Home repairs are a reality of homeownership, and often these repairs are both unexpected and expensive. If you’re not financially prepared for these fixes, your wallet can take a big hit. A home warranty (not to be confused with homeowners insurance) can help you feel more prepared, though.
Here we compare two home warranty companies, American Home Shield and Home Warranty of America, breaking down coverage and pricing to help you decide which is the right fit. Both companies are available in the majority of states, so that's one less thing to compare. Home Warranty of America services all 50 states, and American Home Shield operates in all 50 states except Alaska and Hawaii, as well as New York City.
Key insights
American Home Shield offers low cost basic coverage, while Home Warranty of America offers good pricing for more comprehensive plans.
Jump to insightBoth companies offer add-on coverage for things like pools and roof leak repairs.
Jump to insightIf you sell your home, you can transfer your remaining coverage to the new homeowner with either company.
Jump to insightAmerican Home Shield vs. Home Warranty of America cost
While American Home Shield's monthly premiums are lower for basic coverage, Home Warranty of America is the more economical choice for comprehensive, high-tier plans. Another key cost to consider is the service fee, which is the amount you pay for a technician's visit; Home Warranty of America has a lower entry point for this one-time cost.
American Home Shield plans and pricing
American Home Shield lets you choose a service fee of $100 or $125, which is what you pay when you file a claim. Choosing a higher service fee reduces the monthly cost of your plan.
| Service fee | ShieldSilver | ShieldGold | ShieldPlatinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $39.99 | $59.99 | $89.99 |
| $125 | $29.99 | $49.99 | $79.99 |
Home Warranty of America plans and pricing
You can select a service fee of Starting at $75 from Home Warranty of America. The monthly pricing in the plans below is based on a $100 service fee — we were unable to get a quote for the lower service fee, but we assume it’s a higher monthly rate.
Home Warranty of America offers a discount when you pay annually rather than monthly:
- Premier plan: $550 per year
- Premier Plus plan: $700 per year
| Service fee | Premier | Premier Plus |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | $48.33 | $60.84 |
*Cost information is accurate as of the time of publishing. Price quotes used a Texas ZIP code; pricing may vary in other locations.
American Home Shield vs. Home Warranty of America coverage
The main coverage difference between these companies is how they structure their basic plans. American Home Shield's plans start by focusing only on home systems. Home Warranty of America, in contrast, provides comprehensive combo plans from the outset. As you look at their more expensive plans, both companies offer similar, robust coverage.
 |  | |
| Coverage |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | ||
| Air conditioner | | |
| Heating | | |
| Plumbing | | |
| Electrical | | |
| Ductwork | | |
| Sump pump | | |
| Water heater | | |
| Interior plumbing lines | | |
| Interior electrical lines | | |
| Exterior plumbing lines | N/A | N/A |
| Exterior water lines | | |
| Refrigerator | | |
| Dishwasher | | |
| Oven | | |
| Range | | |
| Cooktop | | |
| Microwave | | |
| Food center | | |
| Garbage disposal | | |
| Trash compactor | | |
| Ice maker | | |
| Hot/cold water dispenser | | |
| Range exhaust hood | | |
| Kitchen exhaust fan | | |
| Clothes washer | | |
| Clothes dryer | | |
| Toilets | | |
| Bathtub/shower | | |
| Faucets | | |
| Ceiling fans | | |
| Attic fans | | |
| Central vacuum | | |
| Doorbells | | |
| Garage door openers | | |
| Roof leak repairs | | |
| Main breaker | | |
| Plumbing stoppages | | |
| Home electronics | | |
| Smoke detectors | | |
| Jetted tub components | | |
American Home Shield vs. Home Warranty of America add-ons
American Home Shield offers a wider variety of specialty add-ons including coverage for guest units and electronics protection. Home Warranty of America's list is shorter. Both companies offer add-ons for pool and spa coverage, well pumps and roof leak repairs.
