01Recommended
Allianz Life
Indexed growth strategies
- Fixed index annuities
- Registered index-linked annuities
17 Best Annuity Companies of 2026
Allianz Life leads for indexed growth, New York Life for guaranteed lifetime income, and Athene for fixed annuity rates. Decide whether you need guaranteed income, market-linked growth or a low-cost fixed contract, then compare AM Best ratings, surrender schedules and payout illustrations before you buy.
Fact-checkedOur top 3 picks
Independent picks from our 2026 ranking. No paid placements.
02Best for Lifetime income stability
New York Life
Lifetime income stability
- Fixed, indexed and income annuities
- Dividend-paying income options
03Best for Fixed annuity rates
Athene
Fixed annuity rates
- Fixed and fixed-term annuities
- Fixed index annuities
Advertiser disclosure RaveReviews may earn a commission from links on this page. That never influences our scores or rankings. How we make money.
The RaveReviews AlgorithmSources, weights and method
How the score works
We collect published rankings in this category, normalize each placement to a 0–100 scale, weight the sources by category fit and recency, and average only the lists where a provider appears. The result is divided by 10 and rounded to one decimal.
- 01Collect the source rankings.
- 02Normalize every position.
- 03Weight the sources.
- 04Calculate the RaveReviews Algorithm score.
Sources used
Last reviewed 2026-11-02. 5 sources contributed to this ranking.
The ranking at a glanceScores, chart and shortlist shape
Score curve
How the top 10 scores fall from first to tenth.
#1#5#10
Top scores
The first five, scored out of 10.
What you need to know before you choose.
Compare 17 annuity providers by financial strength, product type, minimums and payout features to find the right fit for guaranteed income or market-linked growth.
Annuities are not FDIC insured, so check the carrier's AM Best rating and the full surrender schedule before signing. Ask for a personalized payout illustration that shows guaranteed income, fees and what happens if you need to withdraw early. Confirm the product is available in your state and that you understand how the income base is credited.
What the research says.
This shortlist is built from published rankings, not a single editor's opinion. Here is the evidence behind the score.
17options reviewed
4.3average score
9.1top score
5authority sources
The future depends on what you do today.
Authority sources
Read the published rankings behind this list.
Forbes Advisor — Best Annuity Companies Of 2026
CNBC Select — Best Annuity Companies of 2026
Annuity.org — Best Annuity Companies of 2026
Key insights
17options reviewed
Compared on value, features, ease, support and reputation.
5weighted ranking factors
The same published model across every category.
0paid placements
Compensation never changes a score or a rank.
Life & Retirement options ranked
17 options, scored on value, features, ease of use, support and reputation.
Allianz Life
RecommendedBest overall- Fixed index annuities
- Registered index-linked annuities
- Built-in income riders on some contracts
New York Life
Best for Lifetime income stability- Fixed, indexed and income annuities
- Dividend-paying income options
- Nationwide availability
Athene
Best for Fixed annuity rates- Fixed and fixed-term annuities
- Fixed index annuities
- Immediate and joint-and-survivor options
Pacific Life
Best for Customizable riders- Immediate and deferred annuities
- Fixed index and RILA contracts
- Inflation and income riders
MassMutual
Best for Conservative, safety-first buyers- Fixed, variable, indexed and income annuities
- RetireEase immediate annuity
- Dividend-paying whole life and annuity lines
Western & Southern
Best for Inflation protection- Immediate annuities via Integrity Life
- Inflation step-ups
- Partial cash-out feature
Lincoln Financial
Best for Product breadth- Fixed, indexed and variable annuities
- Immediate and deferred income
- Six income payout structures
Corebridge Financial
Best for Deferred income- Fixed, indexed and variable annuities
- Deferred income annuities
- Optional income riders
Nationwide
Best for Death benefits and variety- Fixed, indexed and variable annuities
- Immediate income options
- Enhanced death benefit riders
Prudential
Best for Scale and buffered products- Variable and indexed annuities
- Immediate income annuities
- Buffered and structured products
Fidelity Investments
Best for Convenience- Fixed and variable annuities
- Immediate and deferred income
- Brokerage integration
Gainbridge
Best for Low minimums- Fixed deferred annuities
- Flexible premiums
- Online account management
Securian Financial
Best for Long-term care needs- Fixed and deferred annuities
- Index and income annuities
- MyPath Journey lifetime income
Global Atlantic
Best for Competitive MYGA rates- Multi-year guaranteed annuities
- Fixed index annuities
- Institutional backing
Delaware Life
Best for Aggressive MYGA rates- Multi-year guaranteed annuities
- Fixed annuities
- Rate-specialist model
TIAA
Best for Teachers and nonprofit staff- Fixed and variable annuities
- TIAA Traditional guaranteed account
- Real-estate-linked option
Mutual of Omaha
Best for Brand comfort with liquidity- Immediate annuities
- Income Access liquidity
- Senior-market brand
Allianz is one of the largest sellers of fixed index annuities and holds an A+ AM Best rating backed by a $2.65 trillion parent company.
