Best Home Warranty Companies
We looked at the top seven providers and compared them apples to apples. You get a comprehensive view of every company, side by side with our top pick, and quotes from multiple companies in one place.
Side by side
Compare all seven providers
Monthly cost spans the plan tiers. The service fee is charged separately every time a technician is dispatched, so read the two numbers together rather than apart.
| Provider | Customer rating | Monthly | Service fee | Guarantee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Regency Total Warranty
Top pick · $300 off
|
5.0 | From $40 | $70–$100 | 30 days | Get quote |
|
American Residential Warranty
Lowest starting fee
|
4.4 | $40–$80 | $55–$125 | 30 days | Get quote |
|
Cinch Home Services
Deductible credit
|
4.1 | $28–$90 | $100–$150 | 180 days | Get quote |
|
First American
Highest appliance cap
|
4.0 | $42–$82 | $100–$125 | 30 days | Get quote |
|
American Home Shield
Highest caps
|
3.6 | $36–$100 | $100–$125 | 30 days | Get quote |
|
HomeServe
$0 service fees
|
2.6 | $5–$73 per plan | $0–$100 | 1 year | Get quote |
|
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Unlimited repair guarantee
|
1.1 | $40–$60 | $65–$100 | Life of plan | Get quote |
Customer ratings are each provider’s published ConsumerAffairs rating as of August 2026; review volumes vary widely by provider, from a few hundred reviews to more than a hundred thousand. These ratings measure reviewer satisfaction on one platform, not overall quality; several providers here hold 2026 editorial awards, noted in their reviews below. Pricing, service fees, guarantee lengths and BBB grades compiled August 2026 from published third-party reviews and provider materials. Ranges shown are for a single home paid monthly; annual or multiyear payment and multi-property coverage change pricing with most providers. Figures also vary by home, location, plan and current promotions; confirm current terms with each provider.
Full reviews
Every provider in detail
What each one actually gives you, where it wins, and the trade-off you accept by choosing it.
Regency Total Warranty
★ Named best for appliances overall in ConsumerAffairs’ 2026 appliance guide.
Overview
Regency keeps the structure simple: two plans, EssentialGuard for essential home systems and TotalGuard for complete systems and appliance coverage, starting at $39.99 a month with a discount for paying the year upfront. Claims are filed online or by phone around the clock, and the company commits to dispatching a certified technician within 48 hours. The service call fee runs $70 to $100, per provider materials, with a 30 day workmanship guarantee on completed repairs. Published coverage limits run to $5,000 per covered system and $3,000 per covered appliance in each 12 month period, and plans are sold in 48 states. ConsumerAffairs reviewers rate it 5.0 out of 5, and that publication’s research team named Regency best for appliances overall in its 2026 guide. Right now Regency is running a limited time offer of $300 off with 2 months free, with senior and military discounts also available, which takes an already competitive starting price lower while the sale lasts.
Limited time offer
Lock in rates now: $300 off and 2 months free, for a limited time. Senior and military discounts are also available, and service comes from a network of local, pre-screened technicians.
The offer runs for a limited time. Standard coverage terms still apply, including the exclusion of faults that exist before enrollment, the same as with every provider on this page. Read the agreement before enrolling.
Strengths
- Rated 5.0 on ConsumerAffairs, and named its 2026 best for appliances overall
- $300 off and 2 months free for a limited time
- Certified technician dispatched within 48 hours of a claim
- Claims filed online or by phone, around the clock
Trade-offs
- Annual maintenance records for covered items may be requested
Plans
- EssentialGuard — essential home systemsFrom $39.99
- TotalGuard — complete systems and appliance coverageFrom $45.83
American Home Shield
★ Winner of four 2026 ConsumerAffairs Buyer’s Choice Awards, and rated 4.9 out of 5 by This Old House in its July 2026 review.
Overview
American Home Shield is the biggest name in the category, and the case for it is what happens when something expensive fails. Payout ceilings run to $4,000 on appliances and $5,000 on most systems, plumbing and electrical work carry no cap at all, and the contract covers faults caused by rust, corrosion and sediment that most competitors write out. That combination matters most in an older house, where the eventual failure is likely to be a large one. The price of all that generosity is the top tier itself, which costs more than almost anything else here, and a modest six add-ons.
Strengths
- No payout cap on plumbing or electrical
- Covers wear damage most contracts exclude
- Video troubleshooting can avoid a service fee entirely
Trade-offs
- Top tier is priced above most rivals
- Only six add-ons, so little room to customize
Plans
- Entry tier — 14 systems, no appliances$36
- Mid tier — 14 systems plus 9 appliances$50
- Top tier — adds roof leaks and HVAC servicing$100
Add-ons available
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
★ Named among the best home warranties of 2026 by NerdWallet, and recommended by U.S. News for affordability.
