First American Home Warranty

When choosing a home warranty, several companies consistently receive high ratings and are widely used by homeowners for their coverage and service. These top brands offer various plans to protect essential home systems and appliances from unexpected repair or replacement costs.

Here are some of the best home warranty companies and why they are recommended:

• American Home Shield (AHS) is frequently cited as a top choice, especially for comprehensive coverage and protection for older systems and appliances. They offer generous coverage limits and often have no coverage limits for plumbing or electrical systems, which can help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for major breakdowns. AHS was also the leading choice in a 2026 nationwide survey, used by 41% of respondents.
• Cinch Home Services is often recognized for its affordability and strong workmanship guarantee, sometimes offering a $500 reimbursement for homeowners insurance deductibles with certain plans. They provide 24/7 service requests and are noted for their positioning around unknown pre-existing conditions.
• AFC Home Warranty stands out for its strong service guarantee, covering both parts and labor for the life of the contract, and for offering flexible plans, including options for systems, appliances, or a combination. They are also recognized for technician flexibility.
• Liberty Home Guard is highly rated for its customer support and extensive optional add-ons, allowing homeowners to customize their plans. It is often praised for quick service.
• First American Home Warranty is recommended for its competitive starter plans that offer comprehensive basic coverage for major appliances and systems, as well as for high-end items. Their plans can cover damages from lack of maintenance, rust, corrosion, and chemical or sedimentary build-up, which can be beneficial for older homes.
• Select Home Warranty is a good option for those seeking roof coverage and offers various plans to protect home systems and appliances.
• Choice Home Warranty is known for its comprehensive basic plan coverage and for offering good service at a competitive cost.
• 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty is noted for its enhanced coverage options, offering customizable plans with various add-ons.
• Old Republic Home Warranty is recognized for offering comprehensive coverage at a reasonable price, providing good value with low starting costs, flexible service fees, and generous coverage caps.

When selecting a home warranty, consider factors like coverage options, pricing (including monthly premiums and service fees), customer reviews, and the company's reputation for claims processing and customer service. Plans typically range from $47–$82 per month, with service fees usually between $75 and $125 per repair visit.

If you want the home warranty brands people actually use, the safest mainstream picks are American Home Shield, Liberty Home Guard, Cinch Home Services, Choice Home Warranty, and First American Home Warranty.

These companies show up repeatedly across recent 2026 buyer guides, with American Home Shield most often named for broad coverage, Liberty Home Guard for customization/service, Cinch for value or systems coverage, Choice for basic-plan appeal, and First American for appliance or roof-related coverage.

A practical way to choose:

If you want the shortest answer: American Home Shield is the most universally recommended “default” option, while Liberty Home Guard and Cinch are the most common alternatives people compare against it.

A few cautions before buying: rankings vary by what the reviewer values, and some sites prioritize price, others claims handling, add-ons, or customer satisfaction, so “best” is not the same across all lists.

This is a great question, but it comes with an important caveat: Home warranties are a highly localized and experience-dependent service. A company that is fantastic in Texas might be terrible in Florida due to different local contractor networks. There is no single "best" brand for everyone.

However, based on consumer reviews, Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, coverage options, and market share, here are the top 5 home warranty companies that people actually use, broken down by what they are best for.

1. American Home Shield (AHS) – Best for Comprehensive Coverage

Why people use it: AHS is the largest and most established provider in the US. Their biggest advantage is that they do not have a "workmanship" or "pre-existing condition" exclusion for systems that were functioning at the time of sign-up. This is rare in the industry.

• Best for: Older homes with unknown appliance history, or people who want the "Cadillac" plan.
• Key Plan: ShieldPlatinum (covers roof leaks, re-keying, and unlimited AC refrigerant).
• Downside: Higher premiums ($50-$80/month) and higher service fees ($75-$125 per visit).

2. Choice Home Warranty – Best for Budget & Marketing

Why people use it: They have the most aggressive advertising (you've likely seen them) and a very simple two-tier plan structure. They are often the cheapest option for basic coverage.

• Best for: First-time homeowners on a tight budget who need basic appliance and system coverage.
• Key Plan: Total Plan (covers both systems and appliances in one package).
• Popular Add-ons: Septic system, pool/spa.
• Downside: Lower coverage caps ($500-$1,500 per item) and stricter fine print on "pre-existing conditions."

3. First American Home Warranty – Best for Flexibility & Low Service Fees

Why people use it: They offer a very low service fee ($55 flat vs. the industry standard of $75-$125). They also allow you to choose your own contractor in many cases, which is a huge benefit if you have a trusted local repair person.

• Best for: Homeowners who want to pay less per visit (service call) and prefer to use their own repairman.
• Key Plan: Premier Plan