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. In order to help you find the best home warranty companies, we scoured 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.
The 10 Best Home Warranty companies
- Complete Protection – Best Overall
- 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty – Widest Coverage
- Home Warranty of America – Best for Low Premiums
- Choice Home Warranty
- American Residential Warranty – Best for Low Service Fee
- Amazon Home Warranty
- First American Home Warranty
- Select Home Warranty – Best for Extra Perks
- Cinch – Best for Liability Caps
- American Home Shield – Best for Custom Coverage
| Complete Protection | 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty | Home Warranty of America | Choice Home Warranty | Amazon Home Warranty | First American Home Warranty | Select Home Warranty | Cinch | American Home Shield | ||
| Best for Low Service Fee | N/A | N/A | Best for Extra Perks | Best for Liability Caps | Best for Custom Coverage | |||||
| $34.99 -$124.99 (varies by location) | $42-$52 (varies by location) | $32-$47 (varies by location) | $36-$42 (varies by location) | $39.99-$66.99 (dependent on chosen service fee, varies by location) | $34.99-$59.99 (dependent on chosen service fee) | |||||
| $55 | $75 | $75 | $45 | $100, $125, or $150 | $75, $100, or $125 | |||||
| X | X | X | X | X | ✔ | |||||
| 30 days | 60 days | 30 days labor | 90 days | 180 days | 30 days | |||||
| A+ | A | B | C | B+ | B | |||||
| 4.02/5 | 4.01/5 | 3.86/5 | 3.85/5 | 3.83/5 | 3.80/5 |
Data as of October 16, 2019
Best Overall: Complete Protection
Pros
- No service fees
- Can choose your own service providers
- Wide coverage of systems and appliances
- No exclusions for pre-existing conditions
Cons
- $1,000 liability cap each for septic, plumbing, and electrical systems
- No coverage for anything structural, ductwork, humidifiers, sprinkler systems, spa tubs, or sump pumps
- No custom options
Plan Options:
Essential
Price: $45/month
Coverage: Offers protection for seven of the most used systems and appliances. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Advanced
Price: $55/month
Coverage: Adds coverage of refrigerator, washer, and dryer to the bottom-tier Essential Plan. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Comprehensive
Price: $65/month
Coverage: Adds coverage of plumbing and electrical systems to the Advanced Plan. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Ultimate
Price: $75/month
Coverage: Covers everything, from HVAC and electrical to the most common kitchen and laundry appliances. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Why we chose Complete Protection
Complete Protection covers the most commonly used appliances and systems in the home at competitive prices. It offers four tiered plans (ranging from $45 to $75 per month) and no service fees, so if your dishwasher or air conditioner breaks, you won’t have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses for a service provider of your choice to come out.
Widest Coverage: 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Pros
- Inexpensive monthly premiums
- 27 appliances and systems available for coverage
- High aggregate liability cap
Cons
- No custom options
- $85-$125 service fee
Plan Options:
HVAC + Water Heater
Price: $33.13/month (dependent on location)
Coverage: Covers cooling and heating systems within the home.
Major Appliances
Price: $33.13/month (dependent on location)
Coverage: Covers the most used appliances in the home, including dishwasher, garbage disposal, and refrigerator.
Everything Together
Price: $54.99-$66.99/month (dependent on deductible chosen and location)
Coverage: Protects 27 systems and appliances, including heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical.
Why we chose 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Encompassing 27 major appliances and systems, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty offers one of the most comprehensive plans on the market for roughly $35-45 per month (varies based on location). It also boasts an A rating from the Better Business Bureau, so you can rest easy knowing that this home warranty company does right by its customers.
Best for Low Premiums: Home Warranty of America
Pros
- Guaranteed coverage of 23 appliances and systems, no matter the plan
- Can purchase extra coverage, such as standalone ice makers and freezers, pool and spa, and septic pumps
Cons
- Sliding-scale service fees can be high
- May pay for more coverage than needed
- No custom options
Plan Options:
All plans come with coverage of the following 23 appliances and systems. The more expensive Plus plans include cooling system protection. Between the Premier Plan and Premier Plus Plans, there are two versions each with different service fees – $100 and $75. This allows you to choose between more expensive monthly fees and more expensive out-of-pocket service fees.
