Introduction

Cryopreservation is a significant decision. If you're researching your options in the United States, there are three main providers to consider: Alcor Life Extension Foundation, the Cryonics Institute (CI), and Tomorrow Biostasis (which began serving American customers in July 2024).

This comparison focuses exclusively on technical details and practical considerations across these three established organizations. We'll analyze their protocols, capabilities, stability, and costs to help you determine which provider best matches your requirements.

Two smaller providers exist but aren't covered in depth here: Osiris Back to Life (Miami) and Oregon Brain Preservation (Salem).

Provider Overview

Historical Context

The two traditional American providers were founded in the 1970s, with Alcor established in 1972 and the Cryonics Institute following in 1976. The Cryonics Institute was founded by Robert Ettinger, often considered the "father of cryonics" and author of the seminal book "The Prospect of Immortality" (1962), which first popularized the concept of cryonics.

Tomorrow Biostasis represents the new generation of cryonics organizations. Founded in 2020 by Dr. Emil Kendziorra and Fernando Azevedo Pinheiro, it established itself quickly as Europe's leading cryonics provider and expanded to serve American customers in July 2024. Though relatively new, Tomorrow brings a modern approach to the industry with an emphasis on technology and user experience.

Geographic Considerations

Alcor's facility in Arizona offers advantages in terms of lower natural disaster risk and a dry climate, while CI's Michigan location provides lower operating costs in a cooler climate. Tomorrow Biostasis operates from Berlin with storage facilities in Switzerland, providing international coverage that now extends to the United States.

Your location relative to these organizations can impact preservation quality, as shorter response times typically result in better preservation.

Each organization has different regional strengths. Alcor has the strongest coverage in the western United States, CI in the Midwest, and Tomorrow in Europe with expanding operations in the US. For members, proximity to their chosen provider's standby teams can significantly impact the quality of preservation.

Services & Options

Preservation Options

The providers differ in their preservation options:

• Alcor offers both whole-body cryopreservation and neurocryopreservation (preserving only the head/brain), providing members with philosophical and financial choices
• CI officially offers only whole-body preservation, though arrangements for neurocryopreservation can sometimes be made through third parties
• Tomorrow Biostasis offers both whole-body and neurocryopreservation, similar to Alcor, giving members flexibility in their choice

The neurocryopreservation option (offered officially by Alcor and Tomorrow) is based on the principle that the brain contains a person's identity and memories, while offering significant cost savings compared to whole-body preservation.

Additional Services

The providers offer different supplementary services:

• CI offers pet preservation and DNA/tissue storage, providing more diverse preservation options
• Tomorrow Biostasis provides pet preservation services, having preserved 10 pets to date
• Alcor focuses exclusively on human preservation

Standby Services

A significant operational difference between the providers is their approach to standby and stabilization:

• Alcor includes comprehensive standby services in their membership fees, deploying teams to begin preservation procedures immediately after legal death
• CI does not directly provide standby services, instead requiring members to arrange these separately (often through Suspended Animation, Inc.)
• Tomorrow Biostasis, like Alcor, includes standby services in their membership package, with teams of healthcare professionals and trained specialists

The inclusion of standby services (by Alcor and Tomorrow) substantially impacts both the total cost and the quality of preservation, as rapid intervention after legal death is critical for optimal cryopreservation outcomes.

Technology & Methods

The major cryonics organizations utilize vitrification as the core of their preservation methods, but with some differences:

• Alcor uses its proprietary M22 cryoprotectant solution and has been a pioneer in developing cryoprotectants specifically for brain preservation.
• CI uses a more generalized VS-1 cryoprotectant solution that was not specifically developed for brain preservation.
• Tomorrow Biostasis utilizes modern vitrification solutions with enhanced penetration properties, designed to minimize fracturing during cooling.

Pricing & Membership

Basic Fee Structure

The cost difference between the American providers is substantial:

• Alcor's whole-body preservation costs $220,000, while neurocryopreservation is $80,000, plus annual membership dues of $525
• CI's whole-body preservation is $28,000, with annual membership fees of $120 or a lifetime option for $1,250
• Tomorrow Biostasis's whole-body preservation costs €200,000 (~$220,000), while neurocryopreservation is €60,000 (~$65,000), with monthly membership fees of €25 (~$27)

However, when factoring in the cost of third-party standby services (approximately $60,000) for CI members, the total cost difference narrows, though CI remains substantially less expensive.

Funding Methods

Alcor and CI typically recommend life insurance as the primary funding method, with the organization named as beneficiary. This spreads the cost over many years through affordable premium payments.

Tomorrow Biostasis also recommends life insurance funding and offers comprehensive guidance through their partner insurance advisors who specialize in cryonics arrangements. They also accept direct payments and cryptocurrency.

Value Considerations

When comparing costs, it's important to consider what's included:

• Alcor's higher price includes comprehensive standby, stabilization, and transport services
• CI's lower base price requires additional third-party services for optimal preservation
• Tomorrow Biostasis's pricing includes comprehensive standby, stabilization, and transport services, with a particular focus on international coverage

Pricing also reflects different organizational models - Alcor and CI operate as non-profits, while Tomorrow Biostasis operates as a for-profit company with a non-profit foundation for long-term storage.

