Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
Hiscox vs Simply Business
Where Hiscox and Simply Business differ
| Compare |  Hiscox |  Simply Business |
|---|---|---|
| Provider type | Insurer | Broker |
| Cover types | Public liability, Professional indemnity, Employers liability, CyberCovers more | Public liability, Professional indemnity, Employers liability |
| Premium from | £7.20 | £5.40Lower |
| Excess from | £250 | £100 to £2,500Lower |
| Industries | consultants, contractors, IT, freelancers, self-employed, tradesmen | 1,500 trades, small businesses and landlords |
| Indemnity limit | £10,000,000 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Monthly payments (Yes).
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Key differences
- Hiscox scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Hiscox: 1901 vs 2005.
- Premium from is lower at Simply Business: £5.40 vs £7.20.
- Excess from is lower at Simply Business: £100 to £2,500 vs £250.
- Cover types: only Hiscox offers Cyber.
- Support channels: only Simply Business offers Email.
Our verdict on each
Hiscox
Hiscox is the insurer on this comparison that carries risk on its own balance sheet, with an indemnity limit of £10,000,000 for consultants, contractors and the self-employed. It suits small consultancies and trades that want a deep limit on paper and can absorb a premium of £7.20 with an excess of £250.
Simply Business
Simply Business suits small trades, limited companies and landlords who want public liability, professional indemnity and employers liability in the same place, arranged by a broker rather than an insurer. Public liability cover is priced at £5.40, and monthly payments are available on the policy.
Score breakdown
| Area | Hiscox | Simply Business |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0A premium of £7.20 paired with an excess from £250 lifts what a small claim costs you. | 9.3HigherRanked 3 of 14 brands on starting premium, with the landlord excess at £100 to £2,500 and monthly payments available. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherLines listed in public liability, professional indemnity and employers liability, monthly payments on the monthly model, and claims through online and phone. | 9.2 |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 8.8 |
How they place
| Ranking | Hiscox | Simply Business |
|---|---|---|
| Business insurance | 57 of 147 | 86 of 147 |
| Professional indemnity and liability insurance | 20 of 39 | 29 of 39 |
| Public liability insurance | 23 of 52 | 36 of 52 |
Feature by feature
| Cover types | Hiscox | Simply Business |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability | Yes | Yes |
| Professional indemnity | Yes | Yes |
| Employers liability | Yes | Yes |
| Cyber | Yes | No |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Hiscox | Simply Business |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Hiscox Insurance Company Limited | Xbridge Limited |
| Headquarters | Bermuda | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1901Lower | 2005 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Personal insurance
| Fact | Hiscox | Simply Business |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance types | Auto | Landlord, Home emergency, Health |
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Cover limit | General liability: $300,000 to $2,000,000 limits | Property owners' liability up to GBP 5,000,000 |
| Claims channels | Online, Phone | Phone, Online, EmailCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Hiscox | Simply Business | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indemnity limit | £10,000,000highest quarter | Not confirmed | £5,000,000 |
| Premium from | £7.20at the median | £5.40below the median | £7.20 |
| Excess from | £250highest quarter | £100 to £2,500highest quarter | £50 |
Median across 13 listed insurance providers.
Pros and cons
Hiscox
Pros
- An indemnity limit of £10,000,000 ranks 1 of 11 brands on this comparison, so the cover on paper is deeper than most of the field.
- Hiscox is an insurer, so the risk stays with the company that writes the policy rather than with a broker such as WeddingPlan Insurance or a comparison site such as EverQuote.
- Monthly payments are available, and monthly is the payment model listed, so cash flow follows the month rather than the renewal date.
Cons
- The excess starts at £250, so a small claim leaves more of the bill with the business than a policy with a lower excess would.
- The entry premium of £7.20 sits above the median premium across the brands compared here, which is €8.37, so Hiscox is not the value pick at the starting price.
- The insurance type listed is auto alone, so a firm that wants motor cover in the same place has to look elsewhere for it.
Simply Business
Pros
- Monthly payments are available on the public liability policy, so cover can start without a large annual outlay.
- Public liability cover is priced at £5.40, a lower entry point than many of the brands compared here.
- Business cover is quoted together across public liability, professional indemnity and employers liability, saving separate shopping for each line.
Cons
- Cover is placed with an insurer rather than carried by Simply Business, which is a broker by broker; Hiscox UK and EuroAsia Insurance write the policy on their own account.
- The excess on the landlord policies is £100 to £2,500, and a high excess leaves more of a settled claim with you even where the starting premium is low.
- Business cover is limited to public liability, professional indemnity and employers liability, so a cyber or property policy has to be arranged elsewhere.
Who each suits
Hiscox
Who it suits
- Consultants, contractors, IT freelancers, the self-employed and tradesmen, the industries Hiscox names for its business cover.
- Small firms that want depth on paper, since the indemnity limit of £10,000,000 ranks 1 of 11 brands here.
- Businesses that would rather spread the cost, since monthly payments are available on the monthly model.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers shopping purely on entry price, because Hiscox UK quotes £5.20 against £7.20 for this brand.
- Firms that would rather have a broker place the cover, since WeddingPlan Insurance is a broker and handles the placement instead.
- People who want many insurers screened in a single search, since EverQuote is a comparison site rather than an underwriter.
Simply Business
Who it suits
- Trades and limited companies that want public liability, professional indemnity and employers liability quoted in one place.
- Landlords letting property, who can hold the landlord, home emergency and health cover listed under landlord, home emergency and health.
- Owners who would rather start a claim and ask a question by phone, online or email than by post, given phone, online and email and email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers after a single business line: WeddingPlan Insurance lists public liability only, a narrower range than public liability, professional indemnity and employers liability.
- Anyone who wants the policy written by the carrier itself: Hiscox UK is an insurer, where Simply Business sits on the broker side of the market through broker.
Current offers
Simply Business
Current offer
Bonus
25 GBP gift card for signing up for a purchase reminder: GBP 25 gift card
Need to use reminder link when buying; policy still in place three weeks after start date; redeem within 45 days
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Hiscox | Simply Business |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Hiscox
What does Hiscox business cover start at?+
Business cover is quoted from a premium of £7.20. The median premium across the brands compared here is €8.37, so the headline figure sits above the middle. Your own price will move with your trade, the limit you choose and the volume of work you handle.
What is the excess on a Hiscox claim?+
The excess starts at £250, which is the amount a claim leaves you to cover before the insurer steps in. A policy priced at £7.20 can still cost more than a dearer rival if the excess is set high, so read both figures together before you choose.
Simply Business
How much does public liability cover cost at Simply Business?+
Public liability cover starts at £5.40 for business customers, and that figure is an entry point for the trade and cover level entered rather than a quote for a specific business. Monthly payments are available on the policy, so the cost can be spread through the year instead of being paid up front.
Can I pay monthly or do I pay once a year?+
Monthly payments are available on the public liability policy, and the payment model is listed as monthly. That suits businesses whose income varies through the year, since the premium is paid in instalments rather than as a single annual charge.