Cowbell vs 
Markel Insurance: How Do They Compare for Crime Insurance?
What Is Cowbell Insurance?
Cowbell suits small and midsize businesses seeking cyber options by company size, with technology E&O and Zurich management-liability options also available; firms needing broad commercial coverage should compare a full-service broker. Some security services cost extra. 1,2,3
Markel Insurance: Specialty Business and Products
Markel Insurance is Markel Group's specialty and small-business insurance business, with offerings across packages, workers' compensation, cyber, professional and management liability, property, marine, and surety. Products use different insurers and distribution routes, so compare the issuer and terms shown on the specific quote. 5,6
What Is Crime Insurance?
Crime insurance can help reimburse specified business losses from theft and fraud, including employee theft and forgery. Compare those protections separately and ask whether a payment sent after an impersonation scam is covered. 8,9,10,11,12
Key Differences in Crime Insurance
Program and Risk-Bearing Roles
Cowbell distributes crime as a module in Zurich’s Select Plus management-liability product, and the record says Zurich underwrites that module. Markel lists eCrime as one component of Cyber 360, without establishing a separate commercial crime policy on the reviewed page. The distinction matters when you need a crime policy rather than a cyber extension: ask for the full Select Plus module wording and the Cyber 360 eCrime section, not just the product names. 4 7
Eligibility and Access Route
Cowbell targets the crime module at private companies with fewer than 250 employees and $50 million in assets, and says appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers access it through Cowbell’s API; businesses do not buy it directly. Markel describes eCrime for Cyber 360 policyholders and directs buyers to the quoted policy for availability. A business approaching either provider should confirm whether it qualifies and identify the broker or wholesaler who can request the relevant placement. 4 7
Fraud Scope and Limits
Cowbell describes protection against criminal acts such as theft, fraud, and embezzlement by employees or third parties, but its reviewed pages publish no crime limit or retention. Markel names unauthorized transfers and fake payment instructions as eCrime examples, with exact availability and terms left to the quote. These summaries identify different scenario detail, not comparable limits; request the crime schedule and wording from each placement before assessing a potential loss. 4 7
What to Confirm in Crime Insurance Quotes
- Ask the Cowbell wholesaler which Zurich insurer will issue the policy and provide the crime limit, retention, and any sublimits. 4
- Ask Markel whether Cyber 360 includes eCrime for your placement and how its limit applies to fake payment instructions. 7
- Confirm that each program covers the specific employee, third-party, or transfer scenario in your controls and loss plan. 4
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.
Cowbell
Review Score
1 rated source
Cowbell has one public rating we could find: 1.0 out of 5 on SourceForge from three reviews in 2023. That's too few and too old to say much.[8]
Read Cowbell reviewsMarkel Insurance
Review Score
2 rated sources
There is little public customer feedback on Markel. Trustpilot shows 2.5 out of 5 from just 5 reviews, and BBB lists 12 complaints closed in the last three years.[4][3]
Read Markel Insurance reviewsOffering Details
Cowbell vs Markel Insurance: Crime Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Cowbell / Zurich Select Plus Crime Coverage | Markel Cyber 360 eCrime coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Crime coverage is one module within Cowbell's distribution of Zurich's Select Plus management liability product; Cowbell operates the platform, Zurich underwrites the module. Zurich's own page lists 'Crime Insurance' as one of the four modules a buyer can combine. 4,3Company-reported. Management liability page intro and module list; Zurich page module-name section. | Markel lists eCrime within the fraud and unauthorized-use section of Cyber 360; the reviewed source does not establish a standalone commercial crime policy from this page. 7Company-reported. Cyber policy component only; not a fidelity bond. |
