American Home Shield is a widely available home warranty service with more than 50 years of experience. Often regarded as the founder of the home warranty industry, the company is known for its comprehensive coverage options and customizable fee structure. Unlike some home service contract providers, AHS offers coverage without a pre-contract in-home inspection.
After researching dozens of providers across the industry, we determined that AHS was among the best home warranty companies for homeowners. In this review, we take a closer look at American Home Shield’s plans, prices, claims process, and reputation to help you determine if it’s the right choice for you. We’ll also examine how AHS’s offerings compare to competitors’ services and show you a few consumer reviews.
Fast Facts About American Home Shield
- State Availability: 49 states (excluding Alaska)
- Service Fee: $75–$125
- Number of Plans: Three
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit site
Upsides and Downsides of American Home Shield
Upsides |
Downsides |
With more than 50 years of service, no other provider on this list competes with the industry experience of AHS. |
AHS’s 30-day workmanship guarantee is shorter than some of its competitors. |
Unlike other providers, AHS covers improper installation and modification, unknown pre-existing conditions, and items damaged by rust and corrosion. |
Customers don’t have the option to choose their own contractor. |
Roof-leak coverage is included with the ShieldPlatinum plan. |
Fewer add-on options than some of its competitors. |
American Home Shield Coverage Options
American Home Shield offers three home warranty plan options: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum, each with an increasing number of covered systems and appliances. For all three plans, there are no coverage caps (dollar limits the company will pay for a covered item) on built-in home systems. There is a relatively high $3,000 coverage cap on home appliances with the ShieldGold plan and a $6,000 appliance cap with the ShieldPlatinum plan.
All covered repairs are protected by a one-month workmanship guarantee, which means the company will send a repair tech free of charge if a covered item malfunctions within 30 days of a repair performed by an AHS technician. To learn more, review an AHS sample contract.
ShieldSilver
AHS’ ShieldSilver plan covers a suite of built-in systems, including air conditioning, heating units, ductwork, built-in exhaust, vent, and attic fans, main breaker and fuse panel box, doorbells and chimes, interior electrical lines, ceiling fans, garage door openers, interior plumbing lines, toilets, faucets and valves, whirlpool tub motor and components, and water heaters.
ShieldGold
ShieldGold covers all the items in the ShieldSilver plan plus nine appliances, including your refrigerator, range/cooktop, oven, dishwasher, built-in microwave, garbage disposal, instant hot/cold water dispenser, washer, and dryer. This plan stipulates a coverage cap—or the total dollar amount the provider is willing to pay for a covered item—of $3,000 per appliance.
ShieldPlatinum
ShieldPlatinum covers all the items in the ShieldGold plan and doubles the coverage limit to $6,000. It also covers roof-leak repairs up to $1,500, an annual HVAC tune-up, unlimited AC refrigerant, and coverage for code violations and permits.
Optional Add-Ons:
- Electronics Protection Plan (covers TVs, computers, tablets, printers, home theater systems, smart-home products, headphones, video game consoles, and more)
- Pool or spa
- Guest unit up to 750 square feet
- Septic pump
- Well pump
- Re-key services (makes old keys obsolete without changing the lock)
- Discounted heat or AC tune-up and air filter discounts
American Home Shield Pricing
With AHS, you can choose a $75, $100, or $125 service call fee. This will be the fee you pay directly to the technician who answers your service requests. With AHS’s customizable fee structure, choosing a higher service fee will result in a lower monthly payment and vice versa.
According to our quote for a 5,000-square-foot single-family home in Malibu, California, you can expect to pay between $35 and $80 per month for a base plan. Because pricing will vary from home to home, we recommend requesting a personalized quote before making your final decision.
American Home Shield Reviews
AHS holds an accreditation and B rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). As part of our research into the home warranty industry, we listened to dozens of customer service calls. During our call listening, we noticed that AHS representatives were consistently patient and clear with customer questions and concerns.
We also analyzed more than 800 customer reviews across multiple review aggregators, including Trustpilot and Yelp. Overall, many homeowners shared that they had been with the provider for years and praised the quality of the service they received. However, the most common complaints were slow response times and impersonal customer service experiences.
Here are some examples customer reviews:
I’ve used American Home Shield for close to 20 years, so that should say something… When things have been an emergency, I’ve never had a problem with getting someone out the same day. Otherwise, there will sometimes be a lag time, but that could happen even if you call the service person directly. I’ve had repairs on AC, appliances, electric [sic] and plumbing. I’ve even used their appliance buying service to purchase new appliances. I’ve been so happy with the service overall, I purchased a plan for my daughter when she bought her first house. —Cindy R. via Yelp
Glad I have AHS! Was assigned Upland Pool Supply immediately. Even with the holiday, the worker came on Monday (after a Saturday holiday submittal) and did a great job. So glad I had the warranty! —Kory via Trustpilot
The Good: When submitting a claim, they were attentive and timely in sending out good contractors and [the] $75 fee was reasonable. The Bad: They will keep raising your monthly fee every time you renew your contract. I got the person on the other side to lower it by $10 a month but was back up to the normal price next month. —Michael A. via Yelp
It’s good for some things and absolutely worthless for others. There is an unbearable noise coming from my pipes. Last year I had this problem and they had it fixed, it’s happening again and they say it’s not covered. —Leah via Trustpilot
When we reached out to the provider for comment on the negative reviews featured in this article, we did not receive a response.
How American Home Shield Compares to the Competition
Our Recommendation
American Home Shield is an excellent choice for customers looking for an established, veteran provider. Because it has served homeowners for more than 50 years, the company boasts an enormous network of service providers with more than 17,000 contractors nationwide.
AHS may be particularly attractive if you own high-end appliances or other big-ticket items. With no coverage caps on built-in systems and up to $6,000 in coverage for appliances, AHS offers generous home warranty coverage compared to most other providers.
To request a free quote from American Home Shield, call 844-529-9298 or use this simple online tool.
American Home Shield FAQs
How We Chose the Top Home Warranty Providers
Our team reviewed and researched dozens of home warranty providers, thoroughly analyzed sample agreements, and identified customer pain points based on customer-review analysis and interviews with industry experts.
During this process, we determined that the most critical aspects of a home warranty company include available service plans and add-ons, depth of coverage, plan cost, industry reputation, customer support infrastructure, and additional features. We also focused on the ability to choose your own contractor, upgrade your coverage package, transfer your plan to another owner, and cover roof-leaks, high-end appliance brands, ceiling and exhaust fans, and faucets and fixtures.
Our research supported that plan coverage should carry the most weight, with customer support as the second-most important factor. Industry reputation, plan availability, and additional features were rated equally. Therefore, we determined that price range, while worth considering, should not be the primary basis for choosing a home warranty provider for your home’s needs.