Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Barmenia vs Guardian1821
Barmenia vs Guardian1821: the differences
| Compare |  Barmenia |  Guardian1821 |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance types | Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Health, Travel, Pet, Motorcycle, Dental, Critical illness, Income protection, Home emergencyCovers more | Life, Critical illness, Income protection |
| Cover limit | Unlimited annual maximum benefit (pet surgery cover) | Income Protection: 65% of annual earnings up to GBP 60,000, 50% over 60,000 up to 100,000, 45% over 100,000 |
| Claims channels | Online claims form, Phone, Email, Customer portalCovers more | Phone, Email |
| Age range | Any age (dog surgery cover) | up to 70 |
| Premium from | €2.40 | Not confirmed |
| Monthly payments | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Excess from | €250 | 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
- Founded is lower at Guardian1821: 1821 vs 1904.
- Insurance types: only Barmenia offers Auto, Home, Renters.
- Claims channels: only Barmenia offers Online claims form, Customer portal.
Our verdict on each
Barmenia
Barmenia is a direct insurer founded in 1904, and it suits people who want motor, home, health and pet cover held on a single monthly policy rather than split across separate insurers. Claims can start by online claims form, phone and email, and pet surgery cover is open to Any age (dog surgery cover).
Guardian1821
Guardian1821 is the insurer to shortlist if you want life, critical illness and income protection under one roof, with monthly premiums and cover open to ages up to 70. Premiums are quoted per policy rather than a flat brand rate, so the monthly figure on your own quote is the number that matters.
Score breakdown
| Area | Barmenia | Guardian1821 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Premium starts at €2.40 against a site median of €8.37, ranking 55 of 252. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.7 | 9.8Higher |
Feature by feature
| Insurance types | Barmenia | Guardian1821 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Yes | No |
| Home | Yes | No |
| Renters | Yes | No |
| Life | Yes | Yes |
| Health | Yes | No |
| Travel | Yes | No |
| Pet | Yes | No |
| Motorcycle | Yes | No |
| Dental | Yes | No |
| Critical illness | Yes | Yes |
| Income protection | Yes | Yes |
| Home emergency | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Barmenia | Guardian1821 |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Barmenia: 1. Additional countries for Guardian1821: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Barmenia | Guardian1821 |
|---|---|---|
| Life insurance | 45 of 261 | 51 of 261 |
| Income protection insurance | 12 of 92 | 15 of 92 |
| Critical illness cover | 12 of 65 | 14 of 65 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Barmenia | Guardian1821 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | Barmenia Versicherungen a. G. | Guardian Financial Services Limited |
| Headquarters | Germany | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1904 | 1821Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Help centre | Phone, Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Barmenia | Guardian1821 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium from | €2.40lowest quarter | Not confirmed | €5.97 |
| Excess from | €250highest quarter | Not confirmed | €70 |
Median across 109 listed insurance providers.
Pros and cons
Barmenia
Pros
- A single insurer holds auto, home and renters plus home emergency cover, so several personal lines sit with one provider.
- Monthly payments are available and monthly is the listed payment model, which spreads the cost across the year.
- Claims can be started by online claims form, phone and email, so a customer portal sits alongside phone and email.
Cons
- The pet surgery excess starts at €250, so part of a claim bill still comes out of the household's pocket.
- Gadget, landlord and breakdown cover are not among its insurance types (auto, home and renters), so those risks sit with another provider.
- General queries run on phone, email and help centre, and live chat is not among them.
Guardian1821
Pros
- A single insurer covers life, critical illness and income protection, so several kinds of protection can sit with the same company.
- Policies run on monthly premiums, and support runs on phone, email and help centre.
- Trading since 1821 in the United Kingdom, with authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority under reference 110002.
Cons
- Support and claims run on phone, email and help centre only, with no live chat listed.
- The income protection payout is a share of annual earnings that steps down as earnings rise, so the cover limit is smallest for higher earners.
Who each suits
Barmenia
Who it suits
- Households wanting motor, home, health and pet cover arranged by a single direct insurer.
- Owners of older dogs, since Any age (dog surgery cover) applies to the surgery cover.
- People who prefer monthly payments over settling a premium in one go.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers after a narrow line rather than a bundle: Good Sam Insurance Agency lists auto, home and renters and leaves out dental, critical illness and income protection.
- Anyone quoting in a different market: Euroasia Insurance starts at UZS 60,000, priced in another currency from Barmenia's home market of DE.
- Customers wanting a mobile banking account instead of general insurance: bunq quotes €0 for an account, not for auto, home and renters cover.
Guardian1821
Who it suits
- People in GB who want life, critical illness and income protection from one regulated insurer.
- Buyers comfortable paying monthly premiums and starting claims on phone and email.
- People who want to begin cover later in life, since entry runs to ages up to 70.
Who should look elsewhere
- Linxea, if you only want life cover: its range is life, with no critical illness or income protection alongside it.
- Oney Préstamos ES, if you want health and gadget cover too, since its types are health, life and gadget.
- Good Sam Insurance Agency, if you want home, auto and pet lines in the same place, which sit outside life, critical illness and income protection.
Country by country
| Country | Barmenia | Guardian1821 |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Barmenia
How much does cover cost?+
The starting premium is €2.40, which sits below the €8.37 median across the site and places Barmenia at 55 of 252 on that measure. Pet surgery cover also carries an excess starting at €250.
Is there an excess to pay on pet cover?+
On pet surgery cover the excess starts at €250, so at least that much comes off a claim before the balance is paid. Owners with frequent small veterinary bills will feel that contribution more than those making a single large claim.
Guardian1821
How much do Guardian1821 policies cost?+
Guardian1821 sets the price per quote rather than publishing a single starting premium, and policies run on monthly premiums, so the figure you budget for is the monthly one on your own quote. For context, the medians listed on AssureCue are €7.95 for life insurance, €7 for income protection and €8.40 for critical illness cover.
Who regulates Guardian1821, and is the money protected?+
Guardian1821 is authorised in GB by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority under reference 110002. The policies are written by Guardian Financial Services Limited, and the brand is an insurer, so cover is underwritten by the company you apply to rather than arranged for you by a separate intermediary.