Home warranties are helpful for all homeowners to offset unexpected repair and replacement costs for home systems and home appliances. However, they’re especially useful in Arkansas, where the frequent extreme weather can put roofing material at risk of leaking and high temperatures from April through October can leave air conditioning systems and refrigerators at risk of being overworked and getting damaged.
For Arkansas homeowners, we’re prepared to list our recommendations for the best home warranty companies in the Natural State. Whether your primary concern is budget, comprehensiveness of coverage or customization, we’ve found a provider that can meet your needs. Fortunately, getting a free, personalized quote is easy, so you can use our list as a starting point for your search.
How to Choose the Best Home Warranty in Arkansas
Now that you have the top Arkansas home warranties narrowed down to the top five choices on the market, it is time to choose the one that is best for your Arkansas home. There are some essential features to look for when you are narrowing down these home warranty policies. Three of the most important are overall pricing, workmanship guarantee, and add-on options.
- Overall Pricing: The overall pricing of an Arkansas home warranty is not all that difficult to figure out. Simply consider the monthly price along with the service fee, and you will quickly see which plans are the most affordable to you. Also, pay attention to the coverage caps associated with the plans.
- Workmanship Guarantee: Workmanship guarantee means that if a repair on an appliance or system fails, the home warranty company will cover it for a certain period. Workmanship guarantee can range from 30 days to 180 days, but it is worth considering when choosing a plan.
- Add On Options: Add-on coverage can include anything from a warranty for a swimming pool to a second refrigerator. If you have unique features in your Arkansas home, pay close attention to the add-on coverage options available to you.
While these general considerations are important to make to ensure you get a plan that suits your budget and expectations, there are also some local factors at play in Arkansas that can help you narrow down providers.
First, Arkansas is located in Tornado Alley, and residents experience many intense thunderstorms and tornadoes every year. While isolated damages caused by these weather events will likely be covered by your homeowners insurance, they can also cause gradual damage to your roof. Many Arkansas homeowners opt for home warranties that cover roof leaks, as they are more likely in the area than in many other states.
Additionally, Arkansas is known for hot, humid summers, and the heat and humidity can put a massive strain on your air conditioners. This is especially true at the height of the summer when temperatures reach up into the 90s. A home warranty that covers refrigerators and air conditioning systems will be far more valuable in Arkansas, given the strain the weather puts on these items.
The 3 Best Home Warranty Companies in Arkansas
American Home Shield
4.2
Our Rating
First on our list is American Home Shield, a home warranty company that’s been in business since 1971. In its more than 50 years in the industry, American Home Shield has garnered a reputation for great customer service and some of the most comprehensive plans available.
Under an American Home Shield plan, covered items aren’t just protected from wear-and-tear damage. They’re also covered in case of malfunction from improper repairs, insufficient maintenance, rust, sediment and corrosion. You’ll also have protection from pre-existing conditions as long as they were undetectable when the coverage period began.
American Home Shield offers its customers three plans. The first, ShieldSilver, covers your home’s major systems like plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical systems. The second, ShieldGold, adds coverage for home appliances, including kitchen appliances, washers and dryers. Finally, ShieldPlatinum also covers both home systems and appliances and adds coverage for one free HVAC tune-up, roof leaks, A/C refrigerant and code upgrades.
| Coverage | ShieldSilver | ShieldGold | ShieldPlatinum |
| Roof-leak repairs | ✔ | ||
| Air conditioner | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Heating unit | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Built-in exhaust, vent and attic fans | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Main breaker and fuse panel box | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Doorbells and chimes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Interior electrical lines | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ceiling fans | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Garage door openers | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Interior plumbing lines | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Toilets | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Faucets and valves | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Whirlpool tub motor and components | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Water heater | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Refrigerator | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Range/Cooktop | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Oven | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Instant hot/cold water dispenser | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes washer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✔ | ✔ |
To any of these plans, you can add optional coverage for pools/spas, septic pumps, well pumps and guest units of up to 750 sq. ft. However, you won’t need to purchase anything extra to get coverage for duplicate appliances.
