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Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield (2024)

Author Image Written by Dana Getz + 1 other Reviewed by Jacquelyn Kfoury Updated 10/17/2024

Choice Home Warranty (CHW) and American Home Shield (AHS) are two top-rated home warranty companies that cover a variety of home appliances and systems from damage over time. Continue reading for our analysis of Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield to determine which offers the best home warranty for your needs.


Our Take on American Home Shield vs. Choice Home Warranty

  • American Home Shield offers more coverage plans and customization options than Choice Home Warranty, but Choice Home Warranty plans cost less.

Both American Home Shield and Choice Home Warranty offer comprehensive home warranty plans that protect your major systems and appliances.

Provider

Choice Home Warranty

American Home Shield

This Old House rating

4.7/5

4.8/5

Plan options

Basic, Total, and optional add-ons

ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, ShieldPlatinum™, and optional add-ons

Monthly premiums

$50–$60 per month

$29.99–$89.99 per month

Service fee deductible

$100

$100–$125

State availability

48 states (all except California and Washington)

49 states (all except Alaska)

BBB rating

B

B

Years in business

12

49


Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield Coverage

American Home Shield offers three plans plus optional add-ons, while Choice Home Warranty offers two plans and options for extra coverage. Here’s a detailed breakdown of these providers’ coverage options:

What Does Choice Home Warranty Cover?

Choice Home Warranty offers two coverage plans: a Basic Plan and Total Plan. The Basic Plan covers 14 appliances and systems but excludes coverage for an air conditioning system, refrigerator, washer, and dryer. The Total Plan covers everything in the Basic plan, plus these four items.

Plans

Basic Plan

Total Plan

Air Conditioner

Refrigerator

Clothes Washer

Clothes Dryer

Heating System

Electrical System

Plumbing System

Plumbing Stoppages

Water Heater

Whirlpool Bathtub

Oven, Range, and Stove

Cooktop

Dishwasher

Built-in Microwave

Garbage Disposal

Ductwork

Garage Door Opener

Ceiling and Exhaust Fans

What Does American Home Shield Cover?

There are three American Home Shield plans: ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, and ShieldPlatinum™. ShieldPlatinum covers everything included in the Systems and Appliances plans with additional benefits such as coverage boosts and roof leak coverage.

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


Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield Add-Ons Compared

Choice Home Warranty Add-Ons

Choice Home Warranty also offers these nine optional add-ons:

  • Septic system
  • Sump pump
  • Stand alone freezer
  • Second refrigerator
  • Central vacuum
  • Pool and spa
  • Septic tank pumping
  • Limited roof leaks
  • Well pump

American Home Shield Add-Ons

AHS offers coverage for these five optional add-ons:

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

Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield Cost

Choice Home Warranty monthly premiums cost less than American Home Shield premiums, ranging between $50–$60 per month. Choice Home Warranty charges a $100 service call fee, while American Home Shield lets you choose a service fee of $100, or $125. The lower the service fee you select, the higher your monthly premium will be and vice versa.

Note: The cost of optional add-ons will vary depending on the specific item purchased, typically adding about $40 to $180 per year to your overall cost.

Choice Home Warranty Cost

  • Monthly cost: $50–$60
  • Service call fee cost: $100 per claim
PlanPriceService FeeCoverage Caps
Basic$50.58 per month$100$3,000 (exclusions may apply)
Total$59.14 per month$100$3,000 (exclusions may apply)

American Home Shield Cost

  • Monthly cost: $29.99–$89.99
  • Service call fee cost: $100-$125 per claim
Plan$125 Service Call Price$100 Service Call PriceCoverage Caps
ShieldSilver$29.99$39.99$5,000
ShieldGold$49.99$59.99Systems: $5,000
Appliances: $2,000
ShieldPlatinum$79.99$89.99Systems: $5,000
Appliances: $4,000

Because the cost of a home warranty will depend on your location, the coverage plan you choose, and the square footage of your home, we recommend getting quotes from both providers.


Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield Reviews

American Home Shield and Choice Home Warranty both received positive ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Regarding customer reviews from the BBB, American Home Shield reviews are more positive, on average, than Choice Home Warranty reviews.

Provider

Choice Home Warranty

American Home Shield

BBB rating

B

B

BBB accreditation

No

Yes

Average BBB customer review rating (out of 5 stars)

1 star

2 1/4 stars

Number of customer reviews on BBB webpage

>3,000 reviews

>11,000 reviews


Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield – Which is Best For You?

We recommend American Home Shield if you want comprehensive home appliance insurance and systems coverage from a trustworthy provider. If you’re on a budget and want basic home warranty coverage, Choice Home Warranty may be a better option.

Note: A class action lawsuit was filed against Choice Home Warranty in 2019 and remains ongoing. To read more about the lawsuit, click here.

