- 2 plans available + optional add-ons
- Has over 10 years of industry experience
- 90-day repair guarantee
- $36–$44 per month
The best home warranties help cover repairs and replacements on major home systems and appliances that break down from normal wear and tear, preventing you from paying unexpected and costly bills. With so many home warranty providers to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which company is best for you. In this comprehensive guide, we compare the best home warranty companies of 2021 to help you find the right plan at an affordable cost.
Below, we provide an overview of each home warranty company, why we chose it as a top recommendation, and discuss specific plans and pricing to help you find the best home warranty for you and your home.
Company | Why we chose it | Pricing/ Service Fee* | Waiting period | BBB rating | States Covered |
Choice Home Warranty | Editor’s Choice | Basic Plan: $40/month
Total Plan: $48/month Service Fee: $85 |
30 days | B- |
47 states(Not including CA, OK, WI)
|
American Home Shield | Best Customizable Plans | Typical Plan: $50/month
Combo Plan: $60/month Service Fee: $75–$125 |
30 days | B |
49 states (Not including AK)
|
Cinch Home Services | Best Workmanship Guarantee | Appliances Plan: $28/month
Built-in Systems Plan: $33/month Complete Home Plan: $40/month Service Fee: $100-$150 |
30 days | A- |
48 states (Not including HI or AK)
|
Amazon Home Warranty | Best for Add-ons | Typical Plan: $29-$36/month
Combo Plan: $48/month Service Fee: $75 |
30 days | A+ |
45 states (Not including CA, IA, MO, OK, WA)
|
Select Home Warranty | Most Cost-Effective Plans | Bronze: 36/month
Gold: $36/month Platinum: $38/month Service Fee: $75 |
30 days | B |
46 states(Not including NV, NY, WA, WI)
|
First American Home Warranty | Best HVAC Coverage | Basic Plan: $28/month
Premier Plan: $43/month Service Fee: $75-$100 |
30 days | B+ |
34 states(Not including AL, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, RI, VT, WI)
|
Liberty Home Guard | Most Trustworthy | Typical Plan: $40-$50/month
Total Home Guard Plan: $60/month Service Fee: $60 |
30 days | A |
41 states (Not including CA, IA, IL, IN, OR, VT, WA, WY, WI)
|
America’s 1st Choice (AFC) Home Club | Most Comprehensive Coverage | Typical Plan: $43-$52/month
Platinum Plan: $59/month Service Fee: $75–$125 |
30 days | B |
46 states (Not including CA, HI, NV, SC)
|
*Note: The cost of premiums will vary on plan, location and service fee selected.
Choice Home Warranty is one of the top home warranty providers in the industry, providing comprehensive plans at competitive pricing. It does not deny coverage based on the age of your home or covered items as long as you’ve taken good care of them, making the company a great choice for older homes.
American Home Shield founded the home warranty industry and has been in business for almost 50 years. We found it to be the best for customizable plans, with four plan options and extra coverage for items like a pool, spa, or guest house up to 750 square feet. AHS has an extremely efficient claims process and prides itself on responding to claims within the first 24 hours 98% of the time—this is faster than any other home warranty provider in the industry.
Cinch Home Services has been in business for over 40 years and is one of the biggest and most reputable names in the home warranty industry. With a 180-day work guarantee, they earned our award for Best Workmanship Guarantee. Cinch offers three robust coverage plans as well as additional optional coverage. They also offer a number of perks not offered by other providers, such as a free water sensor and a $25 credit for filters.
*Cinch Home Warranty offers a Premier Upgrade Package as an optional add-on, which helps cover the cost (up to $1,000 per claim) when there are charges that are not normally covered under a home protection plan such as permits and code upgrades.
Amazon Home Warranty has one of the most robust networks of licensed contractors in the home warranty industry, partnering with over 40,000 technicians, and provides comprehensive coverage for major systems and appliances. Amazon Home Warranty also offers an extensive list of optional add-ons and protects items like a wine refrigerator, lawn sprinkler system, and second refrigerator.
Select Home Warranty offers coverage for items most companies don’t, including roof leak protection and septic system coverage. It also has some of the lowest monthly premiums and service fees in the industry, on top of frequent promotions like getting 2 months free. This is why we named Select the best for cost-effective plans.
First American’s coverage of improperly installed or maintained appliances and systems is a unique perk that most home warranty companies don’t offer. We named First American Home Warranty the best for HVAC coverage because there is no cap on coverage for HVAC, one of the most expensive systems to replace or repair.
With an A rating from the BBB, Liberty Home Guard is one of the most trusted companies in the home warranty industry. It offers 20 optional add-ons for customers to include in their coverage and has a 60-day workmanship guarantee for repairs. Not to mention, Liberty Home Guard offers a $60 service call fee, which is lower than the industry average of $75–$125.
America’s 1st Choice Home Club is one of the top home warranty companies in the industry for comprehensive coverage and personalized service. Customers can choose their own service provider, so if you already know a plumber who does an excellent job, you can get reimbursed for hiring them to fix a covered item.
