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8 Best Home Warranty Companies of December 2023

Updated: Nov 28, 2023
Written by
Faith Wakefield
Written by Faith Wakefield Author

Faith Wakefield is a writer based in North Carolina. She holds economics and English degrees from UNC Chapel Hill, and her work has been featured on EcoWatch, The World Economic Forum and Today’s Homeowner. In her free time, she loves to binge-watch personal finance videos on YouTube, collect books and spend time in nature.
Edited by
Tori Addison
Edited by Tori Addison Editor

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

Let’s face it home ownership can be expensive, accidents happen and normal wear and tear can lead to major (expensive) appliances breaking down. While you can’t always guarantee a smooth home ownership experience you can buy yourself peace-of-mind. Home warranty offers financial protection and convenience if your home systems or major appliances stop working.

Picking a reliable and trustworthy home warranty company is another tough task, but that’s why we at the MarketWatch Guides Team have researched and compared dozens of top national home warranty companies to identify the industry’s best, most trusted providers. In this guide to the best home warranty companies, see how investing in a home warranty can help protect your home and offer peace of mind in the event of an unexpected repair.?

The Best Home Warranty Companies for HVAC Coverage (2023) Cheapest Home Warranty Companies of 2023 Best Home Warranty Companies for Plumbing (2023) Appliance Extended Warranties: Are They Worth It? Best Home Warranties for Refrigerators (2023)
  • Are Home Warranties Worth It?
  • Best Home Warranty Companies
  • National Home Warranty Reviews
  • Best Home Warranty Companies by State
  • Home Warranty Cost
  • How To Choose a Home Warranty
  • How Home Warranties Work
  • Market Trends
  • FAQs
  • Methodology

Are Home Warranties Worth It?

A home warranty policy can be a worthwhile investment because it can make home repairs and maintenance costs more predictable. You pay a monthly fee to your provider, and when something in your home stops working, you can schedule a repair at a reduced cost.

While home warranties can help cover the up-front costs of home system and appliance repairs, whether a home warranty is worth it for you depends on your needs.

“The pros of home warranties include potential financial savings on expenses due to repair or replacement of systems and appliances in your home,” says David Resischer, real estate attorney and CEO of LegalAdvice.com, “as well as peace of mind knowing that your systems and appliances are covered in the event of an unexpected problem.”

But on the other hand, Resischer adds, “The cons of home warranties include the cost, which can be significant depending on the plan and size of the home … It’s important to read warranty details carefully to understand any exclusions or limitations.”


Compare Top-Recommend National Home Warranty Companies

Compare the cost and ratings of our top picks for national home warranty providers. We compiled the providers and top criteria such as cost of plans, service fees, and trust signals like BBB ratings. Review them below and pick a warranty servicer that is the best option for your needs.

Company BBB Rating Service Fee Best For Monthly Cost Visit Site
A $65–$125 Most Customer-Friendly $49–$60 VISIT SITE
B $100–$125 Most Experienced $29–$90 VISIT SITE
A+ $75 Most unique add-ons $50 - $75 VISIT SITE
B- $75 Most Budget-Friendly $44–$48 VISIT SITE
B $75–$125 Most Coverage Options $41–$58 VISIT SITE
B $75–$125 Our Pick for Add-on Coverage $47–$87 VISIT SITE
B $100–$150 Our Pick for Bonus Benefits $31–$94 VISIT SITE
No results were found.
Filters
Location
BBB Rating
At Least
Service Fee
0-150
Monthly Cost
17-A La Carte
Company Best For BBB Rating Service Fee Monthly Cost Visit Site
Most Customer-Friendly A $65–$125 $49–$60 VISIT SITE
Most Experienced B $100–$125 $29–$90 VISIT SITE
Most unique add-ons A+ $75 $50 - $75 VISIT SITE
Most Budget-Friendly B- $75 $44–$48 VISIT SITE
Most Coverage Options B $75–$125 $41–$58 VISIT SITE
Our Pick for Add-on Coverage B $75–$125 $47–$87 VISIT SITE
Our Pick for Bonus Benefits B $100–$150 $31–$94 VISIT SITE
N/A D+ $85 $46–$54 Visit Site
Our Pick for Affordable Plans NR $75 $41–$45 Visit Site
N/A C $95–$125 $43–$60 Visit Site
N/A N/A $49 $43–$50
Most Affordable Appliance Plan B+ $65–$100 $17–$69 Visit Site
Our Pick for Discounts B- $75 $39–$48 Visit Site
Our Pick for Contractor Flexibility B- $70 $44–$55 Visit Site
N/A A+ $55 $39–$135 Visit Site
Most Plan Options N/A $0–$100 A La Carte Visit Site
N/A N/A N/A $46-$60 Visit Site
N/A N/A $75 $37.5-$62.5 Visit Site
N/A A+ $85 $33-$62.5 Visit Site
N/A N/A N/A N/A Visit Site
N/A N/A $75-$85 $22- $37 Visit Site
N/A A+ $85 $32.5 - $68 Visit Site
N/A A+ $75 $30-$85 Visit Site
No results were found.