Your premium cost is what you pay your home warranty company every month or year that the policy is active. Additionally, your service call fee or deductible is what you pay directly to service providers the company sends to your home to diagnose or repair a covered item. American Home Shield allows you to customize your service fee with respect to your premium. Thus, you can choose to pay a lower premium with a higher service call fee and vice versa.
American Home Shield offers service call fees of $75, $100 or $125. Here are the premiums you can choose from for a house of about 2,000 sq. ft. in Little Rock, AR.
| Plan | $75 Service Fee | $100 Service Fee | $125 Service Fee |
| ShieldSilver | $59.99 | $49.99 | $44.99 |
| ShieldGold | $69.99 | $59.99 | $54.99 |
| ShieldPlatinum | $89.99 | $79.99 | $74.99 |
AFC Home Club
4.2
Our Rating
For the most personalized home warranty available, America’s First Choice (AFC) Home Club is our top pick. You can choose from four different plans and three premium/deductible combinations. Additionally, the company has a list of 11 add-on coverage options.
Although you don’t need to sign an AFC contract, if you do, you’ll lock in your rates for as long as you continue to renew. Since AFC Home Club offers particularly good prices to Arkansas homeowners – some of the lowest they offer in the country – we highly recommend this provider.
AFC Home Club’s four plans include the Systems Plan, which covers home systems, and the Silver Plan, which covers home appliances. The Gold Plan covers both and adds coverage for ductwork. The Platinum Plan covers everything in the Gold Plan, plus plumbing stoppages, microwaves, ice makers and faucets.
| Systems Plan | Silver Plan | Gold Plan | Platinum Plan | |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Heating | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Water heater | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical system | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Plumbing system | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Clothes washer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Kitchen refrigerator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Oven | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Range | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garage door opener | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✓ | |||
| Ice maker | ✓ | |||
| Plumbing stoppages | ✓ |
With any of these plans, you can purchase additional coverage for a tankless water heater, in-ground pool, stand-alone freezer, sump pump, double oven, central vacuum, hot water dispenser, septic system or well pump. With the Systems, Silver or Gold Plans, you can also add coverage for an ice maker or microwave.
AFC Home Club offers a service call fee of $75, $100 or $125. Here are the premium prices we were quoted for a service fee of $100.
| Plan | $75 Service Fee | $100 Service Fee | $125 Service Fee |
| System Plan | $45.75 | $43.58 | $41.33 |
| Silver Plan | $39.17 | $37.00 | $34.83 |
| Gold Plan | $52.33 | $50.08 | $47.92 |
| Platinum Plan | $56.67 | $54.50 | $52.33 |
Select Home Warranty
4.2
Our Rating
Select Home Warranty rounds out our list as another highly affordable provider. All of its plans are available for less than $50 a month, and they all come with free roof leak coverage for areas over the inhabited part of your home.
Select Home Warranty also offers numerous additional coverage options, and it’s the only company on our list that covers lawn sprinkler systems.
Select Home Warranty offers its Bronze Care plan, which covers home appliances, and its Gold Care plan, which covers home systems, for the same affordable price. For only a few more dollars a month, you can sign up for the Platinum Care plan for a few more dollars a month, which covers systems and appliances, including ceiling fans, garage door openers and plumbing stoppages.
| Coverage | Bronze Care | Gold Care | Platinum Care |
| Limited roof leak | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Air conditioning and cooling | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Ductwork | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Electrical system | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Heating system | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Plumbing system | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Water heater | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Cooktop | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Dishwasher | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Built-in microwave | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Refrigerator | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Stove/Oven | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes washer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Garage door opener | ✔ | ||
| Plumbing stoppages | ✔ | ||
| Ceiling fan | ✔ |
The company’s additional coverage options include a lawn sprinkler system, central vacuum, pool, septic system, spa, stand-alone freezer, sump pump or well pump.
