Allstate Drivewise vs. Progressive Snapshot: Which Service Is the Best (2025)

In the intricate landscape of auto insurance, finding the right coverage at the best rates demands a nuanced understanding of various factors.

Delving into the data table below, we unravel the dynamics of insurance rates influenced by crucial elements such as credit score, mileage, coverage level, and driving record. This comprehensive analysis unveils key insights, allowing us to pinpoint the company that consistently offers the most advantageous rates tailored to diverse customer profiles. Whether you’re a high-mileage driver or boast an impeccable driving record, this guide provides a succinct roadmap to navigate the competitive terrain of insurance rates across leading companies.

*monthly rates are based on an average of minimum and full coverage for a 45-year-old male driver

Allstate Drivewise

Pros:

• Cashback Rewards: Drivewise offers cashback rewards for safe driving, providing tangible benefits for users.
• Open to Everyone: Allstate Drivewise is accessible to anyone, not limited to existing policyholders.
• 10% Sign-Up Discount: Allstate offers a 10% discount just for signing up for Drivewise, providing immediate savings.

Cons:

• Privacy Concerns: Some users express hesitancy due to perceived privacy issues, as data may be discoverable by third parties in accident investigations or litigation.
• Variable Savings: Achieving the claimed 30% savings might be challenging, and reviews suggest that substantial savings may not be immediate.
• Usage Restrictions: The app requires a charged phone with motion detection, limiting usage during specific conditions.

Progressive Snapshot

Pros:

• Discounted Pricing Model: Snapshot relies on a discounted pricing model, potentially offering savings for good driving habits.
• $25 Sign-Up Bonus: Progressive provides a $25 sign-up bonus for Snapshot, enhancing the immediate benefits for users.
• Variety of Metrics Tracked: Snapshot tracks various driving habits, including sudden braking, acceleration, mileage, and phone usage, offering a comprehensive assessment.

Cons:

• Existing Policyholder Requirement: Snapshot is limited to existing Progressive policyholders, potentially excluding new customers.
• Docking for Driving Habits: Users may face penalties for sudden speed changes, putting a lot of miles on the car, or using the phone while driving.
• Limited Discount Information: While average savings are mentioned, specific discount percentages are not provided, making it challenging to gauge potential benefits accurately.

Best Overall: Allstate Drivewise vs. Progressive Snapshot

When assessing the overall value and benefits of Allstate Drivewise and Progressive Snapshot, Allstate Drivewise emerges as the superior choice for various reasons.

Cashback Rewards: The inclusion of cashback rewards for safe driving provides tangible and immediate benefits for users. While Progressive Snapshot relies on a discounted pricing model, the cashback rewards offered by Allstate Drivewise make the program more appealing, offering users a direct financial incentive.

Accessibility and Sign-Up Discount: One notable advantage of Allstate Drivewise is its accessibility to everyone, not limited to existing policyholders. Additionally, the 10% sign-up discount offered by Allstate provides an attractive incentive for new users, further enhancing its appeal.

Privacy Concerns and User Experience: While both programs address privacy concerns, Allstate Drivewise’s more open approach and the absence of restrictions based on existing policies contribute to a more user-friendly experience. Users may find Progressive’s existing policyholder requirement to be limiting.

Comprehensive Metrics and Usage Flexibility: Drivewise’s focus on driving behavior, without penalizing users for factors like sudden speed changes, provides a more flexible and user-centric approach. Progressive Snapshot, on the other hand, may dock users for specific driving habits, potentially impacting the overall driving experience.

Immediate Savings Potential: The combination of cashback rewards, a sign-up discount, and the absence of a prerequisite for existing policies makes Allstate Drivewise a more immediately rewarding option for users.

When considering the overall package of benefits, user experience, and immediate savings potential, Allstate Drivewise stands out as the preferred choice. Its inclusive approach, emphasis on cashback rewards, and user-friendly policies make it the superior option for those seeking a comprehensive and rewarding usage-based insurance program.

What Is Drivewise From Allstate? 

Drivewise is a safe-driving program with Allstate that measures driving behaviors and rewards good drivers. The idea is that the safer you drive, the more you can save. Allstate’s Drivewise is a free app that drivers download and activate while driving.

Allstate claims that this program can help drivers save up to 30 percent after they buy car insurance, in the form of the Allstate Drivewise car insurance discount. But, there’s a little more to it.

How does Drivewise work?

Through the app, Drivewise allows you to collect rewards (or drive performance cash rewards) after you’ve hit enough points for safe driving. The app which is available to anyone offers savings rewards upon download and cash-back for every six months of safe driving.

• Safe driving means: 
• Driving at safe speeds 
• Not slamming on the brakes
• No late-night driving

The app detects when you’re driving using your phone’s location services. In order to do this, your phone needs to be at least 25 percent charged. Then, it kicks on after its detected motion for a short distance with travel speeds higher than 20 miles per hour. Progressive’s Snapshot is a similar app, but with its own spin.

