If you’re in the market for a home warranty policy, you probably already know that companies tend to over-promise and under-deliver. Home warranties have a reputation for being scams, but while that’s certainly true in some cases, it’s hardly the whole story. Many companies help customers repair and replace the items in their homes every day at no additional charge, but it’s important to watch out for exclusions in your contract that can keep you from being covered. If you’re a veteran who’s risked your life to fight for our country, the last thing you should have to worry about is getting taken advantage of by a home warranty company. That’s why I’ve made it my goal to lay out the facts and make it as easy as possible for you to find the home warranty that’s right for you.
I’ve researched the best home warranty companies for veterans and used Today’s Homeowner’s specific review criteria to rank these providers. While secret shopping, I’ve gotten warranty quotes from companies for a two-bedroom home in Baltimore, thoroughly reviewed sample contracts, and scoured the internet to find the most accurate customer reviews. I’ve ranked each company according to their plans, coverage, affordability, reputation, customer service, and more. Read on to see what these companies have to offer veterans and how they stack up against the competition.
Are you curious to learn more about what a home warranty is and how it works? If so, watch the video below from one of the best home warranties for veterans.
Here’s how we ranked and reviewed the nation’s top home warranty companies to bring you the most accurate information.
Our team of experts reviewed over 70 home warranty providers to compare plan options, coverage limits, prices, and customer feedback.
We collected over 100 sample quotes from dozens of home warranty companies to give you an accurate look at industry pricing.
Our rating system scores providers based on 6 key factors: coverage options, affordability, customer experience, reputation, claims processes, and availability.
Read our full Home Warranty Review Methodology for more details.
Top 5 Home Warranty Companies for Veterans
- After reading through sample contracts for all the major home warranty providers in the industry, I’ve concluded that Liberty Home Guard is the best all-around option for most homeowners. They offer 42 add-ons so you can completely customize your coverage, and they have consistent rates throughout the entire country, making them more trustworthy regarding pricing. Better yet, their customer reviews are head and shoulders above the competition, giving them an edge when it comes to their satisfaction level. If you’re a veteran who’s used to military precision and efficiency, you’ll appreciate Liberty Home Guard’s attention to detail.
- Much like insurance salespeople, many home warranty sales reps will try to use fear to get customers to purchase a policy, claiming that your major home systems and appliances could fail at any moment, leaving you without the necessary amenities until you pay thousands for a repair. While this can be true, it’s never good to buy a home warranty policy out of panic. These disastrous circumstances aren’t bound to happen, and even if they do, there’s no guarantee your home warranty policy will pay for the whole replacement. There are plenty of risks involved with buying a policy as well, so in some cases, it makes sense to decline a home warranty. For example, if you’re a mechanically savvy veteran who prefers to do things yourself, a home warranty may not be the right fit for you.
- Before purchasing a home warranty policy, always read the entire sample contract, especially sections on your exclusions and coverage limits. These two sections outline what items are covered (and not covered) in your policy and how much money you’ll get toward repairs and replacements. There are countless examples of customers who purchased a policy without reading the fine print and regretting it later when they had to pay out of pocket for a claim, so reading the contract is extremely important. Even if you discover a lot of exclusions, at least you’ll be aware of them before you sign.
What’s Most Important in a Home Warranty for Veterans?
Most homeowners want a home warranty that’s hassle-free, meaning that their policy has limited exclusions, simple terms, and high coverage limits for their most important items. However, for veterans, these factors are especially important. If you’re a veteran who’s been wounded in battle, you may have a harder time maintaining your appliances and home systems on your own, so having a home warranty provider that can go the extra mile and handle claims without any fuss is crucial. While coverage limits are important, a company’s integrity is invaluable.
When making your decision about what home warranty company to choose, pay close attention to their claims process and company reputation scores. The claims process score reflects how easy and effective a company’s claims process is, which dictates how well they handle repairs to and replacements of your covered items. Likewise, a company’s overall reputation gives a good representation of how happy customers are with their coverage, including whether the company covered their claim or avoided paying out for damages. Coverage limits are also important because if they’re too low, you may have to pay out of pocket for a portion of your repairs. Consider all these factors carefully, as they’re the most important things to look at when finding the best home warranty for veterans.
Home Warranty Companies for Veterans I Don’t Recommend
I initially wanted to include Select Home Warranty on my list of the best home warranty companies for veterans because they’re normally one of my top choices, but, according to some customer reviews, Select recently started offering customers one free month of coverage in exchange for a favorable review, which is frowned upon. This practice essentially pays customers for good reviews, so it’s a misleading way to drive up their overall ratings. Select still has everyday low prices and good coverage limits, but their reviews became less trustworthy after they started incentivizing five-star feedback, so I decided to leave them off of my list.
Additionally, I didn’t include Choice Home Warranty on my list because they’re currently subject to a class-action lawsuit filed by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office in 2019, and they’re under investigation in New Jersey and Oklahoma for unlicensed activity. Choice has a few unique perks, like their guarantee that they’ll request a service technician within four hours of when you submit a claim, which is a big help when you need a fix in a hurry. However, given the circumstances, I recommend that all readers avoid Choice Home Warranty for the time being.
Always read plenty of customer reviews (the good and the bad) before purchasing a home warranty plan. I recommend reading reviews on Google, Trustpilot, Yelp, and Better Business Bureau (BBB) to get a better picture of how other customers feel about your top companies.
Compare The Highest Rated Home Warranties for Veterans
| Company | Rating | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | Response Time | BBB Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
$50-$60 |
$75 |
12-48 hrs. |
NR |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$35–$75 |
$100–$125 |
24-72 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$44.99-$58.99 |
$70 |
48 hours |
A+ |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$46–$55 |
$85 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$52–$58 |
$75-$85 |
24-48 hrs. |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$38–$62 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$38–$48 |
$75–$125 |
48 hours |
B |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$17–$60+ |
$65–$100 |
2–24 hrs |
A- |
VISIT SITE | |
 |
$28–$68 |
$100–$150 |
2–24 hrs |
B |
VISIT SITE |
Quote and cost data gathered January 2024. Cost data are updated and monitored continuously.
Our Reviews of the Best Home Warranties for Veterans
Liberty Home Guard
4.6
Our Rating
Liberty Home Guard has the highest overall score of all the companies I’ve reviewed, and they’ve earned the top spot on our list of the best home warranty for veterans. I’d highly recommend Liberty because of their glowing customer reviews, helpful employees, and consistent prices. Additionally, Liberty offers 42 add-ons, which is more than any other provider in the industry. If you want to customize your coverage so you’re getting the most out of your home warranty plan, Liberty is the best choice by far.
Liberty has a few minor downsides, one of which is their coverage limits. They offer $2,000 per item, which is fine for standard appliances, but it’s low for home systems. If you’re specifically looking for the best coverage limits, I’d recommend American Home Shield or First American Home Warranty instead since both have higher coverage limits. If you’re not sure what plan to go with, I recommend readers check out Liberty’s Total Home Guard plan ($59.99) since it’s a great price for full home coverage.
The Liberty Home Guard representative I talked to over the phone said that they offer veteran discounts, but the details were a bit confusing. He gave me a quote of $549 a year with the veteran discount, compared to $800 without, which is approximately a 30% discount. However, he said that the monthly rate would be $60 with the discount and $90 without, which doesn’t add up because the quotes I got online were cheaper. Likewise, $60 a month in coverage is $720 a year, not $549, and $90 a month is $1,080, not $800. While there are lots of holes in his equation, and these calls can often be confusing and frustrating, Liberty does offer a veterans discount, so it’s worth calling and asking about it if you’re a veteran.
