CNA vs The Hartford: How Do They Compare for Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance?

CNA describes modular E&O combinations and dedicated risk-control support, while The Hartford lists negligence, advice, libel and copyright allegations and explains claims-made and occurrence forms. 4,5,9

CNA Small Business Insurance: Products, Agents and Service

CNA directs small-business buyers to independent agents and describes CNA Connect as a businessowners policy for more than 600 small-business classes. Issuer and availability vary by policy and state, so confirm both in a quote. 1,2,3

Read the CNA profile

Read the CNA Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance page

What Is The Hartford?

The Hartford suits SaaS and software small businesses seeking a BOP and an online quote; buyers needing commercial auto through self-service or built-in California EPL coverage should use another route. Eligible small-business quotes can start online in minutes. 6,7,8

Read the The Hartford profile

Read the The Hartford Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance page

What Is Professional Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance?

Professional liability can help pay defense costs and covered losses when a client says your advice or service caused financial harm. If customers rely on your work, list every service you provide and check the claims-made reporting and prior-work terms. 10,11,12,13

Read the full coverage guide

Key Differences in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance

Program structure for technology and professional firms

CNA describes Epack 3 combining technology and professional liability with cyber and media, while EPS Plus combines E&O and cyber for professional-services firms. The Hartford describes professional liability around mistakes in client services, including baseless allegations. For a buyer seeking E&O alongside other lines, CNA names modular structures; The Hartford’s reviewed material instead explains the kinds of allegations its professional liability can address. 4 9

Allegations and policy timing

The Hartford lists negligence, misrepresentation, inaccurate advice, libel or slander, copyright infringement and defense costs, and says many forms are claims-made while some are occurrence policies. CNA identifies dedicated claims and risk-control support but its reviewed claims do not specify those triggers or allegation categories. Ask each carrier to map your service-specific exposures to the actual wording, then compare retroactive dates and any extended reporting period rather than assuming the product descriptions settle them. 4 9

What to Confirm in Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Quotes

  • Which CNA form and insuring agreements address your client contracts and professional services? 4
  • Is the Hartford quote claims-made or occurrence, and what retroactive date and tail period are available? 9

Review Scores

These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.

CNA

9.0/ 10

Review Score

1 rated source

Customer feedback on CNA is mixed and hard to compare. NerdWallet gave it 4.5 out of 5 for manufacturers, while Trustpilot shows about 1.4 out of 5 from 49 mostly self-selected reviews.[1][5]

Read CNA reviews

The Hartford

4.9/ 10

Review Score

5 rated sources

The Hartford’s service record is mixed: NerdWallet rates it 4.5/5 but reports below-average small-business satisfaction. Low Trustpilot ratings add a service concern, although they mix policy types.[1][2][4][5][6][7]

Read The Hartford reviews

Offering Details

CNA vs The Hartford: Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance: documented features by provider

CriteriaCNA Professional and Technology LiabilityThe Hartford Professional Liability Insurance (Errors & Omissions)
Role in This Line

CNA describes Epack 3 as combining technology and professional liability with cyber and media in a modular policy; EPS Plus combines E&O and cyber for professional-services firms. 4,5Company-reported. These are separate product routes and are not evidence that technology E&O and miscellaneous E&O share identical wording.

The Hartford's professional liability insurance, also called errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, protects businesses when they make mistakes in the professional services provided to clients, including claims that turn out to be baseless. 9Company-reported. Professional liability product page as read 2026-09-23.

Who It’s For

CNA says its Miscellaneous Professional Liability targets non-licensed professional classes such as consultants, staffing firms, advertising agencies and event planners. 4Company-reported. The listed classes are a target list, not a complete or guaranteed eligibility rule.

The Hartford targets professional liability at businesses that sign contracts requiring coverage, offer professional services directly to customers, or regularly give advice to clients, and lists industries it covers: accountants, consultants, interior designers, advertising agencies, graphic designers, technology professionals and healthcare professionals. 9Company-reported. Professional liability product page as read 2026-09-23.

Coverage Features

CNA markets Technology E&O for technology businesses facing professional-liability exposures and says it is intended to support contractual requirements. 4Company-reported. The page is a summary and does not define covered services, contract exceptions or policy triggers.

The Hartford says the policy can cover claims of negligence, misrepresentation, inaccurate advice, personal injury (libel/slander) and copyright infringement, plus defense costs. Many of its professional liability policies are written on a claims-made basis with a retroactive date and an extended reporting period (typically 30-60 days, extendable to a year or more for an added cost), though some are written on an occurrence basis. 9Company-reported. Professional liability product page as read 2026-09-23. General coverage and policy-form description; the issued policy controls.

