Qrates

Is ACKO safe and registered in India? 2026 IRDAI penalty and claim data

Acko General Insurance Ltd is a real, registered insurance company approved by IRDAI. However, the app publisher does not match a licence on the registers we check. We look at the 2026 IRDAI penalty, phone permissions, and what users complain about when filing a claim.

By Qrates research desk · 2026-10-27

Acko General Insurance Ltd is a real, registered insurance company approved by IRDAI. However, the publisher of the ACKO app, Acko Technology & Services Private Limited, does not match a licence on the registers we check (Qrates directory). The company also received an IRDAI penalty in August 2026 for management expense violations. While the app has a high lifetime rating, recent reviews average 3.21, with claim trouble being the most raised problem. You can also explore other insurance apps to compare features and safety ratings.

Licence and registration

The insurance company: Acko General Insurance Ltd

Acko General Insurance Ltd holds a valid IRDAI registration number to sell general insurance in India. This means the insurance policies you buy are from a regulated entity. The company operates as a digital insurance provider.

The app publisher: Acko Technology & Services Private Limited

The app you install on your phone is published by a separate entity named Acko Technology & Services Private Limited. We could not match a licence for this publisher on the registers we check (RBI, SEBI, IRDAI). You can check the exact list of phone permissions and the latest complaint breakdown on the ACKO Qrates page. For a broader perspective, you might want to look at how LIC Digital app safe and registered in India compares in terms of regulatory standing.

Regulator warnings

In August 2026, IRDAI issued a penalty against ACKO (IRDAI Official Portal). The penalty was for management expense violations. This means the company spent more money on running the business than IRDAI rules allow. This is a regulatory breach regarding internal spending. It is not an alert that the company is a fake or a scam.

What it can read on your phone

The ACKO app requests several permissions to operate on your device (Qrates directory). Calendar and SMS access is heavy data collection for a direct-to-consumer insurance app.

Permission type What the app asks to do
Messages Read your text messages
Contacts Read your contacts
Calendar Read your calendar
Microphone Record audio
Location See your location
Device Read phone identity

What users complain about

Recent rating drop

The app has over 1 crore installs and a lifetime Google Play rating of 4.56 from 398,262 ratings. However, the average of recent reviews from the last 90 days has dropped to 3.21. The company is active in customer service and replies to 100% of one and two star reviews from the 386 reviews read.

Claim settlement trouble and hidden catches

Users who leave negative reviews point to issues after buying the policy. Claim trouble is the most raised problem, appearing in 13 of 386 Google Play reviews. Other users report being pushed into things (7 of 386 Google Play reviews) or finding the policy not what was sold (3 of 386 Google Play reviews). Users who praise the app mostly call it easy to use (10 of 386 Google Play reviews, 8 of 300 App Store reviews). You can also see how ACKO vs LIC Digital vs My LIC stack up against each other regarding user satisfaction.

How to check this yourself

You can verify the details of any digital insurance company before you pay.

  1. Go to the official IRDAI website (irdai.gov.in) to verify the general insurance IRDAI registration number.
  2. Open the latest IRDAI annual report to check the official incurred claim ratio and claim settlement ratio for ACKO.
  3. Visit the insurer's website to check the actual list of cashless network hospitals or cashless garages near your pin code before buying.
  4. Read the policy wording document to check the waiting period and exact exclusions to avoid hidden charges. If you are ever unsure about a financial service, you can learn how to check if a loan app is RBI registered as a general practice for verifying digital platforms.

FAQs

Is ACKO approved by IRDAI?

Yes, Acko General Insurance Ltd is approved by IRDAI to sell insurance. However, the app publisher, Acko Technology & Services Private Limited, does not match a licence on the registers we check.

Is Acko insurance fake?

No, it is a real digital insurance company. The insurance arm is regulated, but the company did receive an IRDAI penalty in August 2026 for expense violations.

Why is ACKO insurance so cheap?

ACKO is a direct-to-consumer insurance company. This means they sell directly to you through their app or website and do not pay agent commissions.

What are the disadvantages of ACKO insurance?

Recent users report claim trouble and issues with the policy not being what was sold. The app also asks for heavy phone permissions, like reading your calendar and text messages.

The short version

  • Acko General Insurance Ltd is an IRDAI registered insurance company.
  • The app publisher, Acko Technology & Services Private Limited, does not match a licence on the registers we check.
  • IRDAI penalised the company in August 2026 for spending more on management expenses than allowed.
  • The app requests permissions to read your text messages, calendar, and contacts.
  • Recent app reviews average 3.21, with claim trouble being the most common complaint.

Sources

Disclaimer

Qrates is an information directory. It takes no commission from any company listed and does not recommend products. Figures are taken from the sources named and dated, and they change; check the company's own page before you decide. This is not investment, credit, insurance or tax advice for your situation. A licence or a clean record today does not guarantee how a company behaves later. To complain, use the regulator's own portal (RBI CMS, SEBI SCORES or IRDAI Bima Bharosa).

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