American Home Shield add-ons
American Home Shield offers six add-ons. See pricing for the most popular additional coverage items below.
| Optional coverage | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Septic pump | $4.99 |
| Roof leak repair | $9.99 |
| Well pump | $9.99 |
| Guest unit | $12.99 |
| Electronics protection | $14 |
| Pool and spa | $20.99 |
Home Warranty of America add-ons
You can choose up to 10 add-ons to customize your plan with Home Warranty of America. Some of the most popular add-ons’ monthly costs are listed below:
| Optional coverage | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Stand-alone freezer | $3.00 |
| Septic tank pumping | $4.54 |
| Septic system | $5.31 |
| Well pump | $6.08 |
| Second refrigerator | $7.62 |
| Pool and spa | $19.15 |
American Home Shield vs. Home Warranty of America policies
All home warranty companies have some similar policies, but there are nuances with cancellations, transfers, renewals and guarantees that are worth your time to dig into and fully understand before you sign up. Compare some of the key policies for American Home Shield and Home Warranty of America below.
American Home Shield policies
Plan length and waiting period: Each American Home Shield plan is 13 months, which includes a 30-day waiting period.
Guarantees: American Home Shield offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee for a free return visit for any covered repair or replacement that fails within that time period.
Transfers: If you move, you can transfer the remainder of your plan to the new homeowner.
Renewals: Your plan is renewable, and you can manually renew it in your account portal. If you have auto payments, your policy will auto-renew, but you will receive notification and your new plan agreement 30 days in advance.
Cancellations: American Home Shield has a lenient cancellation policy, allowing you to cancel at any time. If you cancel within the 30 days (during your waiting period), you can receive a full refund, minus any costs incurred by the company. After 30 days, you'll receive a pro-rated refund for the time left on your plan, minus a fee of up to one month's payment and any other applicable fees. This can vary by state, so be sure to check a sample contract for your state.
Home Warranty of America policies
Plan length: All plans provide 13 months of coverage.
Renewals: You can renew your policy online in your portal.
Transfers: Similar to American Home Shield, if you sell your home while your policy is active, you can transfer the coverage to the new homeowner. Just call Home Warranty of America and provide the new owner's name.
Cancellations: Home Warranty of America has a similar cancellation policy to American Home Shield. The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to cancel in the first 30 days for a full refund as long as no claims have been made yet. If you cancel after that time, you'll receive a prorated refund for the remaining term, less any fees, and an administrative fee of either $30 or $10% of the contract fee, whichever is less.
Both companies have some state-specific guidelines, so be sure to read the full fine print before you sign up.
What American Home Shield customers say
Overall, American Home Shield receives mostly positive reviews on ConsumerAffairs. Happy customers say the company covers critical items, is good about replacing items that can’t be repaired and offers a good value for the service. However, some lower ratings mention frustration with the monthly fee increasing and wait times for both services and customer support callbacks when it comes to claim resolution.
We've had American Home Shield for 10 years ... We used them recently when our water heater went out, and the contractors were very good. ... Overall, I was very satisfied.”
– John of Pittsburgh, PA
What Home Warranty of America customers say
Home Warranty of America reviews on ConsumerAffairs are mixed. Among 5-star reviews, we see comments about quick, no-fuss service and claims submissions, with customers saying the service paid off and that they’d recommend the company to friends and family. On the other hand, we saw some themes in 1-star reviews related to claims being left open for months and resolutions being difficult to manage. We always recommend looking at the latest reviews for a company when making your decision.
It's pretty good value for your money. I had a contractor come out to repair a washing machine and the guy knew what he was doing.”
– Frank of Blue Mound, IL
Bottom line: American Home Shield or Home Warranty of America?
American Home Shield and Home Warranty of America offer similarly priced home warranty solutions. American Home Shield has three plan options; Home Warranty of America has just two coverage tiers. However, the deductible amount you choose with either company affects the overall monthly cost. Both companies offer add-on coverage options, though there are a couple of differences — for instance, American Home Shield offers electronics and roof leak coverage, but Home Warranty of America doesn’t. With Home Warranty of America’s Premier Plus plan, though, there’s a focus on small parts and components that aren’t typically covered.
- American Home Shield is best for those who want more options for combination packages. It offers two levels of systems and appliances coverage.
- Home Warranty of America is best for those looking for coverage for smaller parts and components that aren’t usually covered. You can find this with the Premier Plus plan.