| Issuing Insurer | Cowbell and Zurich both say the Select Plus modules, including crime, are written on Zurich admitted paper. Zurich's site footer names 'Zurich American Insurance Company' in its copyright notice, but neither page states that entity is the specific policy issuer for this module. 4,3Company-reported. Management liability page intro; Zurich page intro and footer. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Who It’s For | Cowbell targets this crime module at private companies with under 250 employees and under $50M in assets, across the same target industries listed for the broader Select Plus product. 4Company-reported. FAQ 'What size accounts are targeted?' and Target industries list. | Markel describes these resources and coverages for Cyber 360 policyholders; the exact availability and terms require the quoted policy. 7Company-reported. Policyholder-specific access and policy wording apply. |
| Coverage Features | Cowbell describes crime coverage as protecting against losses resulting from criminal acts such as theft, fraud, and embezzlement committed by employees or third parties. 4Company-reported. FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?'. | The page says eCrime may cover expenses from fraudulent activity such as unauthorized money transfers and fake payment instructions, subject to policy terms. 7Company-reported. Cyber 360 marketing description; does not establish a general crime-form grant. |
| Limits and Retentions | Neither the Cowbell page nor Zurich's own Select Plus page, both read in full, publishes crime-coverage limit or retention amounts. 4,3Not publicly disclosed. Cowbell page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23. | Confirm in your quote. |
| Risk Services | Neither reviewed page describes crime-specific risk-control services such as employee-dishonesty prevention programs; both describe the Select Plus product's claims backing only at the whole-product level. 4,3Not publicly disclosed. Management liability page and Zurich page, both read on 2026-09-23. | Confirm in your quote. |
| How to Apply | This crime module is accessed only by appointed Zurich E&S wholesalers through the Cowbell platform's API; it is not sold directly to businesses. 4Company-reported. FAQ 'How can I access the Zurich Select Plus management liability product through Cowbell?'. | Confirm in your quote. |
Full Comparison
More Cowbell vs Markel Insurance Comparisons
Other Crime Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Cowbell
- Cowbell. Cowbell; What We Do; Assess, Insure, Respond and Improve; U.S. navigation; footer legal disclosure. Accessed 2026-09-15.
- Prime Tech Product Overview. Cowbell; PDF pp. 1–4: non-admitted combined Technology E&O and cyber for technology businesses up to $1 billion; up to $5 million; surplus lines in 50 states; edition PRIME TECH US0001 1025. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Small and Midsize Business Management Liability | Zurich Select Plus. Zurich North America; Intro on the Zurich/Cowbell collaboration; module name 'Crime Insurance'; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (identical to Cowbell's page); Targeted industries list; footer copyright. Accessed 2026-09-23.
- Management liability coverage for small & medium enterprises. Cowbell; FAQ 'What is the difference between management liability and D&O?' (Crime Coverage definition); Target industries list; FAQ on access and account size. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Markel Insurance
- About us. Markel; Markel at a glance; description of Markel Insurance within Markel Group Inc. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Markel Group Inc. 2025 Form 10-K. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; filed by Markel Group Inc.; Cover page; Part I, Item 1 Business—Markel Insurance, U.S. Wholesale and Specialty, Programs and Solutions; Part II, Item 7/8 for group and segment risks. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Cyber Insurance Coverage. Markel; Cyber 360 coverage options: media liability; technology professional liability; eCrime; coverages listed within the cyber policy. Accessed 2026-09-29.
Crime Insurance Guide
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Crime. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Crime Non-Financial Applications and Forms. Travelers; Opening paragraph; Sample Policy Forms. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Crime Terms and Conditions. The Travelers Companies, Inc.; I.A–G, printed/PDF pages 1–4; III.RR, printed/PDF p.13; V.B.1–2, printed/PDF pp.18–20; Consideration, printed/PDF p.1; III.P p.8; V.A.3 pp.16–17; V.A.4 p.17; V.B.3 p.20; I.A.3 p.1; III.C p.7; III.S pp.8–9; III.II and III.KK p.12; III.QQ p.13; V.A.5 pp.17–18 (printed/PDF pages); IV.J–O, printed/PDF pages 14–15. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commercial Crime Coverage Application. Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America; I–III pages 1–2; IX–XI pages 3–4; V–VII, printed/PDF pages 2–3. Accessed 2026-09-16.
