Best Annuities of 2026

Honest reviews of the best annuity companies, reviewed and ranked on product range, financial strength, minimum premium, and how you buy.

Nationwide Best Overall
4.4
4.4
Charles Schwab Best for High-Net-Worth
4.3
4.3
Leverage Planning Best Marketplace
4.3
4.3
MassMutual Best Financial Strength
4.3
4.3
Allianz Best for Indexed
4.2
4.2

Nationwide

4.4
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Best overall provider

Methodology

BestGuide scored each annuity provider against five criteria applied consistently across categories: Reputation, Services, Transparency, Customer Satisfaction, and Scalability, cross-referenced from public, independent sources plus a direct manual review of each provider's own site. No provider can pay to improve its score; paid placement affects visibility only. See how we rate

An annuity is a long-term contract with an insurer that turns savings into guaranteed retirement income, and the right provider depends on the product type you want, the carrier's financial strength, how much you can invest, and whether you buy direct or through a marketplace. We reviewed nine leading providers and compared them on annuity types offered, AM Best financial strength, minimum premium, and provider type so you can shortlist the ones that fit your plan. Financial strength matters most because an annuity guarantee is only as reliable as the company behind it: several providers here hold A++ or A+ AM Best ratings. Minimums range widely, from as little as $300 at Nationwide to $100,000 at Charles Schwab, and some names are carriers while others are distributors or marketplaces that place your money with A-rated carriers.

Key Takeaways

  • Allianz - A specialist in fixed index and registered index-linked annuities with strong financial strength.
  • Athene - A major force in fixed index annuities with competitive bonuses and uncapped strategies.
  • Charles Schwab - A low-cost annuity marketplace for high-net-worth clients, $100,000 minimum.
  • Fidelity - Best known for low-cost variable annuities and platform convenience.
  • Leverage Planning - A transparent, free digital marketplace for MYGAs and fixed index annuities.
  • Lincoln Financial - A long-established provider with a wide product range and advisor-led buying.
  • MassMutual - A top-strength mutual insurer with a broad annuity lineup and advisor guidance.
  • Nationwide - A financially strong Fortune 100 provider with the widest product range.
  • New York Life - A top-rated mutual insurer and leading provider of guaranteed lifetime income.

Companies Compared

Honest reviews of the best annuity companies, reviewed and ranked on product range, financial strength, minimum premium, and how you buy.

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Company Rating Annuity Types Offered AM Best Financial Strength Minimum Premium Provider Type
4.4
Fixed, Variable, FIA, RILA, Immediate A+ (Superior) $300 Carrier
4.3
Fixed, Variable, Indexed, Immediate Varies (A-rated carriers) $100,000 Distributor
4.3
MYGA, FIA Varies (A-rated carriers) $5,000-$25,000 (varies by carrier) Marketplace (broker)
4.3
Fixed, FIA, Variable, Immediate, RILA A++ (Superior) Varies by product Carrier
4.2
Fixed, FIA, RILA A+ (Superior) $20,000 Carrier

All Companies Reviewed

1. Nationwide

Nationwide is a top-tier, financially strong Fortune 100 provider (A+ AM Best) with the broadest product range in this guide and an exceptionally low complaint ratio. It suits investors seeking a secure, reputable provider across both conservative and market-risk profiles, with minimums as low as $300.

Best for: Security plus product choice

4.4/5

Annuity Types OfferedFixed, Variable, FIA, RILA, Immediate
AM Best Financial StrengthA+ (Superior)
Minimum Premium$300
Provider TypeCarrier

2. Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab is a distributor and marketplace of annuities from curated third-party carriers, with variable annuity fees well below the industry average. It suits high-net-worth clients, especially existing Schwab customers, but requires a $100,000 minimum on all contracts.

Best for: Affluent Schwab clients

4.3/5

Annuity Types OfferedFixed, Variable, Indexed, Immediate
AM Best Financial StrengthVaries (A-rated carriers)
Minimum Premium$100,000
Provider TypeDistributor

3. Leverage Planning

Leverage Planning is a free digital marketplace and independent agency for annuities and long-term care insurance, placing clients with A-rated national carriers. It offers transparent online rate comparison with no consumer fees, though it is not a full-service wealth manager.

