Best Insurance Comparative Raters for Agents in 2026
EZLynx, Vertafore PL Rating, TurboRater, Momentum Rate, QuoteRUSH and Bold Penguin compared: carriers, lines, AMS connections and what each one costs.
On this page (9)
Insurers and MGAs building their own rates and running them on every quote.
Independent agents entering a client once and getting quotes from many carriers.
- EZLynxQuote only; reported about $129/mo (source)
- PL RatingQuote only
- Momentum RateFrom $100
What are the best insurance comparative raters for agents?
Updated Oct 30, 2026 · ranked by fitEZLynx ranks first of the 6 tools we compared: best for broad personal lines carrier coverage. Pricing is by quote. Free trial offered; length not stated (per EZLynx pricing page). Vertafore PL Rating and TurboRater follow.
| # | Tool | Best for | Pricing | Free trial | Security | Vendor site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EZLynxAMS with bundled comparative rating | Broad personal lines carrier coverage | Quote onlyQuote; modular subscription | Free trial offered; length not stated (per EZLynx pricing page) | SOC 2 Type II | Visit site of EZLynx (opens in a new tab) |
| 2 | Vertafore PL RatingPersonal lines comparative rater | Agencies on Vertafore systems | Quote onlyQuoted | — | SOC 2 not confirmed | Visit site of Vertafore PL Rating (opens in a new tab) |
| 3 | TurboRaterPersonal lines comparative rater | Best standalone rater with website quoting | Quote onlyQuoted | — | SOC 2 not confirmed | Visit site of TurboRater (opens in a new tab) |
| 4 | Momentum RateComparative rater with published plans | Best published price | From $100Monthly plans by users | — | SOC 2 not confirmed | Visit site of Momentum Rate (opens in a new tab) |
| 5 | QuoteRUSHCarrier-site rater with quoting bot | Property-heavy personal lines agencies | Quote onlyQuoted | Yes (length not stated) | SOC 2 not confirmed | Visit site of QuoteRUSH (opens in a new tab) |
| 6 | Bold PenguinDigital Brokerage | Small commercial quoting | Quote onlySubscription | — | SOC 2 not confirmed | Visit site of Bold Penguin (opens in a new tab) |
Head-to-headBold Penguin vs EZLynx
TL;DR
- A comparative rater lets an agent enter a client once and get quotes from many carriers. Personal lines raters (home and auto) are a separate market from small commercial quoting platforms.
- EZLynx Rating Engine is the broadest personal lines pick: EZLynx says it quotes 330+ carriers across 48 states. It doesn't publish prices; a third-party breakdown puts the rater alone at about $129 a month.
- Vertafore PL Rating lists 300+ carrier partners and connects to AMS360, Sagitta, QQCatalyst and over 20 other management systems.
- Momentum Rate is the only rater here with a full published price list: $100 to $300 a month, with 2 to 8 users and $50 per extra user.
- For small commercial (BOP, GL, workers' comp), Bold Penguin lets agents submit one application to several carriers.
These are tools insurance agents use to quote clients. Shopping for your own policy? An independent agent or your state insurance department’s consumer pages are the better place to start.
An independent agent quoting a home and auto package might otherwise log into six or eight carrier portals and type the same driver, vehicle and property details into each. A comparative rater does that once. Buyers struggle to compare raters because carrier counts are self-reported and vary by state, most vendors don’t publish prices, and the rater is often bundled with a management system you may or may not want.
How do comparative raters differ?
| Shape | What it focuses on | Tools in this list |
|---|---|---|
| Rater bundled with an AMS vendor | Personal lines rating tied to the same vendor’s management system | EZLynx, Vertafore PL Rating, Momentum Rate |
| Standalone personal lines rater | Rating plus website quoting, sold on its own | TurboRater, QuoteRUSH |
| Small commercial quoting | One application sent to several commercial carriers | Bold Penguin |
If you already run an AMS, start with the rater that connects to it. If you’re choosing both, compare the bundled price against a standalone rater plus a separate AMS such as HawkSoft.
The best comparative raters for independent agencies
1. EZLynx: Best for broad personal lines carrier coverage
Quote only · Free trial: Free trial offered; length not stated (per EZLynx pricing page) · SOC 2 Type IIFull profile →vs Bold PenguinVisit site of EZLynx (opens in a new tab)
Best for: Independent agencies writing mostly home and auto that want the largest carrier list and an AMS from the same vendor.
EZLynx, owned by Applied Systems, says its Rating Engine returns real-time quotes from multiple carriers after a single entry, works on any device and lets agents move to a carrier’s portal to bind (source). See the EZLynx pricing breakdown for reported figures.
Key functionalities
- Real-time home and auto quotes from one entry
- Prefill for driver, vehicle and building data
- Stores ACORD forms and carrier website links
- Pairs with EZLynx Management System and a client self-service portal
- Free trial linked from its pricing page
Pros:
- 330+ carriers across 48 states, per EZLynx
- Prefill for driver, vehicle and building data
- Pairs with EZLynx Management System
Cons:
- No published pricing
- Reported prices rise with users and modules
- Commercial quoting is a separate product
Pricing: Not published. A third-party breakdown reports about $129 per month for the rater alone (source); EZLynx says price depends on users and products (source).
