Looking for a comparison of AFC Home Club vs. American Home Shield? AFC Home Club and American Home Shield both offer home warranty plans across the U.S. that protect major appliances and systems from expensive repairs. The This Old House Reviews Team analyzed both providers’ plans, pricing, and customer reviews to help you determine which offers the best home warranty for your home protection needs.

Our Take

American Home Shield covers more states nationwide, has more customizable plan options, and has more years of experience. However, AFC Home Club has less expensive monthly premiums. Both AHS and AFC hold a B rating with the BBB and have service fees of $75–$125.

AFC Home Club vs. American Home Shield: Side-by-Side Comparison

ComparisonAFC Home ClubAmerican Home Shield
This Old House rating8.6/109.5/10
Get a free quoteVisit siteVisit site
Plan optionsPlatinum, Gold, Silver, Systems, and optional add-onsShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, ShieldPlatinum™, and optional add-ons
Monthly premiums$37–$60 per month$40–$57 per month
Service fee deductible$75–$125$75–$125
State availability46 states (all except Hawaii, California, South Carolina, and Nevada)49 states (all except Alaska)
BBB ratingBB
Years in business1048

Pros and Cons of AFC Home Club

ProsCons
Offers four different coverage plans and optional add-onsOnly has 10 years of experience in the home warranty industry
Guarantees parts and labor for the life of a customer’s membershipNot available in Hawaii or California
Holds a BBB accreditation

AFC Home Club offers four different coverage plans with a service guarantee that lasts for the entire duration of a homeowner’s membership. Not to mention, AFC Home Club offers unique benefits like free credit monitoring and discounts on maintenance-related parts and supplies.

To save up to $150 on a new plan, call AFC Home Club at 877-755-1115 or fill out this quick form.

Pros and Cons of American Home Shield

ProsCons
Offers coverage for damage due to rust and corrosionDoesn’t let customers choose their own contractor for repairs
Has more than 45 years of experience in the industryService guarantee is shorter than AFC Home Club’s guarantee
Provides 24/7 customer service

The longest-running and most popular home warranty company, American Home Shield has millions of customers nationwide and a large contractor network of more than 16,000 independent professionals. Aside from its trustworthiness, American Home Shield offers some of the most comprehensive coverage available and covers items with undetectable pre-existing conditions.

For $50 off of a new plan, call American Home Shield at 844-529-9298 or complete this quick form.

AFC Home Club vs. American Home Shield Coverage

AFC Home Club offers four coverage plans, while American Home Shield offers three. Keep reading to learn how each company’s coverage plans stack up against each other.

AFC Home Club Coverage

AFC Home Club offers four different coverage plans: a Platinum Plan, Gold Plan, Silver Plan, and System Plan. The Platinum Plan is AFC Home Club’s most comprehensive plan, while the System Plan only covers systems and the Silver Plan only covers appliances. The company’s Gold Plan covers everything in the Platinum Plan, except for plumbing stoppages, an ice maker, and a built-in microwave.

Here’s what each AFC Home Club plan covers:

AFC Home Club Coverage Breakdown

PlanSystem PlanSilver PlanGold PlanPlatinum Plan
Air Conditioning/Cooler
Heating Systems
Water Heater
Electrical System
Plumbing System
Plumbing Stoppages
Ductwork
Clothes Dryer
Clothes Washer
Kitchen Refrigerator
Ice Maker
Oven
Range
Stove/Cooktop
Dishwasher
Garbage Disposal
Garage Door Opener
Built-in Microwave

AFC Home Club also offers six optional add-ons:

  • Sump pump
  • Septic system
  • Hot water dispenser
  • Pool and spa
  • Stand alone freezer
  • Tankless water heater

American Home Shield Coverage

There are three American Home Shield plans: ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, and ShieldPlatinum™. ShieldPlatinum offers protection for both systems and appliances with additional benefits like roof leak coverage. ShieldGold covers essential home appliances and systems, and ShieldSilver protects major home systems.

The table below shows the specific items covered under each American Home Shield plan:

AHS Coverage Breakdown

Systems and AppliancesShieldSilver™ShieldGold™ShieldPlatinum™
Air Conditioning
Heating System
Ductwork
Electrical
Doorbells
Smoke Detectors
Ceiling Fans
Plumbing and Stoppages
Water Heaters
Water Dispensers
Central Vacuums
Refrigerators-
Ranges, Ovens, and Cooktops-
Clothes Washer-
Clothes Dryers-
Dishwashers-
Built-In Microwave-
Trash Compactors-
Freestanding Ice Maker-
Garage Door Opener-
Built-In Food Centers-
Coverage Boost --
Roof Leak Coverage --

In addition to these plans, American Home Shield offers five optional add-ons:

  • Electronic extended warranty
  • Septic pump
  • Well pump
  • Pool and spa
  • Guest units up to 750 square feet

AFC Home Club vs. American Home Shield Cost

AFC Home Club and American Home Shield offer coverage plans at roughly the same monthly cost, but the low end of American Home Shield’s monthly cost range can be more expensive than that of AFC Home Club.

Both companies offer the ability to choose a service fee between $75 and $125. Customers who choose a lower service fee will usually pay a higher monthly premium, while customers who choose a higher service fee will have a relatively lower monthly premium.

Home Warranty Cost Comparison

CompanyAFC Home ClubAmerican Home Shield
Monthly premium cost$43–$60 per month$39.99–$57.99 per month
Service fee deductible$75–$125$75–$125

AFC Home Club and American Home Shield Guarantees

AFC Home Club guarantees parts and labor on repairs for the entirety of a customer’s membership, a rarity in the home warranty industry, while American Home Shield provides a 60-day service guarantee on parts and labor.

AFC Home Club vs. American Home Shield Reviews

American Home Shield and AFC Home Club received a B rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and are both accredited by the organization. Regarding customer reviews, AFC Home Club reviews have been slightly more positive than American Home Shield reviews. However, American Home Shield has received substantially more customer reviews than AFC Home Club.

Home Warranty Customer Reviews Comparison

CompanyAFC Home ClubAmerican Home Shield
BBB ratingBB
BBB accreditationYesYes
Number of customer reviews on BBB webpage242 reviews6,247 reviews
BBB customer review rating (out of 5 stars)3 stars2 ½ stars

Our Conclusion

AFC Home Club and American Home Shield are two of the best home warranty companies in the industry. They both offer extensive coverage plans at relatively affordable pricing and hold a B rating from the BBB.

If you’re looking for a lifetime guarantee or want unique benefits with your home warranty plan, consider AFC Home Club. If you want coverage for any undetectable pre-existing conditions or items damaged due to rust or corrosion, American Home Shield may be a good option. Customers who live in Hawaii or California may also prefer American Home Shield since AFC Home Club doesn’t offer services in those states.

Before buying a home warranty, we recommend getting quotes from AFC Home Club and American Home Shield using the panel above. Doing so will help you compare current pricing and promotions for your home. For more information on each of these providers, read our AFC Home Club review and American Home Shield review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Rating Methodology

The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each provider. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts from each company, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. We then score each provider against our review standards for coverage, value, trustworthiness and transparency, availability, and customer service to arrive at a final score out of 100.  

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.