Introduction

For those considering cryopreservation, the Cryonics Institute and Alcor Life Extension Foundation stand as the two most established options in the United States. This comparison examines both organizations to help you make the best possible choice for your circumstances.

Both Cryonics Institute and Alcor serve the mission of preserving individuals at subzero temperatures in the hope of future medical intervention.

Both organizations are extremely professional. Cryonics Institute is a much cheaper option if you get the basic membership without any standby, but Alcor has more active research and development and more employees. Alcor's prices are higher, but they provide a higher level of service.

Recommended For

Cryonics Institute may be better for you if:

• You're working with a limited budget and prioritize affordability
• You have family members or friends who can assist with standby procedures
• You live in the Michigan area or have a reliable local mortician or funeral director
• You're comfortable with a more minimalist approach that has lower upfront costs
• You want whole-body preservation only (they don't offer neuro options)
• You prefer the philosophy of providing basic services at the lowest possible cost

Alcor may be better for you if:

• You prioritize comprehensive standby services over lower costs
• You want a team of specialists on call for your standby/stabilization
• You prefer neurocryopreservation (head-only) options
• You're located in the western United States where Alcor has faster response times
• You're willing to pay more for additional services and technologies
• You value extensive case reports and research capabilities
• You prefer individual patient dewars for storage

Note that CI is significantly less expensive initially ($28,000 for preservation vs. $200,000 for Alcor's whole-body option), but does not include standby services, which must be arranged separately through third-party providers.

Company Overview

Both organizations are well-established, non-profit entities with decades of experience in cryonics. Alcor is slightly older, having been founded four years before CI. Both have similar patient and membership counts, though CI has preserved slightly more patients despite being founded later.

The geographic locations create different considerations; Alcor is based in a location less prone to natural disasters, while CI's Michigan location offers lower operating costs, which is reflected in their pricing (discussed in more detail below).

Services & Options

The most significant difference in services between the two organizations lies in their preservation options and standby services:

Preservation Options

Alcor offers both whole-body cryopreservation and neurocryopreservation (preserving only the head/brain), while CI officially only provides whole-body preservation. The rationale behind neurocryopreservation is that the brain contains the person's mind and identity, and preserving only the brain can allow for better preservation quality and reduced costs.

CI technically can accommodate "neuro" arrangements through third-party services that separate the brain before sending it to CI, but this is not an official CI service and requires additional coordination.

Additional Services

CI offers services that Alcor does not, including pet cryopreservation and DNA/tissue storage. These may be important considerations for those who want these additional options.

Standby & Transport

One of the most critical differences is in standby services. Alcor includes comprehensive standby and transport services as part of their membership. This means they maintain teams ready to deploy when a member's death is imminent, to begin cooling and stabilization procedures as quickly as possible.

CI does not directly provide standby services. Instead, members typically contract with third-party organizations like Suspended Animation for these services, which increases the total cost but is optional.

Technology & Methods

Cryoprotection & Vitrification

Both organizations utilize vitrification technology to minimize ice crystal formation. This process involves replacing water in cells with cryoprotectant solutions that transform tissue into a glass-like state rather than freezing it.

Alcor uses a cryoprotectant called M-22, while CI uses their own solution called VM-1. Both solutions aim to achieve the same goal, though there are technical differences in their composition and application.

Field Perfusion

Alcor's inclusion of standby services means they typically perform initial perfusion procedures in the field, starting the preservation process sooner. With CI, the availability of field perfusion depends on whether you've arranged third-party standby services.

Storage Infrastructure

Alcor typically stores patients in individual dewars (specialized containers for liquid nitrogen), while CI stores multiple patients in each dewar. CI's approach reduces costs but potentially increases the risk if a single dewar were to fail.

Research

Alcor maintains more active research programs, funding studies into improved preservation techniques and revival technologies. CI conducts more limited research, which is reflected in their lower costs but may impact long-term technological advancement.

Pricing & Membership

Membership Costs

CI offers a lifetime membership option of $1,250, which can be more economical than Alcor's Age-Based Dues that increase with age. While Alcor's dues are lower for younger members ($200/year for 18-year-olds), they increase based on age (Current Age × $15), making CI's annual fee of $120 potentially more economical for older members.