Looking for a home warranty in Alabama? We compared the top providers in Alabama below.
Looking for a home warranty in Alaska? We compared the top providers in Alaska below.
Looking for a home warranty in Arizona? We compared the top providers in Arizona below.
Looking for a home warranty in Arizona? We compared the top providers in Arizona below.
Looking for a home warranty in California? We compared the top providers in California below.
Looking for a home warranty in Colorado? We compared the top providers in Colorado below.
Looking for a home warranty in Connecticut? We compared the top providers in Connecticut below.
Looking for a home warranty in Delaware? We compared the top providers in Delaware below.
Looking for a home warranty in Florida? We compared the top providers in Florida below.
Looking for a home warranty in Georgia? We compared the top providers in Georgia below.
Looking for a home warranty in Hawaii? We compared the top providers in Hawaii below.
Looking for a home warranty in Idaho? We compared the top providers in Idaho below.
Looking for a home warranty in Illinois? We compared the top providers in Illinois below.
Looking for a home warranty in Indiana? We compared the top providers in Indiana below.
Looking for a home warranty in Iowa? We compared the top providers in Iowa below.
Looking for a home warranty in Kansas? We compared the top providers in Kansas below.
Looking for a home warranty in Kentucky? We compared the top providers in Kentucky below.
Looking for a home warranty in Louisiana? We compared the top providers in Louisiana below.
Looking for a home warranty in Maine? We compared the top providers in Maine below.
Looking for a home warranty in Maryland? We compared the top providers in Maryland below.
Looking for a home warranty in Massachusetts? We compared the top providers in Massachusetts below.
Looking for a home warranty in Michigan? We compared the top providers in Michigan below.
Looking for a home warranty in Minnesota? We compared the top providers in Minnesota below.
Looking for a home warranty in Mississippi? We compared the top providers in Mississippi below.
Looking for a home warranty in Missouri? We compared the top providers in Missouri below.
Looking for a home warranty in Montana? We compared the top providers in Montana below.
Looking for a home warranty in Nebraska? We compared the top providers in Nebraska below.
Looking for a home warranty in Nevada? We compared the top providers in Nevada below.
Looking for a home warranty in New Hampshire? We compared the top providers in New Hampshire below.
Looking for a home warranty in New Jersey? We compared the top providers in New Jersey below.
Looking for a home warranty in New Mexico? We compared the top providers in New Mexico below.
Looking for a home warranty in New York? We compared the top providers in New York below.
Looking for a home warranty in North Carolina? We compared the top providers in North Carolina below.
Looking for a home warranty in North Dakota? We compared the top providers in North Dakota below.
Looking for a home warranty in Ohio? We compared the top providers in Ohio below.
Looking for a home warranty in Oklahoma? We compared the top providers in Oklahoma below.
Looking for a home warranty in Oregon? We compared the top providers in Oregon below.
Looking for a home warranty in Pennsylvania? We compared the top providers in Pennsylvania below.
Looking for a home warranty in Rhode Island? We compared the top providers in Rhode Island below.
Looking for a home warranty in South Carolina? We compared the top providers in South Carolina below.
Looking for a home warranty in South Dakota? We compared the top providers in South Dakota below.
Looking for a home warranty in Tennessee? We compared the top providers in Tennessee below.
Looking for a home warranty in Texas? We compared the top providers in Texas below.
Looking for a home warranty in Utah? We compared the top providers in Utah below.
Looking for a home warranty in Vermont? We compared the top providers in Vermont below.
Looking for a home warranty in Virginia? We compared the top providers in Virginia below.
Looking for a home warranty in Washington? We compared the top providers in Washington below.
Looking for a home warranty in West Virginia? We compared the top providers in West Virginia below.
Looking for a home warranty in Wisconsin? We compared the top providers in Wisconsin below.
Looking for a home warranty in Wyoming? We compared the top providers in Wyoming below.
Not every home warranty provider is available in every state. Because of that, we’ve created guides for the best home warranty companies in all 50. This will give you in-depth information on your options and who we believe are the top options.
Additionally, we know that homeowners’ needs within a state can vary city-by-city. With that in mind, we’ve analyzed the options to provide city-specific home warranty guides.
A home warranty—also known as home appliance insurance or home repair insurance—is a service agreement that homeowners can purchase from a home warranty company to help cover the unexpected cost of repairing or replacing faulty systems and appliances.
The home warranty plan chosen by the homeowner determines the monthly cost, service fee, which systems and appliances are covered, and how much the company will pay for repairs and replacements. Most plans last for 12 months. At the end of the contract term, customers can renew their plan.
If one of your covered household items breaks unexpectedly, file a claim with your home warranty company either online or over the phone. Note: Most companies require customers to submit a claim within three days of the system or appliance breaking. The best home warranties are open 24/7/365 and approve claims within 24 to 48 hours, but other companies will make customers wait up to four days on weekends and holidays.