*Pricing information was gathered in 2023 and is based on a combination of first party information from reviews, secret shoppers, and public information found on the providers public database. These estimates are based on a set square footage- for the most accurate pricing information we highly recommend getting multiple quotes and shopping around for your specific requirements.?

Why Trust Us? Here's a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the best home warranty companies
40
Companies Reviewed Our team reviewed over 40 home warranty providers, collecting and comparing data on monthly costs, service fees, coverages and more.
350
Quotes Collected We've collected more than 350 sample quotes from home warranty companies to give readers an accurate view of pricing and how competitors stack up in terms of rates. We update our pages regularly to reflect accurate cost information.
22
Rating Factors Our comprehensive rating system scores providers based on 22 data points in seven key rating factors: plan options, coverage details, pricing, trustworthiness, customer service, additional benefits and state availability.
2000
Homeowners Surveyed We've conducted multiple homeowner surveys to collect data on what real home warranty customers care about, such as policy features, company transparency and month premium cost.

 

 

Top 8 Best Home Warranty Companies of 2023

Some of the other home warranty companies we considered include?Choice Home Warranty, Old Republic, Landmark and Home Warranty of America. Although all legitimate home warranty providers, the companies did not rate as highly under our?home warranty methodology?as our top picks.

 

 

National Home Warranty Reviews

Liberty Home Guard

Most Customer-Friendly
4.5

Overview

  • High customer reviews:?Liberty Home Guard has earned?4.59 out of 5 stars?based on nearly 2,000 customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, a far higher score than many other home warranty companies.
  • Customer-friendly: Liberty Home Guard has taken strides to broaden communication channels with homeowners. The company has?introduced a customer survey tool, offers a live-chat customer support feature on its website and now offers unique coverage add-ons like window and carpet cleaning to accommodate customers’ feedback.
  • Slightly longer response times:?While we applaud Liberty Home Guard for its customer service, its claim response time is typically 48 hours, which is slightly longer than some competitors.

Pros and Cons

Pros Offers unique coverage add-ons, such as pro-series appliances, pest control, window washing and roof leak protection Includes a 60-day workmanship guarantee, which is longer than some other home warranty providers give Features a live chat tool on its website so you can message with a customer service representative in real-time Cons Assigns service fees to customers rather than allowing homeowners to choose Has a lower-than-average coverage cap of $2,000 per item

Coverage and Cost

A home warranty with?Liberty Home Guard?costs between?$49.99 and $59.99 per month. Unlike some other companies, Liberty does not let you choose your service fee. Instead, the company assigns you a?service fee between $65 and $125?depending on your home’s size and your location.

Liberty Home Guard has three plans and dozens of coverage add-on options:

  • Appliance Guard ($49.99 per month):?Covers most home appliances, including refrigerators, washers, dryers, built-in microwaves, dishwashers and more
  • Systems Guard ($54.99 per month):?Covers built-in systems like air conditioning and heating units, ductwork, plumbing, electrical and water heaters
  • Total Home Guard ($59.99 per month):?Covers both your home systems and appliances
  • Coverage add-ons:?Electronics protection, pest control, gutter cleaning, professional-grade appliance coverage, fixtures coverage, trash compactor coverage and more (you can see a full list of add-ons on Liberty Home Guard’s website)

Liberty Home Guard is available in all 50 states.

We secured a quote from Liberty Home Guard’s website in about a minute, and the quote landing page was clean and intuitive. Liberty Home Guard offers a?sample warranty contract?online, but you won’t be able to view a full contract until after purchasing a plan.

After requesting a quote from Liberty Home Guard, the company left us two voicemails and sent 11 automated text messages over a period of about two weeks. These promotional messages and calls were less frequent compared to other home warranty companies.

