American Home Shield vs Select Home Warranty

An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top home warranty companies picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.

American Home Shield

American Home Shield

Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory

The original home warranty company with the most plan flexibility

Paid
Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty

Ranked #3 of 15 in this directory

Customizable home warranty with free roof coverage

Paid

Our pick: American Home Shield. Our editors rank American Home Shield higher overall in Home Warranty Companies — but Select Home Warranty can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review

Compare the details

American Home ShieldSelect Home Warranty
Pricing modelPaidPaid
Starting priceSee websiteSee website
CategoryCombo PlansCombo Plans
Editorial rank#1 of 15#3 of 15

Strengths

American Home Shield

  • Largest and most established home warranty provider in the US
  • Three plan tiers allow customers to choose exact coverage level needed
  • Covers items regardless of age, make, or pre-existing conditions
  • Flexible trade service fee options from $75 to $125
  • Extensive contractor network across all 50 states

Select Home Warranty

  • Free roof leak repair coverage included in Gold Care plan
  • Highly customizable with numerous add-on options
  • Competitive multi-year pricing with significant discounts
  • Online claims portal for easy service request submission
  • 30-day money-back guarantee on new plans

Watch out for

American Home Shield

  • !Monthly premiums are higher than many newer competitors
  • !Coverage caps on certain items may not cover full replacement costs
  • !Claims process can involve multiple service visits before resolution
  • !Some customers report long wait times for contractor scheduling

Select Home Warranty

  • !Not available in all states
  • !Per-item coverage limits can be restrictive
  • !Contractor network is smaller in rural areas
  • !Base plan covers fewer items than some competitors

Best use cases

American Home Shield

  • Homeowners with aging systems and appliances wanting comprehensive protection
  • Real estate agents including warranties in home sale transactions
  • Budget-conscious homeowners wanting predictable repair costs

Select Home Warranty

  • Homeowners wanting to customize warranty coverage to their specific needs
  • Property owners who value included roof leak protection
  • Cost-conscious buyers attracted to multi-year discount pricing

About each tool

American Home Shield

American Home Shield is the pioneer of the home warranty industry and remains the largest provider in the US. AHS offers three plan tiers covering systems, appliances, or both, with flexible service fee options and coverage available regardless of the age or condition of covered items.

Select Home Warranty

Select Home Warranty differentiates itself with free roof leak coverage included in its top-tier plan and highly customizable add-on options. The company offers three plan levels and serves customers in 46 states with a focus on transparent pricing and easy online claims submission.

Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.

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