My favorite things about Liberty Home Guard are their unbeatable online reviews and their consistently helpful customer service. Liberty has the best online reviews I’ve seen from any home warranty company during my research, scoring 4.7 out of 5 stars on both Trustpilot and Google. Finding a company with that many 5-star reviews in the home warranty industry is basically impossible, so I can’t overstate how rare that is. Firsthand accounts are the most accurate way to get an idea of how a company operates, so these positive reviews go a long way in my book. Liberty also offers 42 add-ons, which is more than any other company in the industry. With so many reviews mentioning how easy the claims process is and how helpful the customer service representatives are, I have no hesitation in making Liberty my pick as the best home warranty for veterans.
My main complaint about Liberty Home Guard is that all covered items are limited to $2,000. This means that even expensive items like HVAC systems only have a $2,000 coverage limit, which is low considering that many competitors offer at least $4,000 for home systems. Additionally, Liberty’s cheapest plan starts at $49.99 a month, which is fairly pricey for a plan that only covers appliances. Many competitors charge less than half as much for their comparative plans (American Home Shield’s ShieldSilver plan starts at $17.49 a month). Still, Liberty’s customer service and ample add-on options make up for their shortcomings.
Liberty Home Guard has a perfect score for their plans and coverage, mainly because they offer more add-on coverage options than any other company in the industry. Most companies only have around five or ten add-ons each, but Liberty offers 42 add-on options, so they’re miles ahead of the competition. All covered items are limited to $2,000, so their payouts for expensive systems like heating, AC, and electrical aren’t great. Because of that, the Systems Guard plan is a bit pricey, considering the full reimbursement amount won’t cover a new system. Likewise, the Appliance Guard plan is overpriced since it only covers appliances, but the Total Home Guard plan is a great bargain for full comprehensive coverage. Since the Total Home Guard plan is only $5 more than the Systems Guard plan, I recommend readers spend the extra money and get the better plan.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee* | Available Discounts |
| Systems Guard | $54.99 | $65 – $125 | $200 off when you subscribe to emails (online)2 free bonus months (with annual billing)Free limited roof leak protection |
| Total Home Guard | $59.99 | $65 – $125 | $200 off when you subscribe to emails (online)2 free bonus months (with annual billing)Free limited roof leak protection |
| Appliance Guard | $49.99 | $65 – $125 | $200 off when you subscribe to emails (online)2 free bonus months (with annual billing)Free limited roof leak protection |
*Liberty Home Guard’s service fees range from $65 to $125 depending on where you live, the service plan you choose, and the promotional deal you get.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Baltimore, MD. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of publication.
Available Add-Ons
The following add-ons are available for all plans:
- Additional spa: $9.99/month
- Carpet cleaning: $19.99/month
- Casita guest unit: $35.99/month
- Central vacuum: $8.99/month
- Ejector pump: $14.99/month
- Electronics protection: $19.99/month
- Freestanding ice maker: $14.99/month
- Generator: $19.99/month
- Grinder pump: $14.99/month
- Gutter cleaning: $14.99/month
- Ice maker (in-fridge): $3.99/month
- Instant hot water dispenser: $9.99/month
- Lawn sprinkler system: $9.99/month
- Lighting fixtures: $7.99/month
- Limited roof leak: $11.99/month
- Pest control: $14.99/month
- Plumbing fixtures: $7.99/month
- Pool and spa: $19.99/month
- Power washing (exterior flooring): $19.99/month
- Pro-series clothes dryer: $4.99/month
- Pro-series dishwasher: $7.99/month
- Pro-series microwave: $4.99/month
- Pro-series range/oven/cooktop: $12.99/month
- Pro-series refrigerator: $14.99/month
- Pro-series stand-alone freezer: $14.99/month
- Pro-series washing machine: $4.99/month
- Re-key: $9.99/month
- Reverse osmosis water filter system: $14.99/month
- Saltwater pool: $23.99/month
- Second refrigerator: $7.99/month
- Septic system pumping: $12.99/month
- Stand-alone freezer: $5.99/month
- Sump pump: $8.99/month
- Swamp cooler: $14.99/month
- Trash compactor: $7.49/month
- TV mounting (up to 65-inch TVs): $14.99/month
- TV mounting (up to 85-inch TVs): $19.99/month
- Water dispenser water line: $4.99/month
- Water softener: $13.99/month
- Well pump: $12.99/month
- Window washing/cleaning: $19.99/month
- Wine cooler/fridge: $11.99/month
Liberty Home Guard’s plans range from $49.99 to $59.99 a month, so they’re not the most affordable option on our list, but they’re not the most expensive either. While $50 a month is a bit much for an appliance-only plan, $60 is a great bargain for comprehensive coverage, so I recommend readers check out the Total Home Guard plan first. Another big bonus about Liberty’s prices is that they’re consistent throughout the entire country. Other companies will sometimes raise their rates by $20 to $30 a month just because you live in an expensive location, but Liberty keeps their rates the same everywhere, which makes me feel more confident in the legitimacy of their pricing model.
I recommend reading Liberty Home Guard’s sample contract for information on cash reimbursements and replacement parts since this can increase your costs. Liberty bases cash reimbursements on the depreciated value of your item — likely not enough to buy a new one. Likewise, Liberty doesn’t guarantee that replacement parts will match in color or brand, so if you care about the aesthetic of your appliances, you may have to pay out of pocket for specific parts. Because of these limitations, we gave Liberty a 7.8.
Liberty’s relatively low customer experience score is one of their weaker points. It’s mainly due to Liberty’s long waiting period (30 to 60 days, depending on your plan) for your coverage to begin after you sign a contract. Thirty days is about average for the industry, but 60 days is a long time to wait for your coverage to start, especially since you’re paying for two full months of coverage you can’t actually use. Every other company on this list has a waiting period of 30 days, so Liberty doesn’t measure up in that regard. Liberty is also difficult to get hold of over the phone. After repeatedly calling at least five or six times to see if they offered discounts for veterans, each time an automated voice said there were no representatives to take my call and hung up. Liberty doesn’t have many downsides to consider, but these are some of their only shortcomings, so we gave them a 7.5 out of 10.
Liberty has the best company reputation score on our list at 9.0, mainly because they have the highest customer ratings on review sites like Google and Trustpilot. Firsthand accounts are some of the most important resources to take from when researching home warranty companies, and Liberty has better star ratings than every other competitor I’ve seen, including 92% five-star ratings on Trustpilot. Most reviews mention Liberty’s customer service in some regard. One customer on Trustpilot said:
“(They are) great to work with. My old home warranty companies argued with me over everything, and there is none of that here. They worked with my schedule and got everything taken care of. I will be sticking with them for a long time.”
Many reviews even mentioned specific employees by name, thanking them for their help. This shows that although disappointments are bound to happen, the employees behind the veil are trustworthy and helpful, which is not always the case in this industry. Liberty did receive some complaints, but not as many as competitors.
One customer said:
“My water heater needed to be replaced. It was 26 years old. They told me that the useful life of a water heater is only 12 years, so after that, it has no replacement value. [That’s] their way of saying they won’t fix it or replace it for me.”
