Top Home Warranty Companies of 2024: Reviews & Comparisons

What’s the best home warranty company?

There are a lot of options out there when choosing a home warranty. There are also a lot of things to consider.

To help you with your search, we’ve put together a shortlist of home warranty companies that have received higher marks and that we feel do an excellent job of providing coverage no matter your needs.

Methodology: How We Chose The Best Home Warranty Companies

When researching the best home warranty companies, we analyzed over 20 of the most popular home warranty companies. We spent hours reviewing each home warranty company, and while we looked at many factors, we focused mostly on the following factors:

• Home warranty plans and options
• Pricing
• Reputation and trustworthiness
• Customer reviews

Other Home Warranty Companies to Consider

Here are a few other home warranty companies that didn’t make our top 5 that you may still want to look into.

• The Home Service Club
• Landmark Home Warranty – (Only available in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.)
• First American Home Warranty
• AFC Home Club (America’s 1st Choice)

Like so many things in our lives, a home warranty is something that we don’t often think about until we absolutely need it. Sure, you have home insurance, maybe even flood insurance, but that only covers certain situations.

Homeowners Insurance

Homeowners or renters insurance can cover damage to your home from things like fire, theft, storms, and some natural disasters. In addition to your homeowners insurance plan, you can and should choose to purchase a home warranty to protect your belongings in a way that insurance lacks.

If you’ve ever purchased a large appliance, a computer, or even a television from a retailer, then you’re probably familiar with the concept of a warranty.

However, those are warranties sold at the time of purchase and cover only one product. The benefit of home warranty protection is that it can cover every product in your home and more.

Choosing a Home Warranty Plan

What a home warranty plan covers will depend on the plan you choose, and there are many to choose from. A home warranty can cover anything from your microwave oven to your plumbing and your electrical systems.

Deciding which plan is right for you will determine what items and systems it covers and how much it will cost. Typically, home warranties charge either a small monthly or annual fee that can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Home Warranty FAQ

What does a home warranty cover?

Home warranties can cover a whole range of systems and appliances within your home. You can decide how much you want to spend and determine what items will be covered by your home warranty.

Most home warranty companies break down their offerings into good, better, and best options. The good option, and least expensive, is one that covers most if not all of your appliances.

Major Home Systems

More expensive on an upfront basis are plans that cover major home systems. These home warranty plans cover the systems within your home. If you’re renting, this may not be of concern to you. However, if you own your home, you know that a plumber or electrician can cost a lot more than replacing your refrigerator.

If you’re less concerned with appliances and worried about what keeps your home humming along, then you may want to consider a system plan.

Appliances

Appliances like your microwave, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and often a lot more are covered by the best home warranty companies. These are great options for those who are renting or want to spend the least amount of money.

Systems & Appliances

The most expensive plans, of course, offer the most coverage. The best plans cover both systems and appliances. So while they’re the most expensive, they’re also the best value. Covering your systems and appliances together will typically save you around 20% to 30% of your total bill.

Basic plans from the best home warranty companies will cover the majority of systems and appliances in your home but don’t cover everything. If you have a pool, for instance, you may have to choose additional coverage.

Some home warranty companies even allow you to add coverage to cover your homeowners’ insurance deductible. Combining appliance and system coverage may also include these additions.

There are exclusions to what a home warranty will cover. Unfortunately, no plan is a blank check to have every item in your home replaced. These are repair plans and not replacement plans.

How much does a home warranty cost?

Home warranty pricing varies greatly depending on the coverage you choose, the home warranty company, and the area in which you live. In general, though, if you’re just covering appliances, expect to pay around $30 a month.

If you’re looking for only system coverage, you’ll probably pay around $35 a month. However, if you combine your coverage to include both systems and appliances, expect to pay around $45 per month.

Adding things not covered by a typical home warranty plan can also increase your monthly bill. If you have an atypical appliance or system, it’s possible that basic plans do not cover it. Not everyone has a swimming pool, a septic tank, a whirlpool tub, or a spa.

Check with your individual plan to ensure that all systems and appliances you want to have covered are actually included. If they aren’t, see if you can add them à la carte.

Service Fees

In addition to your monthly fee, you’ll also need to pay service fees for a service call. This cost can vary greatly.

Better home warranty companies offer plans that will cost you around $50 to $125 per repair based on the home warranty company, the plan, and the item that needs to be fixed. While this may seem like a lot, consider the cost of the average repair without a warranty.

What can you expect to pay without a home warranty?

The average repair cost of a refrigerator is $275 to $325. The igniter on an oven or range may only cost $110 to $200 to repair, but a control board could cost you more than $260.