Best for: Transparent rate shoppers

4.3/5

Annuity Types OfferedMYGA, FIA
AM Best Financial StrengthVaries (A-rated carriers)
Minimum Premium$5,000-$25,000 (varies by carrier)
Provider TypeMarketplace (broker)

4. MassMutual

MassMutual is one of the oldest and largest U.S. life insurers, with top-tier financial strength (A++ AM Best) and a wide annuity lineup spanning MYGA, fixed index, variable, immediate, and RILA products. It suits conservative long-term investors who value advisor guidance, despite lower online fee transparency.

Best for: Stability-focused, advisor-guided investors

4.3/5

Annuity Types OfferedFixed, FIA, Variable, Immediate, RILA
AM Best Financial StrengthA++ (Superior)
Minimum PremiumVaries by product
Provider TypeCarrier

5. Allianz

Allianz Life is among the top annuity providers for financial stability and product diversity, specializing in fixed index and registered index-linked annuities and does not offer variable annuities. It suits pre-retirees who want market-loss protection with some growth, though its contracts are complex and it has faced transparency criticism.

Best for: Market-loss protection with growth

4.2/5

Annuity Types OfferedFixed, FIA, RILA
AM Best Financial StrengthA+ (Superior)
Minimum Premium$20,000
Provider TypeCarrier

6. Lincoln Financial

Lincoln Financial is one of the nation's oldest and largest annuity providers, with strong financial strength (A AM Best) and a wide product range. It suits savers who want a reputable, advisor-led purchase, though it publishes no rates or fees online.

Best for: Advisor-led buyers wanting choice

4.2/5

Annuity Types OfferedFixed, Variable, FIA, Immediate
AM Best Financial StrengthA (Excellent)
Minimum Premium$10,000
Provider TypeCarrier

7. Fidelity

Fidelity is a competitive choice for low-cost variable annuities, acting more as a distributor than an issuer, with its flagship FPRA charging a low annual fee. It is ideal for existing Fidelity customers who value platform convenience, less so for those hunting the highest fixed rates.

Best for: Cost-conscious Fidelity customers

4.1/5

Annuity Types OfferedFixed (MYGA), FIA, Variable
AM Best Financial StrengthVaries (A-rated carriers)
Minimum Premium$10,000
Provider TypeDistributor

8. New York Life

New York Life is one of the oldest and largest U.S. mutual life insurers, with unmatched financial strength (A++ AM Best, perfect Comdex 100) and a leading position in guaranteed lifetime income annuities. It suits conservative, stability-focused investors who prefer face-to-face guidance, though its agent-only model means no online pricing.

Best for: Conservative, income-focused investors

4.1/5

Annuity Types OfferedFixed, FIA, Variable, Immediate
AM Best Financial StrengthA++ (Superior)
Minimum Premium$5,000+
Provider TypeCarrier

9. Athene

Athene is a major U.S. annuity-market force, especially in fixed index annuities, backed by strong financials (A+ AM Best). It offers competitive features like premium bonuses and uncapped index strategies, but its customer service scores below the industry average.

Best for: Index-linked growth, conservative savers

4/5

Annuity Types OfferedFixed, FIA, MYGA
AM Best Financial StrengthA+ (Superior)
Minimum Premium$10,000
Provider TypeCarrier

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Common questions about our rankings and methodology.

Our editorial team evaluates each company across more than 30 criteria, including pricing transparency, customer satisfaction scores, regulatory standing, and real-world performance data. Compensation, along with our review criteria, may determine which qualified companies we feature and the order in which they appear — see our advertising disclosure for details.

Our methodology is publicly documented, our team actively updates ratings as market conditions change, and we always disclose our compensation model. Reviews reflect our editorial assessment of each company; our advertising disclosure explains how compensation factors into which companies appear and their placement.

Some companies on our site compensate us. Compensation, along with our review criteria, may influence which qualified companies we feature and the order in which they appear. It does not change the findings of our reviews — read our full advertising disclosure for details.

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