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Insurance · head to head

Ivans vs Root Insurance

Ivans logo

Ivans

Insurance

Carrier to agency data exchange infrastructure that sits under most US insurance agency management systems

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Root Insurance logo

Root Insurance

Insurance

Car insurance priced primarily on driving behavior measured through an app test drive

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ivans applied Systems owns both Ivans and competing agency management systems, so the neutral infrastructure that every AMS depends on is controlled by one of the AMS vendors, a conflict that rival vendors have complained about for years.; Root Insurance no specific pricing rates published on website
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ivans and Root Insurance actually diverge.

Attributes where Ivans and Root Insurance differ
AttributeIvansRoot Insurance

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Insurance).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Ivans

  • Ivans Download
  • Ivans Exchange
  • Ivans Distribution
  • Market Appetite
  • Download analytics for carriers
  • Commission download

Only in Root Insurance

Nothing recorded that Ivans does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Ivans

  • An agency evaluating a new management system that needs to confirm, carrier by carrier and line by line, which data will actually download before it signsnot Root Insurance
  • A carrier launching a new line that wants agency systems to receive policy data automatically rather than by rekeying from a portalnot Root Insurance
  • An MGA that wants its book visible to retail agencies in the same download flow as admitted carriersnot Root Insurance
  • An agency operations lead auditing why commission reconciliation keeps failing, which usually turns out to be a missing or misconfigured download connectionnot Root Insurance

Root Insurance

  • Obtaining lower premiums through telematics-based driving behavior assessmentnot Ivans
  • Stabilizing insurance costs for budget-conscious and single-parent driversnot Ivans
  • Filing claims through mobile app within three minutesnot Ivans
  • Accessing roadside assistance for towing and emergency lockout servicesnot Ivans
  • Earning referral rewards by recommending to other driversnot Ivans

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Ivans

  • Applied Systems owns both Ivans and competing agency management systems, so the neutral infrastructure that every AMS depends on is controlled by one of the AMS vendors, a conflict that rival vendors have complained about for years.
  • Download coverage is decided by carriers, not by Ivans or your AMS, so a carrier that does not publish a line simply does not download it and no amount of configuration in your system will fix it.
  • Eligibility requires that you are appointed and writing the line in that state, meaning newly appointed agencies wait on carrier-side setup with little visibility into where the request sits.
  • Data quality varies sharply by carrier, and agencies routinely find that some carriers send incomplete or oddly mapped policy data that then has to be cleaned inside the AMS, undermining the point of automating it.
  • Pricing is opaque and largely invisible to agencies because it is bundled into AMS and carrier agreements, which makes it impossible to judge what the network actually costs your business or to negotiate it.

Root Insurance

  • No specific pricing rates published on website
  • Quote-based model requires app download and test drive completion
  • Rates calculated primarily on driving habits with telematics data
  • Geographic restrictions apply (California and Maryland residents cannot use telematics-based pricing)

Pricing, plan by plan

Ivans

On request
  • Ivans$undefined/year
    • Ivans Exchange is provided to agencies at no additional charge, with a possible fee for Citizens of Florida business
    • Carrier and MGA participation, Ivans Distribution and appetite products are quoted
    • Pricing is generally embedded in the agency management system or carrier agreement rather than billed separately to the agency

Root Insurance

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Root Insurance review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Ivans if

  • You need ivans download.
  • You also want ivans exchange.
Ivans review

Choose Root Insurance if

Nothing in the data separates Root Insurance from Ivans on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Root Insurance review

Questions people ask

Is Ivans or Root Insurance better?
Neither clearly leads. Ivans starts at On request and Root Insurance at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ivans or Root Insurance?
Ivans starts at On request and Root Insurance at On request.
Does Ivans or Root Insurance run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Ivans best used for?
Ivans is most often used for an agency evaluating a new management system that needs to confirm, carrier by carrier and line by line, which data will actually download before it signs, a carrier launching a new line that wants agency systems to receive policy data automatically rather than by rekeying from a portal, an mga that wants its book visible to retail agencies in the same download flow as admitted carriers, an agency operations lead auditing why commission reconciliation keeps failing, which usually turns out to be a missing or misconfigured download connection. Of those, an agency evaluating a new management system that needs to confirm, carrier by carrier and line by line, which data will actually download before it signs and a carrier launching a new line that wants agency systems to receive policy data automatically rather than by rekeying from a portal are not what Root Insurance is typically brought in for.
What can Ivans do that Root Insurance cannot?
Ivans covers Ivans Download, Ivans Exchange, Ivans Distribution, Market Appetite.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ivans: Do agencies pay for Ivans?

Ivans Exchange is provided to agencies at no additional cost, with a noted exception for business written with Citizens of Florida. The economics sit with carriers and with the agency management system vendors.

Root Insurance: How much does Root Insurance cost?

Root Insurance does not publish specific rates. Customers receive personalized quotes after completing a test drive period (several weeks) in the Root app. Savings up to $1,300 per year mentioned for best drivers.

Source
Ivans: Why is a carrier not downloading?

Almost always eligibility or carrier-side publication: you must be appointed and writing that line in that state, and the carrier must publish that line for download. Check the connection status in Ivans Exchange first.

Root Insurance: How does Root determine insurance rates?

Root primarily bases rates on driving habits analyzed through smartphone sensor data and telematics collected during the app-based test drive period. Safe drivers receive lower personalized quotes.

Source
Ivans: Is Ivans owned by Applied Systems?

Yes. That matters because Applied also sells Applied Epic and EZLynx, so a competing AMS depends on infrastructure run by a competitor.

Root Insurance: What is the Root Insurance pricing model?

Root uses a quote-based model where customers download the app, complete a test drive, and receive a personalized insurance quote. Rates vary by individual driving behavior and geographic location.

Source
Ivans: Can you switch AMS and keep your downloads?

Connections have to be re-pointed to the new system, which is a per-carrier request through Ivans Exchange and is a common source of migration delay.

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