A home warranty is an optional service that covers repairs and replacements of home systems and appliances for a specified amount of time — usually one year. The best home warranty companies cover what your homeowners insurance doesn’t. They have excellent, transparent policies and customer service, and allow for customization of your plan. To help you find the best home warranty companies, we scored customer reviews, spoke with service contract experts, contacted providers’ customer service agents and dug into their service agreements. We compared the various home warranty plans and found 10 companies that rose above the competition.
Owning a home now is more complex than it used to be, as technological innovations change our homes, from kitchen refrigerator to front doorbell. The best home warranty companies are expanding to meet that need at a reasonable price that lets you save money in the long run while gaining peace of mind.
The 10 Best Home Warranty Companies
- American Home Shield: Best customizable plans
- America’s First Choice: Best workmanship guarantee
- Choice Home Warranty: Best response times
- Global Home Protection: Best for multiple properties
- Cinch Home Services: Best parts coverage
- Total Home Protection: Best claim limits
- Complete Protection: Best for no service fees
- First American Home Warranty: Best online resources
- Landmark: Best regional coverage
- Select Home Warranty: Best sign-up bonuses
Compare Best Home Warranty Companies
| Best For | Customer Satisfaction | Coverage | Reviews.com Score | |
| American Home Shield | Best customizable plans | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3.75/5 |
| America’s First Choice | Best workmanship guarantee | 3/5 | 1/5 | 2.25/5 |
| Choice Home Warranty | Best response times | 3/5 | 2/5 | 2.25/5 |
| Global Home Protection | Best for multiple properties | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.75/5 |
| Cinch Home Services | Best parts coverage | 3/5 | 1/5 | 2.75/5 |
| Total Home Protection | Best claim limits | 2/5 | 1/5 | 1.5/5 |
| Complete Protection | Best for no service fees | 5/5 | 2/5 | 3.75/5 |
| First American Home Warranty | Best online resources | 4/5 | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Landmark | Best regional coverage | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Select Home Warranty | Best sign-up bonuses | 3/5 | 1/5 | 1.75/5 |
Best customizable plan: American Home Shield
Pros
- Build-your-own plan
- Service fee options
- Combo plan for systems and appliances
- In business 45+ years
Cons
- Workmanship guarantee only 30 days
- Plan fees a bit pricey
Why we chose American Home Shield
With nearly 50 years in the business, American Home Shield brings a wealth of experience and industry knowledge to the table. Its build-your-own plan is unique; none of the other companies we review offer this level of customization. Although its prices are a little high, it offers good value for the money.
Best Workmanship Guarantee: America’s First Choice
Pros
- Workmanship guarantee lasts the life of the plan
- Can work with your own technicians and workers
- Free credit monitoring
- Discounts available for home security systems and more
Cons
- Not available in Hawaii, California, South Carolina, and Nevada
- No preexisting condition coverage
- No pricing transparency; must call for individual quotes
Why we chose America’s First Choice
America’s First Choice has standard home warranty coverage options, but what sets them apart is a generous workmanship guarantee that lasts for as long as you own the plan — as opposed to the 30- to 90-day options that are available from most companies. The company has a fleet of technicians that they can assign to your jobs, or you can work with your own trusted handyman.
Fast response time: Choice Home Warranty
Pros
- Processes 90% of claims within four hours
- Service fee $85
- First month free
- Network of 15,000 contractors
Cons
- No pricing transparency on website
- Low Better Business Bureau ranking
- Only two plan options
Why we chose Choice Home Warranty
Considering its name, it’s surprising that Choice only offers two plan options with optional add-ons. Its prices are reasonable with the Total Plan coming in below other companies for comprehensive coverage. The company claims to process its claims with lightning-fast speeds, so if you’re concerned about getting your appliances and systems back in working order fast, it’s worth considering.
