Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Absa vs Ottonova
Where Absa and Ottonova differ
| Compare |  Absa |  Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | ZAR 115 | €284 |
| Insurance types | Auto, Home, Life, Health, Travel, Pet, Gadget | Health, Dental |
| Cover limit | R6,000,000 | Up to 6 months worldwide coverage at no extra charge, unlimited within the European Economic Area |
| Claims channels | Phone, Email, Online portal, Self service app | App, Chat, Email, Phone, Post |
| Excess from | Not confirmed | €500 |
| Age range | 3 months to 89 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Provider type (Insurer), Monthly payments (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Absa scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Insurance types: only Absa offers Auto, Home, Life.
- Insurance types: only Ottonova offers Dental.
- Claims channels: only Absa offers Online portal, Self service app.
- Claims channels: only Ottonova offers App, Chat, Post.
- Support channels: only Absa offers Help centre, Community.
- Support channels: only Ottonova offers Chat.
- Audience: only Absa offers Seniors.
- Audience: only Ottonova offers Expats.
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.
Ottonova
Ottonova suits expats and employees in Germany who want health and dental cover handled in an app, with monthly premiums from €284. The premium sits above the site median of €8.37, so it is priced for people who value the digital servicing and the worldwide cover limit rather than the lowest price.
Score breakdown
| Area | Absa | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Higher | 8.4Monthly premium of €284 sits well above the site median of €8.37, with an excess of €500 on top. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.2 |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 8.9 |
Side by side, item by item
| Insurance types | Absa | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Yes | No |
| Home | Yes | No |
| Life | Yes | No |
| Health | Yes | Yes |
| Travel | Yes | No |
| Pet | Yes | No |
| Dental | No | Yes |
| Gadget | Yes | No |
What we checked
Absa
- absa.co.za: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Ottonova
- ottonova.de: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Absa | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | 39 of 216 | 23 of 216 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Absa | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Seniors | Expats |
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | Absa Bank Limited | ottonova Krankenversicherung AG (Amtsgericht München, HRB 227378) |
| Headquarters | South Africa | Germany |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Absa | Ottonova | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excess from | Not confirmed | €500highest quarter | €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.
Ottonova
Pros
- Health and dental cover in one place, listed under health and dental
- Monthly payments are available, with a monthly model
- Claims run through the app, chat, email, phone and post under app, chat and email
Cons
- The starting premium of €284 is far above the site median of €8.37
- An excess of €500 applies
- Support runs on email, chat and phone only, with no branch network listed
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.
Ottonova
Who it suits
- Expats living in Germany who need treatment covered outside their home market
- Employees covered through a company plan with a monthly payment model
- Anyone who wants dental alongside health cover under health and dental
Who should look elsewhere
- Price-led buyers, since €284 is well above €8.37
- People who prefer a branch or in-person service, as support is limited to email, chat and phone
- Those wanting free policies, unlike bonus.ch at CHF 0
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
Country by country
| Country | Absa | Ottonova |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
| South Africa | Yes | No |
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.
Ottonova
How much does Ottonova cost?+
Premiums start at €284 a month, with monthly payments available on a monthly basis. That starting figure sits above the site median of €8.37, so expect a higher bill than a typical comparison. The cover also carries an excess of €500.
Is Ottonova regulated?+
Ottonova is supervised in Germany by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin). It operates as an insurer rather than a broker, so it carries the risk on the policies it issues rather than placing it elsewhere.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Absa vs Principal
- Absa vs ARAG
- Absa vs Aviva
- Ottonova vs Cigna Global
- Ottonova vs APRIL International
- Ottonova vs die Bayerische
- Ottonova vs Aetna
- Absa vs MyPhysicianPlan
- Absa vs Polizza Vita con Bonus
- Absa vs HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AT
- Ottonova vs HanseMerkur
- Absa vs Linxea
- Absa vs andsafe
- Ottonova vs Getsafe