Despite any complaints, the good reviews definitely outweigh the bad, so we gave Liberty a 9.0.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | NR* (4.49 out of 5 stars) | 2,470 |
| Trustpilot | 4.7 out of 5 stars | 3,128 |
| 4.7 out of 5 stars | 11,040 | |
| Yelp | 1.3 out of 5 stars | 66 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of publication.
*Note (as of 6/20/2024): Recently, the Better Business Bureau shifted LHG’s A+ rating to “NR” (Not Rated). We reached out to a representative from LHG for comment, and they shared this statement: “Despite the BBB’s alert, our customer satisfaction levels remain by far the highest relative to our scale. Last month, we had the lowest percentage of customer cancellation requests in our entire history. On the BBB’s own platform, Liberty Home Guard has achieved a star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from nearly 2,500 reviews. For added context, the approximately 480 resolved complaints on Liberty Home Guard’s BBB profile equate to an extremely low fraction of a percentage relative to the size and scale of our total customer base. As we navigate this situation, which we believe will be resolved in time, we want to assure you that we remain committed to our customers and their satisfaction; they are the key stakeholders we orient all our efforts around.”
Liberty Home Guard is the only company on our list with a perfect claims process score, and it’s mainly because of their fast response times. Liberty’s average response time is 12 hours, which is a full 12 hours faster than the next fastest competitor (Cinch Home Services). The other competitors are even slower, so it really shows how much further ahead of the pack Liberty is when it comes to response times. Additionally, Liberty offers emergency services and has a slew of positive reviews that show how easy their claims process can be, so considering all these perks, we gave Liberty a 10 out of 10.
Liberty has a high transparency score because they have a list of standard exclusions, most of which you can find under the limitations and exclusions section of their contract. Liberty’s sample contract outlines all the details of your policy in clear terms, and at nine pages long, their document is shorter than a lot of competitors’ contracts. However, they don’t cover known or unknown preexisting conditions, which brought their score down to 9.3.
Exclusions
The following exclusions apply to all of Liberty’s plans:
- Any type of valve or leak
- Chimneys and exhausts
- Damage caused by improper installation
- Damage caused by natural disasters
- Damage caused by pests or mold
- Damage caused by rust or corrosion
- Disposal of old systems or appliances
- Glass parts
- Installation of systems or parts
- Known or unknown preexisting conditions
- Lighting
- Luxury or commercial-grade systems and appliances
- Poorly maintained systems or appliances
- Routine maintenance
- Solar systems
- “Smart” components and parts
It’s important to note that Liberty won’t cover damage from natural disasters or secondary damage from roof leaks (mold, corrosion, etc.) since these damages can affect more than just your roof. However, the roof leak coverage will cover the source of the leak if it’s caused by normal wear and tear, like weathering or old age. For example, if a hurricane blows the roof off your house, that wouldn’t be covered by your home warranty policy, but it would likely be covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Likewise, if your roof has a simple leak during rainy weather, but the leaking water causes your washing machine to corrode and malfunction, your policy would cover the roof repairs, but not your washing machine, due to their “valve or leak” exclusion.
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Liberty allows customers to choose their own service technician, though they don’t advertise this feature in great detail. In most cases, you’ll have to get approval before using them, but Liberty does let you choose a service technician you trust instead of assigning you one you’ve never met. This is a benefit for policyholders because incompetent contractors are a huge problem in the industry, so choosing your own gives you more control over who repairs your items.
American Home Shield
4.3
Our Rating
American Home Shield (AHS) is a worthy alternative to Liberty Home Guard, mainly because of their high coverage limits and affordable monthly rates. American Home Shield offers $5,000 HVAC limits and $2,000 appliance limits on their ShieldGold plan, which, at $30 a month, is an absolute bargain. If you want higher payouts, you can always upgrade to the ShieldPlatinum plan to get $4,000 in appliance coverage limits.
It’s worth noting that American Home Shield does offer discounts for veterans and active military personnel, though the details are vague and may vary based on where you live. I was offered a $35 annual discount over the phone, which was roughly a 10% discount on the annual ShieldGold price. The call I had with my customer representative was pretty confusing, especially considering she couldn’t give me much information when I asked her to elaborate on the details of the discount, but she did say the discount was valid for whatever plan I chose. Thirty-five dollars isn’t much, especially if you choose a pricier plan, but it is something.
One detail that’s easy to miss is that American Home Shield covers damage caused by undetectable preexisting conditions, rust, and corrosion. Most home warranty companies normally exclude these damages, so the fact that AHS covers them is a big plus. Still, AHS has extremely mixed reviews, and it’s hard to trust a company when there’s so much conflicting information. If your main priority is reliability, I’d say you should look elsewhere. However, if you want some of the highest coverage limits in the industry for some of the cheapest rates, no other company on this list has a better value per dollar.
By far, my favorite thing about American Home Shield is their price-to-coverage limit ratio. AHS has some of the cheapest rates in the industry, especially for their ShieldSilver ($17.49) and ShieldGold ($30) plans, but they still offer $5,000 coverage caps for HVAC systems on every plan. That means that you can spend less than $20 a month and still get better HVAC coverage than most competitors’ top-tier plans (Liberty Home Guard only offers up to $2,000 per item on their comprehensive plan). Additionally, they offer $4,000 appliance coverage limits on their Shield Platinum plan, so you can get even higher payouts if you upgrade your plan.
American Home Shield has extremely mixed reviews, so it can be hard to tell if their performance is generally good or bad. There are plenty of glowing reviews that make the company seem flawless, and countless others that are full of horror stories. AHS has the lowest customer reputation score on our list, and a lot of that is due to these complaints. Additionally, AHS’s prices vary greatly depending on where you live, meaning that they could be the most affordable option in one state and the most expensive in another. Since their reviews and prices are so inconsistent, I have a hard time trusting their service.
American Home Shield offers three plans, but they don’t offer an appliance-only plan, so you’ll have to cover at least some of your home systems if you choose American Home Shield. The ShieldSilver plan covers 14 of your home’s major systems and starts at only $17.49 in Baltimore, making it the most affordable home warranty for veterans on our list. However, the Shield Gold plan is $30 a month (with the 40% online discount) and covers a mix of systems and appliances, so it’s a great choice if you’re looking for better coverage at a modest price.
The ShieldPlatinum plan is especially pricey at $67.49 a month, so for most homeowners, I’d recommend you stick to the ShieldGold plan for less than half the price. American Home Shield only offers six add-ons, which is fewer than any other company on our list, but they’re still the most affordable option for veterans, so they’re worth considering if you want your dollar to go far.
| Plan | Monthly Cost* | Service Fee* | Available Discounts |
| ShieldSilver | $17.49 | $125 | None offered |
| ShieldGold | $30.00 | $125 | 40% off ShieldGold |
| ShieldPlatinum | $67.49 | $125 | None offered |
*AHS offers two service fee choices: $100 or $125. The monthly costs shown in the table above are for a $125 service fee. Choosing the $100 option will raise your monthly rate.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Baltimore, MD. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of publication.
Available Add-Ons
- Electronics protection plan (all plans): $14/month
- Guest unit (all plans): $6.99/month
- Pool and built-in spa equipment (all plans): $18/month
- Roof leak repair limit (included in the ShieldPlatinum plan but available as an add-on for others): $10/month
- Septic pump (all plans): $5.00/month
- Well pump (all plans): $8.00/month
American Home Shield only offers a few add-ons, but the electronics protection plan is a very rare option. It covers common items like laptops, TVs, video game systems, cameras, and more. However, it’s pretty expensive at $14/month, so I wouldn’t recommend it for most homeowners. Still, be sure to read a sample contract to see if it would be worth it for your situation.