American Home Shield

Most Experienced
4.6

Overview

  • Most experienced provider:?American Home Shield?(AHS) has been in business for over 50 years and is available in 48 states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii).
  • Comprehensive coverage:?American Home Shield covers heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing systems in its most basic plan, which starts at just $29.99 per month. It also has higher-than-average coverage caps of $3,000 to $6,000 for systems and appliances.
  • Above-average service fee:?AHS only offers two service call fee options: $100 or $125. These rates are slightly higher than some competitors.

For all these reasons, plus its tenure in the industry and high coverage caps, American Home Shield earned 4.58 out of 5 stars in our rating system, which solidified its position as our top choice for home warranty companies.

Pros and Cons

Pros One of the largest home warranty providers in the country with 50+ years of industry experience Offers higher-than-average coverage limits of $3,000–$6,000 for systems and appliances Covers damage due to unknown pre-existing conditions, rust and corrosion, and improper installations and modifications Cons Offers limited options for add-on coverage May take up to 48 hours to respond to a claim, which is slower than some competitors

Coverage and Cost

You can expect to pay between?$29.99 and $89.99 per month?for an American Home Shield home warranty, depending on the policy you choose. You can also choose a?service call fee of $100 or $125?to adjust your monthly cost. American Home Shield may also offer a discounted $75 service fee for certain customers in select states.

American Home Shield’s home warranty plans are as follows:

  • ShieldSilver? ($29.99–$39.99 per month):?Covers heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing systems
  • ShieldGold? ($49.99–$59.99 per month):?Covers heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing systems, plus kitchen and laundry appliances
  • ShieldPlatinum? ($79.99–$89.99 per month):?Covers everything under the ShieldGold? plan, plus roof leak repairs, code upgrades and discounted HVAC tune-ups
  • Coverage add-ons:?Protection for electronics, guest units, pools, septic pumps, spa and well pumps, and roof leak repairs (if not already included in your plan)

American Home Shield is available in every state except for Alaska and Hawaii.

American Home Shield’s quote form was easy to fill out and it took us less than two minutes to get a personalized quote through the company’s website.

Unlike other home warranty companies, you can click into more detailed coverage explanations under each American Home Shield plan once you receive your quote. We like how AHS makes accessing information about exclusions and coverage caps easier than other service providers.

American Home Shield texted us several times within the first day of requesting a quote, and the messages stopped after around three weeks.

texts with an AHS representative about getting a home warranty quote

Elite Home Warranty

Most unique add-ons
4.8

Company Overview

Founded in 2020, Elite Home Warranty is a newer home warranty provider offering three policies and higher-than-average coverage limits for homeowners. Its policies are affordable and offer a decent value when compared to the included coverage. The company charges a $100 service fee, which is about average for the home warranty industry. It also offers a unique range of 26 add-on choices, which can help you customize your coverage.

However, Elite Home Warranty can charge extra fees in certain situations. It charges an extra $150 fee for servicing premium appliances, which can make the policy worthless if you have a designer kitchen. Additionally, it requires an ex $150 fee for visits on weekends or during off hours, which can compound costs. You also cannot purchase a policy online, which may be a downside for customers seeking a more interactive shopping and policy management experience.

Pros & Cons

Pros Aggregate coverage limits of up to $8,000 for systems and $6,000 for appliances Allows customers to file a claim 24/7 Offers more than 20 add-ons, including unique options like wine coolers and annual maintenance Cons Charges more for weekend visits and to service upgraded appliances Must talk to a representative to buy a policy

Cost and Coverage

Elite Home Warranty has three plan options: Elite Appliances, Elite Systems and Elite Complete. The Elite Systems and Elite Complete plans limit sewer line coverage, although both include coverage for water lines, waste lines and vent lines. Both plans also cover all types of stoppages and mainline drain leaks as long as they are less than 100 feet away from your home’s foundation. However, coverage excludes interior and exterior stoppages caused by collapsed, damaged or broken drains.

Based on the quotes we requested, Elite Home Warranty’s monthly pricing is:

  • Elite Appliance: $45
  • Elite Systems: $50
  • Elite Complete: $60

To learn more: Elite Home Warranty review

Select Home Warranty

Most Budget-Friendly
4.5

Overview

  • Budget-friendly:?All three of?Select Home Warranty’s coverage plans cost under $50 a month, making it among the cheapest options on our list. Each plan also includes a lower-than-average $75 service fee, and the company offers an impressive 90-day workmanship guarantee on all repairs.
  • Roof leak protection:?Select also includes roof leak protection with all of its plans.
  • Some limitations:?Select does not allow you to choose your own service technician, and its appliance coverage limits are below average.

