Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Absa vs Principal
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Absa |  Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance types | Auto, Home, Life, Health, Travel, Pet, Gadget | Dental, Life, Critical illness, Income protection |
| Cover limit | R6,000,000 | Dental annual maximum typically $1,000 to $2,000 per year |
| Claims channels | Phone, Email, Online portal, Self service app | Dentist files the claim on the member's behalf (preferred), Member submits their own claim, Online account or mobile app to view claims |
| Age range | 3 months to 89 years | Member, spouse and dependents to age 26 |
| Premium from | ZAR 115 | Not confirmed |
| Monthly payments | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Provider type (Insurer).
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
- Principal scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Insurance types: only Absa offers Auto, Home, Health.
- Insurance types: only Principal offers Dental, Critical illness, Income protection.
- Claims channels: only Absa offers Phone, Email, Online portal.
- Claims channels: only Principal offers Dentist files the claim on the member's behalf (preferred), Member submits their own claim, Online account or mobile app to view claims.
- Support channels: only Absa offers Community.
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.
Principal
Principal suits anyone whose cover comes through work and who wants dental cover alongside life, critical illness and income protection from the same insurer. It has traded as an insurer since 1879, claims can be filed by the dentist, and dental benefits cap at Dental annual maximum typically $1,000 to $2,000 per year.
Score breakdown
| Area | Absa | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.1 |
| Trust | 9.6 | 9.7Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Absa | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | National Credit Regulator NCRCP7 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Absa: 1. Additional countries for Principal: 1.
Side by side, item by item
| Insurance types | Absa | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Yes | No |
| Home | Yes | No |
| Life | Yes | Yes |
| Health | Yes | No |
| Travel | Yes | No |
| Pet | Yes | No |
| Dental | No | Yes |
| Critical illness | No | Yes |
| Income protection | No | Yes |
| Gadget | Yes | No |
Where these facts come from
Absa
- absa.co.za: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Principal
- principal.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- linkedin.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Absa | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Life insurance | 43 of 263 | 42 of 263 |
| Health insurance | 39 of 216 | 38 of 216 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Absa | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Seniors | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Monthly | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Absa Bank Limited | Principal Life Insurance Company |
| Headquarters | South Africa | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1879 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Phone, Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Absa | Principal | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium from | ZAR 115at the median | Not confirmed | ZAR 115 |
Median across 7 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.
Principal
Pros
- Cover spans dental, life and critical illness, so dental sits with life, critical illness and income protection under the same carrier.
- Dentists file on the member's behalf as the preferred route, listed in dentist files the claim on the member's behalf (preferred), member submits their own claim and online account or mobile app to view claims.
- Support runs on phone, email and help centre, so a phone line and a help centre back the plan.
Cons
- Cover is limited to Member, spouse and dependents to age 26, so it ends when a dependent leaves that band.
- Dental benefits stop at Dental annual maximum typically $1,000 to $2,000 per year, leaving heavy treatment years to the member's own pocket.
- Support runs on phone, email and help centre only, with no live chat or branch counter 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.
Principal
Who it suits
- Members on an employer benefits package who want dental cover alongside life, critical illness or income protection.
- Households happy to let the dentist file, the preferred route in dentist files the claim on the member's behalf (preferred), member submits their own claim and online account or mobile app to view claims.
- US employees and their families, since the insurer is based in the United States.
Who should look elsewhere
- Linxea, whose list is life, leaves a member who wants dental without a dental line.
- Oney, which lists health, life and gadget and adds gadget cover rather than employer benefits.
- Good Sam Insurance Agency, whose auto, home and renters spread suits someone bundling home, auto and pet cover.
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 | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
Principal
What kinds of cover does Principal write?+
Principal's listed lines are dental, life and critical illness. Dental is usually reached through a workplace benefits package, while life, critical illness and income protection sit alongside it under the same carrier. The type list shows quickly whether the whole package comes from the same provider.
How much does the dental plan pay out each year?+
The published dental annual maximum typically sits at Dental annual maximum typically $1,000 to $2,000 per year, so that cap is the figure to plan around. Budgeting for crowns, bridges or other restorative work means checking your share once the maximum is reached. The figure sits inside a typical range, so plans within the same group can differ.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Absa vs ARAG
- Absa vs Aviva
- Principal vs Guardian
- Principal vs Mutual of Omaha
- Principal vs Guardian1821
- Principal vs Barmenia
- Principal vs Nationale-Nederlanden life PL
- Principal vs Allianz Lebensversicherungs-AG
- Absa vs MyPhysicianPlan
- Absa vs Polizza Vita con Bonus
- Absa vs HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AT
- Absa vs Linxea
- Absa vs andsafe
- Principal vs ERGO Group Deutschland
- Principal vs Max Life Insurance
- Principal vs TIPINSURE
- Principal vs Acko
- Principal vs Getsafe
- Principal vs MoneyHero
- Principal vs Alior