American Home Shield Warranty Review: 2025 Plans and Prices
With relatively high coverage caps and flexible service fees, American Home Shield is a top home warranty pick.
American Home Shield home warranties start at $19.99 a month. The company offers broader coverage, higher coverage limits and a longer track record than most competitors, but it has mixed customer satisfaction ratings and only offers a 30-day repair guarantee.
Our Home Services Team has reviewed over 1,000 home warranty quotes in the past year.
We've read hundreds of pages of service agreements to compare coverage, exclusions and policies.
We've researched more than just the biggest national home warranty companies.
Unlike most plans, the ShieldPlatinum plan includes roof leak coverage. Usually, this coverage is only available as an add-on.
Our take on American Home Shield
Overall | 4.5 NerdWallet rating |
Price | 5.0 NerdWallet rating |
Service fees | 5.0 NerdWallet rating |
Customer satisfaction | 3.0 NerdWallet rating |
Breadth of coverage | 5.0 NerdWallet rating |
Coverage limits | 5.0 NerdWallet rating |
This snapshot shows some factors that we consider when rating a home warranty company and is not representative of the full evaluation process. | |
What we like about American Home Shield
We like American Home Shield for its broad coverage and relatively high limits. Among home warranty companies that cap their coverage, the company is on the higher end for heating and air conditioning units at $5,000 per system. This coverage cap applies to all of its plans. The company also covers up to $4,000 in repairs or replacements per appliance with its ShieldPlatinum plan, which is a higher cap than many of its competitors offer.
Most home warranty companies only cover items that malfunction due to wear and tear, but American Home Shield covers additional causes. The company also pays for repairs related to insufficient maintenance; improper installation or repair on most items if you were unaware of the issue before your home warranty started; and corrosion, rust or sediment.
What we wish was better about American Home Shield
The company prices its plans based on your location; some customers will benefit with a cheaper monthly payment, but some customers will pay a lot more for the same coverage. We don’t like that American Home Shield guarantees its repairs for only 30 days, which is less than some of its competitors’ guarantees. The company also has inconsistent reviews online — depending on the source, customers either say they think the company is helpful or that buying a plan was a waste of money.
» MORE: Are home warranties worth it?
American Home Shield plans
American Home Shield offers three plans:
The ShieldSilver plan covers systems that include heating and air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems.
The ShieldGold plan covers the same systems as the ShieldSilver plan plus kitchen appliances, and washers and dryers.
The ShieldPlatinum plan includes everything from the other two plans and adds in roof leak repairs and increases the appliance coverage cap.
Like its competitors, American Home Shield doesn’t cover the cost of regular maintenance (such as replacing filters), cosmetic repairs or physical damage due to misuse.
American Home Shield add-on coverage
American Home Shield offers optional coverage, which comes with an additional fee. You can buy coverage for:
Pools.
Built-in spa equipment.
Well pumps.
Septic system ejector pumps.
Roof leak repair for plans below ShieldPlatinum.
Guest units outside the main house.
Electronics, such as computers, televisions and gaming systems.
» MORE: What does a home warranty cover?
American Home Shield coverage limits
Like other home warranty companies, American Home Shield limits the amount it will pay to repair or replace a covered item. Compared to many competitors, AHS offers competitive coverage limits in every category. The company will pay or reimburse you for approved repairs costing up to:
$5,000 per covered system on heating and air conditioning systems.
$3,000 on plumbing.
$3,000 on electrical.
$2,000-$4,000 per covered item on appliances, depending on the plan.
$1,000 on roof leak repair.
Whether the company’s coverage caps will pay for most of your repairs depends on the specific issue your appliance or system has and the cost to repair it.
American Home Shield cost
Like most home warranty companies, American Home Shield charges a customer two fees. The monthly fee stays the same during the contract and is charged even if you don’t need a repair. You also pay a service fee every time a technician comes to your house to look at a problem.
