Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Guardian1821 vs Principal
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Guardian1821 |  Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance types | Life, Critical illness, Income protection | Dental, Life, Critical illness, Income protectionCovers more |
| Cover limit | Income Protection: 65% of annual earnings up to GBP 60,000, 50% over 60,000 up to 100,000, 45% over 100,000 | Dental annual maximum typically $1,000 to $2,000 per year |
| Claims channels | Phone, Email | 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 | up to 70 | Member, spouse and dependents to age 26 |
Same on both: Provider type (Insurer).
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Key differences
- Principal scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Founded is lower at Guardian1821: 1821 vs 1879.
- Insurance types: only Principal offers Dental.
- Claims channels: only Guardian1821 offers Phone, Email.
- 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.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | Guardian1821 | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.1Higher |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.7 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Guardian1821 | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Guardian1821: 1. Additional countries for Principal: 1.
What each covers
| Insurance types | Guardian1821 | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Life | Yes | Yes |
| Dental | No | Yes |
| Critical illness | Yes | Yes |
| Income protection | Yes | Yes |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Guardian1821 | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Life insurance | 51 of 261 | 37 of 261 |
| Income protection insurance | 15 of 92 | 8 of 92 |
| Critical illness cover | 14 of 65 | 10 of 65 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Guardian1821 | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Guardian Financial Services Limited | Principal Life Insurance Company |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | United States |
| Founded | 1821Lower | 1879 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Help centre | Phone, Email, Help centre |
Pros and cons
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.
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
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.
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.
Country by country
| Country | Guardian1821 | Principal |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
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.