A lot of “top 10” lists are basically marketing: no clear criteria, no licensing checks, and no warning that ratings can change by branch. That’s not useful when you’re trusting someone with a claim, a renewal, or a business policy that has real consequences.
This list is non-sponsored. Nobody paid to be on it. I built it around the same things I’d use if I were choosing a broker for my own family: legitimacy first, then service patterns, then public review signals (with the big reminder that Ontario brokerages often have multiple branches).
How this list was built (and what you should verify)
What we weighed most:
- Ontario legitimacy: you should be able to verify the broker/brokerage through RIBO (non-negotiable).
- Renewal behaviour: do people mention surprise renewals and no explanations, or do they mention re-shopping and clear communication?
- Claims-time support signals: not “they approve claims” (insurers decide), but “they helped, guided, followed up, fixed paperwork.”
- Market access: a broker that can quote many insurers usually gives you better odds—especially if you’re not a perfect “vanilla” profile.
- Branch consistency: big networks can be great… or uneven. Always check the exact office you’ll deal with.
Read: Buying your first car
Ratings note (important): Any star rating you see online is a snapshot. Before you decide, check Google Maps for your exact branch (same city + same phone + same address) and look at the review count, not just the stars.
Top 10 insurance brokerages in Ontario
Quick comparison
| Brokerage | Best for | Service style | What to verify before you choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitch Insurance | Auto/home + harder profiles | Tech-forward + advisor support | Which office/team you’ll deal with; review count for that listing |
| Duliban Insurance Brokers | Personal + small business | Advisor-led | Branch-specific reviews; renewal communication patterns |
| Billyard Insurance Group (The BIG) | Local branch option across Ontario | Branch network model | Your exact BIG location’s reviews (ratings can vary a lot) |
| Cowan Insurance Group | Commercial + benefits + larger accounts | Commercial-first | If you’re small personal-lines only, ask if you’ll feel “too small” |
| Jones DesLauriers (JDIM) | Mid-market commercial | Commercial-first | Ask about service model for smaller businesses vs larger accounts |
| Staebler Insurance | Ontario families + long-standing brokerage | Advisor-led | Response time for changes (vehicle swaps, address changes, etc.) |
| ThinkInsure | Fast personal-lines quoting | Quote-first, speed-focused | Whether the coverage match is apples-to-apples (deductibles, endorsements) |
| Zensurance | Small business insurance | Digital-first commercial | Who actually services your policy after binding |
| isure | Digital-first personal lines | Online-first | Whether you’ll have a dedicated broker or a rotating team |
| KTX Insurance Brokers | Online comparison approach | Digital-first | Which carriers they’re quoting you with (ask directly) |
1) Mitch Insurance
Mitch is one of the few Ontario brokerages that openly leans into “we’re going to shop the market” and build tools around it. They also publish a Google rating snapshot publicly on their site (useful transparency). If your situation isn’t straightforward—new driver, multiple vehicles, tricky postal code, specialty coverage—market access matters more than a flashy quote.
Best fit: people who want options, not just one insurer’s quote.
Read: Licence timeline in Ontario
2) Duliban Insurance Brokers
Duliban’s public review snapshot shows strong volume, and what stands out is how often people talk about service, not just price. That’s what you want from a broker: someone who answers questions before it becomes a problem. If you’ve been burned by “we’ll call you at renewal” (and nobody calls), pay attention to that theme when you read their negative reviews.
Best fit: families bundling home + auto, plus small business owners who want an advisor.
Read: Renting your first apartment
3) Billyard Insurance Group (The BIG)
BIG belongs on an Ontario top 10, but with an asterisk: it’s a branch model. One location can be excellent, another can be new with fewer reviews. Don’t judge BIG as one monolith—judge your BIG office. The upside is local access; the risk is inconsistency.
Best fit: people who want a local branch experience and can verify their specific location is strong.