Limits and Retentions

Confirm in your quote.

The Hartford publishes average minimum monthly premiums by product: Misc. Professional Liability Standalone $62, Misc. Professional Liability Endorsement $41, Architects and Engineers Professional Liability $239, Healthcare Professionals Professional Liability $38, and Errors & Omissions Insurance for Technology Companies $146. The page does not publish standard coverage limits or retentions; cost and limits are set at quote. 9Company-reported. Company-reported pricing as of 2026-09-23 (page last updated by The Hartford May 4, 2026); premiums are not coverage limits.

Risk Services

CNA describes dedicated claims and risk-control support for its cyber, media, technology and professional-liability business. 4Company-reported. This portfolio-level statement does not establish a service outcome or a line-specific claims protocol.

Confirm in your quote.

Full Comparison

More CNA vs The Hartford Comparisons

Other Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Comparisons

Sources

CNA

  1. Insurance for Small Businesses. CNA; Insurance for Small Businesses, lines 38-50 and 65-67 (CNA Central and agent route); lines 79-106 (product and stated appetite lists); page footer line 132 (CNA registered service mark). Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. CNA Connect Small Businessowners Policy (BOP) | CNA Insurance. CNA; CNA Connect; coverages, product range, services. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. General Disclaimer. CNA; General Disclaimer paragraphs 1 and 5 (HTML lines 24 and 28): CNA describes Continental Casualty Company and its relevant affiliates; references to CNA may include one or more CCC affiliates; each particular policy/product/service is the responsibility only of the specific CNA company that issues or supplies it. Footer line 57 identifies CNA Financial Corporation as trademark registrant. Re-read 2026-09-29. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  4. Cyber Insurance - Cyber Risk Solutions. CNA; Current U.S. page: Epack 3 combines cyber, media, technology and professional liability; MPL appetite, media support, technology E&O, claims and risk-control descriptions. Retrieved 2026-09-30. Accessed 2026-09-30.
  5. Epack 3 – Cyber, Media, Technology & Professional Liability. CNA; Official sell sheet: modular bundled policy, media coverages and possible extensions, technology/professional line descriptions and quote process for small risks. Marketing summary expressly defers to issued policy. Retrieved 2026-09-30. Accessed 2026-09-30.

The Hartford

  1. SaaS Insurance for Your Business. The Hartford; Audience list (software startups, SaaS, IT consulting); Get a Business Owner’s Policy; What Is Business Owner’s Policy Insurance?; general liability introduction and Get a Quote; Get Commercial Property Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance for Your Business; Benefits of The Hartford’s WC Insurance for Employers and Employees; cyber insurance and data breach descriptions; Get a quote for cyber insurance; EPLI introduction and Private Choice Premier; add-ons (workers’ compensation, data breach, commercial auto); technology professional liability mention; small-business availability banner; industry-average premium footnote; footnote 2 state restrictions; footer product-availability disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Find a Local Insurance Agent. The Hartford; Small-business and midsize agent locators; FAQ that buyers can purchase without an agent by calling or quoting online; statement that agents may charge fees. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Professional Liability Insurance Coverage. The Hartford; What Is Professional Liability Insurance Coverage?; What Does Professional Liability Insurance Cover?; Who Needs Professional Liability Insurance Coverage?; How Much Does Professional Liability Insurance Cost?; How Does Professional Liability Insurance Work? (claims-made vs. occurrence). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance Guide

  1. FAQ: Professional liability insurance. Texas Department of Insurance; What’s professional liability coverage?; What types of damages…; What’s general liability insurance?; Do I need professional liability… if I have general liability…?; Is professional liability insurance required?; Can a client require…?; What’s the difference between occurrence policies and claims-made policies. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. Professional liability insurance. Insurance Information Institute; Opening paragraphs (professional services/advice and E&O name); Claims not covered by general liability; What types of businesses need professional liability insurance?; What’s covered… and what’s not (claims-made versus occurrence, defense and judgments, non-financial/intentional limits, BOP/in-home exclusion). Accessed 2026-09-16.
  3. Get business insurance. U.S. Small Business Administration; Six common types of business insurance table. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  4. Professional Liability – US Direct Errors and Omissions Insurance. Hiscox Inc. specimen; About this Policy / Coverage for Claims Made Against You; I.A Insuring Agreement; I.B Defense; I.C Settlement; II.A Notice of Claims; II.C Optional Extended Reporting Period; III.A, III.K, III.M, III.R, III.S Exclusions; IV.A–B Limits and Deductible; VI.O Professional Services; VI.U Wrongful Act. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated . Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with the page URL and supporting source.

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