Replacing a rubber gasket on your washer will set you back between $200 to $300. These expenses can quickly add up compared to the fee home warranty companies charge for a visit.

Bottom line: They’ll fix the issues with your current item but won’t give you a new one.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Pre-existing conditions are not covered either. This one should seem pretty obvious, but if one of your major appliances breaks, you can’t just sign up for coverage and expect to have it fixed.

While most companies will cover an unknown pre-existing condition, you can’t have an appliance covered if you or the home warranty provider knows that it’s already broken. This is why it’s a good idea to think about purchasing home warranty coverage before your appliances break.

Coverage Waiting Period

Most companies impose a 15 to 30 day waiting period before coverage can begin. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. For instance, if you have a home warranty that is ending soon, you may be able to begin on the date your coverage stops.

It’s important to read the fine print of your service contract. Each home warranty company will have very specific coverage details.

While all will most likely cover your refrigerator, not all of them will cover wear and tear on the gasket that seals it. Typically, the more expensive the plan, the more it covers, but this is not always the case.

What is the process for having an item repaired?

When something breaks, especially if you have a home warranty, you’ll want it fixed as quickly as possible.

Going without a microwave for a week or two may be acceptable, but if it’s your refrigerator, you may not be so patient. When an item malfunctions or breaks, you’ll need to contact your home warranty company’s customer service and explain the issue.

Make sure you report the problem as quickly as possible. The faster you make the call, the faster you’ll get an appointment and have your issue resolved.

Independent Contractors

The home warranty provider will most likely assign an independent contractor to inspect and repair the item. Obviously, system repairs can take longer and be more labor-intensive.

For example, replacing a part on your furnace is going to be a lot easier than repairing electrical wiring or plumbing inside your walls.

Depending on what is wrong, the contractor may have to order parts or return with specialized equipment. You’ll be required to pay a service fee for each item you wish to have repaired, but the contractor should ensure that the item returns to working order.

Workmanship Guarantee

Once you’ve had an appliance or system repaired, that item is covered under a workmanship guarantee. Think of it as a warranty within your warranty.

The home warranty provider guarantees the parts and labor of that particular repair for a specified amount of time. This is usually around 90 to 180 days after the repair. So, even if you cancel your plan, they will still cover the repair during that time.

Who should pay for a home warranty?

Many times the seller will buy a home warranty to make the purchase of the home more appealing. Sometimes a real estate agent will even purchase a home warranty as a courtesy to the clients they’re representing. However, buyers, sellers, real estate agents, and current homeowners can all buy a home warranty. It’s also important to note that buying a home warranty can be done at any time, before or after closing.

What should you look for in a home warranty company?

A home warranty can save you a lot of hassle and headaches, not to mention money, down the road—as long as you do your homework and think it through.

A home warranty covers a lot of things that homeowners insurance does not. Having peace of mind knowing that costly home repairs won’t spring up unexpectedly is a great feeling.

Choosing the right type of coverage for you is the next step. When you think about the type of coverage you want, think about the items you want to protect in your home.

Renters

If you’re just renting, then plumbing and electrical work is not a concern for you. Your homeowners insurance should cover things like theft and fire, but you still want to be covered when something breaks that you actually own. Choosing an appliance plan is probably the right option for you.

If you live in an older home that you own, a more comprehensive plan may be the right choice for you. While you can feel a certain amount of comfort having had your home inspected prior to the purchase, the unexpected can still occur. You can avoid costly maintenance as long as you plan ahead.

Final Thoughts

To find the best home warranty company, you will need to read the contract thoroughly. Every company that you investigate will have a contract. In that contract, they’ll spell out exactly what they do and do not cover.

They’ll also explain the cost, who will fix your items if they break, and more. Comparing two or more home warranty companies can give you a sense that you’ve made the right decision. Always make sure you do your homework.

Also, check to see if a home inspection is required before qualifying for a home warranty with a specific company. Many don’t require this extra step, but it’s wise to be prepared in case they do. You definitely want to consider both cost and convenience as part of your ultimate decision.

Full Reviews of Home Warranty Companies

Looking for more options? Check out our other home warranty reviews below.

• 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
• Advanced Home Warranty
• American Home Shield
• Choice Home Warranty
• Cinch Home Services
• Complete Protection
• Fidelity National Home Warranty
• First American Home Warranty
• Home Warranty of America
• HSA Home Warranty
• Landmark Home Warranty
• Liberty Home Guard
• Old Republic Home Protection
• Sears Home Warranty
• ServicePlus
• The Home Service Club