The Best Home Warranty Companies

Monday, October 14th

2024 Home Warranty Company Reviews

American Residential Warranty

• Prices from $49.99 to $89.99 per month
• Add-ons from $10.99 to $24.99
• Trade service fees from $50 to $75 per service request
• Coverage for appliances, roof, water, and more
• Add-ons for pool, technology, and water lines
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• 4.9-star average
• "A-” rating from the BBB

American Residential Warranty is a reputable company that has been providing home warranty services to homeowners across all 50 states for many years. One of the key factors that sets them apart from their competitors is their exceptional track record with the Better Business Bureau. Part of the reason for American Residential Warranty's success is its strategic partnerships with well-known companies such as AIG, Lowe's, and GE Appliances. These partnerships enable them to provide high-quality repairs quickly and efficiently, which is a major advantage for homeowners.

Three plans for kitchen and more

When it comes to choosing a plan, American Residential Warranty offers three options for homeowners to consider. The first plan is the ApplianceMAX plan, which provides coverage for various appliances in the kitchen, including the range, oven, cooktop, refrigerator, dishwasher, and more. SystemsMAX plan includes house systems like AC, ductwork, plumbing, water heater, and interior electricity. TotalMAX plan is the most complete coverage, which includes all the features of the previous two plans, plus additional coverage for washer/dryer systems, garage doors, ceiling fans, and more.

Pricing from $49.99 to $89.99 per month

The pricing for the plans is reflective of the tier. ApplianceMAX costs $49.99 per month, SystemsMAX costs $59.99 per month, and the TotalMAX plan costs $89.99 per month. While American Residential Warranty's initial pricing may seem higher than some of its competitors, this is because its plans include many features that other companies charge extra for. For example, their plans include protection for things like AC refrigerant and coils, plumbing faucets/fixtures, permits/modifications/code violations, and more. The trade service call fees are lower than industry averages: although we couldn't find the specific amount disclosed on their website, customer feedback suggests that you'll pay anywhere from $50 to $75 per call.

Add-ons from $10.99 to $24.99

While the TotalMAX plan does cover a lot of things traditionally included in add-ons, there are still some extras you can pick for more complete coverage. The pricing for add-ons at American Residential Warranty is $10.99 to $24.99. The cheapest add-on is for water line protection, while the most expensive is called "ultimate electronics” and covers things like your PCs, tablets, TVs, gaming consoles, and more.

30-day money-back guarantee

To help you feel better about committing, American Residential Warranty promises a 30-day money-back guarantee. For the first month, you can change your mind at any time and cancel your warranty. You'll get your money back, no questions asked. While this is pretty standard in the industry, you'll see it on every page as you go through the purchase process, so you know upfront what your options are.

Top-notch reputation

American Residential Warranty currently holds a solid "A-" rating from the Better Business Bureau. This is a remarkable achievement, especially when compared to other companies that have hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of complaints filed against them. They have received only a few dozen complaints over the past three years - an impressive feat considering their large size and scope of operations. Over 85% of their clients have given American Residential Warranty a 4- or 5-star score as well as industry pros who give American Residential Warranty an average rating of 4.9 stars out of 5. Customers praise the company's ease of use, quick repair times, and excellent value for the money.

Top pick for complete coverage

American Residential Warranty stands out from its competitors with its exceptional track record and complete protection plans. This company also excels in its coverage and prices for the value of each plan. If you're looking for total peace of mind with one-stop shop coverage for every element of your home (even technology), American Residential Warranty is it. With its reputation and performance track record intact over many years, American Residential Warranty remains our top choice for home warranty coverage in the United States.

Elite Home Warranty

• Prices offered via phone
• Custom plans from $79 annually
• Coverage for appliances, heating system, electrical, plumbing, water heater, whirlpool bathtub, and more
• Add-ons for pool, sump pump, and more
• 90-day workmanship guarantee
• 4.7-star average rating
• "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB

Elite Home Warranty is a company that stands out from the rest of the industry by offering a unique approach to home warranties. Unlike most companies, Elite allows for a level of customization. This approach not only saves you money but also gives you more control over your coverage. However, one potential drawback is that Elite Home Warranty is not yet available in all 50 states, but it has recently extended its coverage. At the time of this evaluation, residents of Texas, Wisconsin, and California were the only states not covered. This may be a major limitation for some customers who live in these states. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that we'll see Elite expand its services into these areas in the future.

