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
| Comparison | AFC Home Club | American Home Shield |
|---|---|---|
| This Old House rating | 8.6/10 | 9.5/10 |
| Get a free quote | Visit site | Visit site |
| Plan options | Platinum, Gold, Silver, Systems, and optional add-ons | ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, ShieldPlatinum™, and optional add-ons |
| Monthly premiums | $37–$60 per month | $40–$57 per month |
| Service fee deductible | $75–$125 | $75–$125 |
| State availability | 46 states (all except Hawaii, California, South Carolina, and Nevada) | 49 states (all except Alaska) |
| BBB rating | B | B |
| Years in business | 10 | 48 |
Pros and Cons of AFC Home Club
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Offers four different coverage plans and optional add-ons | Only has 10 years of experience in the home warranty industry |
| Guarantees parts and labor for the life of a customer’s membership | Not 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.
Pros and Cons of American Home Shield
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Offers coverage for damage due to rust and corrosion | Doesn’t let customers choose their own contractor for repairs |
| Has more than 45 years of experience in the industry | Service 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.
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
| Plan | System Plan | Silver Plan | Gold Plan | Platinum 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 Appliances | ShieldSilver™ | 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
| Company | AFC Home Club | American 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
| Company | AFC Home Club | American Home Shield |
|---|---|---|
| BBB rating | B | B |
| BBB accreditation | Yes | Yes |
| Number of customer reviews on BBB webpage | 242 reviews | 6,247 reviews |
| BBB customer review rating (out of 5 stars) | 3 stars | 2 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.