Whole life insurance guarantees lifelong coverage with a cash value component, fixed death benefit, and set premium prices. It may also pay out annual dividends. Whole life insurance premiums are significantly higher than term life.
Term life insurance offers a death benefit for a limited period of time, but the death benefit is lost if the policy owner outlives the term (10-130 years). This type of policy offers significantly lower premiums, but they may increase with time. There is no cash value component and it is not eligible for dividends.