AXA Schengen insurance alternatives: what you gain and what you give up
What is a cheaper alternative to AXA Schengen insurance? EKTA, AURAS and SafetyWing all cost less than AXA on short trips for travelers aged 18 to 39 in our estimates, with EKTA and AURAS the lowest. The trade-offs are real. SafetyWing has no premium back if your visa is refused. EKTA and AURAS are underwritten in the Comoros, outside EU supervision. AXA is the only one that returns the premium on an official refusal letter, and its certificate is the most widely verified.
AXA is the name most visa applicants know first, but it is not the cheapest on a short trip and it is not the only certificate consulates accept. Here is how the alternatives compare, and what you give up by leaving AXA.
Why people look beyond AXA
On a one or two-week trip, AXA's Basic plan costs €21.95 for 7 days and €39.90 for 14 days (live quotes, age 18-64), more than most of the alternatives. Its per-day price falls steeply on longer stays, so the gap narrows. Our AXA review has all eight quotes and the full scoring.
Estimated totals, one 18-39 traveler
| Trip | EKTA (with partner discount) | AURAS | SafetyWing | Heymondo | Europ Assistance | AXA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | ~€9 | ~€9 | ~€14 | ~€20 | ~€21 | ~€22 |
| 14 days | ~€18 | ~€18 | ~€27 | ~€36 | ~€40 | ~€40 |
| 30 days | ~€35 | ~€38 | ~€59 | ~€71 | ~€77 | ~€63 |
| 90 days | ~€91 | ~€115 | ~€176 | ~€181 | ~€200 | ~€99 |
Source: estimates from the rate model behind our homepage calculator (index.html RATES), per traveler, before any promo except where stated; AXA calibrated on 8 live quotes (September 21, 2026), SafetyWing on its live $2.24/day rate (September 15, 2026), AURAS on its live $1.50/day (October 2, 2026). Always confirm the final price on the insurer's site.
The pattern: EKTA and AURAS are the cheapest across the board, SafetyWing beats AXA only up to about 30 days, and from about 30 days AXA beats Heymondo and Europ Assistance outright because its long-stay discount is the steepest of the six.
What each alternative gives up
| Provider | Regulator | Visa-refusal refund | Age limit | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EKTA | Not EU (Comoros) | Only a paid add-on that reimburses visa fees | No upper cap, but cover drops to $10,000 or less from age 60, below the visa minimum | No rated profile |
| AURAS | Not EU (Comoros, same underwriter as EKTA) | Paid add-on (about $49 fee reimbursement, not yet verified against its terms) | Flat to 65, surcharge after | 3.2 from 169 reviews |
| SafetyWing | Puerto Rico, not EU | None | Sold to 69 | 4.3 from 4,042 reviews |
| Heymondo | EU (Spain) | No refusal-refund clause found in its General Conditions | Cover ends at 70 | 4.3 from 3,822 reviews |
| Europ Assistance | EU, confirmed in its policy document | Yes, standard terms | Must be 74 or younger to buy | 1.3 from 219 reviews |
| AXA | EU status stated by AXA, not confirmed by us | Premium refunded on an official letter, requested before cover starts and with no claims | No confirmed cap | 3.3 from 1,831 reviews |
EKTA and AURAS also cap payment at $3,000 for any single event on every plan, whatever the headline cover. Details are in the EKTA and AURAS reviews.
When AXA is still the right pick
Choose AXA if the certificate's recognition matters more than the price: several consulates can verify it electronically, it is the only one here that refunds the premium on a refusal letter, and past about 30 days it is often cheaper than Heymondo and Europ Assistance. Choose a cheaper alternative if your card works internationally, your stay is short, and you accept the regulator or refund trade-off in the table above.
Head-to-head comparisons
For a direct comparison, see AXA vs EKTA, AXA vs AURAS, AXA vs SafetyWing, AXA vs Heymondo and AXA vs Europ Assistance.
Frequently asked questions
Who is cheaper than AXA for a Schengen visa?
Is a cheaper insurance accepted by consulates?
Which alternative to AXA refunds me if my visa is refused?
Is AXA better because it is a bigger brand?
Are the cheaper alternatives safe to buy?
If price is the deciding factor, check the three below for your exact dates. If the certificate and the refusal refund matter most, AXA still has a case.
Paid affiliate links (SafetyWing, AURAS, EKTA): we earn a commission if you buy through them, at no cost to you. AURAS and EKTA share one underwriter that is not EU-regulated; SafetyWing is regulated in Puerto Rico, also outside the EU. How we compare.
Enter your age, trip length and travelers to see estimated totals for every provider side by side.