6 Best Home Warranties of 2024

The top home warranty providers offer a variety of coverage options, transparent pricing, good customer support and large coverage caps on customer claims. Your best option depends on your anticipated home repair needs and coverage features are most important to you.

We’ve done the research for you, comparing cost, coverage and availability, and reviewed the companies we think offer the best options. Here are our top picks for the best home warranty companies.

How to choose the best home warranty company

A home warranty is an annual plan that pays for replacements and repairs of some of your home's major systems and appliances. Home warranty companies usually charge monthly or annual premiums, as well as service fees when they dispatch technicians to your house. You’ll pay these amounts even if the company doesn’t approve your claim. Both of these amounts can vary widely among companies, and factors including your location and how many claims you file can affect the total cost of a homeowners warranty.

When evaluating home warranty plans, ask yourself:

• How much can I afford to pay in monthly premiums?

• If I have the option to save money on a contract by paying annually, can I afford to do that?

• How much am I comfortable paying for a service call?

• Do I want to choose my own service fee? Or am I comfortable going with a company that offers a set service fee?

• Which items do I want my plan to cover?

• Is an appliance-only or systems-only plan better for my situation than a comprehensive plan?

• What coverage limits am I comfortable having for the items I’m most worried about?

Home warranty plans differ in what items they cover. Some plans only cover appliances or home systems, such as air conditioners; other plans have comprehensive coverage. Even among similar plans — appliance-only plans, for example — there’s variety in what items, situations and components are covered. Homeowner warranty companies also tend to exclude specific damage situations or parts from their coverage.

Each plan usually has coverage limits as well, which is the maximum amount a plan pays toward a covered repair. All of these factors influence whether a home warranty company approves a claim, so it’s important to understand what a plan covers before signing a service agreement.

Several factors help Liberty Home Guard claim the title for best overall home warranty company, including plan options, allowing customers to choose their own technicians and relatively high customer satisfaction ratings compared to the other companies we reviewed.

What we like

With system-only, appliance only and comprehensive plans, customers can go all in or just cover certain types of items. This company’s plans also cover more items than many competitors’ plans. Another thing that stood out to us for Liberty Home Guard is its customer ratings, which are higher on average than many of the other home warranty companies we’ve researched. It’s also available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

What we don’t like

We don’t like that Liberty’s coverage limit is only $500 each for electrical and plumbing, which is relatively low compared to competitors. Although the company guarantees technician work for 60 days, which is more than some competitors offer, it’s not the longest guarantee we’ve seen. We also don’t like that the company won’t pay to repair a wall, floor or ceiling if a technician has to cut into one to repair a covered system.

Liberty Home Guard offers three plans:

• Appliance Guard: Covers appliances such as your refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and clothes washer and dryer. 

• Systems Guard: Covers air conditioning, heating, electrical, plumbing and ductwork.

• Total Home Guard: Covers both appliances and systems.

Most home warranty companies don’t pay for repairs if a covered item malfunctions because of a lack of maintenance; American Home Shield, however, does. This little bit of extra coverage might come in handy for homeowners who aren’t skilled at routine maintenance or don’t have years of maintenance records to provide.

What we like

We like that American Home Shield has relatively low monthly premiums in some areas, making it more affordable for some customers than its competitors. We also like that the company has higher coverage limits than many other home warranty companies, paying up to $5,000 for HVAC systems, $3,000 each for electrical and plumbing, and $2,000 to $4,000 per appliance, depending on your plan. It’ll also pay up to $1,000 to repair ceilings, floors or walls that technicians cut through during repairs, which is relatively high in the industry. You can also hire your own technician if the company approves your request in advance.

What we don’t like

American Home Shield’s monthly premiums can vary widely among ZIP codes. Our quotes show that two customers living in the same city can pay a difference of $30 for the same plan. We also don’t like that the company only offers a short 30-day repair guarantee, and its customer satisfaction ratings are on the low side among companies we’ve researched.

American Home Shield offers three plans:

• ShieldSilver: Covers heating, air conditioning, electrical and plumbing.

• ShieldGold: Covers items included in ShieldSilver, plus kitchen appliances and a washer and dryer.

• ShieldPlatinum: Covers items included in ShieldGold but with higher coverage caps, plus roof leak repairs and a free HVAC tune-up; comes with a few other benefits.

Most home warranties have limits on what they’ll pay toward certain repairs, but First American Home Warranty’s unlimited coverage on certain items makes it unique. The company has no cap on HVAC, electrical and plumbing repairs (except for the water heater with cheaper plans), which means it’ll pay a repair bill regardless of the cost if it approves your claim.

