Comparing rates is something everyone does when they’re shopping around for insurance. Clients and businesses alike can use rate comparing knowledge to make sure they’re receiving and giving the best possible deals.
Tools like PL Rating can help both groups determine which rates they should be pursuing. However, with all the many varied insurance quoting tools available on the market today, it may be wise to not only compare rates but to compare the way you measure those rates in the first place.
What is PL Rating?
PL Rating is an independent insurance comparative rating solution. With it, agencies are able to offer clients real-time quotes from multiple competitive personal lines. It features more than 300 carriers and 10,000 agents to enable them to close more deals in less time. It’s a system that encourages connections between agencies and insurers, allowing insurers to increase their revenue through easy business/agent partner transactions.
Pros:
- Clients can easily view side-by-side comparisons of rates from many different insurers to guarantee they’re getting the most competitive deal.
- The provided quote rating system is easy to use and doesn’t require users to answer mountains of personal questions before they can submit a quote.
Cons:
- PL Rater’s system can be quite glitchy, forcing users out of the system multiple times per session and frequently lag or time out.
- PL Rater is quite an expensive service, especially when compared to other companies like IBO or Turbo Rater.
- Users cannot have multiple sessions at a time across the system. Instead, only one person can use a login at a time.
- All quotes provided are only estimates that don’t include accounting for reports or premiums that may be included in the charge.
In light of all of these many different pros and cons, let’s take a look at other insurance rating companies to see how PL Rater compares.
PL Rating alternatives
There are many alternative insurance rating solutions to PL Rating, including EZLynx, i2go, and Velocity.
1. “Rater” By Better Agency
Better Agency created their own comparative rater that allows agents to compare personal lines quotes for auto, home, renters, and dwelling fire. The intuitive design makes quoting simple and you can trigger automations between Better Agency CRM and Better Agency AMS.
Key Features
- Single CRM/AMS/Rater Platform
- Mobile Access
- Customizable Video Proposals
- Simple Pricing
- Zapier Integration
- Built-In Marketing Automation
Pros
- It supports most common personal lines carriers and has a solid integration with each of them.
- Trigger marketing automation and follow up communication from within your CRM.
Cons
- Carrier access is limited compared to other comparative raters
- There is no integration with LexisNexus
Pricing: “Rater” By Better Agency is a flat base annual price that includes one user and a per user cost. You can see pricing options here
2. EZLynx
EZLynx is an agency management and comparative rating form of insurance software. It allows users to store Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD) forms, submit various insurance quotes, and generate pre-filled cost valuations through the use of a centralized insurance rating platform.
Key Features
- API
- Billing and Invoicing Services
- Customizable Reports
- Data Import and Export Features
- Document Management
- Mobile Access
- Reporting and Analytics features
- Third-Party Integrations
Pros
- It supports most carriers on the market today and has solid integration with each of them.
- Rate, client, and document tracking features exceed those offered by other rating servers.
Cons
- Customer support with data or system errors is not prompt. Often, customers will need to leave messages and wait to be contacted about their issues.
- Insurance carrier questions are not organized appropriately and need to be set up for ease of reference.
Pricing: EZLynx is structured on a subscription payment plan with rates starting as low as $0.01 per month and the option to explore a free trial.
3. i2go
I2go connects insurers, brokers, and consumers through their unique insurance software program. It is a system specifically designed for insurers and online businesses to manage insurance-related tasks like rate finding.
Key Features
- API
- Billing and Invoicing Services
- Customer Database
- Document Management
- Electronic Payment Integration
- Invoice Management
- Reporting and Analytics Services
- Third-Party Integrations
Pros
- I2go has a high customer satisfaction rating with clients from all over lauding the system for its value for money, usability, features, and customer support services.
- It offers a scalable, configurable system that can cater to an individual business’s needs.
Cons
- Technical issues like small bugs or glitches have been noticed but are being fixed in regular updates.
- Email templates and date formats on documents are not editable.
Pricing: The i2go pricing model is free and has no upfront costs. They do require a few fixed transaction fees.
4. Velocity
Velocity is an insurance rating and solution system from VRC Insurance Systems. It helps users control daily workflows and provides them with an all-in-one insurance software solution.
Key Features
- Activity Dashboard
- Billing and Invoice Services
- Document Management
- Quoting and Estimating Tools
Pros
- It maintains solid account and database functionality across its systems.
- It provides businesses with room to scale over time.
Cons
- Velocity has a limited range of included features when compared with other systems on the market.
- It lacks a comprehensive flow between screens.
Pricing: Velocity lists its pricing model as a one-tie license, but prices may vary from business to business.
5. Applied Rater
Applied Rater allows users to get quotes for everything – from auto insurance to homeowners insurance and beyond. It allows individual agents to save most of their quoting time to focus on better helping their clients.
Key Features
- Automated Quoting
- Broker and Agent Portals
- Contact Management
- Comparative Insurance Rating
- Customer Portals
- Multi-State Usability
- Pricing Management
Pros
- The system is easy to use, and it doesn’t take long to understand how to operate the various features.
- Rate comparing tools are comprehensive and save agents up to 85% of the time they would have spent comparing rates.
Cons
- Real-time quoting is unavailable with most of the provided carriers
- Updates to the system have a history of hindering its functionality with agent computers.
Pricing: Pricing for this software can depend on the insurance agency, but there is a free trial available.
6. TurboRater
TurboRater combines several personal line carriers into a single, easy-to-use comparative rating system equipped with agency insights and management systems.
Key Features
- Broker and Agent Portals
- Carrier Uploads
- Comparative Rating Tools
- Customer Portals
- Multi-State Availability
- Multiple Line Rating
Pros
- It’s a convenient, reliable system that is compatible with most insurance carriers.
- Provides users with methods to save data for use across CRM systems.
Cons
- Updates are slow to be implemented.
- The system is more expensive than many of its competitors.
Pricing: Pricing for TurboRater is dependant upon individual users. Typically, it runs around $70.00 per month with no option for a free trial.
7. QQ WebRater
QQ WebRater is a web-based insurance rate comparison tool that provides users with many convenient plug-ins, tools, and features without the need for lengthy installations or updates.
Key Features
- Web-based Platform
- Broker and Agent Portals
- Carrier Upload
- Commercial Lines
- Comparative Insurance Rating Tools
- Customer Portals
Pros
- Of all the comparative rating tools on the market, QQ Webrater offers agents one of the best deals for their money.
- Its web-based design allows for ease of accessibility across states, with a limited need for technical support.
Cons
- QQ Webrater has a smaller pool of insurance providers they draw from when comparing rates, so options are more limited.
- Quotes provided may not be accurate, and rates may change between the site and the carrier’s site.
Pricing: Pricing starts at $38 per month per user.
8. raterSpot
raterSpot is another insurance rating system that lets agents and users compare rates across multiple markets to find the best deals. It’s targeted toward helping independent insurance agents.
Key Features
- Cloud Functionality
- Web-Based
- SaaS
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Multi-State Services
- Multi-Line Rating
- Broker and Agent Portals
- Comparative Insurance Ratings
Pros
- The system is easy to learn and use in day-to-day functions.
- raterSpot can integrate with most current tech systems across the insurance market
Cons
- Customer engagement with the system is much lower than other rating tools’ engagement.
Pricing: Typically, raterSpot’s pricing starts at $99 per user per month with no free trial.
Key takeaways
There are many insurance rate comparing alternatives to PL Rater on the market today. Each of them offers unique features and systems that can benefit different businesses and customers in different ways. Make sure you take the time to carefully consider the differences between them so you can make the best decision for your business.