Pros and Cons

Pros Includes roof-leak coverage with every plan Offers affordable pricing with plans that cost less than $50 per month Allows customers to file a claim within two days, whereas most companies require you to report issues immediately Cons Has lower-than-average coverage caps with a $500 limit for appliances May charge multiple service call fees if you file more than one claim

Coverage and Cost

Select Home Warranty offers three plans, priced between?$44.42 and $47.75 per month. It has a?$75 service fee?regardless of the policy you choose.

  • Bronze Care ($44 per month):?Covers appliances like your clothes washer, dryer, refrigerator, oven, stove, dishwasher and built-in microwave
  • Gold Care ($44 per month):?Covers systems including air conditioning, heating, plumbing, electrical, water heaters and ductwork
  • Platinum Care ($47 per month):?Comprehensive coverage that includes both systems and appliances, as well as plumbing stoppages, garage door openers, ceiling fans and exhaust fans
  • Coverage add-ons:?Central vacuum, lawn sprinkler system, pool, spa, roof leaks, well pump and sump pump

Select Home Warranty is not available in Nevada, Washington or Wisconsin.

We requested a sample quote from Select Home Warranty in February 2023 and over the course of about two months, Select sent us 47 promotional text messages. Although Select does automatically opt you into automated text messages when you request a quote, you can unsubscribe at any time. However, we felt like these messages were excessive.

One?Select Home Warranty customer on Reddit?was frustrated that the terms of the contract were not presented more clearly:

“When I was sold the policy, I was told Select Home Warranty would completely cover the cost of repair of appliances around the house when they break. In the [service contract] fine print, it says [Select Home Warranty] does not cover the cost of labor, which is usually the bulk of any repair or replacement. Furthermore, the contract states [Select] will cover the cost to replace broken items … but the end of the contract says only for the depreciated value of the item.”

AFC Home Club

Most Coverage Options
4.5

Overview

  • Variety of coverage options:?With four plans, multiple add-ons and three service fee options, America’s First Choice (AFC) Home Club has the most coverage options of the companies on our list.
  • Plan-length workmanship warranty:?Unlike other providers,?AFC Home Club?offers a plan-length workmanship warranty that covers company-approved repairs and replacements. So if the company sends a technician to fix a system or appliance in your home, and that item breaks again during your policy period, you can request another service without paying more fees.
  • Must file claims within 24 hours:?AFC Home Club requires you to file a claim within 24 hours of noticing an issue. If you don’t, the company may deny your claim.

Pros and Cons

Pros Extends a workmanship guarantee that runs the length of your plan Offers unique security benefits, including free credit monitoring, family emergency services and discounts on home security systems Allows you to choose your own service technician Cons Charges premiums that are on the higher end of the industry average May deny your claim if it is not filed within 24 hours of noticing an issue

Coverage and Cost

AFC Home Club offers four plans ranging from?$35 to $56 per month. You can also customize your monthly premium by selecting a?service call fee of $75, $100 or $125.

  • Silver Plan ($35 per month):?Covers nine of the most common household appliances, including kitchen and laundry appliances and garage door openers
  • Systems Plan ($43 per month):?Covers six household systems, including heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, ductwork and your water heater
  • Gold Plan ($50 per month):?Covers 15 appliances and systems, including heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing, kitchen appliances and laundry appliances
  • Platinum Plan ($56 per month):?Includes 18 appliances and systems, adding coverage for plumbing stoppages, faucets, ice makers and built-in microwaves
  • Coverage add-ons (if not included with your selected plan):?In-ground pool and spa, pumps, ice maker, double oven, built-in microwave, electronics, roof leaks, central vacuum, stand-alone freezer and hot water dispenser

AFC Home Club is available in all 50 states.

We were able to quickly secure a quote on AFC’s website, and it’s easy to compare plans. However, like most home warranty providers, you’ll have to do some digging on the company’s website to find a?sample contract. The quote and checkout page does not provide detailed policy information like coverage limits and exclusions.

