Choice Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty

To help make the choice of a home warranty provider easier, we did a side-by-side comparison of Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty. We analyzed what items are covered, premiums, service call fees, optional coverages, extra benefits and customer reviews. Keep reading for help deciding which provider is right for your home and budget.

Choice Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty cost

While First American Home Warranty's monthly premiums are lower for basic coverage, Choice Home Warranty 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; Choice Home Warranty has a lower entry point for this one-time cost.

Choice Home Warranty plans and pricing

Choice Home Warranty offers two plans, but its service fee is always $100. You can get a discounted rate on either plan by paying annually instead of monthly:

• Basic plan: $560 per year
• Total plan: $660 per year

First American Home Warranty plans and pricing

You can select a service fee of $100 or $125 with First American Home Warranty. You’ll pay $25 more out of pocket for repairs with the higher service fee, but your plan will cost you $5 less monthly.

*Cost information is accurate as of the time of publishing. Price quotes used a Texas ZIP code; pricing may vary in other locations.

Choice Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty coverage

Both Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty build their coverage on all-in-one plans, meaning even their basic packages protect both systems and appliances. Their coverage approach is very similar at the entry-level and continues as you move up to their higher-priced tiers, where both offer robust protection for a comparable list of major home items.

Choice Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty add-ons

First American Home Warranty offers a wider variety of specialty add-ons including coverage for guest units and electronics protection. Choice Home Warranty’s list is shorter but includes unique options like septic tank pumping. Both companies provide common add-ons for a pool and spa.

Choice Home Warranty add-ons

You can choose to include up to 12 add-ons with any Choice Home Warranty plan. Here’s the monthly pricing for these additional coverage items:

First American Home Warranty add-ons

If you’d like additional coverage, First American Home Warranty lets you pick up to 12 add-ons. Here’s the monthly cost of the most popular options:

Choice Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty policies

Before you sign up for any contract, make sure you understand the cancellation policy, renewals and all other terms so you're not surprised if you need to change or cancel your policy. We'll highlight some of the similarities and differences between the policies for these companies so you can make an informed decision.

Both Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty have a 30-day waiting period before you can make a claim. Waiting periods are standard among top home warranty companies and are intended to prevent claims on items that were broken before you started your policy.

Choice Home Warranty policies

Choice Home Warranty plans are one year long. They may be renewable if you'd like to continue with the company, but you'll pay the prevailing rate (not your previous one), and it will be under new terms. You can cancel at any time for any reason. If it's during the first 30 days, the company will refund your full fee paid, minus any service costs. After the first 30 days, you'll receive a pro-rated refund for the unused time on your contract. Cancellations also require an administrative fee of $50 or less.

First American Home Warranty policies

First American Home Warranty also allows cancellations, but does not disclose cancellation terms online and says you'll need to contact the company to discuss your options for canceling. During your first 30 days, you can change or add coverage. After the first 30 days, you'll need to wait until it's time to renew your plan to make any changes to it.

Choice Home Warranty vs. First American Home Warranty availability

Both of these warranty companies are available in the majority of states, but there are some differences in service areas that you should be aware of depending on where you live.

Choice Home Warranty is available in all 50 states, except Washington. On the other hand, First American Home Warranty is only available in 36 states, but it does include Washington. If you live there and you're debating between these two companies, First American is the right choice for you.

While First American is not available in 14 states, it still has a large footprint. It's available in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

What Choice Home Warranty customers say

Choice Home Warranty has a 4.1 rating with over 78,000 reviews on our site at the time of publishing. Choice Home Warranty reviewers point out helpful customer service, quick response times and punctual and professional contractors. A few customers noted how easy it was to file a claim. Others experienced denied claims or found that the coverage they paid for was not adequate to cover needed repairs.

What First American Home Warranty customers say

First American Home Warranty also has a 4.1 rating on our site with over 9,000 reviews at the time of publishing. Overall, First American Home Warranty customers describe satisfactory resolutions of their claims. Reviewers liked the contractors the company sent to perform repairs, with one expressing appreciation for how the workers left her home spotless after completing the job. Other customers encountered unexpectedly denied claims and delays in responses from customer service and contractors.

Bottom line: Choice Home Warranty or First American Home Warranty?

First American Home Warranty’s average costs for home warranty plans are a bit cheaper, but Choice Home Warranty covers both appliances and systems in its Basic plan (First American only covers appliances in its Basic plan). CHW also is available in more states and has slightly better (and significantly more) reviews, on balance, than First American on ConsumerAffairs.

• Choice Home Warranty is best for homeowners, buyers or sellers who want to cover both appliances and systems.
• First American Home Warranty is best for customers who want to cover appliances only or want a cheaper combo plan (but keep in mind air conditioning coverage is an add-on).