TotalProtect—which merged with Cinch Home Services in 2021—and American Home Shield (AHS) both offer home warranty plans, but each has distinct features and advantages. AHS stands out due to its flexible service fees and generous coverage limits. Cinch provides similar coverage and additional perks, such as a $500 homeowners insurance reimbursement.
Our team reviewed both companies’ protection plans, pricing structures, and customer ratings to help you determine which is the best home warranty company for your home.
How Do TotalProtect vs. American Home Shield Compare Side-by-Side?
| Features | Cinch Home Services | American Home Shield |
|---|---|---|
| This Old House Rating | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.8 out of 5 |
| Plan Options | Appliances, Built-in Systems, Complete Home, and optional add-ons | ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, ShieldPlatinum™, and optional add-ons |
| Monthly Premiums | $28–$68 | $40–$80 |
| Service Fees | $125–$150 | $100–$125 |
| State Availability | Available in all U.S. states, except Alaska and Hawaii | Available in all U.S. states, except Alaska and Hawaii |
| BBB Rating | B | B |
How Does Coverage Compare Between TotalProtect and American Home Shield?
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 | ✔ |
TotalProtect Home Warranty
Cinch Home Services offers coverage through three comprehensive plans: an Appliances Plan, a Built-in Systems Plan, and a Complete Home Plan, each providing customers with protection on major appliances and home systems. Compare Cinch’s coverage plans below.
TotalProtect Coverage
| Item | Built-in Systems Plan | Appliances Plan | Complete Home 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, Cinch offers a Premier Upgrade package that adds perks such as equipment disposal, code upgrades, and electrical modifications.
TotalProtect vs. AHS Optional Add-Ons Compared
Cinch Home Services and American Home Shield also offer these optional add-on items:
Cinch Home Services Add-Ons
- Outdoor gas line
- Outside water line
- Premier Upgrade Package
- Septic tank/Septic tank pumping
- Swimming pool
- Spa
- Heater for swimming pool or spa
- Well pump system with a booster pump
American Home Shield Add-Ons
- Electronics Protection Plan
- Pool and spas
- Well pump
- Septic pump
- Guest units up to 750 square feet
How Does the Cost of TotalProtect vs. American Home Shield Compare?
The home warranty plan costs of Cinch Home Services and American Home Shield are similar, with Cinch offering its Appliances and Systems plans for less. See how the companies compare in pricing below.
American Home Shield Prices
| Plan | $100 Service Fee | $125 Service Fee |
|---|---|---|
| ShieldSilver™ | $49.99 per month | $39.99 per month |
| ShieldGold™ | $59.99 per month | $49.99 per month |
| ShieldPlatinum™ | $79.99 per month | $69.99 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: $100 or $125. A lower service fee usually increases your monthly premium, while a higher service fee decreases it.
TotalProtect Pricing Breakdown
| Plan | Cost |
|---|---|
| Built-In Systems Plan | $34.95 per month |
| Appliances Plan | $44.95 per month |
| Complete Home Plan | $58.95 per month |
Cinch customers can also pick their service fee, choosing between $100, $125, and $150 per claim.
Note: The monthly premium for your Cinch 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 and outdoor gas line.
How To Spot Home Warranty Red Flags
Not every home warranty offers the protection it promises. For example, some companies use misleading tactics to attract customers or provide unreasonably low payouts for covered items. Recognizing the warning signs of an unreliable home warranty provider can help you avoid financial pitfalls and unexpected claim denials.
- Delayed or denied claims without explanation: A reputable home warranty company should have a clear process for handling claims. Unreliable providers frequently deny claims without proper justification or take an excessive amount of time to process them. Check customer reviews and complaints to identify patterns of claim rejections.
- Poor customer service: A home warranty company should offer responsive and transparent customer support. Long hold times, lack of communication, or an unhelpful service team may signal potential issues when filing claims or resolving disputes.
- Suspiciously low prices: While affordability is important, an unusually cheap home warranty plan may signal hidden fees, restrictive coverage, or outright scams. If a plan’s price seems too good to be true, carefully review the provider’s exclusions and service fee structure.
- Unclear contract terms: Unreputable home warranty providers use vague language in their residential service contracts to avoid covering necessary repairs. If a contract lacks specific details about coverage limits, exclusions, and cancellation terms, proceed with caution. Always request a sample contract and read the fine print before signing.
- Unpaid or unreliable technicians: If a provider doesn’t compensate its service technicians fairly or in a timely manner, repairs may be delayed or performed by unqualified professionals. Before signing up, research whether the provider has a strong network of vetted contractors.
How Do TotalProtect vs. American Home Shield Compare Overall?
American Home Shield offers three comprehensive plans and 24/7 customer service. Customers can adjust their monthly premium by selecting their service fee, which allows for some control over the monthly payment.
However, American Home Shield only provides a 30-day repair guarantee, service fees start at $100, and the company doesn’t operate in Alaska or Hawaii.
Cinch Home Services is available in nearly every state and offers savings opportunities through its homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement program. While it includes a 180-day workmanship guarantee, its three plans provide less extensive coverage, and service fees range between $125 and $150.
In sum, our top pick is American Home Shield, which offers industry-leading service caps.
FAQs About Home Warranties
What is the cancellation policy for American Home Shield and TotalProtect?
Most home warranty companies allow you to cancel your plan for a free refund within the first 30 days, as long as no claim is made during that time. American Home Shield and TotalProtect allow customers to cancel within the first 30 days for a full refund and anytime after for a refund of the prorated amount for the remaining length of coverage.
How does a home warranty work?
If a covered item under your home warranty plan breaks down due to normal wear and tear, you’ll file a claim with your provider, who will then dispatch a service technician to repair or replace the item. All you pay is the agreed-upon service fee.
How long is a home warranty contract length?
Home warranty contracts typically last for a year, though you may be able to sign up for a multi-year plan and get a discount on pricing if the provider offers these within its plan portfolio.
Is a home warranty worth it?
If you have a system or appliance that’s prone to breakdowns or just want an extra layer of protection for items in your home, a home warranty can be worth it. For example, if your water heater breaks down in the dead of winter, a home warranty can cover the cost of its repair or replacement, saving you from paying expensive, out-of-pocket costs.
Our Rating Methodology
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 it covers unique items. Companies that cover the most items and have higher annual limits received the highest scores. We docked points from providers that impose long waiting periods or have depreciation policies that decrease your payouts for aging items.
- Cost (20%): We looked at average monthly prices and service call fees. We gave the most points to companies offering pricing at or below the industry average that don’t impose any surcharges or extra fees.
- Trustworthiness (15%): To gauge reputation and reliability, we reviewed 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 received higher scores. We deducted 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 received more points.
- Customer support (10%): Companies with multiple claims filing options, fast response times, and accessible customer support scored well in this category.
- Flexibility (10%): We awarded more points to providers offering more plan options, larger add-on catalogs, the ability to choose your own technician, and customer-friendly cancellation policies.