Cowbell vs Embroker: How Do They Compare for Tech E&O Insurance?

Cowbell Prime Tech combines tech E&O and cyber in one non-admitted policy sold through agents, for firms up to $1B in revenue; Embroker sells a blended policy direct online and through brokers, whose program targets private tech firms under $300 million.

Embroker sells blended Tech E&O and cyber online or through brokers to private tech companies under $300 million in revenue, but its excess can't sit on its own primary; Cowbell's Prime Tech, sold only through agents, covers tech firms up to $1 billion in revenue with $5 million primary plus $5 million Prime Tech Plus excess. ^3,^4,^1,²

What Are the Key Differences Between Cowbell and Embroker Tech E&O Insurance?

Online Purchase Under $300 Million vs Agent-Sold Cover up to $1 Billion

Both combine Tech E&O and cyber in one policy with primary limits up to $5 million. Embroker sells its blend directly and through Embroker Access brokers to private, for-profit tech companies under $300 million in revenue, requires multi-factor authentication above $5 million in revenue, and excludes crypto, blockchain and cannabis. Cowbell sells Prime Tech only through agents, as surplus lines (fewer state protections) in all 50 states, to tech businesses with up to $1 billion in revenue. Choose Embroker if you're under $300 million and want to buy online; choose Cowbell if you're larger or need more than $5 million in total from one insurer. ¹ ³ ⁴

Stackable Excess vs Excess That Can't Sit on Its Own Primary

Cowbell's Prime Tech Plus adds up to $5 million of follow-form excess above an underlying primary Tech E&O and cyber policy. Embroker's excess can't sit above an Embroker primary, so if you buy Embroker's primary, your excess must come from another insurer. Embroker publishes named sub-limits; Cowbell doesn't break them out. ¹ ² ³ ⁴

Software Copyright Cover vs Conflicting IP Statements

Cowbell lists software copyright disputes among Prime Tech coverages. Embroker's retail page lists copyright and IP infringement as excluded, while its broker program lists software code infringement as included. If IP claims worry you, get Embroker's actual form. ³ ⁴ ¹

What Should You Confirm in Cowbell and Embroker Tech E&O Insurance Quotes?

If you need excess over an Embroker primary, ask which other insurer would provide it, or compare Cowbell's primary-plus-excess option. ³ ²
Ask Embroker to show whether software code infringement is covered on your form. ³ ⁴
Ask both which insurer issues the policy; neither names one. ¹ ³
Check your revenue, MFA and industry against Embroker's rules and Cowbell's $1 billion ceiling. ⁴ ¹

Cowbell vs Embroker Tech E&O Insurance Compared

Cowbell vs Embroker: Tech E&O Insurance: documented features by provider

Criteria	Cowbell Prime Tech / Prime Tech Plus	Embroker Technology Errors and Omissions / Cyber Insurance
Limits and Retentions	Cowbell states Prime Tech offers limits up to $5M, and Prime Tech Plus (the excess layer) also offers limits up to $5M above the underlying primary policy. ^1,²Company-reported. Product overview PDFs.	Embroker's broker program advertises limits up to $5 million for most insuring agreements, with sub-limits of $1 million for reputational harm and telecommunications fraud, and $500,000 for social engineering, funds transfer fraud and bricking (which includes a $100,000 betterment sub-limit). ⁴Company-reported. Broker Access Coverage Highlights; retail underwriting limits were not separately disclosed on the reviewed retail page. Embroker offers excess Tech E&O/Cyber coverage above a primary policy, but its excess product cannot sit above an Embroker primary policy — buyers need an underlying Tech E&O or Tech E&O + Cyber policy from a different carrier before applying for excess. ³Company-reported. Retail 'What is excess Tech E&O / Cyber Insurance?' and 'How to apply' sections; a related excess-specific offering exists for management-liability but is treated separately here.
Who It’s For	Cowbell targets Prime Tech and Prime Tech Plus at technology businesses with up to $1B in revenue, listing example segments such as SaaS/app service providers, IT consultants, data analytics, hardware resellers, and web design or web services firms. ^1,²Company-reported. Risk Appetite sections of both PDFs.	Embroker's broker program targets private, for-profit technology companies (including fintech, AI, digital health, HR tech and SaaS) with under $300 million in revenue, requires multifactor authentication for accounts above $5 million in revenue, and excludes businesses involved in crypto, blockchain or cannabis. ⁴Company-reported. Broker Access appetite page; not a guarantee of eligibility for a particular business, and may differ from retail underwriting appetite.
How to Apply	Cowbell says Prime Tech is available on a surplus-lines basis in all 50 states and is distributed through agents rather than direct to businesses. ¹Company-reported. 'Prime Tech Coverage Benefits' list, first bullet.	Embroker offers a direct online quote through its digital platform, and separately appoints brokers through Embroker Access to place the same coverage for their clients. ^3,⁴Company-reported. Retail 'Quick quotes' feature and broker-portal 'Get Appointed' call to action; no quote or appointment was requested during this research.
Coverage Features	Cowbell lists Prime Tech coverage for delay in delivery, negligence, misrepresentation, breach of warranty/contract, product failures, and software copyright disputes, plus associated cyber-related costs like cyber extortion, data restoration, social engineering, and business interruption. ¹Company-reported. Prime Tech FAQ, 'What coverage is offered?' and 'other associated costs' lists. Cowbell says Prime Tech includes duty to defend, defense costs for privacy-related regulatory proceedings, contractual-indemnity coverage, expansive breach-of-contract coverage, broad intellectual-property infringement coverage, and no exclusions for guarantees, consequential damages, or breach of warranties. ¹Company-reported. 'Prime Tech Coverage Benefits' list; illustrative, subject to the issued policy.	Embroker lists coverage for cyber liability (data breaches, cyber theft, cyber vandalism), professional negligence from product or tech errors, software or hardware defects, breach of contract, and losses from a delayed product launch. ³Company-reported. Retail product-page What's covered section; the issued policy and declarations control.
Role in This Line	Cowbell markets Prime Tech as a non-admitted professional-indemnity product that combines Technology Errors & Omissions (E&O) with cyber coverage in one policy, and Prime Tech Plus as a follow-form excess layer that sits above a primary Tech E&O/cyber policy. ^1,²Company-reported. Prime Tech and Prime Tech Plus overview PDFs.	Embroker sells Tech E&O/Cyber as a single blended policy directly to technology companies and also distributes it through appointed brokers via its Embroker Access broker portal. ^3,⁴Company-reported. Retail and broker-facing page descriptions; not a statement about the issuing insurer.