American Home Shield Warranty Review: 2026 Plans and Prices
With relatively high coverage caps and more coverage than some competitors, American Home Shield is a top home warranty option.
American Home Shield home warranties range from $29.99 to $119.99 a month, depending on your location and the plan you pick. The company offers higher coverage limits and covers more issues than many of its competitors, but it has mixed customer satisfaction ratings and only offers a 30-day repair guarantee.
To give you a solid idea of what American Home Shield offers, I did a deep dive into the company’s services and coverage. I read through every section of its sample contract, compared quotes in different states and cities, and compared its optional coverage to its competitors’ plans. I’ve included the good and the not so great in this review so you can make an informed decision about American Home Shield.
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.
The Nerds' take on American Home Shield
Unlike most plans, the ShieldPlatinum plan includes roof leak coverage. Usually, this coverage is only available as an add-on.
NerdWallet rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
What makes it shine: The amount American Home Shield pays for repairs is higher than many competitors’ limits. For example, the company pays up to $5,000 each for air conditioning, heating and ductwork repairs. It also pays up to $4,000 for each appliance with its more expensive ShieldPlatinum plan.
American Home Shield covers some issues that other home warranties don’t cover, including problems relating to improper installation, lack of maintenance, and rust, corrosion or sediment.
I also appreciate that the company will try to cover the cost of having old appliances and systems hauled away if it pays to replace an item. Some homeowners will find the company’s pricing to be affordable (but not everyone will). And you can choose between two service fees when purchasing a plan.
What could be better: Because American Home Shield bases your quote on your location, some homeowners might pay prices that are more expensive than other companies’ prices. And even though you can choose your service fee, both options of $100 and $125 per service call are on the higher end compared to some competitors’ fees.
American Home Shield’s list of add-on items that you pay extra to cover is shorter than most competitors’ lists of optional coverage. I also don’t like that repairs are guaranteed for only 30 days. Lastly, the company has mixed reviews online with a wide gap between customer ratings.
» MORE: Are home warranties worth it?
American Home Shield plans
American Home Shield offers three plans.The ShieldSilver plan covers only systems and includes 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. And the ShieldPlatinum plan includes everything from the other two plans, and adds in roof leak repairs and increases the appliance coverage cap.
In addition to a mobile app, American Home Shield has video chat available for customers who buy a ShieldGold or ShieldPlatinum plan. This lets homeowners have a video call with a technician instead of an in-person visit.
You can also purchase coverage for items not included in your plan. You can read more about that in the section below.
» MORE: What does a home warranty cover?
How much American Home Shield will cost you
Monthly fees
American Home Shield’s plans range from $29.99 to $119.99 per month. This falls on both sides of the average home warranty price of $73 per month, according to NerdWallet's analysis.
The price you’ll pay depends on your location and the plan you choose. And the quotes I gathered showed that prices can vary within the same city by ZIP code.
To see how prices changed for homeowners in different areas, I gathered quotes for three cities with different costs of living. American Home Shield’s prices differ by ZIP codes, so you’ll have to provide your address to the company to get an accurate quote.
When I went to checkout through American Home Shield’s website, it let me choose to pay with a credit card, a Paypal account or a direct debit from my bank account. But it wouldn’t let me choose to pay for a full year’s coverage with one payment. I had to agree to pay monthly for the one-year contract.
American Home Shield’s plans automatically renew unless customers notify the company that they want to cancel. You’ll have to let them know at least three days before your plan renews, but I recommend reaching out sooner to ensure you get an email confirming the cancellation to avoid being charged for another year’s coverage.
Service fees
American Home Shield lets customers choose between two service fees: $100 or $125. You’ll pay this fee every time a repair technician responds to a service call, even if American Home Shield ends up denying your claim. Paying the higher service fee lowers your monthly cost, and choosing the lower service fee increases your monthly fee.
Add-ons for extra items
American Home Shield has items that you can add to your coverage that aren’t included in the company’s plans. You’ll pay an extra monthly fee to add the items, and each item has its own price and coverage limit. In some cases it might be less expensive to purchase a cheaper plan and pay to add on a few items than choose a more expensive plan that covers more items.
