Deal
6
OVERALL RATING
4.5
Expert Review
  • Broad coverage options
  • Affordable
PRICE: $
Get a Deal

Best Gadget Insurance Company Reviews

When it comes to Apple products, it is advisable to purchase coverage from AppleCare instead of directly buying it elsewhere. This is because AppleCare support is designed and devised exclusively, keeping Apple products in mind. It is the ultimate place to enjoy one-stop service and support from Apple experts. You can expect most issues to be resolved in just one call.

Most Apple hardware products come with a 1-year warranty and 3 months of complimentary support. To extend this coverage and support AppleCare is the best way forward. 

AppleCare offers 2 types of support and coverage plans. These are AppleCare + and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

AppleCare+ is designed for various Apple products including Mac, iPad, iPod, HomePod, Apple Display, iPhone, and Apple Watch. 

AppleCare Protection Plan is ideally created for Apple TV.

With AppleCare+, you get up to two accidental damage incidents covered annually for a meager service fee. If you happen to damage the screen, it can be replaced for just $29. But if there is any other damage, then the deductible is slightly higher. 

Please note that there is also a special AppleCare+ plan. It comes with a Theft and Loss plan. Under the AppleCare+ Theft and Loss plan, 2 theft incidents, accidental damage, and loss are covered. But this is only and exclusively for the iPhone.

AppleCare Protection plan, on the other hand, is designed for Apple TV. It doesn’t cover accidental damage. It is only for $29 both for the regular Apple TV and the new 4K edition. With the AppleCare Protection Plan, you can get 2 years of warranty coverage as well as tech support. It would protect the Apple TV, the Siri Remote, and Apple AirPort router if you bought them within 2 years of the Apple TV.

PROS:
  • Affordable
  • Coverage options for all Apple products
  • Readily available
CONS:
  • Covers for 2 accidents per year
  • AppleCare+ doesn’t cover loss and theft

Worth Ave. Group sells a variety of electronics insurance plans. Overall the company has a high customer satisfaction rate. Worth Ave Group’s phone insurance to gaming console insurance, e-reader insurance, and laptop insurance offers all. 

Their iPhone insurance plan is one of the best to cover accidental damage, power surges by lighting, theft and vandalism, liquid submersion and fire, and natural and flood disasters. It is an affordable plan that features unlimited claims and low deductibles.

You can also get your Chromebook insured. Losses covered under Chromebook insurance are theft, accidental damage, liquid submersion, fire, flood, and natural disasters.

Likewise, you can get unlimited claims and coverage for theft, cracked screens, and liquid damage under the iPad insurance plan.

With Worth Ave Group, you can also get some of the best phone insurance plans for brands like Sony, LG, and Samsung. The company also specializes in tablet insurance providing coverage for common mishaps like cracked screens, liquid damage, and theft. This coverage is extended for all popular brands including but not limited to Sony, Dell, and Samsung.

PROS:
  • Unlimited claims
  • Low deductibles
  • Comprehensive coverage
CONS:
  • They don’t give out the pricing of the plans directly. Ask for a quote first.

Safeware is a trusted company that serves as an extended warranty, service plan seller and an insurance agency. The company has earned a stellar reputation in the market for its desktop computers insurance coverage. It also provides policies for smartphones, tablets, appliances, home products, and electronics.

Safeware insurance covers for repairs and replacement of smartphones and other electronic devices. Their policies provide coverage against damage from accidental drops, collisions, falls, liquid spills, burglary, robbery, power surge, and vandalism.

The company offers insurance to buyers who have purchased their phones not more than two months ago. Please note that they don’t replace the manufacturer’s original warranty—covering breakdowns and mechanical failures.

With Safeware, you can also get extended service plans. These plans don’t cover lost items or theft. Plans start when you purchase your device and offer coverage for problems that the manufacturer’s warranty doesn’t include. The company shall provide you with the manufacturer’s coverage once the warranty expires.

PROS:
  • Comprehensive coverage for a variety of gadgets
  • Covers theft, power surge, vandalism, robbery, liquid spills and accidental damage.
  • They also offer replacements
CONS:
  • You can buy the coverage within 60 days of the device purchase.
  • They don’t replace the manufacturer’s original warranty until it gets expired
  • It doesn’t provide coverage against theft or lost property.

SquareTrade now serves as a part of Allstate. It provides a convenient and affordable solution for smartphone protection. They offer coverage for $8.99 per month. 

More importantly, unlike other insurers, they don’t limit you. You can get content for any phone from any carrier.  You don’t have to buy coverage when the phone is new. However, they do charge a deductible for covered claims. This deductible ranges from $25 to $149 and depends on the type of damage.

SquareTrade coverage is limited to only accidental damage. This means that it doesn’t provide coverage for loss and theft.

