Last updated: October 4, 2026
This guide is independently researched by the HomeWarrantyScope Team. Read our Advertiser Disclosure to learn how we make money.
Choosing among the best home warranty companies means balancing price, coverage limits, and how a company actually handles claims — not just its advertised monthly rate. This guide compares the major national providers side by side, then breaks down what each one does best, so you can match a plan to your home instead of picking the first ad you see.
Best Home Warranty Companies: 2026 Comparison Table
| Company | Best For | Editorial Score |
|---|---|---|
| American Home Shield | ✓High coverage limits | 4.5/5 |
| Liberty Home Guard | ✓Customer service | 4.4/5 |
| Cinch Home Services | ✓Affordable coverage | 4.3/5 |
| AFC Home Warranty | ✓Plan flexibility | 4.2/5 |
| 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty | ✓New homeowners | 4.1/5 |
| Old Republic Home Protection | ✓Customer satisfaction | 4.0/5 |
We do not list monthly prices or service fees in this table because most companies do not publish them. Prices depend on your ZIP code, home size and plan, so always get a written quote. See what companies actually publish in our home warranty cost guide.
American Home Shield
American Home Shield — HomeWarrantyScope Editorial Score
★★★★★ 4.5/5
Coverage: 4.7/5 · Price Value: 4.0/5 · Customer Service: 4.3/5
Editorial score by the HomeWarrantyScope team, based on our review of publicly available plan terms, pricing, and coverage documents — not a paid placement or customer survey.
American Home Shield (AHS) is one of the best-known national home warranty companies. Its ShieldPlatinum plan offers higher coverage limits than its base plan; check the limit for each item in the contract before you buy. AHS does not require a home inspection before enrollment, which speeds up the signup process compared to some competitors.
Liberty Home Guard
Liberty Home Guard — HomeWarrantyScope Editorial Score
★★★★☆ 4.4/5
Coverage: 4.3/5 · Price Value: 4.2/5 · Customer Service: 4.6/5
Editorial score by the HomeWarrantyScope team, based on our review of publicly available plan terms, pricing, and coverage documents — not a paid placement or customer survey.
Liberty Home Guard is a newer name in the industry but scores well with us on customer service, based on our editorial review rather than a customer survey and a large network of pre-screened technicians. It offers optional add-ons for items such as pools and septic systems; confirm the current options and any workmanship guarantee with the company.
Cinch Home Services
Cinch Home Services — HomeWarrantyScope Editorial Score
★★★★☆ 4.3/5
Coverage: 4.5/5 · Price Value: 4.0/5 · Customer Service: 4.2/5
Editorial score by the HomeWarrantyScope team, based on our review of publicly available plan terms, pricing, and coverage documents — not a paid placement or customer survey.
Cinch stands out for building appliance and system coverage into every plan tier rather than gating core protection behind add-ons, and its 180-day workmanship guarantee on repairs is among the longest in the industry. It’s a strong fit for homeowners who want predictable, all-in-one coverage without piecing together riders.
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AFC Home Warranty
AFC Home Warranty — HomeWarrantyScope Editorial Score
★★★★☆ 4.2/5
Coverage: 4.0/5 · Price Value: 4.3/5 · Customer Service: 4.2/5
Editorial score by the HomeWarrantyScope team, based on our review of publicly available plan terms, pricing, and coverage documents — not a paid placement or customer survey.
AFC Home Warranty offers four distinct plan tiers plus one of the longer lists of optional add-ons in the industry, letting homeowners build a plan around exactly what their home needs. It also allows homeowners to choose their own licensed contractor in many cases, rather than requiring the use of an in-network technician, which is a point of flexibility not every competitor offers.
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty — HomeWarrantyScope Editorial Score
★★★★☆ 4.1/5
Coverage: 4.0/5 · Price Value: 4.0/5 · Customer Service: 4.2/5
Editorial score by the HomeWarrantyScope team, based on our review of publicly available plan terms, pricing, and coverage documents — not a paid placement or customer survey.
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty is a popular choice during real estate transactions, and it offers systems and appliance plans. It’s a natural fit for homeowners who just closed on a house and want strong protection against surprise mechanical failures in the first year.
Old Republic Home Protection
Old Republic Home Protection — HomeWarrantyScope Editorial Score
★★★★☆ 4.0/5
Coverage: 3.9/5 · Price Value: 4.2/5 · Customer Service: 3.9/5
Editorial score by the HomeWarrantyScope team, based on our review of publicly available plan terms, pricing, and coverage documents — not a paid placement or customer survey.
Old Republic Home Protection is a long-established name; we have not independently verified its claim-handling record. Its plans start at a higher monthly price than budget competitors, but that premium tends to come with fewer claim denials and a smoother repair experience.