To learn what each provider would charge, request free quotes using the panel above. For additional information on these providers, read our American Home Shield review and our Choice Home Warranty review.

Comparing the Best Home Warranty Companies

Monthly Cost Service Fee Response Time BBB Rating Link
Choice Home Warranty Choice Home Warranty $46–$55 $100 4–48 hours B VISIT SITE
Liberty Home Guard Liberty Home Guard $49–$59 $65–$125 Up to 48 hours NR** VISIT SITE
American Home Shield American Home Shield $29–$89 $100–$125 Up to 48 hours B VISIT SITE
Elite Home Warranty Elite Home Warranty $44–$58 $70 Up to 48 hours B+ VISIT SITE
Select Home Warranty Select Home Warranty $44–$47 $60–$75 48-84 hours B- VISIT SITE
First American Home Warranty First American Home Warranty $42–$82 $100–$125 4-48 hours B VISIT SITE
AFC Home Warranty AFC Home Warranty $35–$94 $75–$125 24-48 hours B VISIT SITE
Cinch Home Services Cinch Home Services $30–$56 $100–$150 2-24 hours B+ VISIT SITE
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty $27–$61 $65–$100 Up to 48 hours A VISIT SITE
Choice Home Warranty
Logo Choice Home Warranty
Monthly Cost $46–$55
Service Fee $100
Response Time 4–48 hours
BBB Rating B
VISIT SITE
Liberty Home Guard
Logo Liberty Home Guard
Monthly Cost $49–$59
Service Fee $65–$125
Response Time Up to 48 hours
BBB Rating NR**
VISIT SITE
American Home Shield
Logo American Home Shield
Monthly Cost $29–$89
Service Fee $100–$125
Response Time Up to 48 hours
BBB Rating B
VISIT SITE
Elite Home Warranty
Logo Elite Home Warranty
Monthly Cost $44–$58
Service Fee $70
Response Time Up to 48 hours
BBB Rating B+
VISIT SITE
Select Home Warranty
Logo Select Home Warranty
Monthly Cost $44–$47
Service Fee $60–$75
Response Time 48-84 hours
BBB Rating B-
VISIT SITE
First American Home Warranty
Logo First American Home Warranty
Monthly Cost $42–$82
Service Fee $100–$125
Response Time 4-48 hours
BBB Rating B
VISIT SITE
AFC Home Warranty
Logo AFC Home Warranty
Monthly Cost $35–$94
Service Fee $75–$125
Response Time 24-48 hours
BBB Rating B
VISIT SITE
Cinch Home Services
Logo Cinch Home Services
Monthly Cost $30–$56
Service Fee $100–$150
Response Time 2-24 hours
BBB Rating B+
VISIT SITE
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Logo 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Monthly Cost $27–$61
Service Fee $65–$100
Response Time Up to 48 hours
BBB Rating A
VISIT SITE
Company BBB Rating Monthly Cost Service Fee Visit Site
B $46–$55 $100 VISIT SITE
NR** $49–$59 $65–$125 VISIT SITE
B $29–$89 $100–$125 VISIT SITE
B- $44–$47 $60–$75 VISIT SITE
B $42–$82 $100–$125 VISIT SITE
B $35–$94 $75–$125 VISIT SITE
B+ $44–$58 $70 VISIT SITE
B+ $30–$56 $100–$150 VISIT SITE
A $27–$61 $65–$100 VISIT SITE
No results were found.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a home warranty worth it?

A home warranty plan from a reputable provider like American Home Shield or Choice Home Warranty may be worth it for homeowners because it protects them from having to pay unexpected expenses out of pocket when a system or appliance breaks down or needs significant repairs. For more information on these types of service contracts, check out our article on what you should know about home warranties.

How does a home warranty plan work?

Homeowners pay a monthly premium between $25–$60 for their home warranty. When a repair or replacement is needed, homeowners file a claim and are only responsible for a service call fee between $60–$125.

Is there a waiting period for home warranty coverage?

After purchasing a warranty, there’s typically a 30-day waiting period before you can request service on a system or appliance.

How much does American Home Shield cost?

American Home Shield costs between $29.99–$89.99 per month and lets you choose a service fee of $100 or $125. The service fee you select affects the cost of your monthly premium.

Do Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield cover HVAC?

Yes. Both Choice Home Warranty plans cover your HVAC system, and you can get HVAC coverage from American Home Shield with the company’s Systems and Combo Plans.

Do Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield cover roofs?

No. American Home Shield doesn’t offer roof coverage, but you can purchase optional roof leak coverage from Choice Home Warranty. With this coverage, you’ll be covered for the full cost of repairing a roof leak but won’t have coverage for roof replacements.


Our Rating Methodology

We back 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, cost, trustworthiness, plan transparency, customer support, and flexibility to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale. 

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