Premier Plan ($100 fee)
Price: $41.15/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Includes all 23 appliances and systems with a $100 service call fee.
Premier Plus Plan ($100 fee)
Price: $50.38/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Includes all 23 appliances and systems, plus cooling system protection, with a $100 service fee.
Premier Plan ($75 fee)
Price: $44.62/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Includes all 23 appliances and systems with a $75 service fee.
Premier Plus Plan ($75 fee)
Price: $53.46/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Includes all 23 appliances and systems, including cooling system protection and premium upgrade coverage, with a $75 service fee.
Why we chose Home Warranty of America
Home Warranty of America protects 23 appliances and systems at a cheap monthly price (less than $55 per month, depending on where you live). You also get the choice of picking a higher monthly premium or a higher service fee, the latter being a bit higher than competitors.
Choice Home Warranty
Pros
- First month free
- Comprehensive appliance and system coverage
- Long workmanship guarantee
Cons
- Low rating from the Better Business Bureau
- Pending consumer fraud lawsuit from the state of Arizona
Plan Options:
Basic Plan
Price: $41/month
Coverage: Protects 14 appliances and systems in the home. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Total Plan
Price: $50/month
Coverage: Covers all 18 appliances and systems available. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Why we chose Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty is a solid choice for customers looking for low monthly premiums. It covers the most common appliances and systems, including plumbing, electrical, and A/C. You’ll also benefit from Choice’s workmanship guarantee (90 days for parts, 30 days for labor), which waives the $85 service fee if a repair or replacement goes bad.
However, it has a dismal rating (“C”) from the Better Business Bureau, owing to an October 2019 consumer fraud lawsuit from the Arizona government. It alleges that Choice used “contract exclusions, payment caps, and bad-faith refusals to avoid paying for repairs.” The lawsuit is still ongoing, and we will continue to update this page as details are released. We reached out to Choice but have yet to receive a response.
Best for Low Service Fee: American Residential Warranty
Pros
- Low $55 service fee
- A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
- Offers additional coverage of electronics, such as TVs, computers, and gaming systems
Cons
- Coverage excluded in California, Florida, Iowa, Texas, Virginia, and Washington
- Customer service is not 24/7
- No custom options
Plan Options:
Kitchen Plus
Price: $34.99/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Only protects major kitchen appliances.
Heating & Cooling
Price: $39.99/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Protects healing, cooling, and electrical systems.
Platinum
Price: $49.99/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Covers a mixture of electrical and HVAC systems, plus the most common appliances in the home.
Platinum Premier
Price: $59.99/month (varies by location)
Coverage: A more deluxe version of the Platinum Plan, this includes a more robust selection of appliances and systems. Billed as the company’s “most popular and most comprehensive” plan.
3-in-1 Bundle
Price: $109.99/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Combines the Platinum Premier Plan with Deluxe Advantage (additional home services) and Electronic Protection.
4-in-1 Bundle
Price: $124.99/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Adds Water/Sewer Lines onto the 3-in-1 bundle.
Why we chose American Residential Warranty
American Residential Warranty has one of the lowest service fees ($55) available, meaning you pay less out-of-pocket for a service technician to come out if, say, your dishwasher starts malfunctioning. The company’s plans offer a wide range of coverage across different categories, and notably includes coverage of electronics if you opt for the more expensive plans.
Amazon Home Warranty
Pros
- Affordable monthly premiums
- “A” rating from the Better Business Bureau
- Wide coverage
Cons
No custom plans
Plan Options:
Appliances Plan
Price: $42/month
Coverage: Covers eight of the most used appliances around the home. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Systems Plan
Price: $42/month
Coverage: Protects eight systems around the home, including electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Combo Plan
Price: $52/month
Coverage: Covers all 23 appliances and systems available. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Why we chose Amazon Home Warranty
Amazon Home Warranty has relatively affordable plans for appliances, systems, and both — ranging from $42 to $52 per month (with some variance depending on your vacation). We appreciate that Amazon received an A from the Better Business Bureau, which means they can be trusted to help and pay out claims when you need them.