Read: Reserve fund study
4) Cowan Insurance Group
Cowan is a heavy hitter for commercial insurance and group benefits. If you’re insuring a business, a broker that does commercial all day can feel completely different from a personal-lines shop that “also does business sometimes.” The trade-off is vibe: if you’re just trying to insure one car and a rental apartment, ask whether you’ll get a smooth personal-lines process.
Best fit: business owners, professionals, and organizations that need more than basic personal insurance.
5) Jones DesLauriers (JDIM)
JDIM is frequently mentioned in commercial contexts. The key here is fit: if your needs are simple, you might not need a commercial-focused brokerage. If you’ve got multiple locations, higher liability needs, or complex property risks, a commercial specialist can be worth it.
Best fit: mid-market commercial risks (and people who value structured risk advice).
6) Staebler Insurance
Staebler shows up as a long-standing Ontario brokerage with publicly visible review signals. The reason it earns a spot isn’t hype—it’s the “steady” profile. In practice, steady means: clear communication, fewer surprises, and a process that doesn’t collapse when you need to change something quickly.
Best fit: families and homeowners who value consistency.
7) ThinkInsure
ThinkInsure tends to attract people who want speed. That can be great—if you’re careful. Fast quoting is only a win if the coverage is actually comparable (deductibles, water coverage, replacement cost wording, endorsements). When you compare quotes, compare the lines, not the monthly number.
Best fit: price shoppers who are willing to double-check coverage details.
Read: Photo card vs driver’s licence
8) Zensurance
Zensurance is known for small business insurance and a digital-first flow. For business owners, the most important question isn’t “how fast is the quote?” It’s “who services my policy after it’s bound?” Make sure you understand whether you’ll have a consistent advisor or a ticket-based support model.
Best fit: small businesses that want a modern process and don’t want to chase paperwork.
9) isure
isure fits the “I want to start online and only talk to a human if needed” crowd. That’s not a bad thing—especially for younger renters/condo owners. Just confirm how support works: dedicated broker vs rotating team can change the experience.
Best fit: renters, condo owners, and people who prefer digital-first service.
10) KTX Insurance Brokers
KTX is often brought up as an online comparison-style brokerage option. With any online-first brokerage, the smart move is to ask one blunt question early: “Which insurers are you quoting me with today?” If you can’t get a straight answer, that’s your sign to move on.
Best fit: people who want quick comparisons and are comfortable asking direct questions.
Why RBC and TD aren’t on this brokerage list
RBC and TD can be good for plenty of Ontario customers—but they’re typically bank insurance / direct or agency-style channels, not independent brokerages shopping a broad panel the same way a traditional broker does. If you want convenience and you qualify for a strong group discount, they can be competitive. If you want maximum carrier choice (especially for non-standard profiles), brokerages usually give you more angles.
2-minute safety checklist (Ontario)
- Verify the broker/brokerage on the RIBO directory before you share personal info or pay anything.
- On Google Maps, confirm you’re reviewing the correct branch listing (address + phone match).
- Read the 1-star reviews first. You’re looking for repeated patterns, not one-off rants:
- “Couldn’t reach them at renewal”
- “No help when I had a claim question”
- “Paperwork errors / cancellations”
- Ask this on the first call: “Do you re-shop me at renewal, or only if I request it?”
5 red flags when choosing a broker
- They can’t clearly explain which insurers they work with.
- Reviews repeatedly mention unreachable support when something goes wrong.
- Renewal process is vague (“we’ll call you”) with no clear timeline.
- Pressure to bind same-day without explaining deductibles/exclusions.
- Anything that feels like a “ghost broker” setup (odd payment requests, no clear licensing proof).
About the post:
How: We used Ontario licensing context (RIBO verification), reviewed publicly available rating snapshots where brokerages publish them, noted Ontario market consolidation/branch-model realities, and used Ontario-focused forum themes to identify repeated consumer pain points (renewal surprises, reachability, claim-time support).
