2025 comparison
Compare annuities side by side
Evaluate the top annuity companies across every metric that matters — income projections, financial strength, fees, and flexibility. Select companies to build a detailed head-to-head comparison.
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Full comparison table
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| Company | Score | AM Best | S&P | Max income ($500K) | Surrender Period | Best For | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Athene Annuity 4.8 | 94 | A+ | A+ | — | 5–15 years | Investors seeking high guaranteed income | ||
American Equity 4.6 | 90 | A | A- | — | 5–10 years | Investors seeking indexed annuity growth | ||
Allianz Life 4.5 | 89 | A+ | AA | — | 5–10 years | Investors wanting global financial backing | ||
Mutual of Omaha 4.5 | 88 | A+ | AA- | — | 3–10 years | Safety-conscious investors prioritizing financial strength | ||
Nationwide 4.4 | 87 | A+ | A+ | — | 3–12 years | Investors wanting a well-known, trusted brand | ||
Jackson National 4.3 | 86 | A | A+ | — | 3–10 years | Investors comfortable with market exposure | ||
Equitable 4 | 84 | — | A+ | — | — | Investors comfortable with RILA buffered crediting and multiple segment-type selection | ||
Protective Life 4 | 84 | A+ | A+ | — | 5–10 years | Income-focused retirees seeking aggressive rollup growth and lifetime guarantees | ||
Prudential 4.1 | 83 | A+ | AA- | — | 5–10 years | Investors wanting innovative RILA products with mid-term flexibility | ||
American National 4 | 82 | A | Not Rated | — | 3–20 years | Conservative savers prioritizing principal protection and carrier strength | ||
Delaware Life 4 | 82 | A- | A- | — | 3–10 years | Savers seeking competitive fixed-rate growth with multiple renewal options | ||
North American 4.1 | 82 | A+ | A | $58,038per year at 67 | 3–10 years | Accumulators seeking long-term growth with principal protection and broad index options | ||
Pacific Life 4 | 82 | A+ | AA- | — | 5–10 years | Fee-based advisors seeking transparent, no-load variable annuity options | ||
Principal 4 | 82 | — | A+ | — | — | Investors comfortable with market-linked or structured products seeking income | ||
Security Benefit 3.8 | 82 | A- | A | — | 3–10 years | Savers prioritizing principal protection with indexed crediting flexibility | ||
Symetra 4 | 82 | A | A | — | 3–10 years | Buyers seeking competitive fixed-rate MYGAs with moderate commitments | ||
Transamerica 3.9 | 81 | — | A+ | — | — | Investors comfortable with RILA structure seeking income with market-linked growth opportunity | ||
Aspida 4 | 80 | A- | Not Rated | $56,935per year at 67 | 2–10 years | Investors seeking competitive guaranteed rates from a modern, tech-forward carrier | ||
American Century 3.6 | 72 | — | Not Rated | — | — | Rate-focused MYGA shoppers comfortable doing carrier due diligence | ||
American Gulf 3.5 | 68 | — | Not Rated | — | — | Older or younger buyers (ages 0-89) who cannot qualify with carriers having tighter age limits |
Max income shows the highest-paying income-rider product per carrier — single life, issue age 62, deferral nearest 5 years, on a $500,000 premium; income start age is shown per row since it varies by carrier. Figures are illustrative, depend on the contract issued, and are not a quote. “—” means no income-rider product is available for this scenario. A.M. Best ratings and surrender ranges are live from Annuity Rate Watch; surrender shows the range across the carrier’s current lineup.
Category leaders
See which companies lead in each evaluation category.
Income Options
Highest payout rates and income flexibility
Athene Annuity
Score: 96/100
Financial Strength
Strongest ratings and asset backing
Mutual of Omaha
Score: 96/100
Lowest Fees
Most competitive fee structures
Athene Annuity
Score: 90/100
How we evaluate annuity companies
Our scoring methodology considers five weighted categories to produce an overall score out of 100.
Income Options (25%)
Payout rates, income rider features, withdrawal flexibility, and lifetime income guarantees.
Financial Strength (25%)
AM Best, S&P, and Moody's ratings, total assets, claims-paying ability, and company history.
Fees & Costs (20%)
Annual contract fees, rider fees, mortality & expense charges, and overall cost competitiveness.
Flexibility (15%)
Product variety, surrender period options, free withdrawal provisions, and customization.
Customer Service (15%)
Policyholder satisfaction, complaint ratios, online tools, and advisor network quality.
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