Choice Home Warranty (CHW) provides affordable and comprehensive plans to protect appliances and major home systems. The company sells two plans with $3,000 coverage caps for critical appliances and systems such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. It also offers coverage for 10 optional add-on items and a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
However, many customer reviews criticize CHW for poor communication and delayed repairs. In addition, the company remains subject to a consumer protection lawsuit brought by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office in 2019.
Before you commit to CHW, we recommend deciding whether the company meets your specific needs and expectations. We analyzed coverage plans, prices, reputations, and customer service practices of more than a dozen of the best home warranty companies, including CHW, to help you make an informed decision.
Choice Home Warranty
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers competitively priced plans for less than $70 per month in most states with a $100 service call fee
- Extends a 60-day workmanship guarantee, which is twice as long as competitors like Liberty Home Guard
- Has upper coverage limits of $3,000 for most appliances
Cons
- Add-ons only include a $500 upper coverage limit
- No choice in service call fee
- Only offers two plans, whereas most competitors offer at least three options
Add-Ons
Choice Home Warranty currently offers the following add-on options for both policies:
- Additional spa
- Central vacuum
- Limited roof leak
- Pool and spa
- Second refrigerator
- Septic system
- Septic tank pumping
- Sprinkler system
- Stand alone freezer
- Sump pump
- Well pump
Our Take on Choice Home Warranty
We compared Choice Home Warranty with dozens of home warranty companies and found it offers affordable plan options, generous coverage limits, and longer-than-average workmanship protection. The company provides two comprehensive plans priced under $60. It includes a $3,000 cap for appliances and systems, higher than many providers. Each plan is backed by a 90-day workmanship guarantee for parts and 60 days for labor, exceeding the industry standard of 30 days. Given this, we recommend CHW for most homeowners, as even its Basic Plan provides comprehensive coverage.
Despite having a B score on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), CHW has many unfavorable reviews on third-party consumer sites. Homeowners criticize the company for its delayed repairs and poor communication. Some customers claim CHW looks for policy loopholes to avoid paying out claims. In 2019, the Arizona Attorney General filed a still-ongoing consumer fraud lawsuit against CHW.
We recommend Choice Home Warranty if you:
- Want a plan that covers multiple appliances and systems for a reasonable price
- Need coverage limits that are enough to pay for full repairs or replacements
- Want a workmanship guarantee that protects you for up to 90 days
We don’t recommend Choice Home Warranty if you:
- Require a home warranty that covers preexisting conditions and damage
- Prefer flexibility with your service call fees and payments
- Want a deeper roster of optional add-ons
Choice Home Warranty Coverage
Choice Home Warranty sells two home warranty plans. In contrast, most other home warranty providers we’ve reviewed offer at least three plans. The company covers 48 states, excluding California and Washington.
Core Plans
CHW offers a Basic Plan and a Total Plan. After reviewing CHW’s sample contract, we found that the Basic Plan excludes coverage for certain essential home appliances, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and clothes washers and dryers. Most providers include these items in their standard coverage plans. You must select CHW’s Total Plan to receive these appliance protections. One advantage CHW offers is its $3,000 coverage cap per covered item—this is higher than the $2,000 cap offered by most other providers.
Like other home warranty providers, CHW doesn’t require a home inspection before granting coverage. CHW provides a 90-day workmanship guarantee on parts and a 60-day guarantee on labor. If any previously serviced item requires further repairs or replacement within those respective guarantee periods, the service provider will return to address the issue at no additional cost. This guarantee is three times the industry’s 30-day standard.
We review Choice’s coverage plans below.
- Basic Plan: This plan covers 14 systems and appliances, such as built-in microwaves, heating, and plumbing.
- Total Plan: The highest-tier plan includes 18 appliances and systems, expanding coverage to air conditioning units, clothes washers, clothes dryers, and refrigerators.
Here’s an overview of CHW home warranty plans and covered items:
| Coverage | Basic | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioners | 𝗫 | ✔ |
| Built-in microwaves | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ceiling and exhaust fans | ✔ | ✔ |
| Clothes dryers | 𝗫 | ✔ |
| Clothes washers | 𝗫 | ✔ |
| Dishwashers | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ |
| Electrical system | ✔ | ✔ |
| Garage door openers | ✔ | ✔ |
| Garbage disposals | ✔ | ✔ |
| Heating system | ✔ | ✔ |
| Plumbing stoppages | ✔ | ✔ |
| Plumbing system | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ranges/ovens/cooktops | ✔ | ✔ |
| Refrigerators | 𝗫 | ✔ |
| Water heaters | ✔ | ✔ |
| Whirlpool bathtub | ✔ | ✔ |
Add-Ons
CHW policyholders can pay additional fees to protect items the company’s base plans don’t cover. The company offers 10 add-ons, typical for most home warranty providers. Its pricing ranges from $3–$15, making it cheaper than other providers we’ve reviewed. It has a $500 coverage limit for all add-ons except septic tank pumping. CHW limits septic tank pumping coverage to $250 per claim.