Best for multiple properties: Global Home Protection
Pros
- Discounts for multi-home properties
- No fees for transferring property
- A- rating with Better Business Bureau
- Stellar plan includes preexisting conditions
- $75 service fee
Cons
- Claims must be reported in 24 hours
- Early cancellation fees
Why we chose Global Home Protection
Global Home Protection is a good choice if you are a landlord or own a vacation home since there are discounts available for more than one property. The company offers other uncommon protections available at the higher-level plans, such as permit costs and, in some states, termite treatment. The company’s charges for these plans are also quite low, making GHP a good candidate for a quote, no matter your situation.
Best parts coverage: Cinch Home Services
Pros
- 180-day workmanship guarantee
- Coverage included for components and parts
- $25 credit toward filters
- Coverage for preexisting conditions
- Rust and corrosion coverage
Cons
- Service limit of $10,000
- Not available in Arkansas and Hawaii
Why we chose Cinch Home Services
Although not the cheapest company on our list, Cinch offers some excellent coverage options that we didn’t see elsewhere, such as parts coverage for components like oven knobs and drawer pulls — which might seem like a small thing, but they can quickly add up. Other perks include a free water sensor to help detect leaks and a $25 credit if you need to purchase new filters for your air conditioner or fridge. If you need to claim your homeowner’s insurance, Cinch will chip in with $500 to pay your deductible.
Best claim limits: Total Home Protection
Pros
- Unlimited claims filing
- First month free
- Low service fees of $45-$75
Cons
- Not available in Washington or California
- C rating with Better Business Bureau
Why we chose Total Home Protection
Total Home Protection doesn’t cap the number of times you can file a claim, unlike most companies. This makes it a good option if you have older appliances or systems that may be likely to break down more often, causing you to file more than one claim a year. Although the company only offers two plans, you can customize your policy to add coverage for pool, spa, roof leaks, and more.
No service fee: Complete Protection
Pros
- No service fee or deductible
- Coverage for preexisting conditions
- Prices at the low end
- A+ Better Business Bureau rating
Cons
- No coverage in New York, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin
- No coverage for ductwork, sump pumps
- Liability cap for septic, plumbing and electrical
Why we chose Complete Protection
If you’re interested in saving money, Complete Protection is worth looking at. The company’s plans are priced within market standards, but the real bonus here is the lack of a service fee or deductible that needs to be paid every time you make a claim. The caveat is that there is a cap on liability for some of the more expensive systems — septic, plumbing, and electrical — but you still stand to save money on most repairs. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, they are also a company that takes customer service seriously.
Best Online Resources: First American Home Warranty
Pros
- Low monthly premiums
- Educational blog
- No claim limits
Cons
- Available in 38 states
- Only two plans
- 30-day workmanship guarantee
- Plans for condos, townhouses and mobile homes
Why we chose First American Home Warranty
You may come for the entertaining blog entries, but you’ll stay for the low prices. First American Home Warranty’s pricing comes in at the low end of all our chosen companies. It offers standard coverage options that don’t differ from the norm, along with add-ons such as additional refrigerator, pool, septic tank and well pump. Plus, it covers preexisting conditions as well as rust, corrosion, sediment and problems resulting from lack of maintenance — something we haven’t seen elsewhere.
Best Regional Coverage: Landmark Home Warranty
Pros
- Coverage for termite control
- Tune-ups included in both plans
- Coverage available for guest house
Cons
- Available in Arizona, Idaho, Nevan, Oregon, Texas, and Utah
- B rating with Better Business Bureau
Why we chose Landmark Home Warranty
Landmark provides good, comprehensive coverage with some nice perks if you live in one of the six Western states where it operates. The company’s website hints that it’s going national soon and if so, they’re a good bet for anyone looking for solid coverage. Unlike most warranty companies, it offers AC and heating tune-up services, as well as pest and termite treatment. Its optional add-on list is similarly comprehensive, with coverage for everything from water softener units to guest houses.
