American Home Shield has more years of experience and offers flexible service fees, while TotalProtect does not. However, TotalProtect has a better BBB rating and cheaper monthly premiums. Both home warranty companies offer add-ons at an additional cost.
Keep reading to see our in-depth comparison of TotalProtect and American Home Shield.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Features | TotalProtect | American Home Shield |
|---|---|---|
| Get a Free Quote | Not available through This Old House | Visit site |
| This Old House Rating | 8.9/10 | 9.5/10 |
| Plan Options | Systems, Appliances, Combo, and optional add-ons | ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, ShieldPlatinum™, and optional add-ons |
| Monthly Premiums | $35–$59 | $40–$58 |
| Service Fees | $100–$125 | $75–$125 |
| State Availability | Available in all U.S. states | Available in all U.S. states, except Alaska |
| BBB Rating | A- | B |
| Years in Business | 40 | 48 |
TotalProtect vs. American Home Shield Coverage Comparison
American Home Shield
As a veteran home warranty provider, American Home Shield offers three flexible home warranty plans that can fit the needs of various homeowners.
American Home Shield Coverage
| Item | ShieldSilver™ | ShieldGold™ | ShieldPlatinum™ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Heating | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Built-in exhaust, vent, and attic fans | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Main breaker and fuse panel box | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Doorbells | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Interior electrical lines | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ceiling fans | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Garage door openers | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Interior plumbing lines | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Toilets | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Faucets and valves | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Whirlpool tub | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Water heaters | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Refrigerators | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Ranges/cooktops | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Ovens | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Dishwashers | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in microwaves | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garbage disposals | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Instant hot/cold water dispensers | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes washer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| HVAC tune-up | ✔ | ||
| Roof leak coverage | ✔ |
Customers also have the option of tacking on additional coverage for the following items:
- Electronic extended warranty
- Pool and spas
- Well pump
- Septic pump
- Guest units up to 750 square feet
TotalProtect Home Warranty
TotalProtect offers coverage through three comprehensive plans: a Systems Plan, Appliances Plan, and Combo Plan, each providing customers with protection on major home systems or appliances. Compare TotalProtect coverage plans below.
TotalProtect Coverage
| Item | Systems Plan | Appliances Plan | Combo Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes dryer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes washer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Cooktop/Range | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Refrigerator with built-in ice and water dispenser | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Wall oven | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Range exhaust hood | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in trash compactor | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Air conditioning (2 units) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Heating system (2 units) | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Water heater | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Toilets | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Plumbing lines | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Plumbing stoppages | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Sump pump | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Whirlpool bath | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Attic/Whole-house exhaust fan | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Central vacuum | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Door bells and chimes | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garage door opener | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Smoke detectors | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Main breaker/Fuse panel box | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Interior electrical lines | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Interior gas lines | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement–$500 benefit | ✔ |
If you’re looking to add to your coverage, TotalProtect Home Warranty offers a Premier Upgrade package that adds perks such as equipment disposal, code upgrades, and electrical modifications.
To help complete your coverage, TotalProtect also offers optional coverage on the following items:
- Faucets
- Outdoor gas line
- Outside water line
- Septic tank/Septic tank pumping
- Standalone freezer
- Surge protection (available in only some states)
- Swimming pool
- Spa
- Heater for swimming pool or spa
- Water softener
- Well pump system with a booster pump
TotalProtect vs. American Home Shield Cost Comparison
TotalProtect Home Warranty and American Home Shield offer comparable coverage, with TotalProtect offering their Appliances Plan and Systems Plan for less. See how the companies compare in pricing below.
American Home Shield Prices
| Plan | $75 Service Fee | $100 Service Fee | $125 Service Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShieldSilver™ | $54.99 per month | $44.99 per month | $39.99 per month |
| ShieldGold™ | $64.99 per month | $54.99 per month | $49.99 per month |
| ShieldPlatinum™ | $79.99 per month | $69.99 per month | $64.99 per month |
American Home Shield, like most home warranty companies, requires customers to pay a service call fee, or deductible, when a contractor responds to a service call. AHS allows customers to choose their service fee: $75, $100, or $125. A lower service fee usually increases your monthly premium, while a higher service fee decreases it.
TotalProtect Pricing Breakdown
| TotalProtect Home Warranty Plan | Cost |
|---|---|
| Systems Plan | $34.95 per month |
| Appliances Plan | $44.95 per month |
| Combo Plan | $58.95 per month |
TotalProtect customers can also pick their service fee, choosing between $100–$125.
Note: The monthly premium for your TotalProtect plan can increase if you choose a lower deductible. Additionally, the cost of your plan can go up if you add on optional coverage for items such as a swimming pool, water softener, and outdoor gas line.
Our Conclusion
American Home Shield offers some of the most complete protection, giving homeowners the ability to choose between three plans. AHS also provides 24/7 customer service and allows customers to adjust their monthly premium through selecting their service fee, giving some freedom to choose the price paid per month.
AHS lets customers choose their own service fee, but prices can be more expensive than some of AHS’s competitors. Additionally, AHS doesn’t provide coverage in Alaska and only covers repairs for up to 30 days.
In comparison, TotalProtect Home Warranty offers similar coverage through their three plans and provides nationwide coverage. Unlike many home warranty companies, TotalProtect doesn’t have a price cap on home systems and appliances.
However, TotalProtect’s service fees are a little higher than the industry average, costing between $100–$125.
In sum, we recommend American Home Shield as our top home warranty pick. To get a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this online form or call 844-529-9298.
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.