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Best Home Warranty by Need: Who Each Company Fits
Use this table to jump to the company that matches your priority. Prices and fees come from our company reviews and published rate ranges.
| Company | Best for | Score | Full review |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Home Shield | High coverage limits | ★★★★★ 4.5 | — |
| Liberty Home Guard | Customer service | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | — |
| Cinch Home Services | Affordable coverage | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | — |
| AFC Home Warranty | Plan flexibility | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | — |
| 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty | New homeowners | ★★★★☆ 4.1 | — |
| Old Republic Home Protection | Customer satisfaction | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | — |
| Choice Home Warranty | Budget-minded buyers | ★★★★☆ 4.1 | ✓ Read review |
| America’s Preferred | Trading a lower fee for a higher premium | ★★★☆☆ 3.2 | ✓ Read review |
| Select Home Warranty | Promotional bundles with roof leak add-on | ★★★☆☆ 2.9 | ✓ Read review |
— = no dedicated review published yet.
Choice, Select and America’s Preferred: Quick Summaries
Choice Home Warranty
Pricing varies by plan and ZIP code; see our Choice review for what the company publishes. Our editorial score is 4.1/5; customer service response times and pre-existing condition denials are the most common complaints. Read the full Choice Home Warranty review.
Select Home Warranty
Select pricing and promotions vary by plan and ZIP code; check the current terms before you buy. It scores 2.9/5 with us, held back mainly by reported claim-denial complaints. See the full Select Home Warranty review.
America’s Preferred Home Warranty
Premiums and service call fees vary by plan; ask for a written quote. It scores 3.2/5 in our review. Read the America’s Preferred review.
What to Look for in a Home Warranty Company
- Coverage caps per item: check the maximum payout per system or appliance, since a low cap can leave you paying most of a major repair out of pocket even with a plan in place.
- What’s excluded: read the exclusions list closely — pre-existing conditions, improper installation, and lack of maintenance are common reasons claims get denied. The FTC’s consumer guidance on home warranties is a useful independent read before signing any contract.
- Service call fees: these vary by company and plan and apply every time a technician comes out, regardless of the repair cost.
- Response and dispatch times: ask how quickly a technician is typically dispatched after you file a claim, especially for essential systems like HVAC.
- Contractor network vs. your own contractor: some companies require you to use their network, while others (like AFC) allow you to choose your own licensed contractor in many cases.
- State-specific rules: home warranty regulation varies significantly by state — see our state guides for Florida, Texas, and Arizona for what’s different where you live.
Home Warranty Plan Tiers at a Glance
Beyond picking a company, most home warranty plans comparison decisions really come down to which tier you choose within that company — since the gap between a basic single-category plan and a fully-loaded combo plan can mean hundreds of dollars a year and very different coverage caps. Here’s how the plan structures compare across the providers above:
| Company | Plan Structure | Entry-Level Option | Top Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Home Shield | Multiple fixed plan tiers | Lower-cost systems or appliances plan | ShieldPlatinum — a higher-limit tier (check item limits in the contract) |
| Liberty Home Guard | One base plan + 30+ optional add-ons | Base systems or appliances plan | Fully customized plan with riders (pool, septic, and more) |
| Cinch Home Services | Multiple tiers, with appliance + system coverage built into every tier | Appliances-focused plan | Combo plan (systems + appliances together) |
| AFC Home Warranty | Four distinct plan tiers | Basic systems or appliances tier | Comprehensive combo tier with the most add-ons |
| 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty | Systems, appliances & combo tiers | Single-category plan | Combo plan |
| Old Republic Home Protection | Systems, appliances & combo tiers | Single-category plan | Combo plan |
Most providers follow the same broad pattern we cover in our home warranty cost guide: a systems-only tier, an appliances-only tier, and a combo tier that bundles both at a higher price. Some companies, like Choice Home Warranty, simplify this down to just two plans rather than a full tiered lineup — which can make comparing options faster, even if it means fewer customization options.
How Much Does a Home Warranty Cost?
Prices vary widely by company, plan and ZIP code, and most companies do not publish them. A separate service call fee applies each time a technician visits. For a full breakdown of what drives pricing up or down, see our complete home warranty cost guide.
Home Warranty Companies by State
Regulations, climate-driven coverage needs, and even typical pricing can vary by state. We’ve published in-depth guides for the states where these differences matter most:
- Best Home Warranty Companies in Florida
- Best Home Warranty Companies in Texas
- Best Home Warranty Companies in Arizona
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best home warranty company overall?
There’s no single “best” company for everyone — in our editorial scores, American Home Shield leads on coverage, Liberty Home Guard on customer service, and Cinch on built-in appliance coverage. The right choice depends on which systems and appliances matter most in your home.
Is a home warranty worth it?
It depends on your home’s age, the condition of its major systems, and your tolerance for surprise repair bills. See our full breakdown in Are Home Warranties Worth It?
How much does a home warranty cost per month?
Prices vary widely by company, plan and ZIP code, and most companies do not publish them. A separate service call fee is charged each time a technician is dispatched.
What’s the difference between a home warranty and homeowners insurance?
Homeowners insurance covers damage from sudden events like fire, storms, or theft. A home warranty covers the mechanical breakdown of systems and appliances from normal wear and tear — the two are separate products and most homeowners carry both.
Can I cancel a home warranty at any time?
Most companies allow cancellation at any time, though refund terms vary and some states set specific rules. Check our state guides above for details on your state’s requirements.
Ready to compare pricing directly? See our home warranty cost guide for a full pricing breakdown, or read Are Home Warranties Worth It? before you decide.