Looking for a comparison of Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield? Choice Home Warranty (CHW) and American Home Shield (AHS) are top-rated home warranty companies that offer comprehensive plans that protect a variety of home appliances and systems. Continue reading for the This Old House Review team’s analysis of Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield and determine which offers the best home warranty.
Our Take
Both American Home Shield and Choice Home Warranty offer comprehensive home warranty plans that protect your major systems and appliances. American Home Shield offers more coverage plans and customization options than Choice Home Warranty, but Choice Home Warranty plans cost less.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield
Provider |
Choice Home Warranty |
|
|---|---|---|
This Old House rating |
9.3/10 |
9.5/10 |
Get a free quote |
Visit site |
|
Plan options |
Basic, Total, and optional add-ons |
ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, ShieldPlatinum™, and optional add-ons |
Monthly premiums |
$36–$44 per month |
$40–$58 per month |
Service fee deductible |
$60–85 |
$75–$125 |
State availability |
48 states (all except California and Washington) |
49 states (all except Alaska) |
BBB rating |
C |
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:
Choice Home Warranty Coverage
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 |
✓ |
✓ |
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 Coverage
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 |
✓ |
AHS offers coverage for these five optional add-ons:
- Pool and spa
- Well pump
- Septic pump
- Electronic extended warranty
- 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 $40–$58 per month. Choice Home Warranty charges a $60–$85 service call fee, while American Home Shield lets you choose a service fee of $75, $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 Premium Cost |
$36–$44 per month |
|---|---|
Service Fee Deductible |
$60–$85 |
American Home Shield Cost
Monthly Premium Cost |
$39.99–$57.99 per month |
|---|---|
Service Fee Deductible |
$75–$125 |
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 |
C |
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 |
Our Conclusion
We recommend American Home Shield if you want comprehensive 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.
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.