American Home Shield is the cheapest home warranty provider on our list, but their monthly prices can sway by upwards of $30 or more, depending on where you live, which hurts their overall score. The ShieldSilver plan can get as low as $7.49 a month in some areas and as high as $67.49 a month in others, so their affordability score isn’t as high as it would be if their prices were more consistent.
American Home Shield has rates as low as $17.49 in Baltimore, making them the cheapest home warranty for veterans. However, in Boston, MA, that same plan jumps up to $47.49 a month.
Here’s my quote in Baltimore:
And here’s my quote in Boston:
Your rates will vary depending on where you live, but the ShieldGold plan is still 40% off in all locations, making it my top choice from AHS. With all the promotional deals and price hikes considered, we gave American Home Shield a 7.5.
Be sure to read the entire American Home Shield sample contract for special notes that may affect your overall rate or payout.
American Home Shield’s overall customer experience is a mixed bag, considering many of their reviews put them in a negative light. Still, AHS has made a lot of strides to correct any mistakes they’ve made. A representative from AHS reached out to every negative review I saw on Google, offering to look into customers’ claims. Here’s one of their responses:
“Thank you for the feedback. We’d like to apologize for not meeting your expectations. Do you still need assistance with an open claim? If so, please email us at socialmedia@ahs.com with your name, full property address, and the claim number. We’ll be happy to investigate this further.”
On Trustpilot, their response is similar:
“I’m so sorry for the problems you’ve been experiencing. Please reach out to us at trustpilot@ahs.com so we can discuss this further.”
These messages may just be an attempt for the company to save face, but the fact that they work hard to resolve any issues shows their dedication to good customer service. Because of this, we gave AHS an 8.1.
American Home Shield has the lowest company reputation score on our list, and it’s mainly because of their negative customer reviews. Every company has a mix of good and bad reviews, but AHS has more inconsistencies than the rest. Their customers all had very different experiences, so it’s hard to tell whether their service is trending upward or not.
One Trustpilot reviewer said:
“I do not understand how this company receives the (good) reviews it has. I have paid over 8K over the years for their lousy service. [They] never cover what they say, and [they] take forever to repair when they do.”
Another said:
“The positive reviews on here are few. That’s because most experiences with AHS are negative. They oversell and under-deliver. Reputable service companies won’t put up with them.”
On the other hand, AHS commonly receives praise for its high payouts and quick responses. One customer said:
“My experience has been awesome. Requests for service are processed immediately and you hear from the servicing provider within 24 hours.”
Another said:
“When the stove panel on my stove at my vacation home was discontinued, they provided me a new comparable stove at no cost. I am extremely pleased with the outstanding support I have received from this company!”
As you can see just from these few examples, American Home Shield reviews seem to contradict each other in many circumstances. However, AHS still has plenty of good reviews and a B rating on BBB, so we gave them a 7.3.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B / 2.1 out of 5 stars | 11,081 |
| Trustpilot | 2.2 out of 5 stars | 5,318 |
| 4.5 out of 5 stars | 33,196 | |
| Yelp | 1.1 out of 5 stars | 1,284 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of publication.
American Home Shield has impressively high coverage limits and affordable monthly rates, but they also have a lot of customer complaints about denied claims. One Trustpilot reviewer stated:
“Listen to the bad reviews and stay away from this company. I’ve been paying monthly premiums for so long, and the first time I had an issue in my home they refused to cover a $300 repair for my dishwasher.”
Similarly, another customer on Google complained about the claims process in general:
“Every time I tried to get in touch with American Home Shield, I was met with confusion and a lack of information. They kept telling me they were waiting on parts and couldn’t provide any additional details. When I asked to speak to a manager, I was told no one was available. They promised to have an escalation manager call me back, but that never happened.”
Still, there are plenty of reviews that mention claims being accepted. One Google reviewer said:
“I have been an American Home Shield customer for less than one year. I have used their services three times and it saved me a significant amount of money. They have sent competent, professional providers to do repairs in a timely manner.”
AHS has very mixed reviews, so it’s hard to get a grasp on how smooth their claims process is. Still, they have high coverage limits ($5,000 for HVAC and $4,000 for appliances), so we gave American Home Shield an 8.0.
American Home Shield has one of the highest transparency scores on our list because of their limited exclusions and coverage for things like unknown preexisting conditions, rust, and corrosion, which you can find under the “What are Covered Breakdowns?” heading in American Home Shield’s sample contract. The full list of exclusions is under the heading “What are the general limitations and exclusions that apply to your coverage?” Most other competitors list these damages as exclusions, so AHS has fewer exclusions to worry about during the claims process, raising their score to 9.4.
Exclusions
- Acts beyond our control (earthquake, storms, mud, fire, etc.)
- Flues, chimneys, fireplaces, and exhaust lines
- Hazardous materials
- Improper capacity
- Items covered by other insurance or warranty
- Known preexisting breakdown
- Manufacturer or government recalls
- Misuse or accidental acts
- Multimedia centers
- Outdoor kitchens
- Power and fuel sources
- Routine maintenance
- Smart home systems
- Special systems (such as radon mitigation systems and gas detection systems)
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
American Home Shield ranks in the middle of our list for their flexibility in service providers because they don’t let policyholders select their own technicians freely, but they do allow them to pick from a designated list of technicians. This is partially beneficial because you can still research your options and choose the one that seems the most trustworthy. Still, you can’t pick just any contractor you want, so we gave American Home Shield a 5.0 out of 10.
AFC Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
AFC Home Warranty is a unique provider because they allow members to choose their own service technicians. Most other providers don’t allow this at all, and the ones that do normally make you get approval before choosing your own technician, so this is a huge perk for homeowners who want to be in control of who comes to service their items. Best of all, the process is simple, and there aren’t any hoops to jump through, which is a big win for AFC. They also offer a lifetime workmanship guarantee, which ensures your repairs last for the entire length of your contract. Once they fix an item, if it breaks again, they’ll fix it for free. This guarantee isn’t foolproof, as it only applies to the specific components in your items, not the items as a whole, but it’s still a policy that helps give you more security in your repairs.
AFC’s member benefits are also a huge perk and can help you get discounts or free services on auto insurance, provide guidance with their Home Security Concierge, and even help protect your electronics with high-quality coverage from Jacana. These added benefits aren’t offered by other home warranty providers, so be sure to visit AFC’s website or talk to a representative to see what connections you can gain from a policy with AFC.
AFC’s biggest pitfall is that they don’t offer emergency services. Every other provider on our list offers emergency services, so it’s a big downside, especially since many malfunctions to major home systems are emergencies. If you can’t wait for AFC to take action, you may need to pay out of pocket to get your item fixed immediately so it doesn’t cause any more damage to your home, which can add to your overall expenses. Also, AFC’s Diamond plan is very pricey and isn’t practical for most homeowners, especially those on a budget. Still, the Platinum Plan is a great bargain for comprehensive coverage at $54.58 a month (in Baltimore), so I’d recommend readers start their search there.