Combined pool/spa equipment means shared limits. If your pool and spa share equipment, then they are both covered when you add the optional coverage for them. They’ll also share a coverage limit (the most the company will pay for their repairs). If your pool and spa use separate pumps and filtration systems, then only your pool or your spa will be covered, not both. To cover both in that scenario, you’d need to pay for the add-on coverage twice, once for the pool and once for the spa.
Combined pool/spa equipment means shared limits. If your pool and spa share equipment, then they are both covered when you add the optional coverage for them. They’ll also share a coverage limit (the most the company will pay for their repairs). If your pool and spa use separate pumps and filtration systems, then only your pool or your spa will be covered, not both. To cover both in that scenario, you’d need to pay for the add-on coverage twice, once for the pool and once for the spa.
How much American Home Shield pays for repairs, aka 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.
American Home Shield also limits how much it pays to repair or replace optional items you add to your coverage, which is common with home warranties.
When American Home Shield refuses to pay for repairs, aka exclusions
Home warranties, including American Home Shield’s plans, pay to repair or replace appliances and systems that malfunction because of everyday use. This is also called normal wear and tear and means an item stops working because it's worn out.
American Home Shield doesn’t cover issues caused by:
Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect the item’s primary function.
Physical damage such as dents.
Missing parts.
Weather or natural disasters, including floods, freezes, fires and electric surges.
Most pre-existing conditions.
Like most home warranty companies, American Home Shield doesn’t pay to repair items that have an active manufacturer’s warranty or government recall. It also doesn’t cover work that’s considered routine maintenance, such as replacing HVAC filters.
American Home Shield covers a few situations that other companies tend to exclude. These include issues related to improper installation, improper repair, lack of maintenance and mismatched HVAC systems (as long as they were mismatched before the start of contracts). It also covers issues caused by corrosion, sediment and rust.
American Home Shield covers a few situations that other companies tend to exclude. These include issues related to improper installation, improper repair, lack of maintenance and mismatched HVAC systems (as long as they were mismatched before the start of contracts). It also covers issues caused by corrosion, sediment and rust.
The fine print in American Home Shield contracts
Repair guarantee
Most home warranties won’t charge you another service fee if an item they recently repaired breaks down again because of the same issue. This is called a repair guarantee, sometimes referred to as a workmanship guarantee. American Home Shield guarantees its repairs for 30 days, which is a shorter time than some of its competitors.
For longer repair guarantees, check out AFC Home Warranty, Cinch Home Warranty and Liberty Home Guard.
‘Cash-in-lieu payment’
Like most home warranty companies, American Home Shield can offer you money instead of paying to repair or replace a system or appliance. However, the company’s sample contract states that it’ll pay you the same amount it would’ve paid to make a repair or replace an item, including any discounts it would’ve received. That means the amount it pays you probably won’t be enough to actually pay for a repair or replacement. In that case, you’d have to pay the leftover cost.
Examples of when American Home Shield might choose to pay you instead of make a repair, known as a cash-in-lieu payment, is if a repair or replacement isn’t considered practical or will cost more than the item’s coverage limit.
Matching replacements
An uncommon benefit. American Home Shield says it will try to replace systems and appliances with models that are similar to the old items in dimensions, color and finish. This means a replacement could be the same physical size and look similar to your old one, though that’s not a guarantee. The company will also try to match an item’s capability and capacity.
An uncommon benefit. American Home Shield says it will try to replace systems and appliances with models that are similar to the old items in dimensions, color and finish. This means a replacement could be the same physical size and look similar to your old one, though that’s not a guarantee. The company will also try to match an item’s capability and capacity.
Hauling away replaced appliances or systems
The company will try to have repair companies haul away old items that American Home Shield has paid to replace. Not all companies pay for this service, which could save you money if you have a larger system replaced.
Who can get an American Home Shield plan?
American Home Shield sells plans in 48 states and Washington, D.C. It doesn’t cover properties in Alaska or Hawaii.