Verdict: The default shortlist pick for personal lines agencies. Get the rater and AMS priced separately so you can compare each half.
2. Vertafore PL Rating: Best for agencies on Vertafore systems
Quote onlyFull profile →Visit site of Vertafore PL Rating (opens in a new tab)
Best for: Personal lines agencies on AMS360, Sagitta or QQCatalyst that want rating connected to their AMS.
Vertafore PL Rating quotes home, auto and other personal lines with data prefill, an interview-style workflow and unlimited quote templates. Vertafore says setup takes days (source).
Key functionalities
- Real-time multi-carrier quoting
- Prefill for home, driver and vehicle data
- Interview-style workflow and reusable quote templates
- One-click binding inside PL Rating
- Prospect quoting from your website or social profiles
Pros:
- 300+ carrier partners, per Vertafore
- Connects to AMS360, Sagitta, QQCatalyst and over 20 other management systems
- Bind inside the rater and quote from your website
Cons:
- Pricing not published
- Personal lines only
- Carrier inventory varies by state; check Vertafore's list
Pricing: Not published; quoted by sales.
Verdict: The obvious choice for Vertafore shops. Agencies on other systems should confirm their AMS connection first.
3. TurboRater: Best standalone rater with website quoting
Quote onlyFull profile →Visit site of TurboRater (opens in a new tab)
Best for: Personal lines agencies that want a rater on its own, plus a quoting tool for their website.
TurboRater is ITC’s web-based personal lines rater. ITC’s product links now point to Zywave, which lists TurboRater among its distribution products (source).
Key functionalities
- Multi-carrier rating for auto, home, dwelling fire and motorcycle
- TurboRater for Websites for consumer quoting
- TurboRater API
- Reporting on agency quoting activity
Pros:
- Covers auto, home, dwelling fire and motorcycle
- TurboRater for Websites and a TurboRater API
- Free weekly training webinars
Cons:
- Pricing not published
- Personal lines only
- Product pages are moving to Zywave, so check where support and billing sit
Pricing: Not published; ordered through ITC/Zywave.
Verdict: A solid standalone option for agencies that don't want their rater tied to an AMS vendor.
4. Momentum Rate: Best published price
From $100Full profile →Visit site of Momentum Rate (opens in a new tab)
Best for: Small agencies that want a rater with a published monthly price, especially those on Momentum AMS (formerly NowCerts).
Momentum Rate is sold by Momentum, the company behind NowCerts. Its pricing page lists up to 250 submissions per user, AI tools and a flood rater among the plan features (source).
Key functionalities
- Commercial and personal lines rating, by plan
- Flood rater and AI tools listed as plan features
- Extra users at $50 each on every plan
- Same vendor as Momentum AMS
Pros:
- Full price list: $100 to $300 a month
- Commercial or personal lines from $100; both from $150
- Sold alongside Momentum AMS
Cons:
- Plan features include a cap of up to 250 submissions per user
- Carrier coverage by state isn't listed on the pricing page
- Fewer carrier and AMS connections advertised than EZLynx or Vertafore
Pricing: Standard $100/month (2 users, commercial or personal); Standard Plus $150 (2 users, both); Growth $200 (5 users); Enterprise $300 (8 users); extra users $50 each. (source)
Verdict: The easiest rater to budget for. Check carrier coverage in your states before you commit.
5. QuoteRUSH: Best for property-heavy personal lines agencies
Quote only · Free trial: Yes (length not stated)Full profile →Visit site of QuoteRUSH (opens in a new tab)
Best for: Personal lines agencies that quote a lot of homeowners business and want rates pulled from carriers' own websites.
QuoteRUSH imports leads from lead vendors and offers a managed quoting bot, Virtual BOT, for offices with high quote volume (source).
Key functionalities
- One entry screen that fills carrier quoting sites
- Automated replacement cost estimates and distance to coast
- Lead imports from lead vendors and management systems
- Managed Virtual BOT for quote requests
Pros:
- Fills in each carrier's own website, so rates come from the carrier, per the company
- Automates replacement cost and distance-to-coast lookups
- Free trial
Cons:
- Pricing not published
- Carrier depth varies by state; its site flags states with fewer than 5 carriers
- Smaller vendor than EZLynx or Vertafore
Pricing: Not published; free trial available.
Verdict: Worth a trial for property-focused agencies in states where it has deep carrier coverage.
6. Bold Penguin: Best for small commercial quoting
Quote onlyFull profile →vs EZLynxVisit site of Bold Penguin (opens in a new tab)
Best for: Independent agents writing small commercial who want to quote several carriers from one application.
Bold Penguin runs a commercial lines quoting terminal for agents and an exchange that matches risks with carriers by appetite (source). See Bold Penguin vs EZLynx.