9.1RaveReviews Algorithm
Compare the top options
The details that matter most, in one view.
| Offer | Allianz Life | New York Life | Athene | Pacific Life | MassMutual | Western & Southern | Lincoln Financial | Corebridge Financial | Nationwide | Prudential | Fidelity Investments | Gainbridge | Securian Financial | Global Atlantic | Delaware Life | TIAA | Mutual of Omaha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RaveReviews Algorithm | 9.1 | 8.4 | 6.9 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 5.6 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Best for | Indexed growth strategies | Lifetime income stability | Fixed annuity rates | Customizable riders | Conservative, safety-first buyers | Inflation protection | Product breadth | Deferred income | Death benefits and variety | Scale and buffered products | Convenience | Low minimums | Long-term care needs | Competitive MYGA rates | Aggressive MYGA rates | Teachers and nonprofit staff | Brand comfort with liquidity |
| Price | From $5,000 | From $5,000 | From $5,000 | From $10,000 | From $5,000 | From $10,000 | From $10,000 | From $4,000 | From $10,000 | From $10,000 | From $5,000 | From $100 | From $10,000 | Varies | Varies | From $2,500 | From $10,000 |
| Highlight | Fixed index annuities | Fixed, indexed and income annuities | Fixed and fixed-term annuities | Immediate and deferred annuities | Fixed, variable, indexed and income annuities | Immediate annuities via Integrity Life | Fixed, indexed and variable annuities | Fixed, indexed and variable annuities | Fixed, indexed and variable annuities | Variable and indexed annuities | Fixed and variable annuities | Fixed deferred annuities | Fixed and deferred annuities | Multi-year guaranteed annuities | Multi-year guaranteed annuities | Fixed and variable annuities | Immediate annuities |
The questions buyers actually ask
Clear answers to the decisions that come after the shortlist.
What is the best choice in annuity companies?
If you want the short answer, start with Allianz Life. It earned a 9.1 out of 10 in our 2026 ranking, and it is the option we would shortlist first for indexed growth strategies. That does not mean it is the right choice for every reader. It means it is the most defensible place to begin.
The ranking is a shortlist, not a finish line. The right option depends on the job you need done, the total cost after fees and the support you will actually use. New York Life is the stronger fit for lifetime income stability. Athene is worth a close look for fixed annuity rates. Start with the top pick, then compare the runner-up on the details that change your decision.
Most buyers do not need the longest feature list. They need a clear answer to a smaller question. What will this cost over a year? What happens when something goes wrong? Can I leave without a penalty? Those questions separate a good shortlist from a good decision.
How did we rank annuity companies?
We used the same five-factor model across this category. Features at 30%, price at 25%, ease of use at 20%, support at 15%, reputation at 10%. The weights are published because a score without a method is just a vibe with a decimal point.
The process starts with the evidence a buyer can actually check. We review provider materials, published pricing, contract terms and the support model. Then we compare the details that tend to cause regret later. A low headline price does not count for much if the service fee, cancellation term or coverage limit undoes it.
We also separate popularity from quality. A brand can be everywhere and still be a poor fit for your situation. The ranking rewards fit, not advertising spend. That is why the top pick may not be the most famous name on the page.
What should you look for in annuity companies?
Start with the features that affect your actual use case. For Allianz Life, the relevant details include fixed index annuities, registered index-linked annuities, built-in income riders on some contracts. Those are not decoration. They are the parts of the product that determine whether it works on a normal Tuesday, not just on the day you sign up.
Then look at the terms. Price is easy to compare. Contract length, service fees, cancellation rules, support hours and eligibility are harder. They are also where most of the real cost hides. Ask for the total annual cost, not the monthly teaser. Ask what happens if you need to cancel, move or change the plan.
Finally, check the track record. A provider that answers a sales call quickly may be slow when you need help. Read recent reviews, look for patterns and ask how disputes are handled. The best time to learn how a company behaves is before you depend on it.
How much do annuity companies cost?
Allianz Life starts at From $5,000 $5,000–$20,000 minimums. New York Life starts at From $5,000 $5,000–$50,000 minimums. Athene starts at From $5,000 $5,000 minimum for fixed annuities. Those prices are a starting point, not a full budget. The final number depends on the plan, the contract, the add-ons and where you live.
Here is the part most shoppers miss. The cheapest monthly price is often the most expensive decision. A low rate with a long contract, a large service fee or a narrow coverage set can cost more than a higher headline price with clean terms. Compare the total cost over the period you expect to use the product.
