Updated On

February 16, 2024

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    If you’re in the market for a home warranty, you’ve likely come across Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield (AHS). Both are top-rated home warranty providers that offer affordable coverage, comprehensive plans and 24/7 customer service. Keep reading to find out which provider has the best home warranty for you.


    Plans: Select Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield

    Select Home Warranty Coverage

    Select Home Warranty offers a Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care plan. The Bronze Care plan covers appliances, while the Gold Care plan covers home systems. The Platinum Care plan combines the coverage found in the Bronze and Gold Care plans and adds coverage for garage-door openers and plumbing stoppages.

    Additionally, Select Home Warranty offers free roof leak coverage and these optional add-ons: Central vacuum, lawn sprinkler system, pool, septic system, spa, stand-alone freezer, sump pump

    CoverageBronze CareGold CarePlatinum Care
    AC/cooling âœ“✓
    Ductwork âœ“✓
    Electrical system âœ“✓
    Heating system âœ“✓
    Plumbing system âœ“✓
    Water heater âœ“✓
    Cooktop✓ âœ“
    Dishwasher✓ âœ“
    Garbage disposal✓ âœ“
    Built-in microwave✓ âœ“
    Refrigerator✓ âœ“
    Stove/Oven✓ âœ“
    Clothes washer✓ âœ“
    Clothes dryer✓ âœ“
    Garage-door openers  âœ“
    Plumbing stoppages  âœ“

    American Home Shield Coverage

    American Home Shield also offers three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum. The ShieldSilver plan covers major home systems, while the ShieldGold plan covers a variety of systems and appliances. The ShieldPlatinum plan is American Home Shield’s most comprehensive plan, covering 23 items plus a free HVAC tune-up and roof leak repairs.

    In addition to these plans, American Home Shield offers five add-ons: Pool, spa, guest unit under 750 square feet, septic pump, well pump, electronics protection plan provided by Allstate Protection Plans (not available in CA)

    CoverageShieldSilverShieldGoldShieldPlatinum
    Roof leak repairs  âœ“
    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 âœ“✓
    Interior plumbing lines âœ“✓
    Toilets âœ“✓
    Faucets and valves âœ“✓
    Whirlpool tub motor and components âœ“✓
    Water heater âœ“✓
    Refrigerator âœ“✓
    Range/Cooktop âœ“✓
    Oven âœ“✓
    Dishwasher âœ“✓
    Built-in microwave oven âœ“✓
    Garbage disposal âœ“✓
    Instant hot/cold water dispenser âœ“✓
    Washer âœ“✓
    Dryer âœ“✓

    Home Warranty Resources


    Cost: Select Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield

    American Home Shield provides more coverage for your appliances and systems, but you’ll pay a slightly higher monthly rate for the added protection. Select Home Warranty’s plans are overall cheaper.

    All prices listed below are reflective of sample quotes our team received for a single-family home under 5,000 square feet. Because pricing may vary based on where you live and the plan you select, we recommend getting a free quote from each company for the most accurate pricing.

    Select Home Warranty Cost

    PlanPlan Pricing
    Bronze Care$41 per month
    Gold Care$41 per month
    Platinum Care$47 per month

    Select Home Warranty also has a $75 service fee.

    American Home Shield Cost

    Plan$75 Service Fee$100 Service Fee$125 Service Fee
    ShieldSilver$39.99$29.99$24.99
    ShieldGold$49.99$39.99$34.99
    ShieldPlatinum$64.99$54.99$49.99

    American Home Shield allows you to choose between three service fees. The higher the service fee, the lower your monthly premium.


    States Served by Select Home Warranty & American Home Shield

    Select Home Warranty is available in 46 states, excluding Nevada, New York, Washington and Wisconsin. American Home Shield is available in 49 states, excluding Alaska.


    Service: Select Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield

    Both home warranty companies offer 24/7 customer service, have a network of trusted technicians to perform repairs and allow you to use an online portal to file claims.

    Select Home Warranty Service

    After purchasing your home warranty, there’s a 30-day waiting period before your policy kicks in and service begins. Service requests can be made 24/7 by using the online portal on Select’s website, emailing Select at claims@selecthomewarranty.com or by calling the customer service telephone number at 1-855-267-3532.

    Unlike American Home Shield, Select Home Warranty does not let you choose your own contractor for repairs. If a third-party contractor performs repairs on your broken system or appliance, Select will not reimburse you for the unauthorized repairs.

    American Home Shield Service

    American Home Shield has a 30-day waiting period before you can file a claim—this prevents customers from using their home warranty on a system or appliance that was already broken when the warranty term started. You can file a claim on your American Home Shield portal 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    When you file a claim, American Home Shield promises to initiate service within 48 hours of receiving the claim. If you’d like to use your own service contractor for repairs instead of letting AHS appoint one for you, you can get your technician approved in advance and receive reimbursement for the repairs. To be approved by American Home Shield, your technician must be licensed and insured in your state.


