Peer-to-peer insurer with the lowest mean rate in our dataset. App-based. Surplus returned to policyholders.
Compare our panel →Lowest mean effective rate in our SA pricing dataset (~0.17% of trade value per month)
Peer-to-peer model: unused premiums returned to the pool — not retained as insurer profit
Fully app-based — simple and intuitive to use
Genuinely innovative model backed by growing SA market experience
Newer brand — shorter track record than established players
App-only model suits digital-native users
Not on the Compare Car Insurance quote panel
Claims experience on complex or high-value vehicles is still developing
Pineapple is a South African insurance fintech founded in 2017. It operates a peer-to-peer insurance model in which policyholders' premiums are pooled together. Claims are paid from the pool; at the end of a period, any surplus that was not used for claims is returned to policyholders rather than retained as profit. Pineapple earns a fixed management fee rather than profiting from low claims.
You can get a quote directly from Pineapple at pineapple.co.za.
Based on our dataset of 38 data points, Pineapple has the lowest mean effective rate of any insurer we have tracked — approximately 0.17% of vehicle trade value per month for the low-risk profiles sampled. For context, Budget Insurance (our lowest panel product) sits at approximately 0.32%. This is a substantial gap, though individual rates will vary significantly based on driver profile.
The low mean rate reflects both Pineapple's efficient operating model and its peer-to-peer structure, which reduces the friction costs that accumulate in traditional insurance distribution.
Pineapple is well-suited to digital-native drivers who want the lowest possible premium, are comfortable managing their insurance entirely through an app, and are attracted to the transparent peer-to-peer model. For drivers who want the reassurance of a long-established insurer, a comparison against our panel insurers is still worthwhile — but Pineapple's pricing warrants serious consideration for low-risk profiles.