What homeowners say about American Home Shield
This section highlights customer reviews and posts about American Home Shield. Reddit is an online forum where users share their thoughts in “threads” on various topics. The popular site includes plenty of discussion on financial subjects like home warranties, so I sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on how users feel about American Home Shield. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances. Likewise, I can’t verify the experiences customers post on consumer review websites.
Good reviews of American Home Shield mention experiences with helpful and capable repair technicians that fixed homeowners’ issues. One reviewer on Trustpilot even notes that the repair company cleaned up well after making a repair. Other customers comment that the company is fast to schedule appointments for repairs, and some felt the coverage was enough for the needed repairs.
Some customers found American Home Shield’s mobile app easy to use for submitting claims and scheduling appointments. Several reviews also said people appreciate the video chat option in American Home Shield’s app.
“I also had a couple of replacement appliances that were costly to repair. AHS replaced them with no additional cost.
”— Tracy, Trustpilot review, August 2025
But negative reviews highlight long wait times for repairs. One redditor said they waited two days for an air conditioner repair. But they gave up on getting their furnace repaired after two technicians came to diagnose the issue over two weeks, and American Home Shield wanted to send a third technician for another opinion. Another redditor compared American Home Shield to a “referral service,” commenting on customers’ issues getting technician appointments scheduled.
Some customers also noted that American Home Shield’s customer service isn’t helpful, isn’t able to resolve issues with vendors and doesn’t always return calls. And several customers also noted that they had trouble canceling their contracts with American Home Shield.
“Unfortunately, my biggest frustration has been with customer service. I often find communication difficult, and my experiences have felt unprofessional and unhelpful.
”— Mommy Luvsallfour, Trustpilot review, March 2026
I also noticed that there was a trend among reviews in which homeowners felt repair technicians said more repairs were required than what was actually needed. This made homeowners feel that the technicians were trying to upsell them on more expensive fixes.
NerdWallet's Editorial Team Picks for Best Overall Home Warranties
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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.
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?
Technically, yes, the company does cover pre-existing conditions. But you’ll have to prove that you didn’t know about the issue before starting your contract and that you had no way to detect the issue. Otherwise, American Home Shield might not cover the repair.
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, 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.
Alternatives to American Home Shield
Cinch Home Services
Cinch Home Services guarantees their technicians' repairs for 180 days, which is much longer than their competitors' standard 30-day and 60-day guarantees.
What the Nerds like about Cinch Home Services
Offers a unique plan structure that lets you choose if you want to pay for replacement coverage.
Has a 180-day guarantee on approved repairs.
Pricing is competitive, especially for comprehensive plans.
Why it's a good alternative to American Home Shield
Cinch Home Services:
Has a total aggregate limit instead of individual repair limits.
Lets you just pay for repair coverage without replacements.
Guarantees its repairs 180 days compared to AHS's 30 days.
This option makes more sense for homeowners who want a home warranty without paying for replacement coverage.
Read our full review of Cinch Home Services.
Old Republic Home Protection
Old Republic Home Protection's coverage limits are on the high end compared with competitors, especially for HVAC and appliances.
What the Nerds like about Old Republic
Has higher coverage limits than many competitors.
Offers affordable pricing for all of its plans.
Has consistently higher customer satisfaction ratings than most competitors.
Why it's a good alternative to American Home Shield
Old Republic:
Has higher coverage limits for HVAC, electrical and appliance repairs
Also covers rust, corrosion and sediment issues.
Is more affordable for homeowners in some areas.
This option makes more sense for homeowners who want high coverage limits with an affordable comprehensive option.
Read our full review of Old Republic Home Protection.
Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty's coverage limits for electrical, plumbing and appliances are on the high end compared to competitors.
What the Nerds like about Choice Home Warranty
Offers affordable pricing for both plans.
Is available in 49 states.
Covers a decent number of appliances and systems in its cheaper plan.
Why it's a good alternative to American Home Shield
Choice Home Warranty:
Charges all homeowners the same prices for its plans.
Has more optional add-on items.
Pays $3,000 per appliance in its cheapest plan compared to AHS's $2,000 per appliance.
This option makes more sense for homeowners who want comprehensive coverage with a lot of add-on options.
Read our full review of Choice Home Warranty.
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.