Finding the differences between home warranty companies to decide which is best for you can be difficult. To compare American Home Shield and Super side by side, we looked at premiums costs, service call fees, items covered, coverage terms and available discounts. We break down the plans for you to help narrow down your decision.
American Home Shield vs. Super cost
American Home Shield costs less per month than Super at every coverage level. However, Super charges a lower service fee, so you’ll spend less when you file a claim. Super offers a discount if you pay annually, though its plans are still likely to cost more overall than those from 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 |
Super plans and pricing
Super only offers one service fee of $99, so its plans’ monthly costs are always the same. Pricing varies depending on your home’s square footage. You can get a discounted rate for paying annually:
- Simple plan: $489 per year
- Signature plan: $829 per year
- Lux plan: $1,399 per year
| Service fee | Simple | Signature | Lux |
|---|---|---|---|
| $89 | $45 | $77 | $121 |
*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. Super 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. Super, in contrast, provides comprehensive combo plans from the outset. As you look at their more expensive plans, both companies offer similar, robust coverage for most major items.
 |  | |
| 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. Super add-ons
American Home Shield provides a much larger selection of optional add-ons with unique coverage for items like guest units, roof leak repairs and electronics protection. Super’s list is shorter. Both companies provide common add-ons like a second refrigerator and stand-alone freezer.
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 |
Super add-ons
Super offers 17 add-ons so you can tailor your coverage. Here’s how much you’ll pay monthly for the most popular items:
| Optional coverage | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Sprinkler system | $5 |
| Septic system | $7 |
| Well pump | $9 |
| Second refrigerator | $13 |
| Guest unit | $21 |
What American Home Shield customers say
American Home Shield receives mostly positive feedback from verified customers on ConsumerAffairs. Reviewers say the claims process is easy to use, service is fast and contractors are helpful and resolve issues. While we see many positive comments from customers, there are also reviews from customers who have issues, mostly related to communication and timing.
"I'm very happy with the services of American Home Shield. If anything breaks down. They back me up. I've submitted claims both over the phone and online and both options are very quick. The technician was fast at doing his job and my AC was working well. Three days later, it stopped working for three days. But it started working again by itself.”
What Super customers say
Super receives positive feedback for its easy and effective scheduling system during the claims process. Customers say they get their money’s worth on the policy and that the service is good for those who are not handy themselves. Some negative comments mention denials of claims and issues with contractors and customer service hold times.
"So far, we've been happy with Super. In the last year or two, we've gotten our money back of our policy. And we’ve only been told the pre-existing condition thing once or twice. So, Super had at least split the cost with us, or spent almost twice as much as I have on the jobs. We have had to, say, pay $400 of a $1,200 repair, but Super helped us out every time.”
Bottom line: American Home Shield or Super?
American Home Shield is a traditional provider of home warranty contracts that cover major home systems. Super functions a bit differently, with a subscription service that integrates home warranty coverage with home maintenance. Super sends maintenance reminders throughout the year, and members can accumulate rewards points that cover the cost of these types of services, which aren’t covered by warranty. American Home Shield does have add-on coverage — for roof leaks, for instance — that's hard to find from other providers.
- American Home Shield is best for customers looking for an affordable basic home warranty.
- Super is best for customers who need comprehensive coverage with plenty of upgrade options.