The main feature I like about AFC Home Warranty is that they let members choose their own technicians. If you have a local technician that you trust, this feature is indispensable. There are countless complaints in the home warranty industry about technicians who side with the warranty provider, leaving you to foot the bill. With the ability to choose your own provider, you can have the peace of mind of knowing that you’re working with someone you trust. Additionally, AFC has a lifetime workmanship guarantee, which means that if one of your covered items breaks, AFC will cover the parts and labor for the entirety of your plan if the same component breaks again. Most other companies only offer a 30-day or 60-day guarantee, so AFC’s lifetime guarantee can help save you a lot of money in the long run.
AFC Home Warranty doesn’t offer emergency services, and while that may not seem like a deal-breaker, it’s a big factor to consider. Every other company on our list offers emergency services, so AFC can’t match their level of service. Most of the time, when you have a plumbing malfunction or an HVAC failure in extreme temperatures, getting those systems fixed is an emergency situation. With AFC, you’ll have to wait for their average response time of 24 to 48 hours for service, which is not ideal.
AFC Home Warranty is the only company on this list to offer four plans instead of three, giving homeowners more options to cover their home systems and appliances. The Silver Plan is a bit pricey for an appliance-only plan, so I recommend readers check out the Gold and Platinum plans instead. Likewise, the Diamond Plan costs more than $30 a month more than the Platinum Plan. However, the only additional items it covers (shown in the screenshots below) are electronics, exterior sewer lines, and exterior water lines, which aren’t very practical given the steep price increase. Because of that, I wouldn’t recommend it for most homeowners. All things considered, the Platinum Plan ($54.58) is my top choice from AFC Home Warranty, covering a mix of 18 major appliances and home systems.
| Plan | Monthly Cost* | Service Fee* | Available Discounts |
| Diamond Plan | $89.17 | $75 – $125 | $100 off plus free roof leak protection applied at checkout |
| Platinum Plan | $54.58 | $75 – $125 | $100 off plus free roof leak protection applied at checkout |
| Gold Plan | $49.75 | $75 – $125 | $100 off plus free roof leak protection applied at checkout |
| Silver Plan | $35.25 | $75 – $125 | $100 off plus free roof leak protection applied at checkout |
*Monthly cost figures provided include the discounted rate offered at the time of writing. AFC Home Warranty offers three service fee choices: $75, $100, or $125, which you get to choose between during your quote process. The monthly costs shown in the table above are for a $125 service fee. Choosing the $100 or $75 options will raise your monthly rate.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Baltimore, MD. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of publication.
Available Add-Ons
AFC Home Warranty offers the following add-ons for all plans. Note that the company’s add-ons are priced annually.
- Built-in microwave: $50/year
- Central vacuum: $25/year
- Double oven: $25/year
- Hot water dispenser: $25/year
- Ice maker: $25/year
- In-ground pool: $100/year
- In-ground pool and spa: $150/year
- Roof leak: $0 (this is a limited-time promotion, but it’s typically $25)
- Septic system: $50/year
- Stand-alone freezer: $25/year
- Sump pump: $35/year
- Well pump: $50/year
Exterior septic system coverage is particularly beneficial since not many companies offer outdoor coverage. Your septic system (if you have one) is a major part of your home’s infrastructure, so if you want security in case something goes wrong, I recommend you purchase additional coverage.
AFC Home Warranty has the second-highest affordability score on our list, and while they can’t match prices as low as American Home Shield’s ShieldSilver plan ($17.49), they do have reasonable rates overall. On average, AFC charges between $5 and $10 a month less than what industry leaders like Liberty Home Guard charge for their comparable plans. They also offer flexible service fees as low as $75, so it gives customers more control over how much they’re paying for a deductible and monthly rate. One downside is that AFC’s monthly premiums change based on location, so they may be more expensive than competitors where you live. Additionally, the Diamond plan is overpriced no matter where you’re located, which negatively affects their affordability score. With all these things considered, we gave AFC a 9.0.
AFC Home Warranty has the highest customer experience score on our list, mainly because they allow customers to choose their own technicians. Unlicensed or incompetent technicians are a big problem in the home warranty industry, so choosing your own can help give you peace of mind during repairs. One customer said:
“I was able to find my own local repair technician, and that helped the process considerably. I submitted the paperwork to receive reimbursement and was approved the same day.”
While technicians aren’t the only factor that goes into a customer’s experience, they are one of the biggest influences on a company’s general trustworthiness, so picking your own is a huge perk. Still, AFC’s average response time is 24 to 48 hours, which is longer than some competitors, so it brought their score down to 9.1.
AFC Home Warranty doesn’t have as many reviews as competitors, which means there’s less information to pull from when discerning their company reputation. The scores they have aren’t bad (at least not in the home warranty business), but they don’t seem to be nearly as popular as other companies on our list. For example, AFC only has 24 Trustpilot reviews, but every other company on our list has thousands (even tens of thousands). They also have 1,616 Google reviews compared to American Home Shield’s 33,196, which leads me to believe they have a smaller pool of customers.
Customers typically praise AFC for the ability to choose their provider, with one customer saying, “The ability to choose my own technician is very important to me. I know by doing so, I get the caliber of person that I always have dealt with for the maintenance of my equipment.”
Another said:
“When the tech got here, after diagnosing the problem, he called them and got approval for the full amount. He did the work, I paid him, and they will be sending me a check for the full amount. So easy! Great customer service.”
However, most complaints were about denied claims and expenses. One customer on Google said:
“Every service request we’ve done has either been denied or had minimal pay on it. Absolutely ridiculous!”
One particularly harsh review said:
“After tallying up the monthly fees, replacement costs, and deductibles, it’s clear as day: this so-called “home warranty” only drained my wallet further. Spare yourself the headache and avoid this scam.”
While there are some complaints, their policy of letting customers choose their own technician is a huge perk, so we gave them a score of 8.0.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B / 2.28 out of 5 stars | 151 |
| Trustpilot | 3.0 out of 5 stars | 24 |
| 3.7 out of 5 stars | 1,616 | |
| Yelp | 1.9 out of 5 stars | 339 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of publication.
AFC Home Warranty has the lowest claims process score on our list because they don’t offer emergency services. Every other provider on our list provides emergency services, so it’s a big downside that AFC doesn’t. If you have a major plumbing issue or lose heat in the middle of winter, these are likely emergencies, so it’s important to get them fixed immediately. AFC does have some claims process perks, like their lifetime workmanship guarantee and high coverage limits, but because they don’t offer emergency services, it brought their score down to 6.0. It’s important to note, though, that you can call any licensed, insured technician for emergency services and AFC will cover the repair, subject to contract conditions as usual.
AFC Home Warranty ranks in the middle of our list when it comes to transparency, and part of that is because they have slightly more exclusions than some competitors. AFC Home Warranty’s sample contract outlines their exclusions under the “Limits of Liability” section, and they’re all fairly standard. However, their contract is a bit wordier than those of some competitors, and they don’t cover rust, corrosion, or unknown preexisting issues, which brought AFC down to 9.0.