PROS:
  • Covers all brands
  • Provides accidental damage
  • Affordable
CONS:
  • Doesn’t provide coverage for loss and theft
  • They offer gadget insurance for both new and older gadgets

When it comes to the best phones, Samsung is second to none. Flagship Samsung phones are expensive, priced at over $1000, while some even cost around 2000 plus. Therefore, protecting them from damage and theft is crucial. Asurion is the insurance coverage provider for Samsung. It is a reliable provider for top name retailers.

Samsung offers coverage under the name Samsung Premium Care. Similar to AppleCare + basic coverage, Samsung Premium Care focuses on phone damage. Here it is important to keep in mind that you will require additional content to protect your phone if lost or stolen.

The Samsung Premium Care functions like an extended warranty. It lasts up to 3 years of your purchase, covering for accidental damage like cracks, spills, and drops.

PROS:
  • Reliable
  • Provides accidental damage coverage
  • Affordable
  • Unlimited mechanical breakdown coverage
CONS:
  • Doesn’t provide coverage for loss and theft
  • Only available for Samsung phones

This is yet another reliable insurance provider for devices and gadgets. AT&T plans offer standard coverage and a step-level plan which can be customized with additional benefits such as ID protection, cloud storage, and tech support.

The Basic/Standard device protection plan is available for $8.99 per month and per device. This plan provides protection against theft, loss, and out of warranty malfunctions. Screen repairs are offered at a lowered price of $49.

It is essential to note that AT&T lowers deductibles by almost 50% for 6 months and sometimes even longer. They also offer a same-day replacement option.

PROS:
  • Affordable
  • Protection against loss, theft, and out of warranty malfunctions
CONS:
  • Same-Day Replacement: Eligibility is based on certain criteria
  • Each screen repair will count towards your claim limits

Methodology

To highlight the best gadget insurance companies in the country, we researched the top insurance providers. Our methodology is based on numerous factors, including:

  • Cost competitiveness 
  • Consumer ratings and reviews
  • Features and offerings 

 

All this information helped us outline what each company is best for and what drawbacks it has. We hope this review will be helpful in your decision making.

Buying Guide on Gadget Insurance

Why do I need gadget insurance?

The gadgets we use in our daily lives are costly and thus, hard to replace. Therefore, it is necessary to buy the best gadget insurance.

Our gadgets are our trusty companions providing security and connection when we need it most (for example, a phone comes in handy to call roadside assistance when the car breaks down).

You can get gadget insurance on most portable electronic devices such as digital cameras, smartphones, tablets, laptops, game consoles, and headphones.

If your gadgets get stolen or damaged, the insurance company will cover your loss and compensate you accordingly. From camera insurance to smartphone insurance, tablet insurance, and game console insurance, it is best to get coverage for your expensive gadgets as soon as possible.

How Does Gadget Insurance Work?

When it comes to getting the best gadget insurance coverage, you can find a large variety of market policies. The way they work may differ, so you must learn about the policy and how it works before buying it.

Sometimes your home insurance provider may also offer some level of gadget coverage. Talk to your home insurance provider to see how much coverage they offer for your gadgets.

But in general, we’d advise buying a separate gadget insurance policy. Not only will the policy provide you with comprehensive gadget coverage but also give you additional benefits that otherwise you may not be able to receive under a home insurance policy. 

A gadget insurance policy will cover the cost of repairing or replacing products due to accidental damage, liquid damage, and theft. You may also get additional benefits like a 24-hour replacement, multi gadget discount, and more.  

Some companies also offer gadget insurance for students. These policies provide excellent coverage to student gadgets everywhere they go, both on and off-campus.

What does gadget insurance cover?

It varies from company to company and the type of policy you select. However, some of the best policies available include the following coverage:

  • Theft
  • Accidental Loss
  • Accidental Damage
  • Cracked Screen
  • Liquid Damage
  • Breakdown
  • Malicious Damage
  • Unauthorized Use
  • Accessories

What doesn’t gadget insurance cover?

Knowing what is covered and what isn’t will help you with a better policy selection and ensure that you make an informed buying decision. That is why it is always a great idea to sort the insurance so that the start date is the same as the day you get the new phone, camera, laptop, or other gadget.

It’s important to understand that the damage type you indicate can also be a way out for the insurance service provider not to pay out your claim. 

For instance, you fail to take proper care of your mobile device, say you drop it on the road or leave it by the kitchen hob. Then the insurance provider may not cover such loss. 

Similarly, if the phone breakage has the manufacturer’s warranty, the insurance provider may send them back to deal with the issue.

Another problem may arise if you have a multi-gadget policy, but the damaged gadget is not listed. Therefore, you must be clear about what is covered and what isn’t to be on the safe side.