First American Home Warranty
Pros
- Inexpensive monthly premiums
- Low service fee
- Broad coverage of appliances and systems
Cons
- Only 35 states served
- 30-day workmanship guarantee
- No custom plans
Plan Options:
Basic Plan
Price: $32/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Covers ten of the most used appliances around the home. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Premier Plan
Price: $46.50/month (varies by location)
Coverage: Protects both appliances and systems, including plumbing, HVAC, and electrical. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Why we chose First American Home Warranty
First American offers solid affordable plans for the homeowner on a budget, with plans ranging from $42 to $46.50 (varies by location). However, its workmanship guarantee is the standard 30 days, meaning that repairs and replacements are only covered for a month after. If the same appliance or system malfunctions outside that timeframe, you’ll have to cough up another fee for a repair technician to come out.
Additionally, if you don’t live in First American’s 35-state service area, you will have to look anywhere. The company does not serve Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, or Wisconsin.
Best for Extra Perks: Select Home Warranty
Pros
- First two months free
- Cheap premiums
- Free roof coverage (for leaks)
- Wide coverage of appliances and systems
- 24/7 customer service
- $45 service fee
- 90-day workmanship guarantee
Cons
- No custom plans
- Low “C” rating from the Better Business Bureau
Plan Options:
Bronze Care
Price: $52/month ($36/month with the two-month-free offer)
Coverage: Protects eight of the most breakable appliances around the home. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Gold Care
Price: $52/month ($36/month with the two-month-free offer)
Coverage: Protects systems in your home, including plumbing and electrical. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Platinum Care
Price: $58/month ($42/month with the two-month-free offer)
Coverage: Protects systems in your home, including plumbing and electrical. Can add a la carte coverage to the plan.
Why we chose Select Home Warranty
We like that Select Home Warranty charges both low monthly premiums (around $50 per month) and a low service fee ($45) for technicians to evaluate claims. All plans come with free roof coverage for leaks — a rare perk, as few home warranty companies cover structural wear-and-tear on your home. Keep in mind, however, that Select’s BBB rating is C, so your mileage may vary when it comes to customer service.
Best for Liability Caps: Cinch Home Services
Pros
- Thorough coverage
- Generous liability caps for appliances and systems
- Long workmanship guarantee
Cons
- No custom options
- Average BBB rating
- Sliding-scale service fees are pricey
Plan Options:
Appliances Plan
Price: $39.99-$49.99/month (dependent on deductible chosen and location)
Coverage: Covers appliances only. Price depends on whether you pick the $100, $125, or $150 deductible.
Built-in Systems Plan
Price: $44.99-$56.99/month (dependent on deductible chosen and location)
Coverage: Covers systems only. Price depends on whether you pick the $100, $125, or $150 deductible.
Complete Plan
Price: $54.99-$66.99/month (dependent on deductible chosen and location)
Coverage: Covers 29 systems and appliances. Price depends on whether you pick the $100, $125, or $150 deductible.
Why we chose Cinch Home Services
Formerly known as TotalProtect, Cinch offers comprehensive coverage of the most used systems and appliances in the home, with a generous $10,000 maximum liability cap across all claims during the contract term (according to its sample terms). Your service agreement will include more specific caps across kitchen appliances, air conditioning systems, and more, but they are more than enough to cover the expected costs associated with each item.
Best for Custom Coverage: American Home Shield
Pros
- Build-your-own-plan option
- 21 appliances and systems covered
- 15,000-contractor network across U.S.
- Discounts on energy-saving appliances
Cons
- Pricey service fee tiers
- Average BBB rating
Plan Options:
Appliances Plan
Price: $34.99-$49.99/month (dependent on service fee chosen)
Coverage: Insures wear-and-tear on appliances only, including washers, dryers, refrigerators, ovens, and cooktops. Can purchase extra coverage for pools and spas, septic pumps, and guest units.
Systems Plan
Price: $34.99-$49.99/month (dependent on service fee chosen)
Coverage: Protects your most used systems, including HVAC, electrical, and plumbing. Can purchase extra coverage for pools and spas, septic pumps, and guest units.
