Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Absa vs ARAG
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Absa |  ARAG |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | ZAR 115 | €14.73 |
| Insurance types | Auto, Home, Life, Health, Travel, Pet, Gadget | Home, Health, Dental, Pet, Travel, Gadget |
| Cover limit | R6,000,000 | Unlimited legal expenses sum insured in Europe (Kompakt: EUR 350,000 worldwide) |
| Claims channels | Phone, Email, Online portal, Self service app | Online, Phone |
| Excess from | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Age range | 3 months to 89 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Provider type (Insurer), Monthly payments (Yes).
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Key differences
- ARAG is available in 17 more countries.
- Insurance types: only Absa offers Auto, Life.
- Insurance types: only ARAG offers Dental.
- Claims channels: only Absa offers Email, Online portal, Self service app.
- Claims channels: only ARAG offers Online.
- Support channels: only Absa offers Community.
- Support channels: only ARAG offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Absa
Absa suits South African households that want car, home, life, health, travel, pet and gadget cover from one insurer rather than separate insurers, with monthly payments available. Pet cover starts at ZAR 115, and life cover runs to a limit of R6,000,000.
ARAG
ARAG is a German insurer founded in 1935 that writes home, health, dental, pet, travel and gadget cover on a monthly basis. It suits readers who want several household risks placed with the insurer itself, and who can live with a legal expenses limit that is fixed outside Europe.
Score breakdown
| Area | Absa | ARAG |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 9.1Entry premium of €14.73 sits above the lower-quartile price of €2.92 and the typical price of €8.37. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.6 | 9.6 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Absa | ARAG |
|---|---|---|
| Home insurance | 48 of 273 | 50 of 273 |
| Health insurance | 39 of 216 | 41 of 216 |
| Travel insurance | 80 of 295 | 81 of 295 |
| Pet insurance | 37 of 167 | 38 of 167 |
Side by side, item by item
| Insurance types | Absa | ARAG |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Yes | No |
| Home | Yes | Yes |
| Life | Yes | No |
| Health | Yes | Yes |
| Travel | Yes | Yes |
| Pet | Yes | Yes |
| Dental | No | Yes |
| Gadget | Yes | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | Absa | ARAG |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | |
| South Africa | National Credit Regulator NCRCP7 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Absa: 1. Additional countries for ARAG: 18.
Where these facts come from
Absa
- absa.co.za: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
ARAG
- arag.de: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- arag.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Absa | ARAG |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Seniors | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | Absa Bank Limited | ARAG SE |
| Headquarters | South Africa | Germany |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1935 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Absa | ARAG | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excess from | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €50 |
Median across 71 listed insurance providers.
Pros and cons
Absa
Pros
- One insurer holds auto, home and life, so several personal lines sit in the same place.
- Monthly payments are available, and monthly is the payment model on pet cover.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, and claims start on phone, email and online portal.
Cons
- The starting premium of ZAR 115 is a pet figure, so it does not set the price of a car or home policy.
- Cost scores 5.6 out of ten and the premium ranks 107 of 252 brands, so the price signal sits mid-table.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre with no live chat listed, while claims add phone, email and online portal.
ARAG
Pros
- Premium starts at €14.73 with an excess of €0, so nothing is deducted from a legal expenses claim before payment.
- ARAG is the insurer itself, insurer, so the contract sits with the company that pays the claim rather than a broker.
- Home, health, dental, pet, travel and gadget cover all sit with the same provider under home, health and dental, so a household need not shop each line separately.
Cons
- The starting premium of €14.73 is above the typical price of €8.37 across the comparison, so cheaper entry points exist.
- Auto and life are missing from home, health and dental, while Good Sam Insurance Agency lists both in auto, home and renters.
- Claims are handled on online and phone, a narrower set of routes than the email, chat and phone offered for general service.
Who each suits
Absa
Who it suits
- Households in ZA wanting several personal lines with one insurer rather than separate ones.
- Seniors, listed under seniors, and families with young children, since travel cover runs for ages 3 months to 89 years.
- Pet owners paying monthly, as monthly payments are available and pet cover starts at ZAR 115.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers shopping on the starting price alone, since bunq lists €0 and Euroasia Insurance quotes UZS 60,000.
- Buyers after renters or motorcycle cover, which Good Sam Insurance Agency lists in auto, home and renters.
ARAG
Who it suits
- Households wanting home, health, dental, pet, travel and gadget cover written by the insurer itself under home, health and dental.
- Readers who pay monthly, since monthly payments are available and monthly is the only pricing model listed.
- Anyone weighing a claim with no money deducted first, because the excess on the legal expenses policy is €0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Drivers or life savers, since Good Sam Insurance Agency covers auto and life in auto, home and renters while ARAG's home, health and dental does not list them.
- Buyers who need landlord or renters policies, because Hiscox UK sells both under home, renters and landlord and ARAG's list stops at home, health, dental, pet, travel and gadget.
- Readers shopping purely on the lowest entry price, as €14.73 sits above the typical price of €8.37 and Euroasia Insurance quotes from UZS 60,000.
Current offers
Absa
Current offer
Bonus
Get your first three Life Cover premiums back after six months: First three Life Cover premiums refunded
If you are an Absa Transactional Banking customer registered for Digital Banking. Subject to terms and conditions.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Eyenu Nonke Funeral Plan: Funeral cover of up to R30 000 for you, your spouse and immediate family members
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Get up to 40% of your motor premiums back for driving well: Up to 40% of motor premiums returned
Source, checked September 26, 2026
ARAG
Current offer
Discount code
ARAG Recht und Heim package: 20% discount
Legal expenses, home contents and liability insurance bundle; claimed directly on the ARAG German site
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Absa | ARAG |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
| Finland | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Greece | No | Yes |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
8 of 19 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Absa
How much does Absa insurance cost?+
The published starting premium is ZAR 115, and it applies to pet insurance. Monthly payments are available, so that figure can be spread through the year rather than paid in one sum. Every other line is quoted per policy.
Which kinds of insurance does Absa offer?+
Absa is an insurer, and its auto, home and life list covers car, home, life, health, travel, pet and gadget. Car cover is sold as comprehensive car insurance, so the personal lines can sit with one company instead of several.
ARAG
What does ARAG cost to start with?+
The listed entry premium is €14.73, set on monthly terms for the legal expenses policy. That sits above the typical price of €8.37 and above the lower-quartile price of €2.92 across the comparison, so ARAG is priced in the middle of the field rather than at the budget end. The excess on that policy is €0.
Can I pay monthly instead of one annual sum?+
Yes. Monthly payments are available and monthly is the only pricing model listed, so the policy is not sold as a single annual payment. The same pattern runs across the comparison, with 88.9% of the listed brands offering monthly payments. Readers who set money aside each month are paying on the terms most of this market uses.