Select Home Warranty offers a relatively low service fee of $75. Note that you can save money and get two free months of coverage by paying annually.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost |
| Platinum Care | $46.08 | $499.99 |
| Gold Care | $41.67 | $449.99 |
| Bronze Care | $41.67 | $449.99 |
Additional Home Warranty Resources
- What is a Home Warranty?
- How Much Do Home Warranties Cost?
- Is a Home Warranty Worth It for You?
- Best Home Warranties in 2023
- Do Your Appliances Need Extended Warranties?
How Much Does a Home Warranty in Arkansas Cost?
The average home warranty cost in Arkansas will range in price from around $35 a month to $75 a month, or $420 to $900 per year. The range of pricing will depend on the coverage you choose and the quality of the plan. The add-on coverage choices can also increase the total pricing of the plan. Arkansas home warranties are priced about the same as they are in other states across the nation. The table below provides some average pricing for different residential customers.
| Overall | $720.38 |
| Single Family | $585.29 |
| Multi Family | $1,087.74 |
| Townhome | $493.33 |
| Condo | $614.80 |
| Duplex | $880.81 |
| Home Over 5,000 sq ft | $1,294.73 |
| Home Under 5,000 sq ft | $650.55 |
Compare the Best Home Warranty Companies in Arkansas
Company | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Coverage Limit | Response Time | Rating | States Covered |
 | $46.83–$54.75+ | $85 | $3,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.0 | 49 states, excluding WA |
 | $49.99–$69.99+ | $65–$125 | $2,000 | 12–48 hours | 4.5 | 50 states |
 | $60.42–$63.75+ | $60–$75 | $3,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.3 | 47 states, excluding NV, WA, and WI |
 | $49.99–$99.99 | $75–$125 | $6,000 | 24–72 hours | 4.2 | 49 states, excluding AK |
 | $30.00–$60.00 | $75–$125 | $3,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.3 | 49 states, excluding HI |
 | $39.99–$54.99 | $100–$125 | $2,000 | 24–48 hours | 4.1 | 48 states, excluding AK and HI |
 | $17.00–$60.00 | $65–$100 | $2,500 | 24–48 hours | 4.0 | 42 states, excluding AK, HI, MT, NH, ND, OK, SD, and WY |
 | $36.00–$46.50 | $75–$125 | $3,500 | 24–48 hours | 3.9 | 34 states, excluding AK, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, RI, VT, and WI |
Quote and cost data gathered January 2023. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
What does a Home Warranty Cover?
Home warranties all cover different aspects of your home, so it’s tough to say exactly what yours will cover and what it will exclude. Most home warranties either provide coverage for home appliances, home systems, or both.
If you choose a plan that covers appliances, you’ll often get coverage for your refrigerator, oven, cooktop, microwave, dishwasher, clothes washer, clothes dryer, and more. Some minor appliances like your garbage disposal or trash compactor are other common inclusions. When you submit a claim for one of these items, you’ll typically get repair or replacement at just the cost of the service fee.
If you choose a plan that covers home systems, common inclusions are plumbing, heating, and electrical systems, HVAC ductwork, air conditioners, water heaters, garage door opener, and central vacuum systems. Again, coverage will typically include repair or replacement, depending on what is needed.
What is Not Covered by a Home Warranty?
In most cases, you can determine exactly what is and isn’t covered in a home warranty by looking at your service contract. However, some common exclusions are pre-existing home damages, cosmetic repairs, and damages or system breakdowns caused by a lack of maintenance. Every home warranty is different, so you should always check your contract before signing to ensure you know what is excluded.
Biggest Complaints about Home Warranty Companies in Arkansas
Most Arkanites are pleased with their home warranty service, but there are some complaints that pop up regularly from customers in the area.