Three plans and a DIY approach

Elite Home Warranty offers three main plans for you to choose from: Elite Appliances, Elite Systems, and Elite Complete. The Elite Appliances plan covers common appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and more. The Elite Systems plan covers HVAC, electrical, plumbing, water heater, and garage door opener systems. The Elite Complete plan includes all of the coverage from the previous two plans, plus additional coverage for doorbells, smoke detectors, ceiling fans, and limited roof leak repair. You can also choose the "Customize Your Own” option to create your own plan and hopefully find even more savings.

Pricing isn't available until you get a call

When you request a free quote from Elite Home Warranty, you may receive a promo offer. For example, during our most recent visit, we were offered a $100 discount and the first month of coverage for free. However, we were disappointed to find that we had to wait for an Elite representative to call us to get our quote, rather than being able to view the costs and sign up online like with other companies. Their "Plans and Pricing" page does not provide a clear breakdown of their pricing structure, leaving you to wait for a representative to provide this information. When we tried to get a quote online, the site tried to get us to change our browser security settings to receive a quote, which seemed a little fishy.

Create your own warranty plan

One of the standout features of Elite Home Warranty is its customizable coverage options. You can add additional coverage for specific systems or items, such as lawn sprinkler systems, water filtration systems, or individual electronics. Elite is one of the only home warranty companies that allows you to design your own package from scratch, choosing only the coverage you want and paying only for what you need. However, without pricing visible on the site, we're not sure how much that discount really is. We were able to find a statement in Elite's FAQ that states that customized plans start at $79 annually.

90-day workmanship guarantee

Elite Home Warranty extends a 90-day workmanship guarantee for its plans. This way, you'll feel protected when you get work done, and you'll know that the work will be completed correctly every time. In the case of problems, repairs to that work will be repaired at no extra cost within 90 days.

Top-notch reputation

At just over five years old, Elite has already established itself as a trustworthy and transparent company, with an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Elite Home Warranty has received phenomenal customer feedback so far. With no complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau at the time of this review, it's clear that the company is dedicated to providing excellent service. Customers have praised the smooth claims process and quick repair times, as well as the company's willingness to stand behind its warranties. It seems customers don't mind waiting for a quote because the average rating for Elite Home Warranty on Trustpilot is 4.7 stars out of 5. Customers praise the quick repairs, smooth claims process, and impressive customer service across different review platforms.

Top marks for unique custom warranties

With extended coverage to new states, and a top-notch "A+” BBB rating, Elite Home Warranty is an excellent choice for homeowners looking for a customized home warranty plan. With its transparent approach to service, impressive customer feedback, and solid workmanship warranty, Elite is definitely worth considering. We recommend reaching out for a quote and taking advantage of their unique approach to home warranties.

First American Home Warranty

• Prices from $82 to $152 per month
• Add-ons from $6.25 to $31.25 per month
• Service fees from $100 to $125 per visit
• Coverage for appliances, heating system, electrical, plumbing, water heater, and more
• Add-ons for pool, sump pump, and more
• 30-day cancellation period
• 4.2-star average rating

First American Home Warranty is a well-established company that has been in operation since 1984. With almost 600,000 customers and three main offices serving the US, they are a reputable player in the home warranty industry. In fact, the company pays out over $219 million on repairs and replacements each year, demonstrating its commitment to providing quality service to its customers.

Choose from three plans

When it comes to choosing a home warranty plan with First American, the process is straightforward. You can start by clicking on the "get a quote" button on their website and entering your personal information, including your name, phone number, address, email, and type of property. We tried this ourselves and found that we had three options to choose from: the Starter Plan, the Essential Plan, and the Premium Plan. The Starter package covers essential systems and appliances, including plumbing, electrical, and heating systems, as well as specific appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators. The Essential package builds upon the Starter package by adding coverage for additional appliances, such as clothes washers and dryers, water heaters, air conditioning units, and garage door openers. The Premium package takes it to the next level by including everything in the Essential package plus appliances like garbage disposals, full garage door systems, faucets, and instant hot water dispensers.

Pricing from $82 to $152 per month

In terms of pricing, the costs are fair at First American Home Warranty. In our area, the Starter package costs $82 per month, the Essential package costs $112 per month, and the Premium package costs $152 per month. At these prices, the service fees for repairs are $125 each. If you want lower service fees, you can change that to $100 per visit, but the monthly payments will go up.

Add-ons priced from $6.25 to $31.25 per month

While many of the 11 optional coverage additions are covered already by the Premium package, you can also pick and choose extras with a lower-cost package. The prices for add-ons range from $6.25 per month for additional refrigerators to $31.25 per month for a pool/spa. Notably, this is one of the highest costs for pool/spa add-ons that we've seen. Otherwise, most of the prices are extremely fair for add-ons at First American Home Warranty.