Insurance & Funding Options

Life Insurance as a Primary Funding Method

All three organizations 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

Insurance Requirements by Provider

Cryonics Institute

Requirements:

• 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

Requirements:

• Minimum coverage of $200,000 for whole-body preservation or $80,000 for neurocryopreservation
• Alcor listed as primary beneficiary
• Policy that remains in force throughout the member's lifetime

Tomorrow Biostasis

Requirements:

• Minimum coverage of €200,000 for whole-body or €60,000 for neurocryopreservation
• Tomorrow Biostasis listed as beneficiary
• Their annual membership plan includes a 5% discount on insurance quotes from their European insurance partner

For a 30-year-old seeking whole-body preservation through Tomorrow, they estimate:

• Membership fee: €50/month (~$55/month)
• Estimated insurance fee: €32/month (~$35/month)
• Total estimated monthly cost: €82/month (~$90/month)

Alternative Funding Options

All organizations also accept:

• Direct payment or prepayment
• Trusts designated for cryopreservation funding
• Tomorrow Biostasis also accepts cryptocurrency payments

Each organization can provide recommendations for insurance agents and financial advisors familiar with cryonics arrangements. Consulting with these specialists is highly recommended to determine the best approach for your specific situation.

Standby & Transport

Alcor's Standby Approach

Alcor's comprehensive standby services include:

• Deployment teams that travel to the member's location when death is imminent
• Immediate cooling and cardiopulmonary support after legal death
• Administration of medications to protect against ischemic damage
• Field perfusion with organ preservation solutions
• Transport to Alcor's Arizona facility

These services are included in Alcor's membership and cryopreservation fees, allowing for rapid intervention without additional arrangements.

CI's Standby Approach

CI relies on members making separate arrangements for standby and stabilization:

• Many members contract with Suspended Animation, Inc. for professional standby services
• Some members rely on local funeral directors or medical professionals trained in basic cooling procedures
• Some depend on family members or associates following CI's emergency protocols

This approach requires additional planning and coordination but keeps CI's base costs lower.

Geographic Coverage

Both providers face challenges with members located far from their facilities:

• Alcor provides fastest response times in the western United States, particularly Arizona
• CI has strongest coverage in the Midwest, especially Michigan
• Both organizations charge additional fees for remote or international cases

For members outside these regions, response time and transport logistics become critical considerations that can impact preservation quality.

Critical Timing Factors

The speed of intervention after legal death dramatically impacts preservation quality:

• Ideal circumstances allow for standby teams to be present at the time of death
• Each hour of delay increases cellular damage before cryoprotection
• Geographic proximity to standby teams and facilities is a major determinant of outcome quality

This timing factor makes Alcor's included standby services a significant advantage for preservation quality, though at considerably higher cost.

Facilities & Storage

Alcor's Facilities

Alcor's Scottsdale, Arizona facility includes:

• A fully equipped operating room for cryoprotective perfusion
• A patient care bay with multiple dewars for long-term storage
• Laboratory space for research and development
• Advanced monitoring systems with redundant backups
• Secure, controlled access to protect patient privacy and security

CI's Facilities

CI's Clinton Township, Michigan facility features:

• Perfusion area for cryoprotective procedures
• Storage facility with multiple patient dewars
• Basic monitoring and backup systems
• Lower overhead and maintenance costs

Tomorrow Biostasis's Facilities

Tomorrow Biostasis's facilities include:

• Headquarters in Berlin, Germany for operations
• Modern long-term storage facility in Switzerland with advanced security
• State-of-the-art remote monitoring systems
• Mobile standby and stabilization equipment for rapid deployment
• Dedicated labs for ongoing research and protocol improvement

Storage Methods

The organizations differ in their approaches to patient storage:

• Alcor typically uses individual dewars for patients, maintaining separation and potentially reducing risk
• CI stores multiple patients in each dewar, arranged in a circular pattern to maximize space efficiency and reduce costs
• Tomorrow Biostasis utilizes modern storage technology in their Swiss facility, with advanced monitoring and security features

All three organizations maintain patients at liquid nitrogen temperature (-196°C), but their storage configurations reflect their differing philosophies on cost versus risk management.

Environmental Considerations

The facility locations offer different environmental advantages:

• Alcor's Arizona location provides lower natural disaster risk and dry climate, though with higher ambient temperatures
• CI's Michigan location offers lower operating costs in a cooler climate, though with greater seasonal weather variations
• Tomorrow Biostasis's Swiss storage facility benefits from political stability, low natural disaster risk, and strict privacy laws

All facilities implement security measures, backup power systems, and monitoring to protect against environmental threats and ensure patient safety.

Financial Stability

Alcor's Financial Structure

Alcor maintains separate funds to ensure long-term patient care:

• The Patient Care Trust, legally separate from Alcor's operating funds, currently holds approximately $18 million
• A significant portion of each cryopreservation payment goes into this trust
• The trust is designed to generate returns sufficient for indefinite patient maintenance

CI's Financial Structure

CI takes a different approach to financial sustainability:

• The Patient Care Fund receives a portion of each preservation payment
• Lower overhead and operating costs reduce the required reserves per patient
• The organization emphasizes cost efficiency rather than building large reserves

Tomorrow Biostasis's Financial Structure

Tomorrow Biostasis implements a hybrid approach to financial sustainability:

• Operations through a for-profit company with a non-profit foundation for long-term storage
• Dedicated endowment fund for long-term patient care
• Modern financial approach using both traditional investments and financial innovations
• Transparent financial model with regular reporting to members

Long-term Sustainability

The organizations have demonstrated different levels of longevity and approaches to sustainability:

• Alcor has operated since 1972, charging higher fees and maintaining larger reserves
• CI has operated since 1976, with lower overhead and less financial buffer
• Tomorrow Biostasis, founded in 2020, brings a modern business approach with significant financial backing and rapid growth

These different financial models reflect each organization's philosophy about balancing current accessibility against long-term security.

Organizational Transparency

The three providers vary in their transparency approaches:

• Alcor publishes quarterly financial statements and detailed explanations of its Patient Care Trust
• CI provides less detailed financial reporting but maintains transparency as required for non-profits
• Tomorrow Biostasis emphasizes modern transparency with regular updates to members on financial status and operations