EKTA vs SafetyWing: which Schengen visa insurance should you buy?
Is EKTA or SafetyWing cheaper for a Schengen visa? For a single, fixed-length trip, EKTA is usually cheaper on a short or medium trip. SafetyWing, when bought for specific travel dates, also charges per day (about $2.24/day at 18-39) but with no longer-trip discount, so EKTA's lead widens as the trip gets longer. SafetyWing's case is not price: it is the open-ended subscription option, a single $250,000 plan with no per-event cap, and a rated Trustpilot profile (4.3) where EKTA has none.
These two aren't really competing for the same traveler. EKTA is a one-off, per-day policy built for a fixed trip; SafetyWing is a subscription built for people who don't know exactly when their travel will end. Here's how they actually stack up.
What each one actually is
EKTA is a budget-focused, one-off Schengen visa policy: you buy it for a known set of travel dates, and the certificate arrives by email within minutes. Full details in our EKTA review.
SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance charges a flat daily rate for specific travel dates (about $2.24/day at 18-39, the same whether the trip is 14 or 30 days), and can also be run as a subscription that renews every 4 weeks until you cancel; it is aimed at digital nomads and long-term travelers rather than a single fixed trip. Full details in our SafetyWing review.
Price
| EKTA | SafetyWing | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Per day, fixed trip dates | Per day for fixed dates (flat, no duration discount), or a renewing 4-week subscription |
| Typical rate | ~€2.20/day (its partner discount has ended) | ~$2.24/day at 18-39 for specific dates (about $62.72 per 4-week subscription block) |
| Best suited to | A short, one-off trip with known dates | An open-ended or multi-month trip |
Source: provider pricing pages, checked against this site's own comparison data · Verified September 9, 2026; SafetyWing's per-day pricing checked 2026-09-15
Both charge per day for fixed dates, so on price alone the order does not flip with trip length: on our model EKTA stays below SafetyWing's flat rate while its checkout discount runs, and the gap widens on longer trips because EKTA discounts longer stays and SafetyWing does not. Where SafetyWing earns its place is the open-ended case: in subscription mode it renews every 4 weeks, which can be simpler to manage on a multi-month trip than a stack of one-off policies.
Medical cover
| EKTA | SafetyWing | |
|---|---|---|
| Cover amount | Start $50,000 · Gold $150,000 · Max+ $500,000 | $250,000, single plan |
| Deductible | 25% on Start; none on Gold/Max+ | Not stated as carrying a deductible |
| Repatriation & Schengen-wide validity | Stated on the certificate | Stated on the certificate |
Every tier of both providers clears the €30,000 Article 15 minimum comfortably. The real trade-off is EKTA's cheapest tier carrying a 25% deductible against SafetyWing's single, higher-ceiling plan with none stated.
Who each one is actually for
EKTA suits applicants whose main priority is the lowest sticker price for a single, dated trip, and who are confident they won't need to make a claim beyond producing the visa certificate.
SafetyWing suits digital nomads, long-term travelers, or anyone booking several trips over months who'd rather keep one subscription running than rebuy a policy each time. It also covers a child under 10 for free as a dependent, up to two per family — a perk EKTA doesn't advertise.
Where each one falls short
EKTA is a smaller company with mixed customer reviews, and its cheapest plan's 25% deductible matters if you ever actually claim. SafetyWing isn't sold to travelers 70 and older, a child aged 10-17 buying their own policy pays the full adult rate, and it isn't the right tool for a Type D long-stay or residency visa — those need a different insurer entirely. See the long-stay guide if that's your situation.
Questions people ask when choosing between them
Is EKTA or SafetyWing cheaper for a Schengen visa? For a single, fixed-length trip, EKTA is usually cheaper — it prices per day with a duration discount. SafetyWing becomes more competitive the longer, or more open-ended, the trip is.
Which offers more medical cover? SafetyWing's single plan covers $250,000. EKTA's Start plan covers $50,000 (with a 25% deductible), rising to $150,000 (Gold) and $500,000 (Max+) with no deductible.
Does either have a deductible? EKTA's entry Start plan carries a 25% deductible; Gold and Max+ do not. SafetyWing's plan isn't described as carrying one. Confirm current policy wording on each provider's site before buying.
Which is better for a long or open-ended trip? SafetyWing — in subscription mode it renews every 4 weeks until you cancel, so you're not rebuying a certificate for each leg of a multi-month trip.
Can a traveler over 70 buy either? EKTA sells to travelers 70 and older at a higher age-adjusted rate. SafetyWing does not sell to travelers 70+ at all.
Are children covered for free? SafetyWing covers a child under 10 for free as a dependent, up to two per family. EKTA doesn't advertise an equivalent perk. On both, a child aged 10-17 buying their own policy pays the standard age rate.
Which one offers more medical cover, EKTA or SafetyWing? SafetyWing's single plan covers $250,000. EKTA's cover depends on the tier: Start covers $50,000 (with a 25% deductible), Gold $150,000, and Max+ $500,000, both with no deductible. Both sit well above the €30,000 Schengen minimum on every tier.
Does EKTA or SafetyWing have a deductible? EKTA's entry Start plan carries a 25% deductible — its Gold and Max+ tiers do not. SafetyWing's plan isn't described as carrying a deductible. Confirm the current policy wording on each provider's own site before buying.
Can a traveler over 70 buy EKTA or SafetyWing? EKTA sells to travelers 70 and older, at a higher age-adjusted rate. SafetyWing does not — it isn't sold to travelers aged 70 and above at all.
Are children covered for free on EKTA or SafetyWing? SafetyWing covers a child under 10 for free as a dependent on an insured parent's plan, up to two children per family. EKTA doesn't advertise an equivalent child perk. On both providers, a child aged 10-17 buying their own policy pays the standard age rate.
Also consider: AURAS
Also consider AURAS, which is made by EKTA's own underwriter and priced as a flat $1.50/day (checked live 2026-10-02). It sits between these two on features: a $100 deductible, a $3,000 per-event cap like EKTA, and a 3.2 Trustpilot score. See AURAS vs EKTA, AURAS vs SafetyWing and the AURAS review.
Bottom line
Pick by trip shape, not by brand. A single trip with known dates points to EKTA on price. An open-ended or multi-month trip, or traveling with a young child, points to SafetyWing. Either way, check the full comparison table against your exact age and dates before buying.
Compare the six providers whose certificates consulates accept, or estimate the price for your exact trip in 10 seconds.