30-day grace period to cancel

There isn't a specific money-back guarantee here, but there is a waiting period of 30 days. When you purchase a contract from First American Home Warranty, you can cancel this contract within 30 days of the effective date and receive a full refund of the paid fees, as long as you haven't used the service. After the 30 days, you can refer to your contract for specific details on how to cancel, as the terms and conditions will apply, and you will likely not get a full refund.

Customers are impressed with the service reps

Despite having a "just average" rating of "B" from the Better Business Bureau due to over 4,099 complaints filed over the last three years, First American Home Warranty does a good job of responding to and resolving these complaints. On a more positive note, we found a 4.2-star average from satisfied First American Home Warranty clients on ConsumerAffairs. While not every customer has had a perfect experience with getting repairs scheduled or having issues resolved under warranty, most customers seem to receive prompt service with minimal struggles. Many reviewers praised the attention received from First American's customer reps, and all of the recent reviews as of this evaluation were 5 stars.

A top contender for simplicity and friendliness

While no home warranty provider is perfect and will always have some customer complaints, First American Home Warranty does a solid job of handling these issues and providing quality service to its customers. With their straightforward plans, easy-to-use website, and thousands of reviews from satisfied clients, we are confident in recommending them as a good choice for your home warranty needs. Keep First American Home Warranty near the top of your list when deciding which company should earn your business.

Sears Home Warranty

• Prices from $59.99 to $109.99 per month
• Service fees are $100 per visit
• Coverage for total home including appliances and HVAC
• 180-day workmanship guarantee
• 30-day grace period to cancel
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Sears Home Warranty's long-standing success is a testament to its expertise. For over a century, it has provided trusted service to over 150 million homes, demonstrating its ability to deliver high-quality results. What sets it apart is its unique approach, as it is the only nationwide service that employs its own team of expert technicians rather than partnering with outside providers. With over 2,500 manufacturer-trained technicians at their disposal, the company is well-equipped to handle a wide range of issues. If a repair is not possible, the company offers to replace the item, so you are never left without a functional solution. You can also benefit from exclusive perks, including HVAC tune-ups, water filters, and appliance part discounts, as well as discounts on non-covered appliance repairs.

5 plans to choose from

Sears Home Warranty offers five different plans to help you customize your protection to include only what you need. The HVAC Plan covers essential heating and cooling systems, including ductwork. The System Plan takes it a step further by covering a broader range of systems, such as electrical, plumbing, garage door openers, and water heaters. Meanwhile, the Appliance Plan focuses on common household appliances like refrigerators, washers, dryers, ranges, and dishwashers. The Whole Home Plan covers all of the above-mentioned systems and appliances. Finally, the Appliance + HVAC Plan combines the appliance and HVAC coverage of the Whole Home Plan with additional heating and ductwork protection.

Pricing from $59.99 to $109.99 per month

Now, when you put in your details for pricing, the total number of plans may change. For our area, we were only offered prices for the Appliance Plan, the System Plan, and the Whole Home Plan. The two HVAC-focused plans weren't options in the location we tested. The Appliance Plan was the least expensive, coming in at $59.99 per month, followed by the System Plan for $69.99 per month. The most expensive plan was the Whole Home Plan for $109.99 per month. The website also noted that there is a $100 service fee for each visit.

No extras available

Oddly, we did not see anywhere to add extras to your overall package. While this will keep costs down, if there's something not included in the Whole Home Plan like a sump pump or pool/spa, there appears to be no way to add this to your plan during checkout. The coverage is otherwise very complete with things like water softeners and heaters being included in the initial price, but for some of those extras, you may need to plan to pay out of pocket.

180-day workmanship guarantee

When you purchase a home warranty from Sears Home Warranty, you're not only getting a 30-day money-back guarantee if you decide to cancel during the initial waiting period, but also an industry-leading guarantee that sets them apart. Sears Home Warranty offers a highly competitive 180-day workmanship guarantee. So, if you experience the same issue within 180 days, you won't have to pay a deductible for the (new) repair.

High praise from the BBB but mixed reviews

As one of the few companies in our review that has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, Sears Home Warranty stands out from the pack. However, beyond that solid rating, the reviews for Sears Home Warranty are mixed. Between industry professionals and third-party review sites, Sears Home Warranty has earned an average rating of 2.9 stars. Customers love the 24/7 claims filing option, so they can get things handled right away. However, as a result of Sears Protect's recent acquisition by Transformco, it's challenging to gauge customer satisfaction as there are almost no customer reviews on third-party sites. Some complaints we found included worries about not being able to choose your own technician, as well as concerns about extras not included in the total coverage options.