    Our Verdict

    Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield are widely available across the country, and both offer comprehensive coverage at affordable prices. Both companies also offer around-the-clock customer service and have extensive networks of licensed contractors who can perform necessary repairs or replacements on systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear.

    A Select Home Warranty policy might be right for you if:

    • You’re on a tighter budget and are looking to maximize your access to exclusive discounts and seasonal savings opportunities
    • You’re prioritizing coverage specifically for your home’s appliances
    • You don’t live in WA, NV, WY, or NM

    An American Home Shield policy might be right for you if:

    • You’re interested in an electronic protection plan or unique coverage add-ons for guest units
    • You’re prioritizing coverage specifically for your home’s systems and would benefit from an unlimited annual payout allowance for all covered systems
    • You don’t live in Alaska

    Select Home Warranty customers will find more affordable plans and more options for add-on coverage, while American Home Shield customers will enjoy more comprehensive coverage and flexible service fee options. We ultimately recommend getting a free quote from both companies to compare plan pricing and coverage in your area.


    FAQs about Home Warranties

    What is a home warranty?

    A home warranty is a policy that protects you from paying for repairs or replacements on your home’s most important items when they break down due to normal wear and tear. You pay a monthly rate to your home warranty provider and receive coverage when covered items unexpectedly fail. When you file a claim with the company, you’ll pay a service call fee that usually ranges from $65–$125 to an approved technician at the time of repairs.


    Which home warranty company is the best?

    Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield are two of the best home warranty providers in the industry. While Select has affordable plan prices and is a great choice for shoppers on a budget, American Home Shield provides more coverage across its core plans. Get a free quote from both companies to compare coverage plans and pricing in your area.


    Does a home warranty include pool coverage?

    In general, yes. Most home warranty companies provide a coverage add-on for your pool. Select Home Warranty’s pool add-on covers the pool’s pumping system, filtration system and heating system. It doesn’t cover portable pools, spas or hot tubs, computerized control boards, heat pumps or leaks.

    American Home Shield’s pool add-on covers above-ground components and parts of the heating, pumping and filtration system, including the pool sweep motor and pump, pump motor, blower motor and timer, plumbing pipes and wiring.


    Will my home warranty company repair or replace my broken items?

    If a repair can be made on your broken system or appliance, your company will opt for repairing the item over replacing it. If it’s not cost-effective to repair the item, your company will opt for a suitable replacement. In some cases, your home warranty provider may cover the cost of the replacement instead of replacing the item itself. Check your contract for more details.


    What does Select Home Warranty cover?

    Select Home Warranty reserves its coverage for appliance and system breakdowns caused by normal wear and tear over time. Items covered by Select include:

    Appliances Systems Add-on Coverage
    • Refrigerators
    • Stove/oven/cooktop
    • Built-in microwaves
    • Garbage disposal
    • Dishwasher
    • Clothes washer
    • Clothes dryer
    • HVAC
    • Ductwork
    • Plumbing
    • Electrical
    • Water heaters

     

    • Pools and spas
    • Septic systems
    • Sprinkler systems
    • Stand-alone freezer
    • Central vacuum
    • Well pumps
    • Sump pumps
    • Roof leaks

    What is the waiting period for Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield?

    Both Select Home Warranty and American Home Shield have 30-day waiting periods. After signing up for a service contract with either home warranty provider, you’ll be required to wait 30 days before you can file your first service request.



    Reviews of Other Home Warranties

    2-10 Home Buyers WarrantyAllied Home WarrantyAmazon Home Warranty
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    AWG Home Warranty DivisionChoice Home WarrantyCostco Home Warranty
    Fidelity National Home WarrantyFirst American Home WarrantyFixd Home Warranty
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    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Alora Bopray

    Alora Bopray

    Staff Writer

    Alora Bopray is a digital content producer for the home warranty, HVAC, and plumbing categories at Today's Homeowner. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of St. Scholastica and her master's degree from the University of Denver. Before becoming a writer for Today's Homeowner, Alora wrote as a freelance writer for dozens of home improvement clients and informed homeowners about the solar industry as a writer for EcoWatch. When she's not writing, Alora can be found planning her next DIY home improvement project or plotting her next novel.

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    photo of Roxanne Downer

    Roxanne Downer

    Editor

    Roxanne Downer is a commerce editor at Today’s Homeowner, where she tackles everything from foundation repair to solar panel installation. She brings more than 15 years of writing and editing experience to bear in her meticulous approach to ensuring accurate, up-to-date, and engaging content. She’s previously edited for outlets including MSN, Architectural Digest, and Better Homes & Gardens. An alumna of the University of Pennsylvania, Roxanne is now an Oklahoma homeowner, DIY enthusiast, and the proud parent of a playful pug.

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