American Home Shield vs. Select Home Warranty cost
American Home Shield’s costs tend to be lower for basic coverage, but its mid-tier and higher-tier plans offer more coverage than Select Home Warranty. Another key cost to consider is the service fee, which is the amount you pay for a technician's visit. Select Home Warranty tends to have lower service fees than American Home Shield.
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 |
*Price quotes used a Texas ZIP code; pricing may vary in other locations.
Select Home Warranty plans and pricing
Select Home Warranty’s service fees range from $75 to $100 and are dependent on location. Your service fee has no effect on the cost of a plan. However, plans come at a discounted rate if you pay annually instead of monthly.
- Bronze Care plan: $629.99 per year
- Gold Care plan: $629.99 per year
- Platinum Care plan: $674.99 per year
| Service fee | Bronze Care | Gold Care | Platinum Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60 or $75 | $60.42 | $60.42 | $63.75 |
*Price quotes used a Texas ZIP code; pricing may vary in other locations.
American Home Shield vs. Select Home Warranty coverage
The main coverage difference between these companies is how they structure their basic plans. American Home Shield's basic plan mainly focuses on home systems and not appliances. Select Home Warranty’s basic plan focuses on appliances and it doesn’t cover any home systems. 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 | | |
| 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. Select Home Warranty add-ons
Select Home Warranty offers more add-ons than American Home Shield, though American Home Shield includes some of Select’s add-ons in its core plans, such as sump pumps and faucets. But American Home Shield offers more specialty add-ons, such as coverage for electronics and guest units. Your choice may depend on whether you need coverage for specific uncommon home items.
American Home Shield add-ons
American Home Shield offers six add-ons. See pricing for the most popular add-on items below.
| Optional coverage | Monthly cost* |
|---|---|
| Septic pump | $4.99 |
| Roof leak repair | $9.99 |
| Well pump unit | $9.99 |
| Guest unit | $12.99 |
| Electronics protection | $14 |
| Pool and built-in spa equipment | $20.99 |
*Pricing may vary by location.
Select Home Warranty add-ons
You can customize your Select Home Warranty plan with up to 11 add-ons. Monthly pricing for the most common add-ons is below:
| Optional coverage | Monthly cost* |
|---|---|
| Sump pump | $3.33 |
| Well pump | $3.33 |
| Stand-alone freezer | $3.33 |
| Central vacuum | $3.33 |
| Septic system | $5.83 |
| Sprinkler system | $5.83 |
*Pricing may vary by location.
What American Home Shield customers say
Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers have reported positive experiences with American Home Shield. Happy customers said the company had a quick and easy claims process and that they were happy with technicians’ work. However, some customers were frustrated with the claim timeline and call center.
Purterson, a reviewer from Georgia, said: “I've had American Home Shield since I bought this home in 2018 and [I’ve] used them for a number of different things. For the most part, they were responsive and helped me figure out what I needed to have figured out. [...] When I have claims, I just go to the American Home Shield website. Usually within 24 hours, I get a phone call.”
I've had American Home Shield since I bought this home in 2018 and [I’ve] used them for a number of different things. For the most part, they were responsive and helped me figure out what I needed to have figured out.”
What Select Home Warranty customers say
Select Home Warranty has received many positive reviews on ConsumerAffairs. Many happy customers reported being satisfied with the company’s prices and customer service. Multiple reviewers said they’d used other warranties in the past but weren’t satisfied until they switched to Select Home Warranty.
However, some unhappy customers reported that contractors weren’t provided in a timely manner and that they had issues with specific coverage.
Rishi, a reviewer from Texas, said: “I was looking for [a] home warranty and came [across] Select. All plans are simple and very easy to understand[,] and the customer service representative explained it nicely with nice [prices]. Being a new homeowner[,] it's really worth it to buy a home warranty. I would recommend Select for [a] homeowners warranty.”
I was looking for [a] home warranty and came [across] Select. All plans are simple and very easy to understand[.] [...] I would recommend Select for [a] homeowners warranty.”
Bottom line: American Home Shield or Select Home Warranty?
American Home Shield and Select Home Warranty both offer flexible coverage and add-on options, but there are some differences. Select Home Warranty offers an appliances-only plan, while American Home Shield mostly covers systems in its base plan. Select Home Warranty also offers more add-on coverage, but American Home Shield has some less common options, like electronics coverage.
- American Home Shield is best for people who want a basic plan with systems coverage or less common add-on coverage options.
- Select Home Warranty is best for people who are interested in an appliance-only plan or a systems-only plan.