Competitive for overall coverage

Despite the mixed reviews, the competitive pricing and total protection at Sears Home Warranty make it an option worth considering. However, with such a long-standing presence in the industry, we would love to see more reviews for Sears Home Warranty to help it be more competitive. For this reason, it earns a higher-than-average rating. It's definitely worth considering, but Sears could use a little work on its customer service to rank higher in the future.

Cinch Home Services

• Prices from $30.99 to $44.99 per month
• Add ons from $4.58 to $22 per month
• Trade service fees around $100 to $125 per claim
• Coverage for appliances, heating system, electrical, plumbing, water heater, whirlpool bathtub, and more
• Add-ons for pool, sump pump, and more
• 180-day workmanship guarantee

Cinch Home Services is a well-established company that has been in operation for over 40 years. With a family of sub-companies including Homesure, Total Protect, Cross Country Home Services, and HMS, Cinch is a reputable player in the home warranty industry. In fact, even Sears home warranties (which you'll find reviewed separately here) are now powered by Cinch. With such a long history, it's no surprise that Cinch has gained a reputation for providing quality service to its customers.

Three plans include extras already

When it comes to choosing a home warranty plan with Cinch, you have three options to consider: the Appliances plan, the Built-in Systems plan, and the Complete Home plan. The Appliances plan covers common appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, and dryers. The Built-in Systems plan covers plumbing, electrical systems, and HVAC systems. The Complete Home plan includes coverage for both appliances and systems. What's great about Cinch is that what many of their rivals make you pay for as an add-on, you'll get included here at no extra cost. For example, the Built-in Systems plan automatically covers your sump pump and garage door opener, and if you've got a free-standing ice maker, it's already covered in the Appliances package.

Pricing from $30.99 to $44.99 per month

One of the things that sets Cinch apart from other home warranty companies is their affordable pricing. In our area, their home warranties start at just $30.99 per month for the Appliances coverage, $35.99 per month for the Built-in Systems plan, and $44.99 per month for the Complete Home plan. These prices assume you're choosing the $150 deductible - also known as a trade service call fee - but you can opt for a higher monthly cost to get a lower deductible of just $100 to $125 per claim. It was only on the checkout page that we spotted the option to pay annually instead of monthly - but our quote was more expensive for annual billing vs. monthly (which came as a surprise).

Extras from $4.58 to $22 per month

While many extras come with your Cinch plan automatically, there are still a few add-ons you can pick out during checkout. Priced between $4.58 to $22 more per month, you can add coverage for things like septic tanks, permits and upgrades to your home, and pools/spas.

180-day workmanship guarantee

Cinch offers a 180-day workmanship guarantee on repairs. This means that if your claim is based on work done previously by a Cinch worker, even something you were unaware of, you'll still be covered. Cinch has a maximum coverage amount or "cap" on certain repairs or across all coverage in your home, but this varies depending on the system, item, or home component and the plan you select.

Reputation may be heading in the wrong direction

When it comes to reputation, Cinch has a "B+" rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with accreditation. This rating is due to over 3,300 complaints filed in the last three years. However, Cinch is responding appropriately to all of these complaints. The most frequently mentioned issue in complaints is repair delays: customers have gone without a working dishwasher, refrigerator, or other appliance for weeks or even months. Outside of the BBB, customer feedback for Cinch is mixed. Some customers love their home warranty service here, while others hate it. Over 30% of reviews gave Cinch the lowest possible rating of one star, while over 50% thought the company deserved a perfect five stars. As we looked through the reviews, we noticed that the more current reviews were almost all negative. This gives the impression that what used to be a positive customer experience has changed to a less-than-great one.

Solid option for lots of protection at one price

Overall, we give Cinch a "cautiously optimistic" rating. We like the simplicity of their plans and pricing, their long history in the industry, and the number of customers who have had flawless warranty claims. However, we also acknowledge that there are some negative reviews out there and that Cinch may not be the best choice for everyone. But, if you like a plan that includes the extras in the original price, Cinch is definitely worth a look.

American Home Shield

• Prices from $39.99 to $89.99 per month
• Add-ons from $5 to $18 per month
• Trade service fees from $100 to $125 per service request
• Coverage for appliances, roof, and permits
• Add-ons for pool, septic, and more
• 30-day workmanship guarantee
• 4.1-star average

American Home Shield has been in business for over five decades, serving over two million customers nationwide. This company has a long history of providing home warranties to homeowners. American Home Shield's goal is to help you by protecting your home and also making potential repairs a breeze by connecting you with the best technicians for the job when needed. However, extra details about American Home Shield's history or mission are pretty minimal, making it harder to find out more about the company from its website.