One?AFC Home Club customer on Reddit?reported that you can choose your own technician and the company completed the claims process quickly:

“I use this company and it is great. You can use your own techs and get stuff fixed ASAP, no waiting around. It has reimbursed me to fix two A/C units ($855 total) in four months — and one component was weak, but not at total failure yet. As always, it’s [a home warranty] a gamble and may not be worth it for newer appliances, but if [your appliances] are getting older it’s something to consider.”

First American Home Warranty

Our Pick for Add-on Coverage
4.5

Overview

  • Appliance coverage:?First American?covers kitchen appliances under all three of its plans and offers additional refrigeration protection as a policy add-on.
  • High coverage limits:?First American extends a coverage cap of $3,500 per appliance under its Starter and Essential plans and $7,000 per appliance under its more comprehensive Premium Plan. Plus, there is no limit for coverage on heating and cooling systems or ductwork.
  • Excludes some important systems:?The Starter Plan does not cover plumbing, electrical or air conditioning systems.

Pros and Cons

Pros Includes generous coverage caps for appliances and systems ($3,500 to $7,000) Offers the First Class Upgrade for certain plans to cover improper installation, building code modifications, broken appliance disposal and more Features basic and comprehensive home warranty coverage for an affordable price Cons Basic home warranty plan does not cover plumbing or electrical systems Only offers air conditioning as a coverage add-on option for certain plans

Coverage and Cost

First American Home Warranty’s plans cost between?$47 and $87 per month, and you have the option of a?$75, $100 or $125 service fee.

  • Starter Plan ($47–$62 per month):?Covers your dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, cooktop, electrical system, heating system and plumbing
  • Essential Plan ($57–$72 per month):?Covers everything in the Starter Plan, plus your clothes washer, dryer, water heater, air conditioning and garage door opener
  • Premium Plan ($72–$87 per month):?Includes everything in the Starter and Essential plans, plus luxury appliances, your garbage disposal, garage door system, faucets, hot water dispenser and more
  • Coverage add-ons (if not included with your selected plan):?Additional refrigeration, air conditioning, HVAC tune-up, limited roof-leak protection, pool and spa equipment, septic tank systems and pumping, and more

Note: If you pay for your plan monthly, you will be charged a $2 handling fee for each payment.

First American Home Warranty is available in 35 states. It is not currently available in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont or Wisconsin.

Requesting a quote on the First American Home Warranty website was quick and easy, and we like how you can easily view plan details after receiving a quote. First American has an?online sample contract?you can review, but it is not on the quote landing page, so you will have to search for it separately.

First American did require inputting a phone number when we requested a quote. First American called and left 10 voicemail messages over six days, which we felt was excessive.

First Premier Home Warranty

Our Pick for Discounts
3.7

Overview

  • Senior discount:?First Premier?offers a $50 annual discount for seniors.
  • High coverage limits:?First Premier offers a $15,000 annual coverage limit, the highest among providers on this list. Other providers with annual coverage caps include Cinch Home Services and ARW Home, which cap coverage at $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.
  • Mixed customer reviews:?We read more than 80 consumer reviews, many of which noted First Premier’s quick claims resolution and personable customer service representatives. Others lament First Premier’s delay in issuing a refund for policy cancellations.

Pros and Cons

Pros Maintains all customer service representatives in-house to minimize phone wait times Provides a generous annual coverage cap of $15,000 for all covered items Offers a $200 discount on your service contract when an annual plan is purchased Cons Doesn’t allow customers to select their own service technician Provides service contract details only after signing up for a plan Excludes common systems and appliances, such as air conditioning and clothes washers, from its base plan

Coverage and Cost

First Premier Home Warranty offers two plans: the Premier Plan and the Platinum Plan. Both plans include its standard $75 service call fee. First Premier can lower your service call fee to $60 per claim if you sign up over the phone. Based on our quote, expect to pay between $40 and $48 per month for First Premier coverage.

  • Premier Plan ($40):?This plan covers built-in microwaves, ceiling and exhaust fans, cooktops, dishwashers, ductwork, electrical systems, garage-door openers, garbage disposals, ovens, ranges, stoves, plumbing stoppages and systems, permanently installed sump pumps, trash compactors, water heaters and whirlpool bathtubs.
  • Platinum Plan ($48):?The Platinum Plan covers all items in the Premier Plan, plus air conditioning and heating systems, clothes washers and dryers, and refrigerators.

First Premier Home Warranty is available in 44 states. It does not cover California, Hawaii, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico or Vermont.