Best sign-up bonuses: Select Home Warranty
Pros
- First two months free
- Free roof coverage
- $100 off any plan
- Low $45 service fee
Cons
- B listing with Better Business Bureau
- Available in 45 states
- Prices vary by state
Why we chose Select Home Warranty
You’re rewarded very quickly when you sign up for a plan with Select Home Warranty. All three of the company’s plans include two free months, a $100 signing bonus and free roof coverage, which the website says is a $99 value — something not many warranty companies offer. The plans themselves are standard, without any stand-out coverages, but if all you want is basic coverage for your home systems and/or appliances, take a look at Select.
How we chose the best home warranty companies
We based our methodology on a profile developed by the Reviews team based on a family of three persons with an annual income of $70k and a dwelling cost of $320,000 to determine the average premium for customers. We then evaluated the companies based on their customer rating and experience, cost, financial stability and coverage to determine the best providers.
Guide to Home Warranties
Types of home warranties
Homeowners warranty
A regular homeowners warranty is the right choice for most people. It’s a great choice if you are currently in a home that you own (or have mortgaged), and are not in the process of moving in the near future. You’ll pay for your warranty either by month or annually, and it will cover either your home systems, such as electrical and plumbing, your major appliances, including fridges and dishwashers — or some combination of both of these.
Home warranties are not meant to substitute for your homeowners insurance, which covers you from damage caused by weather conditions, theft or other named perils. A home warranty’s purpose is to help you pay for repairs when normal wear and tear takes a toll on your home.
Homebuyer’s warranty
A homebuyer’s warranty is similar in scope to a regular homeowners warranty, but tweaked slightly to make it a great choice for anyone who is purchasing a home, and doesn’t want to be saddled with repairs before the boxes are unpacked. The homebuyer’s warranty may be paid by the buyer as part of the closing costs, or by the seller or realtor.
Seller’s home warranty
A seller’s home warranty is also similar in coverage to the homeowners warranty, but gives you the security of knowing that last-minute repairs or requests by the homebuyer will not cost you out-of-pocket. It may also be a perk that is intended to increase the desirability of your property for potential homebuyers.
Other Home Warranties
- New construction warranty: as the name indicates, new construction warranties are meant to cover the workmanship and materials on newly-built homes and their various systems.
- Home warranties for rental properties: if you own a rental property, a home warranty that is specifically designed for landlords may help you when there are major repairs to be made on your property. They are especially useful if your property is older and more likely to require a claim.
How to choose a home warranty?
A good home warranty can save you money while providing you with peace of mind and the knowledge that you’ll be able to pay for repairs if a big-ticket home expense comes your way. But how do you pick the best one? Here are a few things to keep in mind while searching:
- Although you want to pay as little as possible, of course, the cheapest home warranty option may not be the best one for you. Take the time to review the systems and appliances covered by each company’s plans before you decide which one suits your own needs.
- Make a list of your own home’s appliances and systems — giving special attention to those that are older — and match them with each company’s offerings. If you don’t have a dishwasher, for example, you don’t need that element of coverage.
- Be wary of companies that don’t include a sample contract or pricing structure on their website.
- Optional add-ons can allow you to customize a policy by adding coverage for a pool or other less-common items that you have at your house for a small additional cost.
Do you need a home warranty?
A home warranty isn’t mandated by your mortgage lender as your homeowners insurance is, but it can save you money in some circumstances. The older your home and appliances, the more likely you are to need to make a claim — and therefore the more likely you are to save money with a warranty. One the other hand, if you’ve got a brand-new home with up-to-date, top-of-the-line appliances and systems, a home warranty might be money wasted.
A home warranty also makes sense if you aren’t the type of person who enjoys pulling out the fridge to fix that knotty little problem with the coils. If you’re not handy, you’re likely to spend more on technicians who can make repairs as needed — so a warranty may make sense.
Home Warranty FAQ
About the Authors
Mary Van Keuren has been covering auto and home insurance for Reviews.com for nearly five years, and has published numerous reviews of state-specific insurance trends and how to find the best insurance deals for your money. She earned B.S. and M.A. degrees from Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. and has been writing professionally, both in print and online, for 30+ years.
