Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Acko vs Principal
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Acko |  Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance types | Auto, Motorcycle, Health, Life, Travel, Critical illness | Dental, Life, Critical illness, Income protection |
| Cover limit | INR 25 lakh to INR 100 crore (term life) | Dental annual maximum typically $1,000 to $2,000 per year |
| Claims channels | Online app and website, Cashless at network garages | 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 | 18 years and above | Member, spouse and dependents to age 26 |
| Premium from | ₹457 | Not confirmed |
| Monthly payments | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Provider type (Insurer).
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Key differences
- Principal scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Principal: 1879 vs 2016.
- Insurance types: only Acko offers Auto, Motorcycle, Health.
- Insurance types: only Principal offers Dental, Income protection.
- Claims channels: only Acko offers Online app and website, Cashless at network garages.
- 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 Acko offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
Acko
Acko suits Indian adults who want one regulated insurer for motor, health, life, travel and critical illness cover with monthly payments. It ranks 81 of 252 brands on starting premium, so the entry price is the trade-off to weigh against the breadth of cover.
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 | Acko | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Monthly payments are available, and the two-wheeler entry point of INR 457 sits above the site median of €8.37. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.3Higher | 9.1 |
| Trust | 8.9 | 9.7Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Acko | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Life insurance | 13 of 261 | 37 of 261 |
| Health insurance | 17 of 215 | 37 of 215 |
| Critical illness cover | 3 of 65 | 10 of 65 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Acko | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| India | IRDAI 157 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Acko: 1. Additional countries for Principal: 1.
What we checked
Acko
- acko.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Principal
- principal.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- linkedin.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Acko | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Seniors | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Monthly | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Acko Technology and Services Limited (CIN U74110KA2016PLC120161) | Principal Life Insurance Company |
| Headquarters | India | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | 1879Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Email, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Acko | Principal | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium from | ₹457below the median | Not confirmed | ₹519 |
Median across 7 listed insurance providers.
Pros and cons
Acko
Pros
- Monthly payments are available, so premiums can be spread across the year rather than paid up front.
- It is an insurer rather than a broker, so cover sits with the company that sets the terms and pays the claim.
- Cover lines run to INR 25 lakh to INR 100 crore (term life) on term life, alongside motor, health and travel under auto, motorcycle and health.
Cons
- The two-wheeler starting premium of INR 457 ranks 81 of 252 brands, so cheaper entry points exist elsewhere.
- Term life cover is listed as INR 25 lakh to INR 100 crore (term life), which leaves smaller sums on offer alongside the top figure.
- Cover is limited to the lines under auto, motorcycle and health, with home and renters cover not listed.
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
Acko
Who it suits
- Indian adults at or above the entry age of 18 years and above who ride a two-wheeler and want monthly premiums
- People who want a single regulated insurer for motor and life cover rather than separate providers
- Older riders and drivers, since the audience named is seniors
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting home or renters cover, since auto, motorcycle and health does not list either, where Good Sam Insurance Agency is an alternative
- Readers who want a branch to visit, as contact runs on chat, phone and email
- Buyers set on the lowest entry premium, since INR 457 ranks 81 on this measure
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
Acko
Current offer
Discount code
Save as much as INR 80,000 on top-selling cars: up to INR 80,000
New car purchase through ACKO digital showroom (ACKO Drive); savings shown against listed price, T&Cs apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Acko | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| India | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Acko
What does Acko charge to start?+
The published figure is a two-wheeler premium starting at INR 457. That sits above the site median of €8.37, and Acko ranks 81 of 252 brands on this measure, so cheaper entry points exist elsewhere. Other lines are priced individually once a policy is set up.
Can I pay monthly instead of once a year?+
Yes. Monthly payments are available, and monthly lists monthly as the payment model. That spreads the premium across the year and keeps the cost alongside other monthly bills rather than in one payment, which suits households that budget month by month.
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.
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