If you’re in the market for a home warranty, chances are you’re familiar with Choice Home Warranty (CHW) and American Home Shield (AHS). Both are top-rated home warranty providers offering comprehensive coverage, 24/7 customer service and multiple plan options.
In this article, we’ll compare each company’s coverage, plan pricing and state availability, and we will also provide information on how to get a free quote from each provider. Keep reading to determine if Choice Home Warranty or American Home Shield is the best home warranty company for you and your home.
Today’s Homeowner works with an independent reviews team to create evidence-based research that helps our readers make informed decisions. The reviews are always independent. For transparency, we may be compensated if you purchase through a link.
Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield Plans
Choice Home Warranty offers two plans: the Basic Plan and the Total Plan. The Basic Plan includes an impressive range of appliances and systems for a base plan and covers items such as your heating system, plumbing system and dishwasher. The Total Plan covers everything in the Basic Plan but adds coverage for your laundry appliances, air conditioning and refrigerator. Here’s a list of items covered under each CHW plan:
Choice Home Warranty Coverage Comparison
| Coverage | Basic Plan | Total Plan |
| Heating system | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electrical system | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plumbing system | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plumbing stoppages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air conditioning | ✓ | |
| Water heater | ✓ | ✓ |
| Whirlpool bathtub | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refrigerator | ✓ | |
| Oven/Range/Stove | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cooktop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dishwasher | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in microwave | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clothes washer | ✓ | |
| Clothes dryer | ✓ | |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garage-door opener | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ceiling and exhaust fans | ✓ | ✓ |
Additionally, Choice Home Warranty offers 10 optional add-ons, including:
- Pool/Spa
- Additional spa
- Limited roof-leak coverage
- Stand-alone freezer
- Central vacuum
- Second refrigerator
- Well pump
- Septic system
- Sump pump
- Septic tank pumping
American Home Shield offers a bit more flexibility with its three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum. Here’s what’s covered under each plan:
American Home Shield Coverage Comparison
| 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 oven | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Instant hot/cold water dispenser | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Washer | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Dryer | ✓ | ✓ |
American Home Shield also offers five add-ons:
- Electronics protection plan, which covers TVs, laptops and smart home systems
- Pool or spa
- Guest unit
- Septic pump
- Well pump
Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield Cost
All prices listed 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.
Choice Home Warranty Cost
| Plan | Plan Pricing |
| Basic Plan | $46.83 per month |
| Total Plan | $54.75 per month |
Choice Home Warranty charges a $85 service call fee.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, call 929-400-6165 or fill out this easy online form.
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 |
With American Home Shield, you have the option to choose between three different service call fees: $75, $100 and $125. Your monthly payment will be lower if you choose a higher service call fee and vice versa.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, call 844-529-9298 or fill out this simple form.
Ultimately, American Home Shield’s ShieldSilver and ShieldGold plans are more affordable than Choice Home Warranty’s plans, but its ShieldPlatinum Plan is comparable to Choice Home Warranty’s Basic Plan and Total Plan.
States Served by Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield
Choice Home Warranty covers 48 states, excluding California and Washington, and American Home Shield covers 49 states, excluding Alaska.
Choice Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield Service
Both companies offer 24/7 customer service. With each company, you have the choice of utilizing an online portal or a customer service phone number to file claims.
Choice Home Warranty Service
Choice Home Warranty promises to initiate service with a contractor within four hours of your claim being filed. An approved technician will reach out to you with their name and phone number within 48 hours of your initial claim.
All services have a 90-day guarantee for parts and a 60-day guarantee for labor. If you have a trusted repair technician you like working with, you can seek approval from Choice Home Warranty to use them prior to service instead of a contractor appointed by CHW. Choice Home Warranty will not pay for repairs made by unauthorized technicians.
American Home Shield Service
Similar to Choice Home Warranty, American Home Shield will try to send a technician out to your home within 48 hours of receiving your claim. American Home Shield has one of the largest networks of approved technicians among home warranty providers, but it also allows its customers to use their own repair technicians with approval from the company.
Third-party service providers must be approved by American Home Shield in advance of repairs if you want to be reimbursed for service. The providers must be licensed and insured in your state. All repairs are backed by a 30-day guarantee through AHS.
Our Verdict
Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield are two great options for home warranty providers. Both companies offer comprehensive coverage at a reasonable price with options for additional coverage. Choice Home Warranty’s customers will find more variety across add-on options, while American Home Shield’s customers will typically find more comprehensive coverage across core plans.
Ultimately, we recommend getting a free quote from both companies to weigh your coverage and pricing options.
For a free quote from American Home Shield, fill out this simple online form. To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, fill out this easy form.
Today’s Homeowner readers also have access to promotional deals from both American Home Shield and Choice Home Warranty. If you sign up today, you can save $50 on a policy from American Home Shield. Choice Home Warranty offers $50 off and one month of free service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a home warranty work?
A home warranty protects major home systems and appliances, such as your air conditioning, refrigerator and dishwasher, when they break down from normal wear and tear and prevents you from paying for expensive repairs out of pocket. With a home warranty, you pay a monthly payment between $40 and $60, and repairs to covered items will be partially or completely covered by your home warranty provider. Instead of paying for a repair out of pocket, you’ll only need to cover a small service call fee, which ranges from $65–$125 depending on your provider.
Which home warranty is the best?
Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield are two top-rated home warranty providers in the industry. While Choice’s combo plan may be a little more affordable than American Home Shield’s combo plans, American Home Shield provides more coverage options than Choice Home Warranty. We ultimately recommend getting a free quote from both companies to see which company best fits your budget and coverage needs.
What is a service call fee?
A service call fee is a small payment made to the technician dispatched to your house. Most service call fees range from $65–$125, which is much cheaper than the price of repairs without a home warranty.
Do Choice Home Warranty and American Home Shield cover air conditioning?
Yes, both companies cover air conditioning. Choice Home Warranty covers air conditioning in its Total Plan, and American Home Shield covers air conditioning in its ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum plans.
What does a home warranty cover?
A home warranty covers appliances and systems that break down due to normal wear and tear. In general, a home warranty won’t cover cosmetic damage or damage to parts that don’t affect the machine’s production. Check your contract for more details on coverage limits and exclusions.
