Best Home Warranty Companies in 2026: 7 Companies Compared

American Home Shield, usually shortened to AHS, is the best known name in the category, and its page does a good job of laying out what each plan includes. ShieldSilver covers parts of 19 major systems, ShieldGold covers parts of 28 systems and appliances, and ShieldPlatinum covers 29 items including roof leak repair. Each plan lists a $50,000 total limit per agreement term and $5,000 per covered HVAC system.

The higher plans add more per-item limits. Appliances are capped at $2,000 on Gold and $4,000 on Platinum, and roof leak repair on Platinum is capped at $1,000. Platinum also lists unlimited AC refrigerant and one free HVAC tune-up.

The honest catch is price transparency. AHS says plans start at less than $1 a day, but you need to enter a zip code to see the real number, and you choose a service fee for each request when you buy. The page we checked advertised 50 percent off first-year Gold and Silver base plans for new members through November 2, 2026. Promotions end, so compare the regular price too.

2-10 is the easiest company on this list to compare because it shows prices. Existing homeowners can choose Systems at $39.99 per month, covering parts of 19 home systems such as heating and air conditioning, electrical and plumbing, or Pinnacle at $59.99 per month, covering parts of 28 systems and appliances. The page describes both as one-year service contracts.

Limits are published too. Systems lists up to $5,000 per covered unit for heating and AC repair or replacement, and Pinnacle keeps that $5,000 HVAC limit and adds up to $2,000 per covered appliance. The page says pricing is the same regardless of home size, location or age.

The catch is that the service fee, which you pay each time you submit a request, is not stated on the page, and the contract holds the exclusions. The page names American Home Shield as a sister brand, so the two companies are related. A Halloween offer of 50 percent off a first year was posted through November 2, 2026, and it does not apply to real estate transactions.

Choice Home Warranty is a pick for people who want to choose what is covered instead of buying a fixed bundle. Its page describes a typical plan covering heating, plumbing, electrical, water heaters, kitchen appliances, a garbage disposal, a garage door opener and fans. A Total Plan adds air conditioning, a refrigerator, a clothes washer and a dryer.

Optional add-ons include pool and spa, well pump, roof leaks, sump pump, septic system and a second refrigerator or freezer. Single payment plans include a first month free, according to the page. Price depends on your location, the coverage level, dwelling size and home type, so you need a quote.

The caveats are the usual ones. You typically pay a trade call fee and any deductibles, and the rest of a covered repair is paid by the plan. Choice itself describes its products as service contracts, not warranties, and says limits and exclusions are in the user agreement. Read that agreement before paying.

First American Home Warranty puts real estate transactions at the center. Its page speaks to buyers, sellers and agents, and says sellers can be protected during the listing period for up to 180 days. That can matter if you are selling an older house and worry about a system failing during inspection.

The company shares its own claim statistics: over 27 percent of homebuyers filed a claim in their first 90 days of coverage, and over 44 percent had a major home system breakdown in their first year, based on its 2025 first-year real estate contracts. Those are company figures, not independent ones, but they show who the product is aimed at.

Member perks include up to 40 percent off appliances from some brands, a few home service discounts, and a military discount on real estate plans. The page does not list prices, service fees or limits, so request a quote and the sample coverage before you compare it with the others.

Liberty Home Guard is worth a look if your main worry is heating and cooling. HVAC Guard covers heating and cooling for $29.99 per month, up to 5-ton ducted electric central air. The page says there is no waiting period, pre-existing conditions are covered, and no inspection or maintenance records are required. It is not offered in Hawaii or Alaska.

The other plans are Appliance Guard, Systems Guard and Total Home Guard, which combines the two. Liberty says plans start under $1 per day. On those plans you can start requesting service after 30 to 60 days depending on the coverage you buy, and each claim requires a pre-set flat service call fee.

NerdWallet's Cinch review points to Liberty as an alternative with better customer reviews that lets you choose your contractor, which is a point in its favor. The company says technicians are usually dispatched within 24 to 48 business hours, though extenuating circumstances can delay that.

Cinch is one of the few companies to give a repair guarantee longer than 60 days. NerdWallet's review, which we used because Cinch's own site blocked our checks, describes a 180-day guarantee, plans that cover two units of most items, and coverage of some pre-existing conditions and failures from rust, corrosion or sediment.

Outside California the plans are Repair Only, Repair and Replace, and Repair and Replace Premier. In California they are Appliances, Built-in Systems and Complete Home. NerdWallet reports monthly fees from $24.99 to $131.99 depending on plan, service fee and location. The service fee is $100, $125 or $150 per claim, and a higher fee lowers the monthly price.

The drawbacks are real. NerdWallet notes a $10,000 cap per agreement term, a mix of four limit types that makes comparison harder, no choice of contractor, claim buyouts that can fall well below repair costs, and mixed customer satisfaction, including long waits. We could not confirm anything on Cinch's own site, so verify the current price and terms before you buy.

Select Home Warranty is a budget-minded option. According to NerdWallet, it offers Bronze for appliances, Gold for systems and Platinum for both, plus ceiling fans, garage door openers and plumbing stoppages. Add-ons include a pool, spa, sump pump and septic system, and NerdWallet reports that you can choose your own contractor.

Prices and fees are inconsistent across sources. NerdWallet's review reports a $60.42 monthly starting price in the body, a "$39" figure in another summary, and a service fee between $65 and $200, so we cannot give one number. Get a written quote and check whether the fee changes with contract length.

The limits are low. NerdWallet lists $3,000 combined for HVAC and $500 each for plumbing, electrical and per appliance per contract term, and notes that depreciated payouts may not cover replacement. It rates customer satisfaction at 2 out of 5. Select's own site blocked our checks, so we relied on NerdWallet's reporting.