Three plans and bonus coverage offered

American Home Shield provides three main plans, each with its unique set of benefits and coverage. The ShieldSilver plan covers essential systems like HVAC, electrical, and plumbing, while the ShieldGold plan adds protection for nine kitchen and laundry appliances. The ShieldPlatinum plan includes all the coverage from the previous two plans, plus additional features like roof leak repairs, complimentary HVAC tune-ups, unlimited AC refrigerant, and coverage for code violations and permits. You can customize your plan by adding optional coverage for electronics, pool/spa, roof leak repairs, guest units, septic pumps, and well pumps. When selecting a plan with American Home Shield, you'll want to review the sample contract available on their website. This will help you understand exactly what you're getting and avoid any surprises when you need to make a claim. For example, the contract clearly states that if your AC unit needs refrigerant and you're not on the Platinum plan, you'll be limited by how heavy your unit is. If you're over the weight limit, you'll pay an extra fee on top of your repair cost.

Pricing from $39.99 to $89.99 per month

The pricing for American Home Shield plans varies depending on your preferred trade service call fee. You can choose from two options: $100 or $125 per service request. This fee is essentially a co-pay for each service request you make under your warranty. For our location, with a $100 call fee, we were quoted $39.99/month for ShieldSilver, $59.99/month for ShieldGold, and $89.99/month for ShieldPlatinum. There was a promotion running that made ShieldSilver $20 per month, but it was unclear how long this discounted rate would last.

Add-ons from $5 to $18 per month

American Home Shield offers additional coverage options that can be added to any base plan. The cheapest add-on is coverage for a septic pump for $5 per month. On the other end, you can add on spa/pool coverage for $18 per month. With six total extras to choose from, you can add all or just one extra to your American Home Shield Plan.

30-day workmanship guarantee

American Home Shield offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee. This means that if you experience an issue with a repair completed within 30 days of service, the provider will send a professional technician back to fix the problem free of charge. By offering this guarantee, AHS stands behind the quality of their work and demonstrates their commitment to customer satisfaction.

Mixed reviews but improved customer service

Unfortunately, American Home Shield has received over 10,000 complaints in the last year alone. This is reflected in their "B" rating from the Better Business Bureau. Many customers have expressed frustration with delays in getting parts and repairs, difficulties in getting covered appliances replaced, and poor customer service. On the other hand, third-party reviews from ConsumerAffairs show a 4.1-star average rating, which is much better than the reviews on the BBB. While the BBB showed 10,000 complaints, American Home Shield has over 100,000 total reviews on ConsumerAffairs with over 70% of them being 4 stars or higher. It seems that in recent years submitting a claim has been simpler, and customers feel that American Home Shield is working hard to make the process seamless.

A good middle-tier option

American Home Shield has worked to impress us with its recent track record of customer satisfaction. While there are still thousands of complaints to consider, American Home Shield has greatly improved across the board with well over 50,000 positive customer reviews. However, given that there are still complaints to contend with, we still recommend you do your research. Make sure this is the best price possible before you settle with American Home Shield, and look at our higher-rated options before you decide.

Select Home Warranty

• Prices from $44.22 to $47.75 per month
• Service call fees from $75 to $100
• Add-ons from $3.33 to $8.33 per month
• Coverage for total home including appliances and HVAC
• 30-day grace period to cancel

Select Home Warranty is a reputable company based in New Jersey that has been in business since 2012. As a home warranty provider, they offer coverage for various aspects of your home, including appliances, home systems, or a combination of both. With their experience and expertise, Select Home Warranty aims to provide you with peace of mind and financial protection in the event of unexpected repairs or replacements. Uniquely, this company appears to have celebrity endorsement. Fans of Star Trek will recognize the famous William Shatner on the front page, claiming to trust the company over other options in the industry.

Three plans to choose from

Select Home Warranty offers three plans to choose from: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. The Bronze Care plan covers essential appliances such as the clothes washer and dryer, refrigerator, built-in microwave, cooktop, stove/oven, and garbage disposal. The Gold Care plan covers a different area of your home including HVAC, water heater, ductwork, electrical, and plumbing systems, but none of the features covered by Bronze. The Platinum Care plan includes all the features of the Bronze Care and Gold Care plans and adds additional coverage for garage door openers, ceiling fans, and plumbing stoppages.