Overview
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty has been at this since 1980 and sits under the same corporate roof as American Home Shield, though the two run very different offers. Here you pick from two plans, Systems at $39.99 a month or Pinnacle at $59.99 with kitchen and laundry appliances added, then choose your own service fee of $65, $85 or $100, which moves the monthly price down as the fee goes up. The standout is the workmanship guarantee, which never expires while the plan is active, so a failed repair never costs a second fee. Customer satisfaction scores are the soft spot, running below the category average.
Strengths
- Unlimited workmanship guarantee for the life of the plan
- Pick your own service fee: $65, $85 or $100
- Even If guarantee refunds the fee when an item turns out not to be covered
Trade-offs
- Customer satisfaction scores run below the category average
- Base caps of $2,000 on major systems unless upgraded
- $25 processing fee applies if you cancel
Plans
- Systems — parts of 19 major home systems$40
- Pinnacle — systems plus kitchen and laundry appliances, 28 items$60
Add-ons available
American Residential Warranty
★ ConsumerAffairs 2026 Buyer’s Choice Award winner for transparency, and its 2026 pick for best technicians.
Overview
ARW Home, formerly American Residential Warranty, has spent 15 years selling coverage in all 50 states, and its pitch starts with the service fee: from $55 a visit, among the lowest anywhere, though it varies by plan and state and can reach $125. Three tiers run from Kitchen Plus at about $40 a month to Platinum Premier at about $80, and the add-on shelf is unusually interesting, with electronics, water line and sewer line protection that almost nobody else sells. Every plan carries a 30 day money-back window and a 30 day workmanship guarantee, and you can bring in your own technician when none is available in network. Budget for the one-time $39 enrollment fee.
Strengths
- Service fees start at $55, among the lowest in the category
- Electronics, water line and sewer line coverage available
- Choose your own technician when none is available in network
Trade-offs
- Service fee varies widely by plan and state, up to $125
- One-time $39 enrollment fee at signup
- 30 day workmanship guarantee, far behind 2-10 and Cinch here
Plans
- Kitchen Plus — kitchen and core systems$40
- Platinum — adds HVAC and laundry$65
- Platinum Premier — widest coverage$80
Add-ons available
First American Home Warranty
★ ConsumerAffairs’ 2026 pick for best roof coverage, and rated 4.6 out of 5 by This Old House.
Overview
First American is the specialist for expensive kitchens. The appliance ceiling reaches $7,000 on the top plan, roughly double what several competitors here will pay, and most systems carry no cap at all, so a professional range or built-in refrigerator that would blow straight through a standard $2,000 limit is actually covered. An optional upgrade even takes on failures caused by improper installation, which is normally an automatic denial everywhere. The compromises are structural: every plan is a combination plan with no appliance-only or systems-only option, several common items do not appear until the higher tiers, and pricing swings widely by location, so the quote matters more here than most.
Strengths
- Appliance ceiling up to $7,000
- No cap on most systems
- Optional cover for improper installation
Trade-offs
- Pricing varies widely by location
- No appliance-only or systems-only option
- Entry plan leaves out several common items
Plans
- Starter — core systems and kitchen appliancesFrom $42
- Essential — adds AC, laundry and water heaterFrom $57
- Premium — highest caps, widest coverageFrom $77
Add-ons available
HomeServe
★ Rated 4.5 on Trustpilot with a 4.47 BBB customer score, and recommended by ConsumerAffairs for long-lasting repairs.
Overview
HomeServe sells protection one system at a time rather than one house at a time. There are individual plans for water lines, sewer lines, interior plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, distributed largely through more than 1,000 utility partnerships, and you stack whichever ones fit your worries. Two numbers make it appealing: plans start around $5 a month, and most charge no service fee at all when a contractor comes out, with covered repairs guaranteed for a full year. It suits a homeowner nursing one aging system far better than one wanting whole-home coverage, since appliance protection is thin, payout caps run lower than the combo providers, and stacking many plans erodes the price advantage.
Strengths
- $0 service call fee on most plans
- One-year guarantee on covered repairs
- Pick only the systems you actually want covered
Trade-offs
- No whole-home combo plan, and appliance coverage is limited
- Per-system payout caps run lower than the combo providers
- 90-day waiting period on water heater coverage
Plans
- Single-system plans — water, sewer, electric, gas linesFrom $5
- HVAC plans — heating or coolingVaries
- Combo stacks — combine any plansUp to $73
Add-ons available
Cinch Home Services
★ ConsumerAffairs’ best overall pick for 2026, and rated 4.3 out of 5 by This Old House.