First Premier’s online quote process is smooth and efficient. It took us approximately two and a half minutes to obtain a quote. We experienced a minimal wait time when we called — the representative picked up the phone in fewer than four rings.

One?user on Reddit?reported difficulty securing a copy of their First Premier contract and felt that a company representative was misleading about cancellation fees:

“I received a quote of $1,900 for six years. I asked if I could have a copy of the contract and [First Premier] said I would get a copy if I agreed to give my credit card info. I asked if I could cancel and [the rep] stated I had 30 days to cancel, implying it was a free cancellation … Two days later I received the contract and noticed a charge on my credit card for the full amount. I called to cancel and get my refund and [First Premier] informed me that the contract I was sent spelled out a cancellation fee of $300, or $50 for each year of the contract. I was flabbergasted.”

Cinch Home Services

Our Pick for Bonus Benefits
4.5

Overview

  • Unique bonus benefits:?Cinch offers extra “perks” like a homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement, a $25 credit toward air conditioner or refrigerator filter replacements and a 180-day workmanship guarantee. It also covers pre-existing conditions and damage caused by rust and corrosion.
  • Quick response times:?Cinch Home Services?has one of the fastest claim response times of any company — just two business hours. Plus, its customer service line is available 24/7.
  • High service fees:?Cinch offers $100, $125 and $150 service fee options. The $150 service fee option is the most expensive service fee of all the providers featured on this list.

Pros and Cons

Pros Covers damage due to rust and corrosion, which is often excluded from home warranties Provides a 180-day workmanship guarantee, which is six times the length of the typical guarantee Offers a $25 credit to use toward your air conditioner or refrigerator water filters Cons Charges higher service call fees than some other providers Customizability with add-ons is mostly limited to pools and spas coverage

Coverage and Cost

Cinch Home Warranty has three plans ranging from?$35 to $62 per month. You can adjust your premium by choosing from Cinch’s three?service fee options: $100, $125 or $150.

  • Appliances Plan ($35–$45 per month):?Covers kitchen and laundry appliances
  • Build-in Systems Plan ($40–$52 per month):?Covers heating, cooling and electrical systems, plus interior gas and plumbing
  • Complete Home Plan ($50–$62 per month):?Covers kitchen and laundry appliances, heating and cooling systems, interior gas and plumbing, and electrical
  • Coverage add-ons:?Pool, spa, septic tank and plumbing, well pump and a Premier Upgrade Package (up to $2,000 of annual coverage for building code upgrades, permits or removal and disposal costs)

Cinch Home Services is not available in Alaska or Hawaii.

Like the other providers on this list, retrieving a quote on Cinch’s website was fast and easy. We like that Cinch links directly to its sample terms contract once you request a quote and allows you to view coverage exclusions directly on the quote page.

A?Cinch customer on Reddit?was dissatisfied with the company’s high service fee and unwillingness to refund the fee after not covering a repair:

“Cinch stole $150 from me earlier this year. I had maintenance on my HVAC, and [the technician] said it needed repairs. I called Cinch, paid my $150 fee and then the tech did some minor work that wasn’t covered. I had to pay the HVAC tech because the work was maintenance, not a repair. [I] asked Cinch for my $150 back since the repair wasn’t covered, and it said no. I will not be renewing.”

 

 

Best Home Warranty Companies by State

Didn’t find the perfect home warranty? Click here to search for the best home warranty company in your state.

How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost?

According to our poll of 1,000 homeowners, 64% of respondents said that price of a home warranty is the most important factor they considered when shopping for a warranty plan.

The average monthly home warranty cost is between $39 and $63, and the average service call fee is $77. These estimates are based on our internal research, secret shopping, reviews of dozens of home warranty providers quotes and homeowner survey results of their own warranty plans.

HO - Home Warranty Icon

Key Takeaways for Homeowners

Many top home warranty providers offer several service call fee options, which allow you to adjust your monthly premium. In general, the higher your service call fee, the lower your monthly premium will be.

Compare cost based on sample quotes:

How much your home warranty plan costs will depend on several personal factors like where you live, your selected service call fee and which policy you choose:

factors that affect the price of a home warranty

 

 

How To Choose a Home Warranty

Every home warranty is different, so it’s important to find one that fits your lifestyle and budget. To help you select a home warranty provider that is right for you, consider the following factors while researching your best options.

Determine Your Coverage Needs

Everyone’s situation is different, and yours greatly impacts whether you want to focus on appliance coverage, systems coverage or both. Think about what you want to protect the most, and consider whether you already have coverage through individual appliance manufacturer warranties or other means.