Exclusions
- Accidents
- Acts of God
- Chemical or sedimentary build-up
- Collapsed ductwork
- Cosmetic defects or routine maintenance
- Electrical shorts or power surges
- Electronic or computerized energy management
- Failure due to excessive or inadequate water pressure
- Failure to clean or maintain as specified by the equipment manufacturer
- Fire, freezing, or electrical failure
- Hazardous or toxic materials
- Known or unknown preexisting conditions
- Lighting and application management systems
- Lightning, mud, or earthquake damage
- Missing parts
- Misuse or abuse
- Pest damage
- Repairs related to costs of construction, carpentry, or other incidental costs
- Rust or corrosion
- Structural changes
- Storms
- Secondary damage from a noncovered item
- Upgrades, components, or parts required due to incompatibility with the replacement system
- Water damage
It’s important to note that AFC Home Warranty doesn’t cover damage from failing to clean or maintain your items. If you’re a veteran who’s been wounded in battle and you don’t have the mobility to clean all your home systems, this exclusion could be troublesome. It’s not a deal-breaker, but be wary before buying.
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
AFC Home Warranty has a perfect score for their flexibility in service providers because they allow policyholders to choose their own service technicians. Better yet, the process is very simple, and there isn’t any red tape to deal with — just select the technician you want, and you’re good to go. This is great for policyholders because they can choose someone they trust to fix their items instead of having to work with a sub-par technician out of necessity.
First American Home Warranty
4.3
Our Rating
First American Home Warranty (FAHW) is a great choice for coverage because of their protection guarantee (shown in the image below). If they can’t repair your system, they’ll replace it for free, regardless of how much it costs. While there are bound to be complications due to exclusions and legal loopholes in your contract, this is still a very helpful policy that could save you thousands in replacement costs. First American’s appliance coverage limits are also very high, with a limit of $3,500 per appliance, making it one of the best home appliance insurance companies in the industry. You can get these coverage limits even on their most affordable plans, so it’s very good value for the money.
However, First American doesn’t offer discounts for veterans or active military personnel, and the discounts they do offer are only over the phone. This makes it difficult to access deals because most people like shopping online instead of taking the time to call a representative. Still, it could be worth it to make the call in order to get a better monthly rate. If you’re not sure where to start your search for coverage, I recommend readers check out FAHW’s Essential plan. It covers all major appliances and systems for less than $50 a month, which makes it one of the most budget-friendly comprehensive plans on our list.
The thing I like most about First American Home Warranty is that they don’t have any pre-set coverage caps for built-in systems. I talked with a First American representative over the phone, and he confirmed that there are no predetermined coverage limits for major home systems like HVAC, as demonstrated by the protection guarantee in the image above. He told me that if one of your systems malfunctions, they’ll try to repair it, and if they can’t, they’ll replace the whole system at no charge. No other home warranty provider on our list offers this type of guarantee, so it’s a very valuable perk. Additionally, First American covers up to $3,500 per appliance in its plans, and while that’s not quite as impressive as their unlimited coverage for home systems, it’s significantly higher than the industry average of $2,000. If you want to make sure your items are 100% covered in the event that you need a full replacement, First American should be your top pick.
My biggest complaint is that First American Home Warranty doesn’t have nationwide availability, so you won’t be able to get coverage if you live in AK, CT, DE, HI, IL, LA, ME, MA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, RI, VT, or WI. Additionally, First American has had their fair share of bad press in recent years.WREG News Channel 3 covered a story where First American failed to fix a woman’s heater, and she went without heat for months. Fortunately, First American corrected their mistake and fixed her heater within a few days of the news outlet reaching out to them. Still, they have more negative reviews than I would like, so their quality control could be improved.
First American Home Warranty’s plans all have a mixture of appliances and home system coverage, so you can’t just cover one without the other. The Premium Plan is likely overkill for most homeowners, and the Starter Plan is a bit pricey for something that doesn’t cover AC or laundry appliances, so I recommend readers start by checking out the Essential Plan. For just $50 a month, you can cover all major home systems and appliances, which is a great deal. However, First American has no specific discounts for veterans or active military customers. Additionally, they don’t run many advertised discounts. Promotional deals are only available over the phone, so if you want to get a discount, you’ll have to call and speak to a representative. These deals are time-sensitive, so they can change at any moment.
| Plan | Monthly Cost* | Service Fee* | Available Discounts |
| Starter Plan | $42.00 | $125 | None offered |
| Essential Plan | $50.00 | $125 | None offered |
| Premium Plan | $64.00 | $125 | None offered |
*First American Home warranty offers three service fee choices: $75, $100, and $125. The monthly costs shown in the table above are for a $125 service fee. Choosing the $100 or $75 options will raise your monthly rate.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Baltimore, MD. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of publication.
Available Add-Ons
The following add-ons are available for all of First American Home Warranty’s plans:
- Additional refrigeration: $4.17/month
- Additional refrigeration 2: $4.17/month
- Additional refrigeration 3: $4.17/month
- Central air conditioning (electric): $8.33/month
- First American advantage: $0.00/month (only for Essential and Premium plans)
- HVAC tune-up: $2.08/month
- Limited roof leak: $8.33/month
- Pool/spa equipment: $20.83/month
- Pool/spa equipment 2: $20.83/month
- Septic tank pumping/system: $7.08/month
- Water softener: $7.08/month
- Well pump: $7.08/month
The add-on I find most useful is the HVAC tune-up coverage. It’s very affordable at $2.08 a month, which is a small price to pay to keep your expensive heating and cooling systems running well throughout the entire year.
First American may not have prices as low as some competitors’ plans, but they still have the highest affordability score on our list because of their reasonable everyday prices and flexible service fees. First American offers three service fee options as low as $75, which is cheaper than what most competitors offer.
However, the Starter Plan doesn’t cover many essential appliances, so I wouldn’t recommend it. Likewise, the Premium Plan costs $14 more than the Essential Plan to cover additional items (like faucets, garbage disposals, and hot water dispensers) that don’t quite justify the price point, so I wouldn’t recommend that either. The Essential Plan is my top pick from First American because it covers all major appliances and systems for $50 a month, which is less than most companies’ comprehensive plans.
Still, First American’s prices change based on location and can even change from day to day in the same area, so be wary of that cost variance. Be sure to read the entire First American sample contract to learn the terms and conditions before buying. You can compare the rates and coverage options below.
First American Home Warranty ranks in the middle of our list when it comes to their customer experience score. Most customers were happy with their overall experience, but many complained about slow response times and poor phone communication. One customer said:
“We are in the midst of waiting on our HVAC to be fixed. It’s now been out for 7-10 days. It took 2-3 days to get a call back from anyone.”
Another said:
“Unfortunately, this company aims to profit off customers’ inability to waste time waiting on the phone for ineffective reps that parrot trained responses aimed at taking advantage of their customers.”
Complaints like these are common in the industry, but since there are a lot of negative reviews for First American, it brought their score down to 7.8.
First American Home Warranty has the second best score for company reputation on our list. Of their reviews on Trustpilot, 62% were 5 star, which is very impressive for this industry. However, most of their reviews on Google were 1 star, which is concerning. Most customers praised First American for their reliability and their simple claims process. One customer said:
“I discovered a leak in my hot water heater and placed a call for service. A technician came out the following morning and determined that the necessary repairs were covered … The repairs were approved, and two days later, a local plumber arrived and installed a new, same-quality water heater and completed my selected upgrades.”
Another customer covered both the good and the bad in her experience by saying:
“I received a replacement refrigerator. The only reason why I did not give this a five star [review] was the back-and-forth of me constantly having to beg someone to call me to keep me updated on what was going on.”
