American Home Shield vs. American Residential Warranty
What is the difference between American Home Shield and American Residential Warranty?
Home warranties can provide peace of mind, but they're only helpful if they cover the items you need protected. We compare two home warranty companies, American Home Shield and American Residential Warranty, side by side to help you make sure your home warranty fits your needs and budget. We look at costs, service call fees, coverages and more to make your choice easier.
Cost
 |  | |
| Monthly premium cost | $29.99 to $69.99 | $34.99 to $124.99 |
| Average cost for combo plan | $60 | $60 |
| Annual premium cost | $359.88 to $839.88 | $394.88 to $1,424.99 |
| Service call fee | $75, $100 or $125 | $55 |
| Discounts available | Not specified | Discounts for paying annually or quarterly |
| $29.99 to $69.99 | $60 | $359.88 to $839.88 | $75, $100 or $125 | Not specified |
| $34.99 to $124.99 | $60 | $394.88 to $1,424.99 | $55 | Discounts for paying annually or quarterly |
Plans
| | |
| Plans available | ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, Shield Platinum | Heating & Cooling, Kitchen Plus, Platinum, Platinum Premier, Ultimate Electronics Protection, 3-In-1 Bundle, 4-In-1 Bundle |
| Covered systems | 9 | 8 |
| Covered appliances | 9 | 8 |
| Combo plan covered items | 18 | 16 |
| Service recall period | 30 days | 30 days labor; 60 days parts |
| Availability | 47 states | 50 states |
| ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, Shield Platinum | 9 | 9 | 18 | 30 days | 47 states |
| Heating & Cooling, Kitchen Plus, Platinum, Platinum Premier, Ultimate Electronics Protection, 3-In-1 Bundle, 4-In-1 Bundle | 8 | 8 | 16 | 30 days labor; 60 days parts | 50 states |
Appliances coverage
| | |
| Built-in food centers | — | — |
| Built-in microwaves | ||
| Clothes dryers | ||
| Clothes washers | ||
| Dishwashers | ||
| Ice maker | — | |
| Instant hot/cold water dispensers | — | |
| Ranges, ovens and cooktops | ||
| Refrigerators | ||
| Trash compactors | — | — |
| Water sensors | — | — |
| Whirlpool bathtub | — |
| — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| — | — | — | — | — |
Systems coverage
| | |
| Air conditioning | ||
| Ceiling fans | ||
| Central vacuums | — | — |
| Doorbells | — | |
| Ductwork | ||
| Electrical | ||
| Garbage disposals | ||
| Garage door openers | ||
| Heating | ||
| Plumbing | ||
| Smoke detectors | — | — |
| Water heaters |
| — | — | ||||||||||
| — | — | — |
Other coverage
| | |
| Guest unit | Add-on | — |
| Pools | Add-on | Add-on |
| Roof leak repairs | — | — |
| Second refrigerator | — | — |
| Septic pump | Add-on | — |
| Spas | Add-on | Add-on |
| Standalone freezer | — | Not listed |
| Well pump | Add-on | Add-on |
| Add-on | Add-on | — | — | Add-on | Add-on | — | Add-on |
| — | Add-on | — | — | — | Add-on | Not listed | Add-on |
Reputation on ConsumerAffairs
| | |
| Overall star rating | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| Verified customer reviews | Read reviews | Read reviews |
| 4.4 | American Home Shield reviews |
| 4.4 | Read reviews |
All information accurate as of publishing date.
American Home Shield
American Home Shield is a reputable home warranty provider with some of the most complete plans on the market. You can add to its base plans with various add-ons, including electronics coverage through Allstate Protections Plans and coverage for a guest unit (up to 750 square feet). Homeowners can also choose from three service call fee options.
American Home Shield plans
AHS offers three packages. Below is what you’ll find covered by each one:
- ShieldSilver ($29.99/month): 14 major systems, up to $1,000 or $1,500 per contract term for many items to access, diagnose, repair and replace. Systems include heating and cooling, electrical and plumbing
- Heating and cooling systems: Air conditioners, heating units, ductwork
- Electrical systems and accessories: Built-in exhaust, vent and attic fans, main breaker and fuse panel box, doorbells and chimes, interior electrical lines, ceiling fans, garage door openers
- Plumbing systems and accessories: Interior plumbing lines, toilets, faucets and valves, whirlpool tub motor and components, water heaters
- ShieldGold ($39.99/month): ShieldSilver coverage plus nine appliances, up to $3,000 per appliance per contract term
- Refrigerators
- Ranges/Cooktops
- Ovens
- Dishwashers
- Built-in microwaves
- Garbage disposals
- Instant hot/cold water dispensers
- ShieldPlatinum ($54.99/month): ShieldGold coverage, a higher appliance limit of $6,000 per contract term and extras
- Roof leak repairs (up to $1,500)
- Free HVAC tune-up
- Unlimited A/C refrigerant
- Coverage for code violations and permits (up to $1,000 per year)
Prices here are based on quotes obtained for a 77009 ZIP code using a $125 service call fee option.