Key functionalities
- Single application for small commercial lines
- Multi-carrier quotes matched by appetite and class
- Exchange for carriers and MGAs
Pros:
- One application quotes BOP, GL, workers' comp and commercial auto with several carriers
- No payment method required to enroll in the Terminal, per its terms
- Owned by HSB, part of Munich Re
Cons:
- Not a personal lines rater
- Pricing not published; its terms say a separate fee may apply later
- Carrier access depends on appetite and class
Pricing: Not published. Terminal terms say no payment method is required to enroll and a separate fee may apply later.
Verdict: Pair it with a personal lines rater if your agency writes both.
How do these raters compare side by side?
| Tool | Approach | Pricing | Free trial | Lines | Carriers (vendor-stated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1EZLynx | AMS with bundled comparative rating | Quote only | Free trial offered; length not stated (per EZLynx pricing page) | Personal (home, auto) | 330+ across 48 states |
| 2Vertafore PL Rating | Personal lines comparative rater | Quote only | — | Personal (home, auto, more by state) | 300+ |
| 3TurboRater | Personal lines comparative rater | Quote only | — | Personal (auto, home, dwelling fire, motorcycle) | — |
| 4Momentum Rate | Comparative rater with published plans | From $100 | — | Personal and commercial, by plan | — |
| 5QuoteRUSH | Carrier-site rater with quoting bot | Quote only | Yes (length not stated) | Personal (home, auto) | — |
| 6Bold Penguin | Digital Brokerage | Quote only | — | Small commercial | Multiple, by appetite |
Which rater fits your agency?
- Mostly home and auto, choosing an AMS too: EZLynx.
- Already on AMS360, Sagitta or QQCatalyst: Vertafore PL Rating.
- Want a rater that isn’t tied to an AMS vendor: TurboRater or QuoteRUSH.
- Need a price before the demo: Momentum Rate.
- Writing small commercial: Bold Penguin, alongside a personal lines rater.
Conclusion: start from your AMS and your states
Carrier counts are national totals, and what matters is how many of your appointed carriers each rater covers in the states you write. Pull the carrier list for your states from each vendor, check the connection to your AMS, and then compare prices. For the management system side, see our agency management systems guide and the AMS pricing table. To price a rater alongside an AMS and a CRM, the agency software stack by size adds up monthly totals for 1 to 3, 4 to 15 and 15 or more staff.
How did we choose these tools?
The order is our editorial judgment of fit for the job this guide covers, not a test score. Prices appear only where the vendor publishes them or a cited source reports them; otherwise we name the pricing model and mark it "Quote only." SOC 2 status comes from each vendor's trust or security pages. These profiles are desk research: we have not run the products on real files. Full methodology.
FAQs
What is an insurance comparative rater?
A comparative rater is software that takes an applicant's information once and returns quotes from multiple insurance carriers, so an independent agent doesn't have to rekey the same data into each carrier's portal. Most raters cover personal auto and homeowners; small commercial quoting is usually a separate product.
What is the best comparative rater for independent agents?
For personal lines, EZLynx Rating Engine and Vertafore PL Rating have the largest carrier lists, at 330+ and 300+ carriers by their own counts. EZLynx fits agencies that want the rater and management system from one vendor; PL Rating fits agencies already on AMS360, Sagitta or QQCatalyst. For small commercial, Bold Penguin covers multi-carrier BOP, GL and workers' comp quoting.
How much does a comparative rater cost?
Momentum Rate publishes $100 a month for 2 users up to $300 a month for 8 users, with extra users at $50 each. EZLynx doesn't publish prices; a third-party breakdown puts its rater at about $129 a month. Vertafore PL Rating, TurboRater and QuoteRUSH quote on request.
Do comparative raters give exact quotes?
Raters return real-time rates from carrier connections, but bindable terms still depend on underwriting. QuoteRUSH takes a different route: it fills in each carrier's own website, so the company says the rate comes straight from the carrier.
Can a comparative rater connect to my agency management system?
Yes, for most pairings. EZLynx Rating Engine pairs with EZLynx Management System, PL Rating lists AMS360, Sagitta, QQCatalyst and over 20 others, and Momentum Rate is sold alongside Momentum AMS (formerly NowCerts). Check your specific AMS before you buy.
Is there a comparative rater for commercial lines?
Yes. Bold Penguin's Terminal lets agents submit one application to quote small commercial risks with several carriers. Momentum Rate covers commercial or personal lines on its Standard plan and both from Standard Plus.
Is a comparative rater the same as a carrier rating engine?
No. A comparative rater sends one client's details to many carriers and returns their quotes to the agent. A carrier rating engine, such as Guidewire PricingCenter, Duck Creek Rating or Akur8, is what an insurer uses to build and calculate its own rates. Those are covered in rating and pricing software for carriers.
Can I put a quoting tool on my agency website?
PL Rating lets prospects get a rate from your website or social media profiles, and TurboRater sells TurboRater for Websites. Ask how website leads flow into your rater and AMS.