Similarly, most customer complaints were about long wait times, bad communication, and sub-par contractors. One customer said:
“I would like to start by saying this is the worst experience I have ever had with a company in my life. For starters, they send people who are not certified and/or licensed to your home. I have been working on a claim for about two months for my air-conditioning. Just last week, a contractor was finally sent out and brought the units we need. He told me out of his own mouth that the holdup was because he didn’t have a truck to pick them up, which was a huge red flag!”
Still, First American has replied to 98% of their negative reviews on Trustpilot, so it’s great that they work hard to ensure that customers are satisfied. Considering their wide span of reviews, we gave First American an overall score of 8.7.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B / 1.77 out of 5 stars | 1,865 |
| Trustpilot | 4.1 out of 5 stars | 13,878 |
| 2.8 out of 5 stars | 2,640 | |
| Yelp | 1.1 out of 5 stars | 1,908 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of publication.
First American Home Warranty lets you submit claims online or over the phone 24/7, and they have great coverage limits ($3,500 for appliances and no predetermined limit for home systems), so their payouts are much higher than those of some other competitors. On the other hand, their typical response time is around 48 hours, which is slower than most of the other companies on our list. For example, Liberty Home Guard has an average response time of 12 hours, so First American isn’t the best choice if you want quick responses to all your claims. Considering all these factors, we gave First American Home Warranty an 8.0.
First American has the highest transparency score out of all the providers on our list, meaning their contract language is the easiest to understand of all companies on our list. FAHW’s sample contract outlines their exclusions under the “Limits of Liability” section, and they use very clear language to show what is and isn’t covered. Best of all, their entire contract is only four pages long, so it’s much more compact compared to those of competitors. They also cover conditions you’re unaware of, which can include rust, corrosion, sediment, and problems resulting from lack of maintenance, so there’s less to worry about when it comes time to make a claim.
Exclusions
First American Home Warranty has the following notable exclusions:
- Chimneys
- Collapsed or broken lines
- Cosmetic defects
- Damage from pests
- Damage from weather, theft, or smoke
- Glass doors
- Knobs
- Low-voltage electrical systems
- Plumbing stoppages caused by foreign objects
- Roots
- Rotisseries
- Solar systems
- Space heaters
- Water heater storage tanks
However, First American covers some of these exclusions (like knobs and dials) in their Essential and Premium plans.
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
First American has the lowest score on our list for their flexibility in service providers (tied with Cinch Home Services), mainly because they don’t allow customers to choose their own service technician or even pick from a list of pre-approved technicians. Instead, they assign customers technicians based on their location and availability. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but if you value having control over who repairs your home appliances and systems, you won’t be able to do that with First American Home Warranty.
Cinch Home Services
4.1
Our Rating
Cinch Home Services is one of the most unique home warranty providers on our list because they operate differently than most competitors. Cinch uses $10,000 annual coverage limits instead of individual item limits, which could work to your benefit if you only have a few claims in a year since it’ll leave you more money to use per claim. Unlike other companies, Cinch covers unknown preexisting conditions, rust, and corrosion, which gives you way less red tape to worry about when you’re making a claim. These are very common exclusions, so it really does mean a lot that Cinch covers them.
One of the biggest differences between Cinch and their competitors is that they offer benefits for homeowners who don’t make any claims within their first one-year contract term. They’ll provide one free air conditioning and/or heating system maintenance visit for up to $100 if you don’t make any claims during your first year. In other words, you actually get rewarded for not making any claims. No other company can compete with those benefits because no one on our list even offers perks like that. Cinch does have some downsides, like the fact that they have expensive service fees (up to $150) and they offer fewer discounts than the competition, but these are small inconveniences, not red flags.
Cinch doesn’t offer any discounts specifically for veterans, but if you call and speak to a representative, they can help find the best discount for you. My representative offered me a free surge-protection bundle (one year of Cinch’s Surge Plan for free) for all my appliances and systems and two months of free coverage, which is definitely a helpful discount. Even though there are no any discounts for military personnel, I was impressed with Cinch’s helpfulness over the phone. I had a much better experience with their representatives than with agents from other companies on this list.
Cinch Home Services offers $10,000 annual coverage caps and coverage for unknown preexisting conditions, both of which are rare in the home warranty industry. Most providers in the industry set individual coverage caps for items, but Cinch uses one annual coverage cap for all of your covered items, which could benefit you since individual coverage limits can often be low. Also, Cinch covers unknown preexisting conditions, which are a common exclusion in the industry. These types of preexisting conditions crop up all the time, and the claims get rejected by other companies frequently, so it’s nice that Cinch covers them. Cinch also has a 180-day workmanship guarantee and a B+ Better Business Bureau rating, which both give you more peace of mind when choosing coverage.
All the issues I have with Cinch are pretty minor, but my biggest one by far is their service fees. Cinch’s service fees top out at $150, which is almost double what some other companies charge. Also, Cinch doesn’t offer many promotional deals, so it’s hard to lower your price if you get a quote that’s expensive. Lastly, Cinch only offers six add-ons, which doesn’t offer much in terms of customization. These issues are mainly inconveniences, but they could be a deal-breaker if you need more options for your coverage.
Cinch Home Services has the lowest plans and coverage score on our list, but it’s mainly because of their lack of add-ons. Cinch only offers six add-ons, which is fewer than any other company on our list. However, the plans themselves are very straightforward — there’s one for appliances, one for home systems, and one for both. The Complete Home plan is a great bargain at just under $55 a month, but this rate comes with a $150 service fee. Choosing a lower service fee will increase your monthly rate, which could already be higher than expected, depending on where you live. Still, if you can find a good deal on a plan, it’s worth checking out. Cinch’s small number of add-ons brought their score down to 6.7 for their plans and coverage.
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Service Fee* | Available Discounts |
| Appliances | $38.99 | $150 | Choose monthly billing and get your first two months free (online) |
| Built-in Systems | $43.99 | $150 | Choose monthly billing and get your first two months free (online) |
| Complete Home | $54.99 | $150 | Choose monthly billing and get your first two months free (online) |
*Cinch Home Services offers three service fee choices: $100, $125, or $150, which you get to choose from during your quote process. The prices shown in the table above are for a $150 service fee. Choosing the $125 or $100 options will raise your monthly rate.
Editor’s Note: The cost data mentioned in this article was sourced for a single-family, two-bedroom home under 5,000 square feet in Baltimore, MD. The cost data presented was accurate at the time of publication.
Available Add-Ons
Cinch Home Services offers the following add-ons for all its plans:
- Pool (heater included): $22.00/month
- Pool with spa (heater included): $22.00/month
- Premier upgrade package: $12.50/month
- Septic tank/pumping: $4.58/month
- Spa (heater included): $22.00/month
- Well pump: $12.50/month
The premier upgrade package is a unique option that provides additional coverage for permits, code upgrades, and more. No other company on this list offers it, and while it is pricey, it may be worth looking into if you’re worried about keeping your systems up to code.
First American Home Warranty offers the standard menu of three plans, but they all have a mixture of appliances and home system coverage, so you can’t just cover one of the other. It also gives the option to choose service fees of $75, $100, or $125, which gives you more control over your monte knobs and dials) Cinch Home Services has the worst affordability score on our list (tied with American Home Shield), mainly due to their high service fees. Cinch’s service fees are the most expensive on our list, ranging from $100 to $150, which (on the high end) is double what some other companies impose. You can choose between service fee options, but lowering your service fee will raise your monthly rate, so there are tradeoffs. As with some other companies on our list, Cinch’s prices vary greatly depending on your location, so they could end up being the most expensive option in your area, even though the rates in the chart above are reasonable. Still, Cinch’s monthly rates are actually quite good in most places, so we raised their score to 7.5.its Essential and Premium plans.