What we like

Aside from the unlimited coverage caps, we also like that First American Home Warranty has three service fee options: $75, $100 and $125. The higher the service fee, the lower the monthly premium.

Even though First American does cap how much it’ll pay toward appliance repairs, its limit is $3,500 to $7,000 per appliance, depending on the plan, which is high compared to competitors. The company also repairs walls, floors and ceilings to a rough finish if a contractor has to cut through one, and it fixes concrete if it’s damaged during a repair (though the limit for this service is based on your plan).

What we don’t like

We don’t like that First American Home Warranty’s cheapest plan covers heating systems and ductwork, but not air conditioning systems. There’s also a big difference in customer satisfaction scores depending on the source: over four stars with Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs but only 1.77 out of five stars with the Better Business Bureau. We also don’t like that the company doesn’t let customers choose their own repair technicians and it only provides a short 30-day repair guarantee.

First American Home Warranty has three plans:

• Starter Plan: Covers plumbing, electrical and heating systems, plus several kitchen appliances. 

• Essential Plan: Includes items covered in Starter Plan, plus air conditioning systems, water heaters and a few more appliances. 

• Premium Plan: Includes items covered in the Essential Plan plus higher-end appliances that are usually not covered and a few additional perks.

Choice Home Warranty comes in second for high coverage limits, covering up to $3,000 each for HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems, as well as appliances. Although it’s not as much as First American’s coverage, it’s decently more than many competitors’ coverage.

What we like

We also like that Choice pays up to $500 toward roof leak repairs and to fix walls, floors and ceilings if a technician has to cut into them to make a covered repair. It also has service fees on the lower end compared with competitors, charging $75 to $100 per service call. The company does business in 49 states and Washington, D.C.

What we don’t like

We don’t like that Choice has only two plans, both of which are comprehensive, so you can’t get coverage just for appliances or systems. The company also only guarantees repairs for 30 days, a shorter time frame compared with some competitors. Although Choice earns decent customer satisfaction scores on Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs, it gets low marks with Better Business Bureau.

Choice Home Warranty has two plans:

• Basic Plan: Covers heating, electrical, plumbing, water heaters and kitchen appliances except the refrigerator.

• Total Plan: Includes items in the Basic Plan, plus air conditioning, refrigerator and washer and dryer. 

When it comes to offering good coverage in the simplest way, Old Republic Home Protection does it with its Basic Plan. We like this option because it includes nearly everything we think a comprehensive plan should cover with a few exceptions, beating out competitors’ basic plan coverage.

What we like

We like that Old Republic Home Protection has no limit on electrical repairs and pays up to $6,500 per system for HVAC repairs, which is above most competitors’ limits. Its appliance coverage limit of $3,500 to $7,000 puts it ahead in the market, though the level of coverage depends on which plan you choose. You can choose your own technician if the company approves in advance, and it earns relatively solid customer review ratings from the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot.

What we don’t like

The Basic Plan covers heating systems and ductwork but not air conditioning. To get that coverage, you have to pay an extra monthly fee or move up to the Deluxe Plan. We also found that the company’s coverage limit for plumbing repairs is low, only paying $1,500 toward leaks and $600 for toilets rather than a general limit for all plumbing issues. And Old Republic only gives customers a 30-day repair guarantee.

Old Republic Home Protection has three plans:

• Basic Plan: Covers heating systems and ductwork, plumbing, most electrical systems and all major appliances, except washers and dryers . 

• Deluxe Plan: Includes items covered in Basic Plan, plus air conditioning systems, faucets, showerheads, shower arms, garage door parts, remote control transmitters and key pads, and washer and dryer sets. 

• Elite Plan: Includes items covered in the Deluxe Plan but increases the appliance coverage limit from $3,500 to $7,000 per appliance and includes a pre-season HVAC tune-up.

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty comes out on top for repair guarantees because it guarantees all repairs for the term of your plan. That means if it pays to repair a covered item early on in your coverage, the company will fix the item for free for the remainder of your plan if the initial repair fails. This far exceeds most home warranty repair guarantees of 30 or 60 days.

What we like

We like that the company offers an appliance-only plan, so you can avoid paying for coverage you don’t need if you’re not worried about your HVAC or other home systems. Also, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty’s service fees max out at $100, which is lower than some competitors’ fees of up to $150 per service call. The company also says on its website that it’ll contact a technician within 24 hours if an issue qualifies as an emergency.