Pricing from $44.22 to $47.75 per month

When it comes to promotions and discounts, Select Home Warranty often offers special deals to attract new customers. At the time of this review, they were offering a promotion that included $150 off any plan, free roof coverage, and two extra months free on plans paid yearly. In our area, we had options to choose from all three plans offered by Select Home Warranty. The Bronze and Gold Care plans both cost $44.42 per month and Platinum Care for $47.75 per month. During our sign-up process, we didn't see any information about the trade service call fee for each claim. Instead, the Select Home Warranty website mentions a "small fee" without providing a specific amount. Even in their terms and conditions, they only mention "a fee" without giving a numerical value. We believe that customers should be informed about all costs associated with their home warranty before signing up, and it shouldn't take digging through the company's blog to determine that the service call fee will be $75 to $100, depending on the length of the contract.

Add-ons from $3.33 to $8.33 per month

What's great about Select Home Warranty is that they offer a la carte coverage options at the bottom of their plans. You can select from 9 different add-ons. These range in price from $3.33 for things like a stand-alone freezer or sump pump to $8.33 per month for a pool.

$75 cancellation fee after 30 days

When you purchase a home warranty from Select, you have the right to cancel the agreement within 30 days of the order date. During these 30 days, if you decide to cancel and no services have been provided, you'll be eligible for a full refund. After the 30-day period has passed, you can still cancel, but you'll receive a prorated refund based on the non-discounted annual plan cost. At this time, a $75 cancellation fee will be charged, as well as any service costs incurred by Select.

Customers either love or hate Select Home Warranty

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives Select Home Warranty a "B" rating due to over 5,000 complaints filed in the past three years. While this may seem concerning, it's not unusual among home warranty companies. The "B" rating indicates that Select Home Warranty is doing an adequate job of responding to and resolving these complaints. However, one of the main issues with Select Home Warranty is repair delays. It can take weeks for a broken appliance or system to be serviced and repaired by a technician. This may vary depending on your location and the availability of parts and repair specialists. That's why there are generally mixed reviews for Select Home Warranty. For example, on ConsumerAffairs, the average rating is 3.3 stars out of 5. The reviews are split almost 50/50 between 1- and 5-star ratings, showing a massive range of praise and concerns for the company.

Still needs to update its cost transparency

While Select Home Warranty has made some improvements since our last review by providing more transparent pricing information and eliminating broken links and spelling errors from their website, they still need to work on greater transparency regarding service fees and improving their response times for repairs. As such, we recommend trying a better-ranked home warranty company first before considering Select Home Warranty, but it may still be worth your while to research prices here if you like what they offer.

Home Warranty of America

• Prices from $46.04 to $57.92 per month
• Add-ons from $4.58 to $15.83 per month
• Service fees are around $75 per visit
• Coverage for appliances, heating system, water heater, plumbing system
• Add-ons for pool, sump pump, and more
• 30-day cancellation period with money back

Home Warranty of America has been providing warranty coverage to homeowners since 1996. There are no "age” restrictions on the items covered, and no inspections are required. To be eligible for coverage, the items must be functional and working at the time you purchase the warranty plan. This means that you can get protection for your home without having to worry about meeting specific requirements or undergoing costly inspections.

Two plans to choose from

Home Warranty of America's two plans offer different levels of coverage. The Select plan covers basic components such as the heating system, water heater, plumbing system, dishwasher, built-in microwave, range/oven/cooktop, trash compactor, and garage door system. The Select plan also covers whirlpool bathtubs, electrical systems, ductwork, and more. The second tier, the Select Plus plan, builds upon the first plan by adding coverage for air conditioning systems and washer and dryer appliances.

Pricing from $46.04 to $57.92

The initial quote process with Home Warranty of America is a bit more extensive than with other home warranty companies. You will need to provide your name and contact information as well as the type of property you own and its square footage. We also found that we had options for additional coverage for items such as pool/spa combinations or septic systems after entering these personal details. The pricing for Home Warranty of America's plans is average. Our quote was $57.92 per month for the Select Plus plan and $46.04 per month for the Select plan. However, we were not provided with information on service call fees at any point during the quoting process, though some areas of the website mentioned that plans starting at $75/visit would be available.

Add-ons from $4.58 to $15.83

There are 11 different add-ons you can choose to access extra coverage for your home. These include things like septic tank coverage, sprinkler system protection, and pool/spa combo. There's also coverage for limited roof leaks. The prices range from $4.58 per month to $15.83 per month depending on which add-on you want.