Overview
Cinch is the pick when you expect the same thing to break twice. Its 180 day workmanship guarantee runs six times the 30 day norm, the contract covers rust, corrosion and some unknown pre-existing faults that trip up claims elsewhere, and two perks sit outside normal warranty scope entirely: an annual credit toward your homeowners insurance deductible and a small yearly credit for air conditioner or water filters. Pricing runs $28 to $90 a month depending on plan and the service fee you choose. The catch arrives with the claim, since the service fee can reach $150, the highest per-visit charge on this page, and there is no roof leak coverage at any tier.
Strengths
- 180 day repair guarantee
- Annual credit toward your insurance deductible
- Covers rust, corrosion and some existing faults
Trade-offs
- Service fee can reach $150, the highest here
- No roof leak coverage, not even as an add-on
- Add-ons mostly limited to pools and spas
Plans
- Appliances — 12 appliances$51
- Systems — 16 built-in systems$57
- Combined — both, plus deductible credit$68
Add-ons available
What it costs
Monthly cost and service fees
Two numbers make up the real price. The monthly premium is fixed. The service fee lands every time someone comes out, so a household filing three claims a year pays it three times. Most providers also discount plans paid annually or for multiple years, and price multi-property coverage differently, so treat the ranges below as a single home paid month to month.
| Provider | Monthly cost | Service fee |
|---|---|---|
| Regency Total Warranty | From $40 | $70–$100 |
| American Home Shield | $36–$100 | $100–$125 |
| 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty | $40–$60 | $65–$100 |
| First American | $42–$82 | $100–$125 |
| HomeServe | $5–$73 per plan | $0–$100 |
| American Residential Warranty | $40–$80 | $55–$125 |
| Cinch Home Services | $28–$90 | $100–$150 |
Worth knowing
If you intend to keep coverage past the first year, price the annual option against the monthly one before enrolling. Providers routinely discount annual payment, and at least one on this page adds a small surcharge for paying monthly.
What you save
The math on a breakdown
A warranty is worth most on the items that would otherwise land as one large unplanned bill. Below, what the major items typically cost to replace with no coverage in place.
| Item | Typical replacement cost |
|---|---|
| Air conditioner | $7,400–$8,800 |
| Furnace | $3,200–$3,800 |
| Oven | $1,700–$3,700 |
| Refrigerator | $1,500–$3,100 |
| Water heater | $1,600–$1,800 |
| Dishwasher | $900–$1,700 |
Replacement cost ranges compiled from published industry cost data. Actual costs vary by region, brand and installation.
Worth knowing
The saving is capped by the plan, not by the repair. On a system that costs more to replace than the ceiling allows, the plan absorbs the ceiling and you absorb the rest. Check the cap before assuming a large failure is fully handled.
Coverage
What is covered, and what is not
Coverage varies by provider and tier, but the shape is consistent. The exclusion list is where nearly every dispute starts, so it deserves more attention than the inclusion list.
Typically covered
- Heating, including furnaces and heat pumps
- Air conditioning and ductwork
- Plumbing system and stoppages
- Electrical system
- Water heater
- Refrigerator, oven, cooktop and range
- Dishwasher, garbage disposal, built-in microwave
- Clothes washer and dryer
Typically excluded
- Cosmetic damageDents and scratches that do not affect function
- External causesStorms, accidents, misuse
- Maintenance failuresNeglect, bad installation, skipped servicing
- Manufacturer overlapItems still under a builder or maker warranty
- Unlisted componentsFridge shelving and some ductwork, for example
- Anything above the capYou cover the difference
What we learned
Lessons from enrolling and filing claims
What the sales call tells you and what the contract says are not always the same document.
Ask about the ceiling before you enroll
Sales conversations cover plans, price and current promotions well. Payout caps, exclusions and fee structure come up far less often unless you raise them. Ask directly how much the plan pays per item, how replacements are valued, and when the full agreement arrives.
Read the agreement, not the pitch
The written contract routinely contains conditions that never came up on the phone. Coverage ceilings, technician requirements and replacement terms all shape what a claim is actually worth. Ask for a sample agreement before paying anything.
Filing is easy, scheduling is the variable
Submitting a claim online takes minutes across essentially every provider. What differs is what happens next. Contractor response can range from the same afternoon to several days, and that gap is not visible anywhere in the marketing.
The technician determines the experience
Approval is only half of it. The assigned contractor decides whether the repair takes one visit or three. Two people on identical plans can come away with completely different impressions of the same company.
Approved does not always mean replaced
An approved claim may produce a partial payout rather than a full replacement, particularly on older equipment or where a cap binds. Replacement models also may not match what failed.
The verdict
Is a home warranty worth it?
