3.5 NerdWallet rating Best for tech-savvy homeowners who want quick and easy coverage. Coverage options More than average Discounts Average set of discounts NAIC complaints More than expected 3.5 NerdWallet rating Best for tech-savvy homeowners who want quick and easy coverage. Coverage options More than average Discounts Average set of discounts NAIC complaints More than expectedLemonade
Lemonade
About Lemonade home insurance
3.5
NerdWallet rating
Lemonade homeowners insurance earned 3.5 out of 5 stars for overall performance. When it comes to home insurance, Lemonade works differently than other companies. To get a policy, you’ll interact with a chatbot named Maya rather than an agent. To file a claim, you’ll submit information and video through the company’s app — and you might get a payout within a few seconds.
Lemonade’s business model also diverges from the industry norm. The company takes a flat fee from each premium and uses the rest to pay claims and handle other expenses. It gives any leftover money to charitable organizations selected by policyholders — adding up to more than $2 million in donations in 2023.
Lemonade isn’t right for everyone. Its policies aren’t available in all states, and it draws more consumer complaints for its size than many other home insurers. But for homeowners who value efficient service and the chance to send their insurance dollars to worthy causes, Lemonade is worth considering.
» MORE: The best home insurance companies
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How we rate homeowners insurance companies
Our star ratings are based on consumer complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; financial strength grades from AM Best; coverage and discounts available; and the overall consumer experience. See our criteria for evaluating home insurance companies.
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Where Lemonade stands out
Claims processing. The company says it uses artificial intelligence to process about 40% of claims immediately. (Humans handle more complicated claims that AI can’t.)
Giveback program. This program directs part of your insurance premium to a charitable organization of your choice. Lemonade has donated more than $8 million since 2017.
Where Lemonade falls short
Consumer complaints. Although Lemonade has improved in this respect, the company still draws more complaints than expected for an insurer of its size.
Availability. Lemonade sells home insurance in fewer than half of U.S. states.
State availability
You can purchase Lemonade homeowners insurance in 22 states and Washington, D.C.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all homeowners in a given state.
Lemonade home insurance coverage
You can customize your homeowners policy with numerous add-ons, but below are the types of coverage that generally come standard:
Type of coverage | What it does |
---|---|
Dwelling | Pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home. |
Other structures | Covers damage to unattached structures such as sheds or fences. |
Personal property | Pays to repair or replace personal belongings such as furniture or clothing. |
Loss of use | Pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses if you have to live elsewhere while your home undergoes covered repairs. |
Personal liability | Covers legal expenses and damages if you're responsible for injuries to other people or their property. |
Medical payments | Covers injuries to guests in your home, regardless of fault. |
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
Lemonade homeowners policies cover personal belongings on a “replacement cost” basis: If your stuff is stolen or destroyed, the company will pay out enough for you to buy new replacements.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to add the following types of coverage onto a standard Lemonade policy:
Extra coverage for valuable items such as jewelry, fine art and high-end cameras.
Water backup coverage for damage caused by a drain or sewer backing up.
Foundation water damage coverage in case water seeps into your foundation and causes leaks.
Extended reconstruction cost in case the amount it costs to rebuild your home after a disaster ends up being higher than your dwelling limit.
Swimming pool liability to pay for lawsuits if someone is injured in your pool.
Equipment breakdown coverage to pay for appliances that have mechanical failures.
Buried utility coverage to cover damage to service lines such as power, water or sewage lines on your property.
In some states, Lemonade may also include coverage for issues like sinkholes, mine subsidence or leaky fuel tanks.
Discounts
You can save on your Lemonade homeowners policy by:
Buying another product from Lemonade, such as pet or life insurance.
Paying your bill annually instead of in more frequent installments.
Having deadbolt locks, burglar alarms or other protective devices in your home.
» MORE: 9 ways to lower your homeowners insurance cost
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Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.
Consumer complaints
Lemonade received more than the expected number of home insurance complaints to state regulators relative to its size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (NAIC home insurance complaints also cover other types of home policies, including mobile home, renters and condo insurance.)
Consumer experience
Website: Lemonade’s website is cleanly designed and easy to use, with a lengthy FAQ section offering information in jargon-free language. You can get a quick quote from the homepage.
App: You can use the highly rated Lemonade app to view policy details, update your coverage, file claims, get quotes and buy a policy.
Claims: Lemonade directs you to its app to submit claims, though you can also file by phone at 844-733-8666. On the app, you’ll interact with a chatbot and upload a video of yourself describing the incident. Depending on the circ*mstances, Lemonade may pay out your claim immediately. Payouts are deposited directly into your bank account.
Customer service: You can get help via chatbot on Lemonade’s website or app, send an email via an online form or call 844-733-8666.
» MORE: How to file a home insurance claim
Lemonade vs. Geico home insurance
The primary difference between Lemonade and Geico home insurance is that Lemonade sells its own policies, while Geico homeowners policies come from third parties.
Geico works with companies like Travelers, Liberty Mutual and Homesite to provide home insurance, so if you need to file a claim, you’ll have to contact the other company directly. Meanwhile, Lemonade has a quick, straightforward claim process that you can carry out in the app.
If you’re looking to bundle home and car insurance, it’s easier with Geico, which sells auto insurance nationwide. Lemonade’s car insurance policies are available in only a handful of states.
Read our Geico home insurance review to learn more.
Current Product
NerdWallet rating 3.5/5 | NerdWallet rating 4.0/5 | NerdWallet rating 4.5/5 |
Complaints to NAIC More than expected | Complaints to NAIC Fewer than expected | Complaints to NAIC Fewer than expected |
Coverage More than average | Coverage About average | Coverage About average |
Discounts Average set of discounts | Discounts Average set of discounts | Discounts Average set of discounts |
Bottom line Best for tech-savvy homeowners who want quick and easy coverage. | Bottom line Homeowners insurance that’s easy to buy online. | Bottom line Lots of coverage options, decent discounts and a strong online experience. |
Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes | Compare Quotes |
The bottom line
Lemonade’s digital-first experience prioritizes ease and convenience, letting homeowners handle nearly every aspect of their policy through the website or app. If that’s appealing to you, Lemonade will likely be a good fit.
But if you’d rather discuss coverage options with a local agent and build a relationship with them, you’ll be better off with a different insurer.
» MORE: Lemonade pet insurance review
Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
Amica.
Homesite.
Openly.
Travelers.
Frequently asked questions
What other types of insurance does Lemonade offer?
Lemonade also sells renters, condo/co-op, pet, life and car insurance. To learn more, see our Lemonade renters insurance review.
Does Lemonade cover belongings in a storage unit?
Yes, but the amount depends on where you live. In New York, California and Connecticut, your belongings in a storage locker are covered up to 10% of your personal property limit. In other states, you may have only $1,000 of coverage for theft.
Does Lemonade home insurance have dog breed restrictions?
Yes, depending on where you live. In most states, Lemonade won’t provide liability coverage for claims involving any of the following breeds: pit bulls, Staffordshire terriers, Doberman pinschers, Rottweilers, German shepherds, chows, Great Danes, Presa Canarios, Akitas, Alaskan malamutes, Siberian huskies and wolf hybrids.
But if you live in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania or Virginia, breed restrictions don’t apply. Instead, Lemonade will exclude dog bite liability only if your pet has a history of biting. Learn more about dog liability insurance.
Homeowners insurance star ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts and online experience. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our full ratings methodology for home insurance.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2020-2022. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsem*nt of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.