Combo Plan
Price: $44.99-$59.99/month (dependent on service fee chosen)
Coverage: Offers full coverage of 21 appliances and systems in the home.
Build Your Own Plan
Price: $39.99-$54.99/month (dependent on service fee chosen)
Coverage: Pick and choose the 10 items you value the most among the available 21 appliances and systems.
Why we chose American Home Shield
American Home Shield is one of the only home warranty companies on the market to offer a fully customizable plan. With most plans that have pre-set coverage, you are paying for coverage that you won’t use (i.e., protection for a dishwasher, even if you don’t own one), so this solution ensures that you only pay for what you use. You can also choose between paying higher service fees or higher monthly premiums.
How we chose the best home warranty companies
To evaluate the quality of each home warranty, we looked at a range of factors that address company reputation, pricing, quality of service, features, and more.
- BBB rating: We used the letter-grade ratings from the Better Business Bureau to evaluate each company’s customer service record and business practices, prioritizing those awarded A+ and A ratings.
- Pricing: We requested quotes from every company to determine the monthly premiums for each plan. While these vary by location and home features, we tried to establish a baseline through which you can compare the expected costs.
- Service fee: Customers charged a service fee every time a service technician is requested to investigate a claim on-site. Most companies charge $75 to $125 for each service call, with some implementing a sliding-scale system in which choosing higher service fees can mean lower monthly costs.
- Liability caps: These caps are the maximum that a company will pay for particular appliance or system repair or replacement, or what a company will pay for in aggregate over the contract term. The higher the liability caps, the better.
- Coverage/flexibility: We looked at every plan with each company and figured out how many appliances and systems were covered. The best plans allow for some level of customization, so that you’re not paying for coverage of appliances and systems you don’t own.
- Workmanship guarantee: Also known as the recall period, this policy indicates the number of days that a repair or replacement by the home warranty company is covered. If an appliance malfunctions within a certain window of time (often 30 days), then the company will send another technician to fix it for free, with all service fees waived. Most companies insure repairs for 30 days, but the higher the better.
Guide to Home Warranties
Types of home warranties
Homeowner warranty
A homeowner warranty is what you typically think of when you hear “home warranty.” Intended for people who already own a home (and are not selling or purchasing at the moment), it covers the wear-and-tear from your home appliances and systems, including electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning/heat. Home warranties typically do not cover structural parts of your home, such as roof damage or flooding, as that’s the domain of home insurance.
Homebuyer warranty
A homebuyer warranty is intended for people who are purchasing a home or who have done so in the past 30 days. They’re meant to assuage the fear that if you buy a house, the appliances and systems will fall apart once you move in due to unknown wear-and-tear.
Seller’s home warranty
A seller’s home warranty helps you protect your appliances and systems when you are selling your home. These plans limit the out-of-pocket costs of repairing and replacing components of the house while it’s on the market. After the home is sold, you can transfer coverage to the seller.
How to choose a home warranty?
With so many home warranty companies in the market, it can be hard to choose the plan that’s right for you. Here are our tips and tricks for choosing the one that fits your needs:
- Determine which systems and appliances you want covered
- Request quotes from multiple home warranty companies
- Carefully read any contract and make sure that the terms for requesting repairs and how much the company will cover are clear to you
- Pick a plan with a long workmanship guarantee (ideally more than 30 days), which will waive service fees in that time period if a repair or replacement from the company malfunctions
- Choose a company with strong reviews from Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, and other rating services
Do you need a home warranty?
To determine whether or not you need a home warranty, you should take a look at the state of your home. How old is your home? Are your appliances and systems brand new or in dire need of repair? Home warranties help you cover the repair or replacement costs of the most used appliances and systems in the home, such as refrigerators, ovens, water heaters, electrical systems, and air conditioning, so it’s up to you to evaluate how much protection you need — and how soon. For more details, read our “Do I Need a Home Warranty?” guide.
Home Warranty FAQ
About the Authors
Taylor Moore covers banking, investing, auto insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance, and more as the Finance and Insurance Writer for Reviews.com. Her work has been published in Chicago magazine, Chicago Reader, and The Financial Diet, among other publications. After graduating from the University of Central Florida, she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she currently lives with her cat.