Some policy providers offer buyers a chance to get their policy customized. Therefore, if you want certain things added to your policy coverage, this is the best way to go. Look for a policy provider that gives you the flexibility to customize your gadget insurance coverage.

What is the average pricing of gadget protection?

The average gadget insurance cost may vary between policy providers. Some companies may throw in extras like tech packs that can extend to laptops and tablets, or bespoke policies which may have different pricing depending on the coverage selected.

The gadget insurance cost may also vary because some people only take out insurance on their new device as it would cost a lot of money to replace or repair without insurance, while others may choose to insure their entire family’s mobile phones under one multi-device policy for their convenience. 

In general, we can say the gadget insurance covers the cost of repair and replacement if the gadgets get stolen, damaged, or lost.

Can I get gadget insurance for traveling?

Usually, when we travel abroad, we carry a variety of gadgets with us.  So, it makes absolute sense to invest in gadget insurance for traveling. Knowing that we are covered if something goes wrong while on holiday can give peace of mind and the freedom to enjoy the break to the fullest.

Whether it is the camera that gets stolen or the laptop gets damaged, gadget insurance for traveling would ease the financial pressure of replacing them once back home from the trip. 

There are two main options for selecting content for your gadgets, to add gadget coverage to the travel insurance policy. 

Some travel insurance service providers give the customer an option to buy additional coverage for high-value items like phones, digital cameras, and laptops. But needless to say, they don’t pay out enough to cover the cost of gadgets. 

Therefore, we’d advise travelers to opt for the second option – to buy a separate travel gadget policy. By opting for a different insurance policy, you can be sure that all your gadgets are well-protected while traveling either for holidays or business.

Conclusion 

All in all, gadget insurance is not an option but a necessity because we all use gadgets daily and invest good money in them. Therefore, to keep our investment safe for years to come, insurance is the way to go. 

You have to choose an insurer carefully because not all companies offer varied coverage types. Most companies only concentrate on accidental damage. 

Another thing that you must take into consideration is the deductible. Most cell phones depreciate rapidly, and the deductible can rival the purchasing cost of a pre-owned replacement.

To sum it up, it can be said that there is not just one best gadget insurance provider. What may be good for one user may not be right for another. We all have different insurance needs, budget, and requirements. 

FAQs

Does another policy already cover my gadgets?

If you already have a home insurance policy, then chances are that some or all gadgets are already covered under it. However, the drawback is that it will cost extra to cover the devices outside the house. Besides this, if a claim is made for the gadget, it can affect the no-claims bonus.  

Also, gadgets coverage is limited to a specific type of tech and amount. 

When in shared accommodation, there is something else to think about. One person’s gadget claim can result in higher home insurance premiums for everyone in the household.

Can I insure more than one gadget?

Indeed, you can ensure multiple gadgets. For this purpose, you will have to select a multi-gadget insurance policy. 

This will help cover numerous devices under one insurance policy. When choosing such a policy, make sure that you know the upper limit and discounts offered on insuring multiple devices.

Do I need a gadget insurance cover if my device is still under warranty?

Yes. It is crucial to understand that devices under warranty normally provide coverage for mechanical failures and not theft or accidental damage. Therefore, gadget insurance is always a great idea even if your device is under warranty.

What do I do if my gadget is stolen?

If your gadget gets stolen, make sure to call the police right away. Call 911 to inform and report the theft. Also, make sure that you get an incident or crime number. This number will help you claim your gadget coverage, and then you can quickly contact the insurer to pursue the claim.

What do I need to do if my gadget needs repairing?

In case if your insured gadget needs repairing, it is advisable first to contact the insurer. It’s vital that you do this before you get the repair done. 

It’s important because your policy may require you to use an approved repairer if you want to get compensated. Thus, if there is any such requirement and you fail to meet it, you may not be fully paid or compensated at all.

I can't live without my phone, so should I purchase gadget insurance?

Most of the smartphone users can’t imagine themselves living without their phones. If you are one of them and carry your cell phone everywhere, then chances are that you might worry about breaking or losing your phone. Therefore, it is certainly worth getting gadget insurance.

There are numerous factors that you can consider when you’re getting an insurance policy for your gadget. The type of coverage and how efficiently does the insurance company process claims.

I bought my gadget second hand. Can I still get cover?

Unfortunately, second-hand gadgets are not insured. To apply for gadget insurance, you must purchase it as new from a mobile phone manufacturer, online store, or network provider. This is because when buying gadget insurance, you will be required to provide proof of purchase.

I have contents insurance. Do I need gadget insurance too?

This is variable depending on the coverage provided by your content insurer. Therefore, it is recommended that you read through the policy documents carefully to check what is insured. 

Accordingly, you can determine your gadgets’ value and determine whether additional coverage is needed. In most cases, gadget insurance is a good idea if the previous policy doesn’t cover the gadget in case of theft or when away from home.