Decide on Your Budget

The cost of a home warranty is largely determined by how much coverage it provides. It’s a good idea to decide how much you want to spend at the outset and then prioritize the coverage you want to include to stretch your dollar as far as possible.

Read the Terms and Conditions

Home warranty contracts enclose the terms of the deal. Make sure to read your contract carefully before you purchase the policy so you fully understand what it covers, its waiting period, service fees and other stipulations.

 

 

How Does a Home Warranty Work?

If you are new to home warranties you may be wondering how you can file a claim after enrollment. The following steps can help demystify how home warranties work:

Step 1: Enroll in a plan, having peace of mind that your home warranty provider can help cover the cost is half the battle!

Step 2: If the worse (or inevitable happens) you can typically file your first claim after a 30-day waiting period from enrollment.

  • You will typically have the option to file your claim over the phone or online,
  • You’ll pay the service call fee that essentially acts as the deductible for your plan- this price varies based on the provider you pick.
  • Cinch Home Services is a great option if you need home warranty coverage with no waiting period before filing a claim. They also offer little to no rejections for maintenance issues or pre-existing issues.

Step 3: Next, you’ll schedule a service visit for a technician to come to your home. If your service contract covers the home appliance or system breakdown, you won’t owe anything except the service call fee.

Step 4: The technician will inform you if he can fix or replace the system and if your plan covers the full price or if there will be an out of pocket fee that you will need to cover before proceeding with any fixes.

What Do Home Warranties Cover?

Warranty coverage can vary by home warranty plans but there are a few appliances and systems that the majority of the national providers will automatically cover. This includes:

  • Air conditioning and Heating systems (HVAC)
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical systems
  • Common household appliances (dishwasher, washer, dryer, oven, microwave, fridge etc)

For comprehensive coverage refer to listed coverage options from the provider you select.

 

 

  • Market Analysis concludes that the global market for home warranty companies “looks promising in the next five years.”
  • Some of our top-rated companies, including First American Home Warranty, AFC Home Club and Select Home Warranty, are listed as key players in the market.?
  • Today’s Homeowner reported that the home warranty market grew from $3.3 billion in 2020 to $3.6 billion in 2022.?

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Home Warranties

We asked George Beatty, the founder of the real estate solutions and investment firm Problem Property Pals, the top questions homeowners want to know about home warranties. Here’s what he said:

 

 

Related Resources

More Home Warranty Guides:

Best Home Warranty by System:

Best Home Warranties by Appliance:

 

 

Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Home Warranty Companies

Our team created a comprehensive rating system to rank providers based on objective factors. We researched each company by speaking with company representatives, reading sample contracts, and analyzing and comparing consumer reviews. We deepened our research by gaining homeowner insights through surveys and focus groups. After collecting data, we scored each provider based on what matters most to homeowners: plan options, cost, trustworthiness, customer service, state availability, additional benefits and coverage specifics. Here’s the breakdown of how we scored each home warranty company on our list:

  • Plan options (20%): Companies that offered at least three plan options and various add-on coverage scored the highest in this category.
  • Coverage details (20%): We rated companies both on their total number of home appliances and systems covered in their plans, putting more emphasis on the most essential systems like plumbing and air conditioning units.
  • Plan pricing (18%): Home warranty providers that had a service fee of $75 or less and offered combination plans for less than $50 a month earned the most points in this category.
  • Trustworthiness (14%): We evaluated the Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, sample contract availability, workmanship guarantee and years in the industry to determine the trustworthiness of each company.
  • Customer service (16%): Home warranty companies that are available 24/7, 365 days a year, provide emergency services and offer customers at least two claim filing options earned the highest points in the customer service category.
  • Additional benefits (8%): Companies that offer a 30-day free cancellation period earned points in this category, and any additional coverage perks and exclusive benefits a provider offered earned it extra points.
  • State availability (4%): Providers that are available in all 50 states earned full credit for this category.
Our review methodology for home warranty companies is intended to provide a thorough overview of the best providers nationwide. To learn more, you can read our full home warranty methodology.  

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Faith Wakefield is a writer based in North Carolina. She holds economics and English degrees from UNC Chapel Hill, and her work has been featured on EcoWatch, The World Economic Forum and Today’s Homeowner. In her free time, she loves to binge-watch personal finance videos on YouTube, collect books and spend time in nature.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

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