Set a budget before you compare. Then decide which features are worth paying for. If you cannot explain why an upgrade matters to your actual use, it is probably not an upgrade. It is a sales feature.
Which option is best for indexed growth strategies?
Allianz Life is the pick here because allianz is one of the largest sellers of fixed index annuities and holds an a+ am best rating backed by a $2.65 trillion parent company.. It is not the cheapest option in the category, and it is not trying to be. It is the option that makes the fewest compromises where the decision matters most.
That recommendation comes with a condition. If your priority is different, the ranking should change. A reader who needs the lowest possible upfront cost should look at the value pick. A reader who needs hands-on support should pay attention to service quality. The best answer is always relative to the job.
Use the top pick as a benchmark. Compare every other option against it on price, terms and the one feature you cannot do without. If another option wins on those three points, it deserves a closer look.
Which option is best for lifetime income stability?
New York Life is the alternative we would hand to most readers who do not fit the top pick. It scored 8.4 out of 10 and is best for lifetime income stability. The gap between first and second is usually smaller than the marketing suggests.
A runner-up is not a consolation prize. It is often the better answer for a specific reader. Maybe the price is cleaner. Maybe the support model fits the way you work. Maybe the contract is shorter. Those details matter more than a tenth of a point in a score.
Read the review, check the current terms and compare the total cost. If the second option wins on the details that affect you, choose it without hesitation. The ranking is an input, not an instruction.
How should you compare the top options?
Put the top three in a simple table. One column for the total annual cost. One for the contract term. One for the feature you cannot do without. Then add a column for the support you expect to use. That table will tell you more than another hour of browsing.
Do not compare the marketing labels. Compare the mechanics. What happens when you need help? What does it cost to leave? What is included at the price you will actually pay after the introductory period? Those questions expose the real difference between options that look similar on a sales page.
Then ask a blunt question. If the top pick disappeared tomorrow, which option would you choose? Your answer is the real runner-up. If you cannot answer, you do not have a shortlist yet. You have a list of tabs.
What is the biggest mistake buyers make?
The biggest mistake is shopping by headline price alone. It feels rational. It is easy to compare. It is also incomplete. A lower monthly number can hide a longer contract, a higher service fee, a narrower set of features or a support model that will frustrate you later.
The second mistake is buying for the person you wish you were. You do not need the enterprise plan if you run a small team. You do not need every add-on if you will use two of them. You need the option that fits the life you actually have, not the one in the sales demo.
The third mistake is waiting for perfect information. You will never have it. Set your must-haves, compare the total cost and choose the option that makes the next year easier. Then move on. A good decision made on time beats a perfect decision made too late.
What should you verify before you buy?
Verify the total cost, not the promotional price. Ask for the monthly cost after any introductory period ends. Ask about setup fees, service fees, cancellation fees and anything that changes when you add a user, a location or a feature. The number you see in an ad is rarely the number you will pay in month twelve.
Verify the terms that are easy to miss. Contract length, renewal rules, data practices and support hours matter more than most buyers expect. If the provider cannot explain them clearly before the sale, assume the answer will be harder to get afterward.
Verify the fit with your actual workflow. A demo can make any product look simple. A free trial or a short pilot can show you what the product feels like on a normal day. Use the trial to test the one feature you need most. That is a better use of time than touring every menu.
What should you do next?
Start with the top pick and read the full review. Then compare the runner-up on the three details that matter most to you. If you are still unsure, use the comparison table and the methodology on this page. The goal is not to keep researching forever. The goal is to make a decision you can explain.
Before you sign up, confirm the current price, the contract term and the cancellation policy directly with the provider. Prices change. Terms change. A ranking can point you in the right direction, but the final check has to happen at the source.
If this ranking helped you narrow the list, stop there. A shortlist of two or three good options is enough. The best decision is the one you can act on with confidence, not the one that keeps you in the research phase for another month.
Who wrote and reviewed this ranking
Every ranking has a named editor and a separate quality review before publication.
David Krug
Head of Content
David leads the RaveReviews editorial team, turning research into clear comparisons and useful guides. He oversees content strategy, testing standards and the final read on every ranking.
LinkedIn
Annie Membreve
Head of Quality Control
Annie runs quality control at RaveReviews, checking sourcing, scoring and the details readers rely on. She reviews every ranking before publication and manages corrections.
TikTokFrequently asked questions
What should I compare first?
Start with the job the money needs to do, then compare the AM Best rating, surrender schedule, minimum premium and a current payout illustration for your age and state.
How often are these rankings updated?
We review them when carrier ratings, product terms or publisher rankings change. Check the updated date at the top of the page.
Keep comparing
More rankings and guides for the decision in front of you.