Here is a full list of CHW’s add-ons:
Appliances
- Second refrigerator
- Stand-alone freezer
Home systems
- Additional spa
- Central vacuum
- Limited roof leak
- Pool and spa
Plumbing
- Septic system
- Septic tank pumping
- Sump pump
- Well pump
The Fine Print
CHW could deny your claim if it includes any of its outlined exclusions. Like other home warranty providers, CHW doesn’t cover certain damages. This includes damages caused by improperly installed or misused items, mold, and routine maintenance. Several appliances and systems have specific exclusions for their coverage. Here are some examples:
- Air conditioning maintenance and associated registers or grills
- Cosmetic items, such as knobs, rollers, handles, and doors
- Damage caused by theft, fire, and storm damage
- Sediment buildup or reservoir tanks for water heater coverage
CHW also doesn’t cover items with known or unknown preexisting conditions. This is a common claim denied by many home warranty companies. Our survey of 1,000 home warranty customers showed that preexisting conditions or prior damage were the primary reason for denied claims. Because it’s rare for a home warranty company to cover these conditions, we recommend reviewing a provider’s sample contract or contacting customer support to verify coverage.
CHW reserves the right to cancel your coverage plan if you do not pay premiums or a service call fee. You may cancel your coverage at any time within the first 30 days for a reimbursement minus a $50 administrative fee.
Choice Home Warranty Cost
Choice Home Warrant offers affordable coverage plans, each costing less than $70 per month. Based on averages we compiled from 200 sample quotes for single-family homes below and above 4,000 square feet in size, the Basic Plan costs $60, and the Total Plan is priced slightly higher at $68. Remember that pricing can vary in different areas, and these costs do not include any additional add-ons.
Plan Cost
CHW allows you to pay your premium annually or monthly. However, our sample quote included a $2.50 monthly fee for selecting monthly payments. It’s unusual for a home warranty company to impose additional charges on its premiums.
The provider charges a $100 service fee with every plan. You pay this fee to the technician after they complete a service repair or replacement. Many providers offer multiple service call fees, and choosing the higher service call fee helps lower your premium costs. CHW doesn’t provide that pricing flexibility—its fee is also more than the industry average of $75.
We’ve detailed CHW pricing and coverage caps below:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Call Fee | Coverage Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Plan | $60 | $100 | $3,000 per item |
| Total Plan | $68 | $100 | $3,000 per item |
We based the pricing information in these sections on a sample for a 2,023-square-foot, single-family home in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Optional add-on coverage is a good way to customize your plan, but it can also significantly increase your monthly premium. For example, if you choose the Total Plan at $68 per month and include all 10 of CHW’s optional add-ons, your monthly home warranty bill will be $130.
The table below shows the monthly charges for all 10 of CHW’s optional add-ons. Note that add-ons cost the same for both plans.
- Additional spa: $15.00
- Central vacuum: $3.33
- Pool/spa: $15.00
- Roof-leak repair: $5.83
- Second refrigerator: $3.33
- Septic system: $10.00
- Septic tank pumping: $5.42
- Sump pump: $3.33
- Stand-alone freezer: $3.33
- Well pump: $8.33
Discounts
When we acquired our sample quote in January 2025, CHW offered the first month free for new customers. Our sample quote also included a promotional code for 5% off monthly and annual premiums for new customers.
Comparing Choice Home Warranty to Other Top Providers
To help you make your decision, we’ve compared Choice Home Warranty with other leading home warranty providers. Below are more comparison details.
| Provider | Our Rating (Out of 5) | Monthly Plan Cost | Service Fee Cost | BBB Rating* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$60–$68 | $100 | B | ||
$36–$100 | $100–$125 | B | ||
$45–$60 | $70 ($150 for after hours and weekends) | B | ||
$77–$130 | $100–$125 | B | ||
$57–$68 | $65–$125 | A+ |
*BBB ratings are accurate as of January 2025.
Note: NR, or “No Rating,” indicates that the BBB has not issued a rating due to an ongoing review or update to a company’s profile
Customer Reviews: BBB, Trustpilot, and More
We analyzed customer reviews from third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, and Reddit to understand how Choice Home Warranty conducts business. CHW’s customer score on BBB is 1 out of 5 stars, based on over 4,500 customer reviews. Its rating on Trustpilot is considerably better: 3.8 out of 5 stars based on nearly 45,000 reviews.
We found mixed reviews for CHW’s business practices and offered services. Favorable reviews mentioned the courteous support team and efficient technicians. Common unfavorable experiences included delayed repairs, multiple denied claims, and limited communication options.
What Homeowners Like
Below is an overview of positive review themes we noticed during our research:
- Courteous customer support: Several reviews praised the courteous and knowledgeable customer support team.
- Reliable technicians: Customers complimented the in-network technicians, stating they were friendly and completed repairs quickly.
- User-friendly website: Homeowners commended the website for its user-friendly design and ease of use.