It depends almost entirely on the house rather than the plan. On a newer property where the major systems still carry manufacturer coverage, a warranty largely duplicates protection you already hold. On a house with a fifteen year old air conditioner and an original water heater, the arithmetic reverses quickly, because a single covered failure can exceed a full year of premiums.
What a warranty genuinely buys is predictability rather than savings. You are converting an unknown repair bill into a known monthly cost plus a known fee per visit. Whether that trade is worth making depends on how comfortably an unplanned four figure repair would land.
The failure mode to avoid is assuming a plan means no out of pocket cost. It does not. Between service fees, payout ceilings and exclusions, some money moves in your direction on nearly every claim, and the plan is worth having when that share is the smaller one.
Common questions
FAQs
How is this different from homeowners insurance?
Insurance pays for sudden damage from events: fire, theft, storms, disasters. A warranty pays to repair or replace systems and appliances that fail from ordinary use over time. They cover different risks, which is why holding one does not remove the need for the other.
What is a service fee and when do I pay it?
You pay it every time a technician is dispatched, separately from the monthly premium. Across the providers here it runs from $0 to $150 a visit depending on provider and plan. A cheaper monthly plan often carries a higher fee, so add both before comparing.
What is a coverage cap and why does it matter more than price?
The cap is the most the provider will pay, usually set per item and again per year. If a system costs more to replace than the cap allows, you cover the difference. On expensive equipment the cap determines your real exposure, not the monthly premium.
Is there a waiting period?
Most plans have one, commonly around 30 days from the start of the agreement. Enrolling after something has already failed will not get that repair covered. Confirm the exact number in the sample contract.
Can I choose my own contractor?
Usually not. Most providers assign someone from their own network. American Residential Warranty is the exception among the seven here, letting you bring your own technician when none is available in its network. If that matters, get it confirmed in writing before enrolling.
What is a workmanship guarantee?
It is how long the provider stands behind a repair before you would owe another service fee for the same fault. The spread on this page is wide: 30 days at five providers, 180 days at Cinch, a full year at HomeServe, and unlimited for the life of the plan at 2-10.
When can I buy one?
Any time, whether you are buying, selling or have lived in the house for years. Many people enroll during a real estate transaction, but nothing prevents signing up later. Remember the waiting period applies either way.
What happens after I submit the form?
Only the providers you checked receive your details, and each contacts you directly with pricing. Nothing is committed and you can decline all of them.
Methodology
How we compare these providers
Every comparison on this page is built around five factors, weighted by how much each one changes the outcome for a household rather than by what is easiest to measure. The rating displayed for each provider is not our own invention: it is that company’s published customer rating on ConsumerAffairs. Review volumes behind these ratings vary widely by provider, from a few hundred reviews to more than a hundred thousand.
Coverage depth
30%What is actually protected once the contract fine print is applied: which systems and appliances are included at each tier, how high the payout ceilings go, and which common failure causes are written out.
True cost
25%The full price of ownership, not the advertised premium. Monthly and annual pricing, the per visit service fee, enrollment and cancellation charges, and how much the quote moves between locations.
Claims experience
20%What happens after something breaks: how claims are filed, how fast a technician is dispatched, and how the company resolves disputes and complaints on the record.
Guarantee strength
15%How long a completed repair is protected and what happens when the same fault returns, from 30 day windows to guarantees that last the life of the plan.
Contract clarity
10%Whether caps, exclusions and waiting periods are published plainly before purchase or only surface inside the agreement after enrollment.
Customer ratings across this page are each provider’s published ConsumerAffairs rating as of August 2026. Review volumes vary widely by provider, and ratings move as new reviews post; check each provider’s ConsumerAffairs page for current figures. Providers are ordered by their ConsumerAffairs customer rating. Advertising relationships are disclosed at the top of the page and never change a provider’s published rating.
Keep reading
Related guides
Our picks at a glance
- Regency Total Warranty our top pick: rated 5.0 on ConsumerAffairs and named its 2026 best for appliances
- American Home Shield for the highest payout ceilings
- 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty for flexible fees and an unlimited repair guarantee
- First American for expensive appliances
- HomeServe for $0-fee single-system plans
- American Residential Warranty for low service fees and electronics coverage
- Cinch Home Services for the insurance deductible credit
Cost at a glance
- Typical monthly: roughly $47 to $82, depending on tier and service fee
- Per visit: $0 to $150 each time a technician is dispatched, depending on provider and plan
- Covered: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, water heater, plus major kitchen and laundry appliances
- Not covered: anything structural, cosmetic, or already broken when you signed
What to watch
- The cap decides your exposure. A $3,000 ceiling against an $8,000 air conditioner leaves you the difference
- Waiting periods are real. Signing up after a failure will not cover that failure
- Guarantee length varies wildly. 30 days at one provider here, the life of the plan at another