Preservation Costs

The most dramatic difference between the two organizations is in their preservation pricing. CI's basic whole-body preservation fee is $28,000, compared to Alcor's $220,000. This significant disparity is one of the main reasons people choose CI over Alcor.

Total Costs

When comparing total costs, it's important to consider standby services. Alcor's price includes these services, while CI members typically need to arrange them separately through a third party like Suspended Animation, which can add approximately $60,000 to the total cost.

Even with third-party standby services included, CI's total cost remains substantially lower than Alcor's. However, without standby services, the quality of preservation may be compromised significantly due to delayed intervention after legal death.

Detailed CI Membership Pricing

Important notes about CI pricing:

• Human cryopreservation prices do not include "Local Help" cost for a funeral director or shipping, which can range from nothing in Michigan to $3,000 on the US west coast — and more overseas
• Human cryopreservation prices do not include "Standby Help", which can range from $500 to $100,000 depending on distance from CI and options such as Suspended Animation or air ambulance
• Membership is required to make arrangements for human cryopreservation, pet cryopreservation, or tissue/DNA cryopreservation with CI

Alcor's Age-Based Dues Structure

Alcor utilizes an "Age-Based Dues" structure that determines annual dues based on a member's age when they first sign their membership agreement:

• $60 per year per minor child under 18 years old
• $200 per year for 18-year-olds signing a new membership agreement
• Current Age × Annual Dues Multiplier ($15 currently) per year for new or existing members

For example, if you sign up at age 30, your Age-Based Dues will be $450 per year (30 years × $15). This amount is locked in when you sign up, though the Annual Dues Multiplier may increase for new members in future years.

Funding Methods

Both organizations typically recommend using life insurance policies to fund cryopreservation, making the high costs more manageable through relatively affordable monthly premiums, especially if obtained when young and healthy.

Insurance & Funding Options

Life Insurance as a Primary Funding Method

Both the Cryonics Institute and Alcor recommend life insurance as the primary funding method for cryopreservation costs. This approach makes the substantial preservation costs manageable through affordable monthly premiums.

Term life insurance can be remarkably affordable, especially if secured when you're young and healthy:

• A healthy 25-year-old might pay as little as $10-20 per month for a $50,000 policy (enough for CI)
• A healthy 35-year-old might pay $25-45 per month for a $200,000 policy (enough for Alcor whole-body)
• Even at age 45-50, many healthy individuals can secure appropriate coverage for under $100 per month

Cryonics Institute Insurance Requirements

The Cryonics Institute requires:

• Minimum funding of $35,000 ($28,000 for cryopreservation + recommended $7,000 for transportation/funeral director costs)
• CI listed as beneficiary on the policy
• An additional $10,000-$20,000 is recommended if using Suspended Animation for standby services

Alcor's Insurance Requirements

Alcor requires:

• Minimum coverage of $220,000 for whole-body preservation or $80,000 for neurocryopreservation
• Alcor listed as primary beneficiary
• Policy that remains in force throughout the member's lifetime

Both organizations maintain relationships with insurance agents familiar with cryonics requirements and can provide recommendations upon request.

Alternative Funding Options

Both organizations also accept:

• Direct payment or prepayment
• Trusts designated for cryopreservation funding
• Annuities (in some circumstances)

The organizations recommend consulting with financial advisors familiar with cryonics funding to determine the best approach for your situation.

Standby & Transport

Alcor's Approach

Alcor's standby services include:

• A team that deploys to a member's location when death is imminent
• Immediate stabilization procedures after legal death is pronounced
• Cooling and cardiopulmonary support to preserve tissue viability
• Administration of medications to minimize damage
• Transport to Alcor's facility in Arizona

In 2023, Alcor developed an internal Deployment and Response Team (DART) consisting of former military personnel, nurses, and first responders. DART members undergo rigorous training at Alcor headquarters for initial certification and are kept sharp with bi-annual training. During their first year, DART completed more cryonics deployments for Alcor than any other year on record.

These services are included in Alcor's membership and cryopreservation fees, and are considered critical to achieving optimal preservation outcomes. The sooner stabilization procedures begin after legal death, the better the potential preservation quality.