What Homeowners Dislike
Here is an overview of negative review themes we came across:
- Multiple denied claims: Many customers stated that CHW found loopholes in the contract to deny their claims, with some stating all of their claims ended in denials.
- Delayed repairs: Homeowners reported delayed repairs of up to two months or more due to changes in technicians or rescheduled appointments.
- Unreachable customer support: Several reviewers cited issues reaching the customer support team, saying support was unreachable by phone or email.
Favorable Reviews
“The customer service people were very good and the technician that I work with was very informative and extremely polite. We have two work orders, one of which was completed. The technician on that one was very friendly and explained everything he was doing. The other Work Order has not been completed because once I explained the problem, the technician indicated he’d need to order parts. I’m very glad that we took this Home Warranty with Choice.”
–Thomas J. Havens, December 2024 on Trustpilot
“Choice Home Warranty is absolutely great to work with. I get the best professionals to handle any issue, whether large or small. I start my claims online. Within less than eight hours, a professional has been located for my claim with a date and time for my appointment. It is very easy.”
–Vonda, January 2025 on Trustpilot
Unfavorable Reviews
“I put in a request for a water heater on December 13, 2024. The heater wasn’t picked up and installed until December 26, 2024, and to my surprise, I was told that I would have to pay $450.00 out of my pocket to the plumbing repair man that Choice Home Warranty assigned my repair to for modifications.”
–Carlotta J., December 2024 on BBB
“I purchased Choice Home Warranty for both homes and now have regrets. I placed a request for an electrical issue and was given an appointment date and time that was 1 1/2 weeks later on a Sunday. I called and canceled and asked for a sooner appointment. However it was scheduled farther out. The technician did not show up or call on the day of the appointment. Now I am trying to find my own electrician and will pay for the service myself.”
–Denise E., December 2024 on BBB
Our Experience With Choice Home Warranty
Signing up for a new Choice Home Warranty plan is a simple matter of plugging in a ZIP code, your name, email address, and phone number on the company’s website. The sign-up process is automated from there, giving you your choice of the Basic Plan or Total Plan, along with a checklist of optional add-ons to select or ignore.
The company provides a toll-free phone number to call with questions. Once you’ve made your decision about the plan and any add-ons, you will navigate to the purchasing screen. That page shows you a detailed breakdown of your monthly charges and factors in any discounts. There is a form for you to fill out with payment information, and your purchase can be completed with the click of a button.
Choice Home Warranty’s Waiting Period
After signing up for a warranty, you’ll have a 30-day waiting period before you can file a claim. According to its sample contract, the CHW will initiate coverage if you meet certain requirements before the waiting period. You must provide proof of a previous home warranty policy without a lapse in coverage.
Filing Claims
When you need to file a home warranty claim with CHW, use the steps below to complete the process.
1. Open a New Claim
Call CHW’s claims department at 888-531-5403 to file a claim. You can also file a claim online through your account center portal. Representatives are available 24/7 to accept claims. Follow the form steps and provide the relevant item information, its brand and model number, and issue details. Verify your information for submitting your claims.
2. Wait for Claims Processing
CHW will send an in-network service provider within 48 hours of receiving your claim. The company commits to processing claims within four hours of submission. If you file a claim after normal business hours or during established holidays, there may be a delay in processing your claim.
3. Set Your Service Appointment
Once approved, you’ll be contacted to set a service appointment with the service technician. CHW only covers repairs or replacements performed by an in-network service technician. It doesn’t allow you to source your own technician.
4. Complete the Repair
The technician will arrive to service your system or appliance on the appointment date. We recommend being at your home for your appointment to answer any questions and to give access to your home. Sometimes, the technician will need to order replacement parts to complete the repair, resulting in a second appointment. Once repairs are finished, you’ll pay the $100 service call fee directly to the technician.
Is Choice Home Warranty Worth It?
We recommend Choice Home Warranty for homeowners seeking affordable, comprehensive coverage for their systems and appliances. The company offers two solid base plans and doesn’t deny coverage based on your home’s age. It also offers $3,000 limits for most items—higher than many providers. However, the company has received complaints about its services and faces an ongoing fraud case. We recommend carefully evaluating whether Choice Home Warranty is the right provider for your needs.
How We Evaluated Home Warranty Providers
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 they cover unique items. Companies that cover the most items and have higher annual limits receive the highest scores. We dock points from providers that impose long waiting periods or have depreciation policies that decrease your payouts for aging items.
- Cost (20%): We look at average monthly prices and service call fees. We give the most points to companies that offer pricing at or below the industry average and don’t impose any surcharges or extra fees.
- Trustworthiness (15%): To gauge reputation and reliability, we review 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 receive higher scores. We deduct 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 receive more points.
- Customer support (10%): Companies with multiple claims filing options, fast response times, and accessible customer support score well in this category.
- Flexibility (10%): We award more points to providers offering more plan options, larger add-on catalogs, the ability to choose your own technician, and customer-friendly cancellation policies.