What we don’t like

Although 2-10’s coverage limits are comparable to those of other companies we reviewed, we don’t like that it has different limits for different appliances instead of the same limit for every appliance. For example, 2-10 pays up to:

• $2,000 toward a refrigerator.

• $1,000 for a range, oven or cooktop.

• $500 toward a dishwasher.

• $500 for a built-in microwave.

The limit for a dishwasher might be a tight fit if you need a full replacement. Also, we don’t like that the company doesn’t pay to repair walls, ceilings or floors if a technician has to cut into one to make a repair, and we don’t like that it has relatively low customer satisfaction reviews compared to its competitors.

2-10 has three plans:

• Simply Kitchen: Includes a refrigerator with an ice maker, dishwasher, built-in microwave, oven and range or cooktop.

• Complete Home: Includes items covered in Simply Kitchen, with the addition of a heating system, air conditioning system, plumbing issues and electrical systems.

• Pinnacle Home: Includes items covered in Complete Home but adds a washer and dryer set and additional items to existing coverage areas, such as faucets for plumbing fixtures, attic and bathroom exhaust fans, and fire alarm systems.

Cinch Home Services is one of the few home warranty companies that covers pre-existing conditions. This means it won’t deny a claim solely because a covered appliance or system has an issue that began before you purchased the home warranty plan. However, to qualify, the pre-existing condition had to be difficult for you to detect.

What we like

Cinch Home Services is the runner-up on repair guarantees — its 180-day guarantee is longer than most companies’ warranties and only second to 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty’s guarantee. If a repair technician has to cut through a ceiling, wall or floor to make a plumbing repair, the company will pay up to $1,000 to fix the surface.

What we don’t like

We don’t like that the company’s maximum coverage is $10,000 for all claims, which is lower than many competitors’ total coverage. Cinch also has some of the highest service fees among the home warranty companies we’ve researched, ranging from $100 to $150 per service call. We also don’t like that the company only repairs damage if a technician cuts into walls, floors or ceilings for a plumbing repair; if it’s an issue outside of plumbing, you’ll have to repair the surface on your own.

Cinch has three plans:

• Appliances covers kitchen appliances, including refrigerators, built-in microwaves, dishwashers, ranges, cooktops, ovens and more. It also covers washer and dryer sets. It doesn’t cover garbage disposals.

• Built-in Systems covers major home systems, including electrical systems, plumbing systems, HVAC systems and ductwork. Items covered include water heaters, toilets, sump pumps, attic fans, ceiling fans, garage door openers, garbage disposals, instant water dispensers, doorbells, central vacuums, built-in whirlpool/jetted tubs and smoke detectors.

• Complete Home combines the Appliances and Built-in Systems coverage into one plan. It also pays you up to $500 once a year if you have to pay a deductible for a covered homeowners insurance claim.

Other companies we considered

Although these companies didn’t make our list, they offer a variety of plan options and coverage limits.

» MORE: Do you need a home warranty? How to decide

Select Home Warranty

Home Service Club

OneGuard Home Warranty

Landmark Home Warranty

How much does a home warranty cost in 2024?

On average, a homeowner warranty costs $57.83 per month, according to NerdWallet’s analysis — how much you’ll actually pay for a plan depends on several factors, including the plan you choose and your location. You’ll also have to pay a service fee when a technician comes to your home to diagnose a problem with a covered item; this fee usually ranges between $65 and $150.

» LEARN MORE: See NerdWallet’s full analysis of the cost of home warranties

Is a home warranty worth it?

A home warranty can be worthwhile if you:

• Anticipate steep repair or replacement expenses for your home systems and appliances due to wear and tear.

• Have systems and appliances that aren’t covered by manufacturer warranties.

• Prefer to have a third party source technicians rather than finding them on your own. 

A home warranty can minimize how much you’ll have to pay to repair or replace qualifying issues, which can save you money. However, if your appliances or systems aren’t well-maintained or have been modified, there’s a higher chance that your claims will be denied. And systems and appliances still under manufacturer warranty generally aren’t covered.

Methodology

We research home warranty companies by comparing multiple factors, including plans, coverage limits and service agreement terms and conditions. By comparing benefits across the industry, we identify companies and plans that we believe are the best options for homeowners.

While NerdWallet has partnerships with some home warranty companies, our writers are uninvolved in the business side of those partnerships and maintain editorial independence when selecting which companies to recommend to our readers. Read more about how NerdWallet rates home warranty companies.