How Does Progressive’s Snapshot Device Work?

Snapshot can either be a mobile app or an installed device in your car from your Progressive agent. Similar to Drivewise, it tracks your driving habits to generate a personalized insurance premium.

Snapshot tracks sudden breaking or if you’ve accelerated too fast, these sudden speed changes are read as poor driving habits behind the wheel and will get you docked. The Snapshot device also docks you for putting a lot of miles on your car and being on your phone while driving. So they sound the same, right?

Which is better, Progressive Snapshot vs. Allstate Drivewise?

Auto insurance rates change based on a lot of different factors. If you’re looking to sign-up for a new policy with a new car insurance company, you may find that these two programs offer various benefits.

Drivewise from Allstate provides cashback, whereas Progressive’s Snapshot relies on a discounted pricing model. Also, Progressive requires that Snapshot users are existing car insurance policyholders. Allstate Drivewise, on the other hand, allows anyone to use it.

Is Allstate Drivewise worth it?

Off the bat, drivers should not expect to save 30 percent or at least not right away. For savings this large, reviews aren’t raving. Feel free to leave your own usage-based insurance review below.

Most drivers use their cars during the “moderate risk” hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and occasionally during the “high risk” hours of 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Most drivers will also have “extreme braking events,” which are defined as slowing down 10 or more miles per hour over one-second time intervals.

These are timeframes in which most people are on their way to work, and are common occurrences. If you are trying to avoid these habits, Drivewise may be right for you. But if you know you can’t avoid them, you may still get points for those few times your commute is smooth. Some drivers also say they’re hesitant to use Drivewise because they feel it violates their privacy.

While it is not a GPS device (meaning it can’t track where you drive), Allstate’s Drivewise terms of use do say, “Data from the device may be deemed discoverable by third parties and used in an accident investigation and/or litigation.” However, you will save money using Drivewise, at least at first. Allstate offers a 10 percent discount for signing up. It could be worth a shot.

Is Snapshot with Progressive worth it?

Snapshot claims to give drivers a $25 sign-up bonus with Snapshot, with average savings of about $140 for every six months. If you’re a really safe driver, that only embarks on the road a few times a week Progressive Snapshot caters to your needs, offering the potential for the Progressive Snapshot car insurance discount.

This chart shows the benefits of Progressive discounts:

Progressive Sample Discounts for Farm Managers and Owners

Read more: Longevity Car Insurance Discount

What’s a usage-based insurance policy?

If you’re looking for a type of car insurance that better reflects your daily safe driving skills, then usage-based insurance might be a good fit for you.

Usage-based insurance rates are options offered by some auto insurance companies to promote better driving skills like reduced speeding, acceleration, and no harsh braking, along with looking at other metrics like mileage and the time of day you drive.

Generally, the better you drive, the better your rates.

This is so that you are less likely to file a claim. But, there are some serious benefits, as we’ve learned.

What are telematic rewards with car insurance?

Telematics, the science behind usage-based apps, collects information about mileage and driving habits in order to provide feedback to your auto insurance provider about your driving.

The rewards are the points that insurance companies advertise will lower your payments. The more you accrue the more you save.

What are other usage-based/telematics insurance programs?

Progressive’s Snapshot and Allstate’s Drivewise are just two of the many discount usage-based programs that companies offer.

For example, Allstate also offers Allstate Milewise, which is a device installed in your car that tracks your driving. The estimated savings for Allstate Drivewise’s sister is up to 25 percent. Milewise bases rates on a daily rate and a per-mile rate.

Check out the chart below to compare other safe-driving programs offered by nationwide companies.

Telematics Reward and Discount Programs

Company	Discount	Requirements
Drive Safe & Save by State Farm	up to 30 %	- Limited sharp changes in speed - Drive during peak hours - Don't use your phone while driving
Nationwide SmartRide	10 percent when signing up, and up to 40 percent after that	- Keep miles low - Drive during peak hours - Avoid sharp speed changes
Safeco RightTrack	up to 35 percent	- Drive during peak times - All drivers on policy must be signed up - Avoid sharp changes in speed
Geico DriveEasy	up to 20 percent for signing up only	- All drivers signed up on policy - Don't use your phone while driving - Avoid sharp changes in speed
DriveSense by Esurance	dependent on driver	- Must drive at least 50 trips during policy

Compare RatesStart Now →

Read more: Safeco RightTrack Car Insurance Discount

Most nationwide, and even smaller, car insurance companies offer some sort of usage-based discount. These programs are meant to lower the risks that drivers pose to the policy and to the road.

Read more: Geico DriveEasy Car Insurance Discount

Do Your Research 

Good drivers are usually rewarded in the insurance world. If you’re someone that drives safely and puts in few miles, you may want to consider a usage-based insurance policy. As we’ve learned, certain kinds of drivers could see some serious benefit out of usage-based auto insurance policies. But the question is, which one?

If you think you’ve made your decision, or you just want to shop around more, enter your ZIP code to compare Progressive and Allstate rates near you.