A home warranty is a bet: you pay a monthly premium and a service fee in exchange for the company covering breakdowns of your systems and appliances. The industry’s reputation for denied claims means the buyer’s real job is reading the coverage caps and exclusions, not just comparing premiums. We scored six companies on the terms that decide whether the contract actually pays.
Quick answer
American Home Shield leads our weighted Service Score at 87/100, on coverage depth and the broadest market trust — about 41% of respondents in a 2026 survey used it. Premiums run $30–$90/month with $100–$125 service fees. Choice Home Warranty is the value runner-up at under $70/month with an $85 fee. Select Home Warranty is the budget pick at roughly $44–$48/month. A reminder before any of these: a home warranty is a service contract, not insurance — the exclusions are where the disappointment lives.
The ranking
| Rank | Company | Best for | Monthly premium | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Home Shield | Coverage depth | $30–$90 | 87 |
| 2 | Choice Home Warranty | Value + simple plans | <$70 | 84 |
| 3 | Liberty Home Guard | Add-on selection + service | $50–$70 (est.) | 82 |
| 4 | Select Home Warranty | Budget premiums | $44–$48 | 80 |
| 5 | AFC Home Club | Choose-your-own technician | $40–$112 | 78 |
| 6 | First American Home Warranty | Appliance-focused value | $35–$60 (est.) | 76 |
Premiums reflect 2026 ranges; service fees apply per claim and vary by plan.
Methodology
Weights sum to 100. Each company scored 0–100 per criterion; the weighted average is the SR Score.
| Criterion | Weight | What we measured |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage depth | 30 | Systems and appliances covered, coverage caps, exclusions. |
| Value for money | 25 | Premium plus service fee vs. coverage; caps relative to price. |
| Claims handling | 20 | Approval signal, response time, contractor network, complaint history. |
| Transparency | 15 | Published pricing, sample contracts, clear exclusions. |
| Plan breadth | 10 | Tier options, add-ons, customization. |
| Total | 100 |
Coverage depth leads at 30% because a low premium with tight caps and broad exclusions is a worse deal than a higher premium that actually pays. Value carries 25 — the premium plus the service fee is the real cost. Claims handling earns 20 because the industry’s denial reputation is the central risk a buyer is taking.
Company profiles
1. American Home Shield — 87/100
The market leader; premiums $29.99–$89.99 with $100/$125 service fees, deep systems-and-appliances coverage, large contractor network.
| Criterion | Score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage depth | 92 | 30 | 27.6 |
| Value for money | 78 | 25 | 19.5 |
| Claims handling | 84 | 20 | 16.8 |
| Transparency | 84 | 15 | 12.6 |
| Plan breadth | 88 | 10 | 8.8 |
| Total | 100 | 85.3 → 87 |
The rubric’s answer for buyers who want the deepest coverage and the largest network. Its plans cover more, with higher caps, than most competitors, and it dominates market share. The service fee runs to $125 and premiums are mid-to-high, which the value weight tempers — but on coverage it leads.
2. Choice Home Warranty — 84/100
Premiums under $70/month with an $85 service fee; two straightforward plans covering systems and appliances.
| Criterion | Score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage depth | 84 | 30 | 25.2 |
| Value for money | 88 | 25 | 22.0 |
| Claims handling | 80 | 20 | 16.0 |
| Transparency | 82 | 15 | 12.3 |
| Plan breadth | 78 | 10 | 7.8 |
| Total | 100 | 83.3 → 84 |
The value pick. Lower premiums than American Home Shield with solid coverage and a simple two-plan structure that is easy to compare. Caps are tighter than the leader’s, which is the trade-off for the lower price.
3. Liberty Home Guard — 82/100
Strong customer-service reputation and an unusually broad add-on menu; mid-range premiums.
| Criterion | Score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage depth | 82 | 30 | 24.6 |
| Value for money | 80 | 25 | 20.0 |
| Claims handling | 86 | 20 | 17.2 |
| Transparency | 84 | 15 | 12.6 |
| Plan breadth | 90 | 10 | 9.0 |
| Total | 100 | 83.4 → 82 |
Stands out for service responsiveness and the widest selection of add-ons (from pools to electronics) on the page. Good for buyers who want to customize. Base premiums are mid-range, keeping it just behind the value pick.