30-day money-back guarantee

When you buy a home warranty from Home Warranty of America, you'll have access to the company's 30-day money-back guarantee. The cancellation terms differ slightly depending on whether you're purchasing a home warranty as part of a real estate transaction or to protect the home you already own. If you're not buying or selling a home, the Select and Select Plus plans (referred to as Premier and Premier Plus in the terms and conditions) each come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. This guarantee states that you can cancel your contract at any time, and if you do so within the first 30 days, you'll receive a full refund of the contract cost if no claims have been made. If you cancel within the first 30 days after making a claim or cancel the contract after 30 days, you'll receive a prorated refund of the total purchase price minus any actual service costs and an administrative fee, which is either $30 or 10% of the total purchase price, whichever is less.

Reputation has fallen as far as it can go

Despite some positive reviews from clients who reported quick responses to claims and reliable repair services, Home Warranty of America has dropped to an "NR”" rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). This is due to a pattern of regular complaints that are so concerning that the BBB put an alert on the Home Warranty of America page. The most common complaints were delays in servicing and issues with having claims denied instead of being repaired or replaced. Worryingly, the company's reputation isn't great outside of the BBB either. According to ConsumerAffairs, Home Warranty of America has an average rating of just 1 star.

Poor reputation keeps it from competing

Overall, Home Warranty of America falls drastically short of impressing us. Their coverage is average, their pricing is average, and their customer feedback is extremely poor. While they may not be the worst home warranty provider we've seen (since some companies have had warnings for being scams), they have a long way to go to earn our full confidence.

Liberty Home Guard

• Prices from $49.99 to $59.99 per month
• Add-ons from $4.99 to $23.99 per month
• Service fees of $50 to $125 or more per visit
• Coverage for total home
• Add-ons for pool, sump pump, and more
• 60-day workmanship guarantee

Liberty Home Guard is a company that has been in business for just six years, providing home protection against common appliance and system breakdowns. Its plans cover all the appliances and systems in your home, including refrigerators, washers, dryers, furnaces, air conditioning, and more. Liberty Home Guard has a network of highly qualified technicians who have been thoroughly vetted to meet their standards. Liberty Home Guard promises that their technicians can fix a malfunctioning item on the first visit.

Three plans for partial or full home coverage

When we filled out the form at Liberty Home Guard, we were offered three different plans. The plans are separated into types of coverage to make it easier to decide what you want. The lowest tier is the Appliance Guard plan which includes just your appliances like washer and dryer, refrigerator, microwave, dishwashers, ranges, ceiling fans, and garage door openers. The middle tier covers the other side of your home. The Systems Guard plan offers coverage for air conditioning, heating, ducts, plumbing, electrical, and water heaters. Finally, Liberty Home Guard offers the Total Home Guard which combines all of the features of Appliance Guard and Systems Guard into one complete plan.

Pricing from $49.99 to $59.99 per month

The prices for the plans are based on your individual home and your location. For our area, the prices for the three tiers were $49.99 for Appliance Guard, $54.99 for Systems Guard, and $59.99 for Total Home Guard. These are all monthly payment prices, and surprisingly low for the Total Home Guard coverage. While there were no specific numbers for service fees mentioned during checkout, the website stated that the fees could range between $50 to $125 or more.

Add-ons from $4.99 to $23.99 per month

One of the features we loved about Liberty Home Guard was that during the add-ons section of the purchase, you are shown 35 different add-ons for your home coverage. While this may seem like a lot of options, Liberty Home Guard simplifies it for you by showing which extras are most relevant for your area. For example, Liberty Home Guard suggested saltwater pool and roof leak coverage for our area, which is accurate to local concerns. The prices range from $4.99 to $23.99 per month.

60-day workmanship guarantee

When you work with a Liberty Home Guard Certified Professional, you can expect to save the most money and receive top-notch work. The Liberty Home Guard contractors are licensed professionals who have been vetted, and their work is backed by a 60-day workmanship guarantee. This means that if you're not satisfied with the quality of the work, you can rely on Liberty Home Guard to make it right within 60 days of completion.

Concerning pattern of complaints

Sadly, despite the workmanship guarantee and total coverage options, Liberty Home Guard doesn't hold up in the reputation department. According to the Better Business Bureau, Liberty Home Guard is listed as "Not Rated”. On top of this, there is an alert on the BBB due to Liberty Home Guard's pattern of having complaints. Specifically, customers report paying for services upfront and waiting long periods for technicians to arrive. Further, claims are said to take an unusually long amount of time, creating lengthy periods of unsolved home problems. These complaints are reflected on other third-party review sites also. For example, ConsumerAffairs shows a 2.9-star average rating with over 50% of all reviews being a concerning 1 star.