Cinch Home Services has the lowest customer experience score on our list (tied with Liberty Home Guard), and part of that is due to their customer service — a bit of a mixed bag since they have a lot of complaints, but there are just as many reviews that mention specific agents by name and thank them for turning their whole situation around.
For example, one customer on Google left an initial review that said:
“I’ve been with this company for years for my rental. The one time I actually need help with a big claim, they screw me with a big bill in the end. No longer will I use their services.”
But then, they updated their review later to say:
“I received a call from Wendy Dunn from customer relations. She was extremely helpful in getting more back from my replacement. I give her 5 stars for explaining limits and her kindness and compassion. This really helped a lot.”
In fact, there were multiple reviews that mentioned Wendy, and several others that mentioned other agents by name. From personal experience, I know that Cinch’s representatives are very informative and helpful over the phone. The agent I spoke to for this article gave me accurate information and was extremely transparent about the pros and cons of a home warranty plan. While Cinch’s general customer service may be hit-or-miss, certain members of their team go above and beyond to ensure a good customer experience, bringing their score to 7.5.
Cinch doesn’t have particularly impressive online reviews, but they’ve earned a B+ with the Better Business Bureau, giving them the highest BBB score on our list. Their 5-star and 1-star reviews are about evenly split on Google, which isn’t a great sign, but many customers praised Cinch’s quick service and payouts. One Google customer said:
“Cinch Home Warranty service is well worth the money. I filed a claim, and from the initial call to the completion of my repair, [the service] was fantastic … The company they used for the repair was quick and professional. It took about 10 minutes for the repairman to call Cinch and get the repair approved. From start to finish, it was about three days.”
On the other hand, most of the complaints were about claim denials, incompetent technicians, and long wait times. One customer said:
“I am now entering my third consecutive month without a washing machine. The company that came out to assess the machine misdiagnosed once, then ordered parts, and now those parts are broken … I called Cinch to try to ascertain what my options are, as I can’t keep living without a washer, and the customer service rep repeated that it’s up to the technician over and over … I’ve spent [so much] money now on the deductible and sending my laundry out that I could have bought a new machine out of pocket.”
Despite any complaints, many reviewers were able to get their issues resolved later by reaching out to the customer relations team. While their online reviews aren’t very impressive, Cinch works hard to resolve customer complaints, which brings their score up to 8.0.
| Rating Site | Rating | Number of Reviews |
| BBB | B+ / 1.12 out of 5 stars | 1,537 |
| Trustpilot | 3.8 out of 5 stars | 3,167 |
| 3.0 out of 5 stars | 2,685 | |
| Yelp | 1.0 out of 5 stars | 5 |
Editor’s Note: The ratings provided were accurate at the time of publication.
Cinch Home Services has the second-highest claims process score on our list, partially because they have a $10,000 annual coverage limit instead of individual item limits (with limited exceptions for certain items). Of course, just because you have $10,000 to spend for the entire year doesn’t mean Cinch will approve the full amount for a replacement, so it’s not foolproof. Still, Cinch has a fast 24-hour response time, 24/7 availability, and fee-free emergency services, all of which stand up very well to the competition. However, Cinch’s 24/7 availability doesn’t apply to all calls, just claims. If you want to call with a question about purchasing a new policy, you have to call during normal business hours. With these considerations, we gave Cinch a 9.0.
Cinch has the second-best transparency score on our list, mainly because of how clear their contract is. Cinch Home Services’ sample contract has a table of contents, which makes it much faster to skim through the dense contract details. They list their exclusions under the “General Exclusions and Limitations” section, and while it’s a long list, they’re very clear and specific. Most of the exclusions are standard across the industry, and none of them mention known/unknown conditions or rust/corrosion, so it’s very beneficial that they won’t penalize you for these common issues.
Exclusions
Cinch Home Services has the following exclusions on all its plans:
- Abuse
- Accidents
- Acts of God
- Animal, pet, and/or pest damage
- Casualty
- Fire
- Flood, smoke, earthquake, or freeze damage
- Improper installation
- Insurrection and riots
- Lightning strikes
- Missing parts
- Misuse and/or neglect
- Mold, mildew, mycotoxins, fungus, bacteria, virus, condensation, and/or wet or dry rot
- Nuclear explosion, reaction, radiation, or radioactive contamination
- Power failure
- Power surge
- Structural and/or property damage
- Vandalism or intentional destruction of property
- War and acts of terrorism
It’s important to note that Cinch doesn’t cover damage caused by neglect. This means that if you don’t regularly maintain your items and one of them breaks, the company may try to claim that your negligence caused the damage, leaving you to pay the bill. While this is unlikely, it is a possibility, so you should be aware of this legal trap ahead of time.
Editor’s Note: While this article highlights certain exclusions, it’s imperative for readers to review their contracts as the mentioned exclusions are not exhaustive, and additional exclusions may apply.
Cinch Home Services has the lowest score on our list for their flexibility in service providers (tied with First American Home Warranty). Much like First American, they assign contractors to their customers automatically and don’t allow them to choose their own service technicians. This can be a risky practice because some contractors are great, while others can be the reason for a lot of 1-star reviews. With Cinch, it’s up to the luck of the draw.
Calculate the Cost of a Home Warranty for Veterans
If you’re trying to figure out how much a home warranty will cost, Today’s Homeowner created a handy cost calculator to help you. Enter your monthly cost, service call fee, and expected number of claims below to estimate your annual home warranty cost.
| Appliance | Average Repair Cost | Average Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dehumidifier | $50–$200 | $1,300–$2,800 |
| Microwave | $50–$400 | $60–$2,000 |
| Dishwasher | $50–$500 | $400–$3,000 |
| Exhaust Fans | $16–$300 | $250–$950 |
| Electric Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Gas Range | $100–$500 | $230–$3,000 |
| Dryer | $100–$400 | $450–$2,300 |
| Oven | $100–$430 | $400–$3,000 |
| Washer | $50–$450 | $400–$2,300 |
| Freezer | $90–$500 | $160–$2,900 |
| Refrigerator | $40–$350 | $200–$5,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need a Home Warranty for Veterans?
Home service contracts are never required by law, but they can be beneficial, especially for veterans who were injured in action and aren’t able to fix their home systems and appliances themselves. Home warranties can cover a lot of the up-front costs of repairs and replacements, so they’re very useful if you don’t have thousands saved up for when disaster strikes.
How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost for Veterans?
The average cost of a home warranty for veterans is $50.17 a month, not including service fees or veteran discounts. To find out more about the costs associated with home warranties, check out our home warranty cost guide.
How To Save Money When Shopping for Home Warranties for Veterans?
I recommend veterans get quotes from multiple companies and talk to each one over the phone to see if they offer a military or veteran discount. Most of the time, these deals aren’t advertised, so you won’t know for sure unless you ask.
Is a Home Warranty Worth It for Veterans?
A home warranty is worth it for veterans because buying new home systems and appliances is expensive, so it helps to have a company covering most of the up-front cost in the event that you need a replacement. It can be difficult to know for sure if home warranties are worth it for your specific circumstances, but if you want some level of security so you have to pay less out of pocket, you may benefit from a home warranty policy.
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