Amazon Home Warranty (AHW) is a Columbus, Ohio-based company that sells residential service contracts across multiple states. At the time of writing, we found that the company is no longer in business due to multiple cease-and-desist lawsuits and continuous customer complaints. In this review, we’ll provide our list of the best home warranty companies to choose from and give tips on how to buy a home warranty.
AHW Home Warranty Reviews
While Amazon Home Warranty was in business, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited the provider in 2018. However, the BBB revoked AHW’s accreditation in November 2020 for its failure to adhere to the standards required for BBB-accredited businesses.
Here are examples of positive reviews left on the BBB:
“[AHW Home Warranty] repair was able to repair my dishwasher the next day and was knowledgeable about the mechanics of it and fixed it in about an hour. He left no mess and ran a test cycle, asking that I call if anything didn’t work just right. I didn’t have to call because everything worked perfectly. I highly recommend [AHW Home Warranty].” — Isabella S. on 3/15/2020
“My sales representative James was very helpful and easy to work with. He was very knowledgeable and did not pressure me into buying like the other home warranty companies I have dealt with.” — Zeeshan A. on 12/20/2020
Like all major home warranty companies, AHW Home Warranty also had unhappy customers. Multiple homeowners have shared experiences of the company denying claims without providing a clear reason, and some have expressed having difficulty canceling their plan.
Top-Rated Alternatives to Amazon Home Warranty
Since Amazon Home Warranty is no longer available, we recommend choosing from the following three options.
American Home Shield
American Home Shield (AHS) is the best home warranty provider based on our rigorous rating standards. The company has three coverage plans that cover high-end appliances, major systems, and more. For instance, the provider’s ShieldPlatinum plan includes protection for over 20 appliances and systems. We like that the provider offers generous payouts per covered item. It pays up to $4,000 per covered appliance, which is higher than other companies we’ve reviewed.
Choice Home Warranty
Another home warranty provider to consider is Choice Home Warranty. Choice made our list of the cheapest home warranty companies because of its affordable comprehensive plan. According to our 2025 home warranty survey, respondents who own a Choice plan reported paying an average of $64 monthly, which is close to the average home warranty cost of $56 monthly. Choice also features multiple add-ons, including additional refrigerator coverage.
Elite Home Warranty
Elite Home Warranty is our final recommendation because it provides a wide variety of optional add-ons, such as sewer line coverage. The company also offers three coverage plans, two of which are appliance- and system-only plans. Another feature we like is Elite’s 90-day workmanship guarantee. This means that Elite will cover a previously repaired item free of charge if it breaks again within 90 days of the original repair.
How To Choose a Home Warranty
A home warranty can provide peace of mind by covering unexpected repair costs, but choosing the right plan requires careful consideration. Here are five tips to help you decide which home warranty best fits your needs and budget.
- Assess coverage needs: Review your appliances and systems to determine what items you need coverage for. Look for plans that cover those components and meet your preferences.
- Compare coverage options: Compare plan coverage, cost, comparison features, policy limitations, and pricing when choosing a home warranty plan. Use online estimates or contact providers directly to get specific pricing estimates for the coverage options needed.
- Consider additional coverage: You may need extra coverage if your home has special features or other items not covered under a standard home warranty plan. Consider purchasing optional riders for features like pools, septic tanks, well pumps, and more.
- Request discounts or promotions: Many home warranty companies offer promotions, including discounts for purchasing coverage online. Ask for all available discounts when it’s time to enroll.
- Understand the terms and conditions: Know upfront what items are and aren’t covered. Make sure you know how to file claims and are aware of any exclusions, requirements, or service fees that may affect your policy’s cost.
FAQs About Home Warranty Coverage
What is a workmanship guarantee?
A workmanship guarantee is an industry term used to describe a provider’s repair guarantee. The industry standard for a workmanship guarantee is 30 days. Certain providers, such as Liberty Home Guard and AFC Home Warranty, offer a lengthier workmanship guarantee.
Do home warranties cover rental properties?
Yes, home warranties do cover rental properties. They are a solid option to reduce how much you pay per repair or replacement of your rental unit’s systems and appliances. However, most home warranty companies have specific restrictions for rental properties, so we recommend reviewing a provider’s terms and conditions before signing up.
What do home warranties cover?
Home warranties cover breakdowns of your home’s essential systems and appliances due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties also offer add-on coverage to supplement their standard coverage plans. However, home warranties don’t cover certain home repairs, such as structural wall damage.
What is the best way to file a claim with my home warranty provider?
The best way to file a claim with your home warranty provider depends on your preference. Providers offer dedicated claims phone lines and online portals to submit claims. However, we recommend calling your provider because you can provide more detailed descriptions of your appliance or system breakdown.
Our Rating Methodology
We use a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each home warranty company we review. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and running focus groups and homeowner surveys.
We use this information to score each provider in six comparison categories that we think are most important when choosing a home warranty. We rate each provider across 23 factors within those categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We convert the final scores to a 5-star rating.
Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:
- Coverage (35%): This category looks at how comprehensive each provider’s coverage is, including whether it covers unique items. Companies that cover the most items and have higher annual limits received the highest scores. We docked points from providers that impose long waiting periods or have depreciation policies that decrease your payouts for aging items.
- Cost (20%): We looked at average monthly prices and service call fees. We gave the most points to companies offering pricing at or below the industry average that don’t impose any surcharges or extra fees.
- Trustworthiness (15%): To gauge reputation and reliability, we reviewed customer ratings across sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot, as well as companies’ responses to complaints. We also checked for National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA) membership. Providers with the highest ratings and longest workmanship guarantees received higher scores. We deducted points for any ongoing legal issues.
- Plan transparency (10%): We read terms, policies, and disclosures in provided contracts and on each company’s website. Providers with transparent contract details and policies received more points.
- Customer support (10%): Companies with multiple claims filing options, fast response times, and accessible customer support scored well in this category.
- Flexibility (10%): We awarded more points to providers offering more plan options, larger add-on catalogs, the ability to choose your own technician, and customer-friendly cancellation policies.