American Home Shield monthly cost
American Home Shield plans range from $19.99 to $119.99, depending on the plan and the customer’s location. Despite a competitively low starting price in some locations, American Home Shield’s pricing isn’t always a good deal for homeowners. Our research shows that monthly premiums for AHS plans vary widely by ZIP code.
To compare American Home Shield’s pricing, we requested quotes for all three of the company’s warranty plans in three cities that have different costs of living. The table below compares the cheapest quote for monthly fees for each plan in each city.
City | ShieldSilver | ShieldGold | ShieldPlatinum |
|---|---|---|---|
Anaheim, California | $19.99. | $39.99. | $69.99. |
Dallas, Texas | $59.99. | $79.99. | $109.99. |
Tulsa, Oklahoma | $29.99. | $49.99. | $79.99. |
This table shows the cheapest quotes we collected for each city with the most expensive service fee option. | |||
» MORE: How much does a home warranty cost?
American Home Shield service fees
A service fee is a fee you pay to have a technician come to your house when you need a repair. American Home Shield lets customers choose between two service fees: $100 or $125. You choose your service fee when you sign up for a plan. Customers who choose $125 get a lower monthly premium, and customers who choose $100 have a higher monthly premium.
American Home Shield guarantees that repairs it pays for won’t fail for 30 days. If an approved repair does fail within 30 days of being completed, the company will send out another technician to repair it without charging you another service fee. Although this is a standard repair guarantee among home warranty companies, some other companies provide better repair guarantees.
How to cancel American Home Shield
Customers can cancel their American Home Shield plan at any time. If you cancel your plan before your plan ends, your refund is based on when you cancel:
If you cancel before your coverage begins (within the 30 days after you make your first payment), the company will refund the full amount you’ve paid so far if you haven’t made any claims yet. If you have filed a service claim during that time, the refund will be for the amount you’ve paid up to that point minus any service fees.
If you cancel after your coverage has started, the amount depends on how you paid. If you’ve paid for a full year’s coverage, the amount will be prorated, meaning you’ll get back money for months that haven’t passed yet. The company will deduct the cost of any service fees that are owed and a cancellation fee equal to your monthly fee or what your state allows if that amount is less.
Some states limit cancellation fees. Check American Home Shield’s service agreement for state-specific limits for cancellation charges.
Themes in customer reviews
NerdWallet evaluated customer reviews from three review websites — Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs and the Better Business Bureau — to get a wider perspective. Here are the types of experiences we found most common, keeping in mind that online reviews tend to lean toward negative experiences. NerdWallet hasn't independently verified these reviews.
Negative reviews of American Home Shield mentioned the company’s technicians being unable to repair covered items or misleading customers about repairs. Other reviews highlight technicians being difficult to schedule, long wait times for repairs and poor customer service.
However, positive reviews of the company say that AHS approves necessary repairs or replacements, the company assigns technicians quickly and technicians are knowledgeable and helpful.
What to know before buying a home warranty
Reading the coverage and exclusions information in your contract is one of the most impactful things you can do to avoid costly misunderstandings in the future. You have a right to read your contract before purchasing a plan, and it’s important to understand that home warranties:
Always have exclusions to coverage, no matter what their sales pitches say. Read your contract carefully before purchasing a plan — especially anything listed as an exclusion or limit of liability. For example, a company might cover air conditioning systems but exclude certain parts or components, such as coils. Other companies cover plumbing repairs but won’t pay to clear all plumbing stoppages or repair certain types of leaks.
Are not a type of insurance. Even though some companies call their service fees deductibles, home warranties do not work the same way as insurance policies. They differ in what they cover and how they pay for repairs or replacements. A home warranty is not a supplement for homeowners insurance.
Limit how much they pay. If the cost of a repair or replacement goes beyond a limit stated in your contract, you’ll have to pay the difference. For example, if the bill for a repair is $2,000 and the limit is $1,500, you’re required to cover $500. This is in addition to your monthly premium and service fee.