One of the most common issues we see in online customer reviews is a lack of coverage where coverage was expected. Some customers believe that their home warranty company just denies coverage to save money. However, based on the company responses, it seems clear that it’s more likely a misunderstanding of the contract and coverage exclusions. Be sure to read your contract thoroughly before signing.
Another common complaint is that the out-of-pocket charges are higher than the service fee for certain repairs or replacements. In most cases, this is due to coverage caps, which are a limit set on payouts from your home warranty company. If your repair or replacement is more than the coverage cap, you’ll be on the hook for the difference. Make sure you understand coverage limits entirely before committing to a home warranty provider.
Our Verdict
Overall, we find that American Home Shield offers the best home warranty in Arkansas. Although you’ll pay a little more per month, you’ll also receive coverage for a number of conditions that other providers simply don’t cover. You’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that your home warranty provider has been a mainstay in the industry for decades, and you’ll benefit from the large nationwide network of trusted technicians that American Home Shield maintains.
However, American Home Shield might not be right for all Arkansas homeowners, so we also recommend AFC Home Club and Select Home Warranty. Fortunately, all of these home warranty companies provide free, instant quotes on their websites, and you can also easily find sample contracts so you can take a look at the fine print. We recommend gathering at least three quotes before making your decision.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arkansas Home Warranties
How much does a home warranty cost in Arkansas?
Although prices differ by company and coverage details, most home warranties in Arkansas cost between $30 and $60 per month. That works out to $360 to $720 per year, but you can often save money by paying your premiums annually instead of monthly.
What’s the difference between a home warranty and homeowners’ insurance?
Homeowners’ insurance is there to protect you from catastrophic events. If your home or possessions are significantly damaged or destroyed by fire, theft, vandalism, severe weather or earthquakes, for example, your insurance will often pay for repair or replacement. However, home warranties cover more routine breakdowns that happen over the lifetime of an appliance or system. If a covered appliance wears out, your home warranty will often pay to get it fixed or replaced.
What’s the difference between a home warranty and a manufacturer’s warranty?
A home warranty applies to all the appliances and systems listed in your contract, regardless of age or brand. On the other hand, a manufacturer’s warranty usually only applies to individual, newly-purchased items of a certain brand. Additionally, while a home warranty covers items from normal wear and tear, a manufacturer’s warranty will only apply if a part of the item came off the assembly line defective. For this reason, manufacturer’s warranties only last a few years after purchase.
What should I look for in a home warranty?
Here are some questions to ask about each home warranty or company you consider.
- How trustworthy is the company? How long has it been in business? How well does it handle complaints?
- Does the home warranty cover only wear and tear or other types of damage as well?
- What appliances and systems are covered? What parts of these appliances and systems are or aren’t covered?
- What are the coverage limits for each covered appliance or system?
- How easy is it to file a claim? How easy will it be to speak to my claim representative once the process is started?
Home Warranty Rating Methodology
To help you find the best home warranty, our reviews team researched numerous home warranty companies, analyzing their coverage plans, pricing and customer service, among other factors:
- Coverage: Home warranty companies that provide extensive coverage and protect important systems and appliances, including your air conditioning, refrigerator and heating, scored higher than companies with minimal coverage.
- Plan variety: A provider with more coverage plans allows for more flexibility among customers. In general, most home warranty companies provide an appliances-only plan, systems-only plan and combination plan.
- Pricing: We scored providers based on their monthly plan prices and service call fees compared to the industry average pricing. Companies with more affordable coverage received more points than companies with more expensive plans.
- State availability: Where you live will determine what companies are available in your area. Home warranty companies that covered more states received more points than companies with a limited state availability.
- Trustworthiness: There are some home warranty companies that are scams and don’t follow through on their service agreements. We rated companies based on their years of experience, ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and customer reviews.
To keep our data current, our team regularly updates the data points for each company to ensure their coverage offerings, pricing and availability are accurate.