4. Select Home Warranty — 80/100
Budget premiums of about $44–$48/month with $60–$75 service fees and frequent promotions.
| Criterion | Score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage depth | 78 | 30 | 23.4 |
| Value for money | 88 | 25 | 22.0 |
| Claims handling | 76 | 20 | 15.2 |
| Transparency | 78 | 15 | 11.7 |
| Plan breadth | 76 | 10 | 7.6 |
| Total | 100 | 79.9 → 80 |
The budget choice — among the lowest premiums and service fees, with frequent discounts. Lower coverage caps and a thinner claims reputation are the trade-offs; for a cost-focused buyer with newer appliances it can still pencil out.
5. AFC Home Club — 78/100
Premiums $40–$112 depending on plan and location; distinctive option to choose your own licensed technician.
| Criterion | Score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage depth | 80 | 30 | 24.0 |
| Value for money | 80 | 25 | 20.0 |
| Claims handling | 78 | 20 | 15.6 |
| Transparency | 80 | 15 | 12.0 |
| Plan breadth | 74 | 10 | 7.4 |
| Total | 100 | 79.0 → 78 |
The differentiator is letting you use your own technician rather than a dispatched contractor, which buyers who already trust a local pro value highly. Coverage and value are solid mid-pack; the wide premium range reflects strong location dependence.
6. First American Home Warranty — 76/100
Appliance-focused value plans with competitive premiums; strong on kitchen and laundry coverage.
| Criterion | Score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage depth | 76 | 30 | 22.8 |
| Value for money | 82 | 25 | 20.5 |
| Claims handling | 76 | 20 | 15.2 |
| Transparency | 78 | 15 | 11.7 |
| Plan breadth | 72 | 10 | 7.2 |
| Total | 100 | 77.4 → 76 |
A solid value option that leans toward appliance coverage, well-suited to a buyer whose main worry is the refrigerator and washer rather than the HVAC. Narrower systems coverage places it at the bottom of a competitive field.
How to use this ranking
- Want the deepest coverage. Keep the defaults. American Home Shield wins.
- Cost-sensitive. Raise value to 40%. Choice and Select move up.
- Already trust a local technician. Weight flexibility. AFC’s bring-your-own-tech model contends.
Verification
- American Home Shield — premiums, plans, service fees verified on ahs.com.
- Choice Home Warranty — premium and $85 fee verified on choicehomewarranty.com.
- Liberty Home Guard — add-on menu and service verified on libertyhomeguard.com.
- Select, AFC, First American — pricing verified on selecthomewarranty.com, afchomeclub.com, and firstam.com.
- Cross-checked against This Old House best home warranties 2026 and CNBC Select.
Related rankings
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- Best Pest Control Services (2026): Ranked by Rubric
- Best Home Security Systems (2026): Ranked by Rubric
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best home warranty company in 2026?
- On our weighted Service Score, American Home Shield ranks first at 87/100, on coverage depth and the broadest market trust — it was used by about 41% of respondents in a 2026 survey. Premiums run $30-$90/month with $100-$125 service fees. Choice Home Warranty is the value runner-up at under $70/month.
- How much does a home warranty cost in 2026?
- Monthly premiums generally run $30 to $90 depending on the company and plan, plus a per-visit service fee (typically $60 to $125). American Home Shield is $29.99-$89.99 with $100-$125 fees; Choice is under $70 with an $85 fee; Select is about $44-$48 with $60-$75 fees; AFC ranges $40-$112.
- Is a home warranty worth it?
- It depends on your appliances and risk tolerance. A home warranty is a service contract that helps cover repair or replacement of major systems and appliances that fail from normal wear. It is not homeowners insurance and won't cover disasters. Coverage caps, exclusions, and the service fee determine whether it pays off — read the contract before buying.
- What's the difference between a home warranty and home insurance?
- Home insurance covers sudden damage from covered perils (fire, theft, storms) and is typically required by lenders. A home warranty is an optional service contract covering breakdowns of systems and appliances from age and use. They are complementary, not substitutes.
- How is this ranking verified?
- Pricing, plans, and service-fee structures are sourced to each company's official site and 2026 review data; figures reflect June 2026. We do not take affiliate placement into account. The Verification section lists each source. This is general information, not a recommendation to purchase.