Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Budget Direct vs Square One Insurance
Where Budget Direct and Square One Insurance differ
| Compare |  Budget Direct |  Square One Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Premium from | A$76.45 | CA$15 |
| Insurance types | Auto, Home, Renters, Life, Travel, Pet, Motorcycle, Breakdown, Landlord, Income protectionCovers more | Home, Renters, Auto |
| Provider type | Insurer | Broker |
| Claims channels | Phone, Online | Online, Phone, AppCovers more |
| Excess from | A$100 | Not confirmed |
| Cover limit | AUD 12,000-25,000 per year (pet insurance annual benefit limit; Plus up to $25,000, Essential $12,000) | Not confirmed |
| Age range | Pet insurance: over 8 weeks old and under 9 years old at first policy | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Monthly payments (Yes).
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Key differences
- Budget Direct scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.9.
- Founded is lower at Budget Direct: 2000 vs 2011.
- Insurance types: only Budget Direct offers Life, Travel, Pet.
- Claims channels: only Square One Insurance offers App.
- Support channels: only Budget Direct offers Email.
Our verdict on each
Budget Direct
Budget Direct suits Australian households wanting one insurer across car, home, pet, travel and other cover, but its price is among the highest here. Premiums start at AUD 76.45 against a site median of €8.37, and the pet excess of AUD 100 adds to the bill.
Square One Insurance
Square One Insurance is a Canadian broker rather than an underwriter, which suits you if you want home, renters and auto cover placed on monthly payments. Premiums start at CAD 15, claims run through online, phone and app, and its overall score is 4.4.
Score breakdown
| Area | Budget Direct | Square One Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Premium starts at AUD 76.45, well above the €8.37 site median, so the cost case is weak. | 9.0HigherSquare One's starting premium of CAD 15 is above the site's median starting premium, €8.37. |
| Offer | 9.4Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.7 |
Which one suits you
Pick Budget Direct if offer, trust, and insurance types matter most.
Pick Square One Insurance if claims channels matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Budget Direct | Square One Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Car insurance | 100 of 375 | 226 of 375 |
| Home insurance | 86 of 273 | 207 of 273 |
| Renters and contents insurance | 30 of 78 | 62 of 78 |
What each covers
| Insurance types | Budget Direct | Square One Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Yes | Yes |
| Home | Yes | Yes |
| Renters | Yes | Yes |
| Life | Yes | No |
| Travel | Yes | No |
| Pet | Yes | No |
| Motorcycle | Yes | No |
| Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Landlord | Yes | No |
| Income protection | Yes | No |
What we checked
Budget Direct
- budgetdirect.com.au: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Square One Insurance
- squareone.ca: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Budget Direct | Square One Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Legal entity | Auto & General Services Pty Ltd | Square One Insurance Services |
| Headquarters | Australia | Canada |
| Founded | 2000Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Budget Direct | Square One Insurance | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excess from | A$100above the median | Not confirmed | A$0 |
Median across 7 listed insurance providers.
Pros and cons
Budget Direct
Pros
- One insurer covers auto, home and renters
- Monthly payments are available, so cash flow is easier to manage
- Support runs on phone, email and chat
Cons
- Premium of AUD 76.45 sits far above the €8.37 site median
- Claims run on phone and online, a narrower route than the phone, email and chat listed for general support
- Pet cover is capped at AUD 12,000-25,000 per year (pet insurance annual benefit limit; Plus up to $25,000, Essential $12,000) per year
Square One Insurance
Pros
- A single broker places home, renters and auto cover, so home, renters and auto policies come through one point of contact.
- Monthly payments are available and the payment model is monthly.
- Claims can be opened online, phone and app, so a loss is reported online, by phone or in the app.
Cons
- Square One's starting premium of CAD 15 is higher than the site's median starting premium, €8.37.
- Support runs on chat, phone and help centre, with no email route in that list.
- As a broker, broker, Square One does not carry the risk itself, so an underwriter sits behind the policy.
Who each suits
Budget Direct
Who it suits
- Australian households bundling car, home and pet policies
- Pet owners whose pet is within a minimum age and under a maximum age at first policy
- People who want monthly payments to spread the cost
Who should look elsewhere
- Cheap-first shoppers, since AUD 76.45 is well above the €8.37 site median
- People who want to claim by email or chat, as claims run on phone and online only
- Owners of older pets, outside the age range for a first policy
Square One Insurance
Who it suits
- Canadian homeowners and renters who want home, renters and auto arranged by a single broker rather than a wider agency such as Good Sam Insurance Agency.
- Households that want claims handled online, by phone or in the app, since claims run through online, phone and app.
- Buyers who like a published starting premium, CAD 15, alongside a long trading record, trading since 2011.
Who should look elsewhere
- Good Sam Insurance Agency, if you want life, health, travel, pet or motorcycle cover, since Square One lists home, renters and auto only.
- EuroAsia Insurance, listed from UZS 60,000, if you are weighing a far higher starting premium.
- bunq, listed at €0, if the lowest published starting figure matters more than home, renters and auto cover.
Current offers
Budget Direct
Current offer
Discount code
15% Online Discount on first year's premium (car, home, motorcycle, pet, travel): 15%
New policy purchased or quoted online, first year only, no renewal, for policies quoted on or after 20 August 2026
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Combined Discount on new combined Home and Contents policy: up to 15%
Home Building and Contents bought in a single transaction, first year only
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Standalone Roadside Assistance online discount: 15%
First year's membership on a new Standalone Roadside Assistance membership purchased or quoted online; not when added to a car insurance policy
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Life Insurance $100 eGift card: AUD 100
Eligible life policies with total annualised premium of at least $400 at issue, held 90 days with three months' premiums paid; promotion 8 July 2026 to 31 December 2026; one per customer
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Square One Insurance
Current offer
Discount code
Save up to 7.5% on car insurance when you also buy home insurance: up to 7.5% off car insurance
Bundle discount; start a home quote then complete a car quote; car insurance available in Ontario and Quebec
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Budget Direct | Square One Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Canada | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Budget Direct
What does Budget Direct cost as a starting premium?+
Premiums start at AUD 76.45. That is a high starting point, sitting well above the €8.37 median across the site. The pet policy also carries an excess starting at AUD 100, which adds to what a claim costs you.
Who is behind Budget Direct and is it regulated?+
The insurer is Auto & General Services Pty Ltd, an insurer based in Australia and trading since 2000. In Australia it is licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission under licence 360138.
Square One Insurance
What is the starting premium at Square One Insurance?+
Square One lists premiums from CAD 15, and monthly payments are available on its policies. The median starting premium across the site is €8.37, so Square One sits in the middle of the field on entry price rather than among the cheapest listings.
Is Square One an insurer or a broker?+
Square One is a broker, broker. That means it places your policy with an underwriter, so the cover sits with the insurer while the broker handles the sale. The Autorite des marches financiers registration is listed as 3002172755.