Once your claim is approved by the home warranty company, they’ll either send one of their approved technicians to your house to diagnose the issue or allow you to choose your own contractor for repairs. The contractor will recommend a repair or replacement for your broken system or appliance.
During this service visit, you’ll pay the contractor a service fee of $75–$100 and the warranty company will cover the rest of the repair or replacement costs.
When shopping around for a home warranty plan, you’ll want to consider the items you want covered and your budget.
A home warranty makes sense for many homeowners. Not only do they protect you in the event of an unexpected system or appliance breakdown, they save you hundreds of dollars on repair and replacement costs and provide peace of mind.
A home warranty may be worth the cost to homeowners on a budget, first-time homeowners, owners of older homes or mobile homes, home sellers, real estate agents, or rental property owners.
On the other hand, you may not benefit from a home warranty if you’re a homeowner with a newly built home that’s already covered by a builder’s warranty or if you have appliances and systems are protected under a manufacturer’s warranty.
One way to think about whether or not a home warranty is worth the cost is to look at how much you can save.
Here’s a look at repair and replacement costs and potential savings:
Cost to repair | Cost to replace | Potential savings | |
HVAC | $284–$347 | $4,249–$5,413 | $544–$1,500 |
Plumbing & toilets | $216–$305 | $370–$1,038 | $643–$656 |
Water heater | $546 | $1,065 | $1,037 |
Refrigerator | $310 | $1,925 | $1,306 |
Oven/stove | $150 | $1,675 | $1,607 |
Dishwasher | $150 | $1,000 | $1,683 |
Washer & dryer | $250–$310 | $1,075–$1,250 | $1,466–$2,932 |
Well/sump pump | $486–$818 | $1,138–$1,543 | $625–$925 |
Note: The above repair and replacement costs are based on national averages. We calculated the average amount that customers can save by compiling sample contracts from the top providers we’ve reviewed.
In 2018, 40% of American adults reported they don’t have enough savings to cover a $400 emergency bill. To most of us, $30 a month for a home protection plan sounds much more manageable than a $1,000 dishwasher replacement.
When helping my clients decide whether a home warranty would be a good idea or not, we take a look together at the items that would be covered to try and decide if this is something of value. If there’s a concern that an HVAC system or appliance is nearing the end of life, then it’s likely that the warranty will come in handy. I have had clients who never used the warranty, but have also had many clients benefit from having this and were thankful it was in place.
Jennifer Vaught, Realtor at Rossi & Taylor Group
Understand what your plan includes, and what it does not. Consistent maintenance and repair of your home are important. Keeping gutters clean, windows and doors caulked, fixing minor damage before it becomes major damage, etc. Does the warranty you are considering cover this kind of work, or only fixing things after the damage has occurred? Are there depreciation schedules, exclusions, or things (lack of maintenance) that void the warranty? Don’t just assume what’s covered—know what’s covered.
Mike McCalley, Owner of Mr. Handyman
Our team at House Method stands by our ratings and reviews of the home warranty companies listed in this article. While we do recommend Choice Home Warranty, American Home Shield, and Amazon Home Warranty as our top picks, any of the companies in this article are worth looking into and getting a free quote from.
If you’re still on the fence about which home warranty company to go with, read our individual provider reviews to get a more in-depth look at each of the companies. Make sure to do your own research to determine which home warranty is right for you.
You can usually cancel at any time and receive a refund of the amount you don’t use. Ask the company about cancellation policies and fees. We’ve seen fees range from $50 to $100.
Homeowners insurance, also known as home insurance, is required by most mortgage lenders and has premiums that are usually bundled with your monthly mortgage payment. While home insurance covers structural damage as a result of a fire, natural disaster, or other situations outside your control, a home warranty covers core appliances and systems within your home when they malfunction due to age or normal wear and tear.
You could go a lifetime without making a homeowners insurance claim whereas the average homeowner files two home warranty claims per year.
Manufacturer’s warranties cover individual appliances or systems and are issued by the manufacturer of that particular product. Three common complaints of manufacturer’s warranties are that there’s coverage for only one item, the coverage is non-transferable, and they typically cost more money in the long run.
Registering for a manufacturer’s warranty for each item separately adds up fast and coverage usually only lasts one to two years, whereas a home warranty plan will cover all of your appliances and systems under one renewable plan.
At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each home warranty provider according to our methodology.
We’ve done the homework for you and have researched over 50 home warranty companies so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home. Additionally, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader.
That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each home warranty provider according to our methodology. Our team spent hours on the phone speaking to representatives from each home warranty company to get information right from the source. We also dug into the fine print on each companies service agreement to make sure no detail was left out.
To make the most of our research, we developed a formula to objectively determine the best home warranty companies based on the following criteria:
We want to make sure we’re providing you, the consumer, with the most current data available for every home warranty company we’ve researched and rated. That takes significant effort but we feel that’s vital to providing you thorough and trustworthy reviews.
With that in mind, we have dedicated staff members who regularly update our database of home warranty research.
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