Can deny your claim for several reasons. Examples include if you had work performed on a covered item without approval or you modified the system or appliance.
May not pay enough to cover the full cost of replacing a covered item. Home warranties often depreciate the value of items as they age, so you’ll likely have to pay at least some money to replace an item, even if it’s covered by the contract.
How American Home Shield compares with competitors
American Home Shield vs. First American Home Warranty
American Home Shield's monthly plan fees tend to be lower than First American's monthly fees, but both companies offer flexible service fee options. They both offer comprehensive plans as well, but American Home Shield also has an appliance-only plan.
American Home Shield | First American | |
|---|---|---|
Price range | $20-$120 per month | $42-$142 per month |
Service fees | $100 or $125 | $100 or $125 |
Types of plans | Comprehensive and appliance-only | Comprehensive only |
NerdWallet editorial rating | 4.5 NerdWallet rating | 3.0 NerdWallet rating |
American Home Shield vs. Choice Home Warranty
American Home Shield's monthly plan fees can be more expensive than Choice's monthly fees, but American Home Shield also offers three plans compared to Choice's two plans. Additionally, American Home Shield lets you choose from two service fee options, which can lower your monthly fee. Choice only has comprehensive plans compared to American Home Shield's comprehensive and appliance-only plans.
American Home Shield | Choice Home Warranty | |
|---|---|---|
Price range | $20-$120 per month | $49-$57per month |
Service fees | $100 or $125 | $100 |
Types of plans | Comprehensive and appliance-only | Comprehensive only |
NerdWallet editorial rating | 4.5 NerdWallet rating | 3.5 NerdWallet rating |
Alternatives to American Home Shield
Compared to competitors, Liberty earns more positive customer reviews. On the Better Business Bureau, consumer ratings average about 4.5 stars out of 5, much higher than other top home warranty companies.
» MORE: Read our full review of Liberty Home Guard
Old Republic Home Protection's coverage limits are on the high end compared with competitors, especially for HVAC and appliances.
» MORE: Read our full review of Old Republic Home Protection
AFC Home Warranty guarantees its repairs for the life of a membership, which means you won't pay a service fee if a repair technician has to repair the same issue again at any point as long as you renew your membership.
» MORE: Read our full review of AFC Home Warranty
Frequently asked questions about American Home Shield
What items are covered by American Home Shield?
American Home Shield has plans that cover home systems, such as HVAC systems and plumbing, as well as a combination of systems and appliances, such as refrigerators and dishwashers. Specific coverage for each item is outlined in each customer’s user agreement.
How long do you have to have American Home Shield before you can use it?
You will have to wait 30 days after your payment processes to submit a claim for repairs. This is a standard wait time with home warranties. Customers who are buying a home and receive a home warranty from the seller may be able to use the warranty immediately.
Does American Home Shield cover pre-existing conditions?
No, American Home Shield doesn’t cover repairs for pre-existing conditions. For example, if your air conditioner stopped working before your contract started, the company won’t pay to repair it because that problem started before your coverage began.
Can I transfer my American Home Shield home warranty to a new homeowner?
Yes, you can transfer your service contract if you sell your home. You must call American Home Shield to request the transfer within 30 days of closing on the sale.
Does American Home Shield cover items in mobile homes?
Yes, American Home Shield offers service contracts for single-family houses, buildings with multiple units such as a duplex, townhomes, condos and mobile homes. Each type of home comes with size restrictions, so be sure to choose the right type of home when getting a quote for coverage.
How we rate and review home warranties
Our Home Services team reviews home warranty companies with our readers in mind. We provide unbiased reviews that consider several factors, including cost, covered items, coverage limits, customer ratings, ability to choose your own technician and warranty on work completed. When rating home warranties, we researched 13 companies, compared terms and conditions in their service agreements and read customer reviews from three consumer review websites. While NerdWallet does have partnerships with some home warranty companies, our editorial team is uninvolved in that process to ensure unbiased reviews and recommendations. Read more about how NerdWallet rates home warranties.