CI's Approach

CI does not directly provide standby services. Instead, members have several options:

• Contract with Suspended Animation or another third-party service
• Rely on local funeral directors trained in basic cooling procedures
• Have family members or associates trained to perform basic procedures

The lack of included standby services is a significant factor in CI's lower pricing, but it also presents a potential compromise in preservation quality unless additional arrangements are made.

Geographic Considerations

Both organizations face challenges with members located far from their facilities, particularly international members. Response times and border-crossing logistics can complicate timely intervention. Alcor has more experience with international cases, though both organizations have successfully handled such situations.

Facilities & Storage

Alcor's Facilities

Alcor's facility in Scottsdale, Arizona includes:

• A fully equipped operating room for perfusion procedures
• A dedicated patient care bay for long-term storage
• Research laboratory space
• Advanced monitoring systems and backup power

Patients are typically stored in individual dewars, with separate dewars for whole-body and neurocryopreservation patients.

CI's Facilities

CI's facility in Clinton Township, Michigan includes:

• Perfusion area for cryoprotectant procedures
• Storage area for patient dewars
• Basic monitoring and backup systems

CI typically stores multiple patients in each dewar to reduce costs, with whole-body patients placed in a circular arrangement.

Storage Security

Both organizations implement various security measures to ensure long-term patient care:

• Backup power systems
• Monitoring of liquid nitrogen levels
• Physical security of the facilities

Alcor's higher fees fund more comprehensive backup systems and monitoring, while CI's approach is more cost-efficient but potentially less redundant.

Financial Stability

Alcor's Financial Structure

Alcor maintains a Patient Care Trust to ensure long-term care of patients. This trust is legally separate from Alcor's operating funds, designed to generate returns sufficient for indefinite patient maintenance. For whole body cryopreservation, $115,000 of the member's funding goes into the Trusts, while for neurocryopreservation, $25,000 is allocated to the Trusts. The investment funds are held by Morgan Stanley.

In 2018, Alcor formed two independent 501(c)(3) supporting organization trusts (the Alcor Care Trust and Alcor Endowment Trust) to provide even greater liability protection for investments from the Patient Care Trust. This conservative funding arrangement is designed to cover the cost of patient storage solely from the income from the Trusts, ensuring that funding will continue indefinitely into the future.

CI's Financial Structure

CI allocates part of each preservation payment to a Patient Care Fund, which covers the ongoing costs of maintaining patients in cryopreservation. CI's approach emphasizes minimizing costs to make services more accessible, which results in lower reserves per patient but has been sustainable over decades.

Long-term Considerations

Both organizations have been stable for decades, but their approaches to financial security differ:

• Alcor charges more and maintains larger reserves per patient
• CI operates with lower overhead and less financial buffer

The ideal approach depends on your risk tolerance and priorities. Alcor's model potentially offers more security but at significantly higher cost, while CI makes cryonics more accessible but with potentially less robust long-term funding.

Pros & Cons

Conclusion

The choice between Alcor and the Cryonics Institute ultimately depends on your priorities, budget, and risk tolerance. Here are some guidelines to help you decide:

Alcor might be better if:

• You prioritize comprehensive standby services without needing to make separate arrangements
• You're interested in neurocryopreservation
• You value more extensive research programs and technological development
• You prefer individual patient storage
• You have the financial means to afford the higher costs

Cryonics Institute might be better if:

• Cost is a major consideration in your decision
• You're comfortable arranging separate standby services or accepting the potential preservation quality trade-offs
• You're interested in pet preservation or DNA storage
• You prefer a whole-body preservation approach
• You value a simpler, more cost-efficient organizational structure

Many people choose CI primarily for its much lower cost, which makes cryonics accessible to a broader range of people. Others select Alcor for its comprehensive services and potentially higher preservation quality due to included standby services.

Both organizations have demonstrated long-term stability and commitment to their mission. Regardless of which you choose, it's crucial to:

• Become a member well before any health concerns arise
• Secure appropriate funding (typically life insurance)
• Complete all legal paperwork properly
• Inform family members and medical providers of your wishes

Remember that this comparison represents information available at the time of writing. I personally recommend contacting both organizations directly. I have found that they are more than willing to discuss any concerns you may have.