American Home Shield Review 2024

American Home Shield’s home warranties feature broad coverage, high limits and low monthly premiums starting at $19.99 in certain markets, making them a strong option for homeowners. Founded in 1971, AHS also has a track record longer than most competitors. But the company has low customer satisfaction ratings on some review websites, with customers citing bad experiences with repair technicians and customer service representatives.

Our take on 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 has one of the higher limits 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 on the higher end of coverage limits compared to its competitors.

What we like

In addition to broad coverage and high limits, here are other benefits that stand out to us:

• Long track record. AHS has been around for more than 50 years. For homeowners looking for a well-established company, its long history makes it stand out from the competition.

• Available in most states. The company has one of the largest coverage areas, providing warranties in all states except Alaska and Hawaii. It also offers coverage in Washington, D.C.

• Pays for access repair. American Home Shield pays up to $1,000 to repair walls or concrete if a technician has to cut into them to access a covered system. Most companies don’t cover this.

What we don’t like

Here are a few features that we wish were better with American Home Shield’s coverage:

• Customer satisfaction ratings are on the low side. AHS gets a 4.2 out of 5 on ConsumerAffairs but only a 2.1 on both Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau. A lot of reviews mention issues with technicians, such as getting appointments scheduled and having items properly repaired.

• Its guarantee on repairs is only for 30 days. The standard home warranty guarantee on repairs is 30 or 60 days, and AHS’ guarantee is only for 30 days. This is on the low end compared to some of its competitors who top the scale, like Cinch Home Services’ 180-day guarantee. 

What to know before purchasing

For some, these details might be dealbreakers:

• Its prices can vary a lot by ZIP codes. Our research shows that AHS monthly premiums can vary by as much as $30 for the same plan within the same metro area. For example, one of our quotes for a ZIP code in southern Dallas was $29.99 per month for ShieldSilver with a $125 service fee. The company quoted the exact same plan and service fee for a ZIP code in northern Dallas as $59.99. 

• It isn’t clear when homeowners can hire their own contractors. The AHS website says it’ll let you choose your own technician in “limited situations,” but it doesn’t explain what those scenarios are. However, some consumer reviews include examples of when the company allowed customers to hire their own technicians, such as then technicians were unavailable.

• It doesn’t offer an appliance-only plan. The company’s basic plan covers HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems but not appliances. To get appliance coverage, you’ll have to purchase the middle plan, ShieldGold, which also includes systems coverage. So if you want an appliance-only plan, you’ll need to go with a different company.

• HVAC tune-ups aren’t included in every plan. Despite every plan covering HVAC systems, an HVAC tune-up is only included in the top plan, ShieldPlatinum — and that’s only one tune-up. You’ll have to pay for a second seasonal tune-up with ShieldPlatinum or pay $100 for each tune-up with the ShieldSilver or ShieldGold plans.

American Home Shield plans

American Home Shield offers three plans:

Add-on coverage, which comes with an additional fee, is available 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.

While most of the company’s competitors only cover items that malfunction due to wear and tear, American Home Shield covers items that malfunction because of:

• Wear and tear from normal use.

• Insufficient maintenance.

• Improper installation or repair on most items if you were unaware of the issue before your home warranty started.

• Corrosion, rust or sediment.

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.

» MORE: What does a home warranty cover?

American Home Shield coverage

Like other home warranty companies, American Home Shield limits the amount it will pay to repair or replace a covered item. Compared to most competitors, AHS offers high coverage limits in every category, especially for HVAC systems and appliances. The company will pay or reimburse you up to:

Whether the company’s coverage caps will pay for most of your repairs depends on the specific issue your appliance or system has and where you live.

American Home Shield warranty cost

American Home Shield plans start at $19.99, though rates vary by location. Among home warranty companies, this is a relatively low cost. However, our research shows that monthly premiums for AHS plans vary widely by ZIP code.

» MORE: How much does a home warranty cost?

Unlike some of its competitors, American Home Shield offers two options for a service fee: $100 or $125. You’ll choose which service fee you want to pay for every service call when you sign up for a plan. Customers who choose to pay $125 when a technician comes to their home will have a lower monthly premium, and customers who choose the $100 service fee will have a higher monthly premium.

American Home Shield guarantees its repairs for 30 days. If a completed repair has issues that require a technician to return within the first 30 days, you won’t pay an additional service fee. Although this is a standard repair guarantee among home warranty companies, there are other companies that provide better guarantees, such as Cinch Home Services and 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty.

» CHECK IT OUT: NerdWallet's best home warranties in California and best home warranties in Texas

American Home Shield claims

American Home Shield customers can file claims by phone and through its online portal. Once filed, the company will assign a third-party contractor to your claim, who will contact you within 48 hours to set up an appointment. In some locations, the company might let you choose your own technician, but American Home Shield must approve you to do so — and it doesn’t outline situations where hiring your own technician is appropriate.

How to cancel American Home Shield

Customers can cancel their American Home Shield plan at any time, and coverage stops immediately. If you cancel your plan before it ends, how much the company will refund you 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 refund will be for any amount you’ve paid that has been unused minus any service fees you owe. 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 also deduct a cancellation fee equal to your monthly premium or what your state allows if that amount is less.

Themes in customer reviews

NerdWallet considered customer reviews from three review websites — Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs and the Better Business Bureau —  to get a wider perspective of customer experiences. We’ve highlighted the types of experiences that we’ve found to be most common, keeping in mind that online reviews tend to lean toward negative experiences. NerdWallet hasn't independently verified these reviews.

Trustpilot: 2.1 out of 5. ConsumerAffairs: 4.2 out of 5. Better Business Bureau: 2.1 out of 5.

Negative reviews of American Home Shield mentioned the company’s technicians being unable to repair covered items. Other reviews highlight technicians being difficult to schedule and poor customers 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.

» MORE: Do you need a home warranty? How to decide

Alternatives to American Home Shield

» MORE: Home warranty vs. home insurance: Which is better?

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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.