Not worth the long wait times

While the total coverage plan might seem like a great option, Liberty Home Guard's reputation indicates otherwise. While it may still be worth it to get a quote from this company, we suggest caution before committing. If you're looking for a service that will solve your problems quickly, Liberty Home Guard won't be the one. With lengthy claims and issues with technicians, it might be better to check out one of our higher-rated services instead.

Choice Home Warranty

• Prices from $55.33 to $45 per month
• Add ons from $3.33 to $15 per month
• Trade service fees are around $85 per service request
• Coverage for appliances, heating system, electrical, plumbing, water heater, whirlpool bathtub, and more
• Add-ons for pool, sump pump, and extra appliances
• 4-star average

Choice Home Warranty has been in business for approximately 15 years, during which time they have handled over three million service requests for over one million home warranty customers. This company has a significant amount of experience in the industry, which is a good thing for homeowners looking for reliable coverage. With Choice Home Warranty's background, they promise to provide help in the case that you need to make a claim with your warranty by offering pre-screened technicians for quick and easy repairs.

Two plans behind a signup form

Choice Home Warranty offers two main plans for homeowners to choose from. However; to figure out anything about the plans, you have to fill out the site's form with your zip code, full name, email, and phone number. From what we can see, the two options are the Basic and Total plans. The Basic plan covers essential systems and appliances such as the heating system (excluding air conditioning), electrical, plumbing, water heater, whirlpool bathtub, oven/range/stove, cooktop, dishwasher, built-in microwave, garbage disposal, ductwork, garage door opener, and ceiling/exhaust fans. The Total plan includes all the features of the Basic plan, plus additional coverage for air conditioning systems, refrigerators, and clothes washers/dryers.

Pricing from $45 to $53.33 per month

Once you've selected your plan, you'll be taken to the quote page. In our area, we were shown a monthly rate of $55 for the Total home warranty coverage with no add-ons. However, this rate also included a "monthly fee" of $2.50 which was not explained anywhere on the website. After applying a "promotional” discount of $4.17 (a discount that has been present at the same rate for around 3 years), our final monthly cost came out to $53.33. The Basic plan was available for $45 per month While the trade service fee used to be listed at around $85, this is no longer available during the checkout information, which raised some questions about transparency here.

Add-ons from $3.33 to $15 per month

Choice Home Warranty also offers optional coverage for various items. You can choose to add coverage for pools/spas, limited repair of roof leaks, stand-alone freezers, central vacuums, a second refrigerator, well and sump pumps, septic systems, and septic tank pumping. This allows you to customize your coverage to fit your specific needs and budget. The prices for these add-ons are only available to see during checkout. The prices range from $3.33 per month for a sump pump or second refrigerator to $15 per month for a pool or spa.

May not stand by their warranty

We didn't find any mention of a money-back guarantee, but what we did find was the exclusions list. At the bottom of the website is a link to Choice Home Warranty's limits of liability and exclusions. Unfortunately, some clients have reported that when an appliance needed replacement under their warranty, Choice Home Warranty offered them a lower value than the original retail price, despite what was promised both in the terms and conditions and the original sale.

Concerning news of a fraud lawsuit

Choice Home Warranty's reputation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is concerning. They have a lackluster "B-" grade and a disappointing 1-star average over 2,600 customer reviews. There is also an alert about government action against Choice Home Warranty due to an open fraud lawsuit. Yikes! Reviews from clients on the BBB site and elsewhere paint a concerning picture of Choice Home Warranty's unwillingness to honor claims. Some people reported that representatives refused to provide them with detailed coverage and exclusion lists until after they signed a contract. Contracts have been renewed even when clients have canceled their plans, making it difficult to get refunds or stop payments altogether. This pattern of behavior has been reported in multiple reviews. Despite these negative reviews, Choice Home Warranty still has its fans. We found it has a 4-star average rating from ConsumerAffairs. It seems that this company can be hit or miss when it comes to providing reliable service, but we're especially concerned about the lawsuit.

Too many concerns to be competitive

While Choice Home Warranty may not have been the worst option available in the past, it has fallen in reputation recently. We recommend considering other companies first before signing a contract with Choice Home Warranty. While they offer easy-to-understand plans and have some satisfied customers, their reputation with the BBB is concerning and their tendency to avoid paying out on claims is alarming. For these reasons, Choice earns one of our lowest ratings.