Select Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield (2024)
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Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield are both national home warranty companies available in most states. While Select Home Warranty offers cheaper plans and more optional coverage, American Home Shield offers more coverage plans, making it our top pick for comprehensive, reliable home protection.
We compare these two providers head-to-head on their cost, coverage plans, customer reviews, and more. Keep reading to determine which company provides the best home warranty for you and your home.
Our Take on Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield
- Select Home Warranty has cheaper monthly premiums, lower service fees, and includes roof coverage in its plans. However, American Home Shield has more years of industry experience, more comprehensive plan options, and flexible service fees.
While AHS offers coverage in 49 states, excluding Alaska, SHW is available in 46 states, excluding Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Select Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield Overview
| Provider | Select Home Warranty | American Home Shield |
|---|---|---|
|
This Old House rating |
3.7/5 |
4.8/5 |
|
Plan options |
Bronze, Gold, Platinum, and optional add-ons |
ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, ShieldPlatinum™, and optional add-ons |
|
Monthly premiums |
$44.42–$47.75 per month |
$29.99–$89.99 per month |
|
Service fee deductible |
$60–$75 |
$100–$125 |
|
State availability |
49 states (all except Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, and Wyoming) |
49 states (all except Alaska) |
|
BBB rating |
B |
B |
|
Years in business |
8 |
48 |
How Do Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield Compare For Coverage?
American Home Shield covers more appliances and systems than Select Home Warranty, but Select Home Warranty offers more optional coverage than American Home Shield. American Home Shield also offers coverage for items with undetectable pre-existing conditions.
What Are Select Home Warranty’s Plan Options?
There are three Select Home Warranty plans: Gold, Bronze, and Platinum. Gold Care covers six home systems, Bronze Care covers eight home appliances, and Platinum Care covers everything in the Bronze Care and Gold Care plans, plus garage door openers and plumbing stoppages.
Compare what each Select plan covers in the table below:
What Does Select Home Warranty’s Coverage Include?
| Plans | Gold Care | Bronze Care | Platinum Care |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AC/Cooling |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Ductwork |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Electrical system |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Heating system |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Plumbing system |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Water heater |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Cooktop |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Dishwasher |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Garbage disposal |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Built-in microwave |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Refrigerator |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Stove/oven |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Clothes washer |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Clothes dryer |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Garage door openers |
✓ |
||
|
Plumbing stoppages |
✓ |
What Are American Home Shield’s Plan Options?
There are three American Home Shield plans: ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, and ShieldPlatinum™. ShieldSilver covers major household systems. ShieldGold covers 10 essential kitchen and laundry appliances with all the systems in ShieldSilver, and ShieldPlatinum protects up to 23 home items with additional benefits that include coverage boosts and roof leak coverage.
Compare each American Home Shield plan in the table below:
What Does American Home Shield’s Coverage Include?
| 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 |
– |
– |
✓ |
Select Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield Add-On Options
Compare the add-on options that Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield offer below:
Select Home Warranty Add-Ons
Select Home Warranty also offers 12 optional add-ons to purchase separately, including:
- Plumbing fixtures
- Well pump
- Sump pump
- Central vacuum
- Septic system coverage
- Refrigerator ice maker
- Lawn sprinkler system
- Pool and spa equipment
- Lighting fixtures
- Switches and outlets
- Second refrigerator
- Stand alone freezer
American Home Shield Add-Ons
In addition to its three standard plans, American Home Shield offers five optional add-ons:
- Electronic extended warranty
- Septic pump
- Well pump
- Pool and spas
- Guest units up to 750 square feet
How Do Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield Costs Compare?
American Home Shield premiums start at a lower cost than Select Home Warranty but range higher in cost than Select Home Warranty premiums. Select Home Warranty has a lower service call fee range of $60–$75. American Home Shield allows you to choose a service fee of $100 or $125. The service fee you select with American Home Shield affects the cost of your monthly premium—the higher the service fee you select, the lower your monthly premium will be and vice versa.
Note: The optional add-on cost for each provider depends on the items you select and may add about $40 to $180 per year to your home warranty cost.
Select Home Warranty Pricing and Plans
- Monthly cost: $44.42–$47.75
- Service call fee cost: $60-$75 per claim
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Coverage Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Care | $44.42 | $60-$75 | $500 |
| Gold Care | $44.42 | $60-$75 | $500 (HVAC: $3,000) |
| Platinum Care | $47.75 | $60-$75 | Coverage caps remain the same |
American Home Shield Pricing and Plans
- Monthly cost: $29.99–$89.99
- Service call fee cost: $100-$125 per claim
| Plan | $125 Service Fee Price | $100 Service Call Fee | Coverage Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShieldSilver | $29.99 | $39.99 | $5,000 |
| ShieldGold | $49.99 | $59.99 | Systems: $5,000 Appliances: $2,000 |
| ShieldPlatinum | $79.99 | $89.99 | Systems: $5,000 Appliances: $4,000 |
What Do Customers Say About Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield?
While these two companies received a B rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), we found that American Home Shield reviews on the BBB are more positive, on average, than Select Home Warranty reviews.
Home Warranty Reviews Comparison
| Provider | Select 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 ½ stars |
|
Number of customer reviews on BBB webpage |
772 reviews |
6,198 reviews |
Our Final Take on American Home Shield and Select Home Warranty
American Home Shield and Select Home Warranty are two of the best home warranty companies in the industry, offering comprehensive plan options across the country. If you want comprehensive coverage and a flexible service fee, we recommend choosing American Home Shield. If you want more affordable plans and a greater selection of optional coverage items, consider Select Home Warranty.
To determine the specific cost of each provider’s plans, request a free quote using the panel below.
Alternative Home Warranty Options Compared
If you still can’t decide between American Home Shield and Select Home Warranty, here is a table comparing some additional home warranty companies:
| Company | BBB Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a home warranty cover?
Home warranty plans cover major appliances and systems in your home like your refrigerator, air conditioning, and plumbing. Both American Home Shield and Select Home Warranty offer plans that cover appliances, systems, and a combination of both.
What is the waiting period for Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield?
Once you purchase your home warranty plan from Select Home Warranty or American Home Shield, you’ll have to wait 30 days before you can file your first claim.
Is a home warranty worth it?
Because a home warranty protects homeowners from expensive, unexpected repair bills, it may be worth it for valuable peace of mind and budget protection. For more information on these service contracts, read our article that explores how home warranties provide coverage.
How much does a home warranty cost?
On average, homeowners pay $25 to $60 per month for a home warranty plan, and the service call fees are between $60–$125.
What is the minimum contract length for American Home Shield and Select Home Warranty?
The minimum contract length for American Home Shield and Select Home Warranty is 12 months.
Do American Home Shield and Select Home Warranty offer promotions?
Yes. American Home Shield offers $50 off for new customers, while Select Home Warranty offers $150 off and two months free to new customers.
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.