Best Home Warranty Companies

American Home Shield (AHS) stands out for its coverage of preexisting conditions, including rust, corrosion, and sediment damage—issues rarely covered by other providers. The only other company offering similar coverage is Cinch Home Services. American Home Shield also offers generous coverage limits of up to $4,000 for home appliances, $5,000 for most systems, and no plumbing and electrical caps. This makes it a good option for homeowners with older homes needing frequent repairs. The ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum plans also include free access to a video chat feature, which connects you with a repair expert to help troubleshoot issues remotely. This feature, offered through the company’s app, can help you resolve minor problems faster and save on service call fees.

However, American Home Shield has limited add-ons, restricting your ability to customize your plan. Providers typically offer 8–12 add-ons, but American Home Shield only has six. In addition, the company’s most comprehensive plan, ShieldPlatinum, is priced slightly higher than other top-tier plans we reviewed. Still, American Home Shield is a solid choice if you’re dealing with older homes or items that need frequent repairs.

American Home Shield offers the following key add-on coverage options:

• Roof-leak coverage: Yes
• Secondary appliance coverage: No
• Septic system coverage: Yes

AHS offers the following three plans for homeowners:

• ShieldSilver ($36 per month): The ShieldSilver plan covers 14 systems, including HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.
• ShieldGold ($50 per month): The ShieldGold plan covers 14 systems and nine home appliances, including dishwashers, laundry appliances, and refrigerators.
• ShieldPlatinum ($100 per month): The ShieldPlatinum plan includes the ShieldGold coverage and adds roof-leak coverage, HVAC tuneups, and other benefits.

Our American Home Shield tester filed a claim for a bathroom and kitchen floor leak and found the process quick and easy. Using his smartphone, he logged into his account, described the issue by selecting icons, and submitted the claim. Within five minutes, he received confirmation via email and text and a call from a local contractor offering flexible appointment times.

The contractor arrived early the next day, completed the repair within two hours, and provided professional, courteous service. He also offered advice on addressing mold caused by the leak. Our tester was pleased with the service and only had to pay the service call fee.

Choice Home Warranty is a good option for budget-conscious homeowners seeking mid-range coverage. Its comprehensive plans cost less than $70 per month, making it more affordable than most other providers in our review. Choice Home Warranty provides a generous $3,000 coverage cap per item, higher than Liberty Home Guard and Cinch Home Services. Additionally, its 90-day workmanship guarantee on parts and 60-day labor guarantee offer peace of mind, with no extra fee for repairs needed within those time frames.

However, its Basic Plan excludes coverage for essential appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and washers, which other companies typically include as standard. Choice Home Warranty also has a $100 service fee for all plans, unlike competitors that offer several service fee options for more pricing flexibility. Additionally, the company faces an ongoing legal case with the Arizona Attorney General over allegations of deceptive practices, such as using fine print to avoid covering repair costs.

Choice Home Warranty offers these key add-on coverage options:

• Roof-leak coverage: Yes
• Secondary appliance coverage: Yes
• Septic system coverage: Yes

Choice Home Warranty provides two coverage plans:

• Basic Plan ($60 per month): The Basic Plan covers seven systems and seven appliances, such as heating, ovens, and plumbing.
• Total Plan ($68 per month): The Total Plan covers eight systems and 10 appliances, including air conditioning, clothes washers and dryers, and refrigerators.

Our Choice Home Warranty tester has filed multiple claims with the company. As an example, she started a claim regarding her oven over the phone, taking about five minutes to reach an agent. She was then directed to the online portal, which was easy to use but required her to file her issue—smoking from her oven—under the description “burner stove.” After filing, she received email confirmation within 24 hours.

While the company has provided our tester with contractors for various claims, service timing and quality varied. Some contractors fixed issues right away, while others needed multiple visits or left without resolving the problem. Appointment times were inconsistent, ranging from one day to one month, causing frustration, especially when waiting for repairs on our tester’s fridge and air conditioning.

First American Home Warranty offers top appliance coverage in our review. The Starter and Essential plans include $3,500 in coverage, rising to $7,000 with the Premium Plan. These high coverage limits make First American a good option for homeowners with high-end appliances. For comparison, American Home Shield’s highest plan caps appliance coverage at $4,000. First American also provides unlimited coverage for most systems, unlike American Home Shield, which offers this level of protection only for plumbing and electrical. Additionally, you can add the First American Advantage upgrade to cover damage from improper installation or modification.

However, First American only offers comprehensive plans covering both systems and appliances, limiting flexibility compared to providers with system-only or appliance-only options. The Starter Plan also excludes air conditioning and washers and dryers, requiring an upgrade for this coverage.

First American offers the following key add-on coverage options:

• Roof-leak coverage: Yes
• Secondary appliance coverage: Yes
• Septic system coverage: Yes

First American Home Warranty offers three comprehensive plans:

• Starter Plan ($77 per month): The lowest-tier plan offers appliance and system coverage for some major items, such as built-in microwaves, heating systems, and refrigerators.
• Essential Plan ($100 per month): The next plan tier includes Starter Plan items, plus air conditioning, ceiling/attic/exhaust fans, and clothes washers and dryers.
• Premium Plan ($130 per month): The highest-tier plan covers all items in the Essential Plan, plus luxury appliances, roof leaks, and window air conditioning units.

Our First American Home Warranty tester filed a claim for a broken garage door opener and found the process was simple and intuitive. After logging in to his online account, he submitted a claim describing the issue. First American immediately confirmed receipt, sending a text with the assigned contractor’s contact information. Within an hour, the contractor called to schedule an appointment for the following Monday, as the claim was submitted on a Friday.