What American Home Shield customers say
Happy American Home Shield customers frequently mention the ease of the website and the claims submission process. They say their issues are fixed quickly and contractors are helpful and explain things well, with a few customers noting that technicians go the extra mile to help. Some customers who leave negative reviews mention the time it takes to resolve problems and that customer service isn’t always available when needed.
I'd rather have American Home Shield than other big companies. I'm in real estate and a lot of people will get home warranties and the ones they get are not AHS. When they call to have something covered, it's not covered most of the time. Also, with AHS, the claims process is easy. I file online and the next thing I know, I get a phone call.”
– Dale of Fort Worth, TX
American Residential Warranty
American Residential Warranty offers home warranty and electronic protection plans. To cover your electronics, the company partners with Asurion. It also partners with SafeStreets, an authorized ADT provider, for security system installations. Customers can qualify for up to $850 in free home security equipment. If you need to make a claim, the company allows you to choose your own licensed contractor if they can’t provide one for you.
American Residential Warranty plans
American Residential Warranty has several packages to choose from so that you only pay for the items you need. The company clearly displays prices on the website for plans and available additional coverages. You can also customize your plans to exclude central air conditioning for a lower price. Limits for access, diagnosis, repair, replacement and installation range from $500 to $1,000 per year. Here are the available plans to choose from:
- Heating & Cooling ($39.99/month):
- Central air conditioning system
- Central home heating system
- Interior electrical system
- Humidifier
- Kitchen Plus ($34.99/month):
- Interior electrical system
- Water heater
- Range, oven and cooktop
- Kitchen exhaust fan
- Refrigerator (excluding ice maker)
- Dishwasher
- Built-in microwave
- Garbage disposal
- Platinum ($49.99/month or $39.99/month without A/C): Includes all items in Heating & Cooling and Kitchen Plus
- Platinum Premier ($59.99/month or $49.99/month without A/C): Includes all items in Platinum plus:
- Plumbing system (fixtures not included)
- Plumbing stoppages (fixtures not included)
- Refrigerator (including ice maker)
- Garage door opener
- Ductwork
- Ceiling Fans
- Ultimate Electronics Protection ($24.99/month): Protects household electronics like:
- Laptops
- Desktops
- LED/LCD TVs and flat-panel or plasma TVs
- Gaming consoles
- DVD/Blu-ray players
- Printers
- External hard drives
- Home theater systems
- Hand-held gaming devices
- 3-in-1 Bundle ($109.99/month): Includes all coverage under Platinum Premier and Ultimate Electronics Protection, plus Deluxe Advantage add-on, which includes:
- A/C refrigerant and coils
- Refrigerant recapture
- Plumbing faucets and fixtures
- Permits, modifications and code violations
- Toilets and internal mechanisms
- Improper installation
- Mismatched systems
- Garage door springs and tracks
- 4-in-1 Bundle ($124.99/month): Includes all coverage under Platinum Premier, Ultimate Electronics Protection and Deluxe Advantage add-on, plus coverage for sewer and water lines
What American Residential Warranty customers say
American Residential Warranty customers frequently leave positive feedback about their experiences, and the brand has more positive reviews than negative reviews with ConsumerAffairs.
The caller was polite, courteous and knowledgeable. We resolved the issue on the first try and the call did not take an excessive amount of time. It was important to the agent that everything was done right. I felt like a valued customer and I will continue to use this service.”
– Sharon of Charlotte, NC
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Bottom line: American Home Shield or American Residential Warranty?
American Home Shield offers a straightforward home warranty process through three comprehensive plans (one systems-only and two combo plans) and a selection of add-ons. Its plans cover most things homeowners want, so you aren’t likely to pay more for additional coverage.
On the other hand, American Residential Warranty offers a semi-customizable home warranty, with six base plans to choose from, each with its own selection of add-ons. It also works with partners to provide electronic and home security options. But despite having similar pricing to competitors, ARW charges add-on costs to cover items like clothes washers and dryers and plumbing fixtures — commonly included as standard items with other companies — and provides no coverage for doorbells and bathtubs.
- American Home Shield is best for customers searching for comprehensive home warranty plans where few add-ons are needed.
- American Residential Warranty is best for homeowners wanting to build their own home warranty plan.
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