The contractor arrived on time, completed the repair in 20 minutes, and provided a clear explanation of the issue and the fix. The tester was satisfied with the service he received, and he only paid a service call fee.

AFC Home Warranty is our top choice for pricing flexibility, offering four plans and three service call fee options to fit your budget. AFC Home Warranty stands out with its workmanship guarantee, which lasts for the duration of your policy, potentially saving you money on fees for repeat repairs. Additionally, you can choose your own service technician, which is uncommon in the industry.

However, AFC Home Warranty has low $500 caps for electrical and plumbing systems, which may not cover more complex repairs. Its depreciation policy also reduces claim payouts for items five years or older, and the company doesn’t cover preexisting conditions, making it less ideal for homeowners with older systems or appliances. Instead, AFC Home Warranty could serve as a starter plan for new homes that might require fewer system or appliance repairs.

AFC Home Warranty’s key add-on coverage options include the following:

• Roof-leak coverage: Yes
• Secondary appliance coverage: Yes
• Septic system coverage: Yes

AFC Home Warranty offers four coverage plans:

• Silver Plan (Call for a quote): This plan includes nine appliances, including cooktops, garage door openers, and kitchen refrigerators. 
• Gold Plan ($44 per month): This plan covers nine appliances and six home systems, including air conditioning, heating, and plumbing. 
• Platinum Plan ($51 per month): This plan covers 10 appliances and nine home systems, such as built-in microwaves, plumbing stoppages, and faucets. 
• Diamond Plan ($82 per month): This plan includes Platinum Plan coverage, plus coverage for electronics and exterior sewer and water lines.

Our AFC Home Warranty tester filed a claim for a running toilet that wouldn’t fill. She found the online claim process intuitive and quick, taking about five minutes. Although the provider communicated frequently through phone calls and text messages, she found the texts a bit overwhelming. Despite this, she was pleased with the customer service and was impressed that the company found a contractor in her rural area.

Although the first contractor’s repair didn’t solve the problem, a second contractor promptly fixed the issue. Overall, the issue took about one-and-a-half weeks to resolve, but our tester was satisfied with the outcome and didn’t incur any out-of-pocket costs for the second repair visit.

Of the 13 companies we reviewed, Liberty Home Guard offers the most extensive add-on catalog with 42 options. Liberty offers various add-ons, including secondary items, professional kitchen appliances, pools, and guest houses. The company also features some unique home service add-ons, such as gutter cleaning and pest control, all of which can help streamline home maintenance with a single provider. Plus, the company has a mobile app and live chat for customer convenience.

However, Liberty has lower $500 caps for electrical and plumbing systems, compared to the $2,000 industry standard, and doesn’t offer unlimited coverage on some items such as American Home Shield or First American Home Warranty. In addition, the company doesn’t disclose its service call fees upfront, which can vary from $65—$125 and complicate budget planning.

Liberty Home Guard offers the following key add-on coverage options:

• Roof-leak coverage: Yes
• Secondary appliance coverage: Yes
• Septic system coverage: Yes

Liberty Home Guard offers three plan options:

• Appliance Guard ($57 per month): An appliance-only plan that covers nine appliances, such as built-in microwaves, dishwashers, and kitchen refrigerators.
• Systems Guard ($63 per month): A systems-only plan that covers six systems, including cooling, electrical, and plumbing.
• Total Home Guard ($68 per month): A combination plan includes comprehensive coverage for nine appliances and six systems.

While we haven’t tested Liberty Home Guard’s claims process firsthand, our secret shopping process provided valuable insights.

When we called Liberty Home Guard for a sample quote, a representative answered in under 30 seconds. The online chat feature also resulted in quick responses, though it initially connected us to an automated bot that repeated information from the website. We had to request an agent twice before reaching a real person.

Additionally, Liberty Home Guard’s online quote tool highlights the most common add-ons in your state, making it easier to identify coverage options tailored to your area. We haven’t seen this level of personalization with other home warranty tools.

Like American Home Shield, Cinch Home Services covers rust, corrosion, and preexisting conditions, making it a solid choice for homeowners with older systems or appliances. It also stands out for its affordability, offering budget-friendly plans along with perks such as a $25 credit for air conditioners or water filters and an annual $500 homeowners insurance deductible credit.

However, Cinch’s $10,000 annual coverage cap is lower than competitors. The company also excludes roof-leak coverage from both plans and add-ons, unlike many other providers. Additionally, Cinch offers only six add-ons, primarily focused on pool and spa coverage, giving homeowners fewer options compared to other companies.

Here’s a list of the key add-on coverage offered by Cinch Home Services:

• Roof-leak coverage: No
• Secondary appliance coverage: No
• Septic system coverage: Yes

Cinch Home Services offers the following three home warranty plans:

• Appliances ($51 per month): This appliance-only plan includes 12 appliances, such as built-in food centers, ranges, and wall ovens.
• Built-In Systems ($57 per month): This systems-only plan includes 16 built-in systems, such as air conditioners, garbage disposals, and plumbing.
• Complete Home ($68 per month): This plan covers 12 appliances and 12 built-in systems, and offers up to a $500 homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement.

Our Cinch Home Services tester filed an online claim for a low-pressure faucet, completing the process in about 10 minutes without needing documentation. The claims portal was intuitive, but follow-up questions required our tester to make a phone call to customer service.

Our tester’s claim was denied due to an incorrect entry—she mistakenly listed the wrong dates for when the faucet last worked, placing it outside her coverage period. While she ultimately resolved the issue without using her warranty coverage, she regretted not contacting customer support to correct the error.