5 Cheapest Home Warranty Companies (2024)

Our rating: 4.5
Monthly cost: $49–$59

We recommend Liberty Home Guard for homeowners seeking specialized coverage for an affordable price. The company offers system-only, appliance-only, and combined coverage plans for under $60 per month, plus over 38 add-ons starting at as low as $3.99 per month.

We scored Liberty Home Guard 4.5 out of 5 stars in our review standards. Here’s how LHG rated in key categories:

• Coverage (4.7 out of 5): LHG scored well for its specialized plan options and extensive add-on catalog.  
• Value (4.25 out of 5): LHG lost points for its unclear and inflexible service call fee policy. 
• Trustworthiness and Transparency (4.8 out of 5): LHG received a high score for its excellent customer review scores, averaging 4.6 stars on third-party review sites.  
• Availability and Service (4.3 out of 5): LHG lost points for its limiting service contractor policy.

Liberty Home Guard provides three service plan options: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard, and Total Home Guard. We read through the Liberty Home Guard sample contract and learned that all three plans cost less than $60, making them a midrange option. 

You can choose from three specialized plans targeted for systems, appliances, or combined coverage. LHG includes a $2,000 coverage limit for most items, but plumbing and electrical items receive only $500. All repairs and replacements include a 60-day workmanship guarantee, twice the 30-day industry standard.

Below is an overview of LHG’s coverage plans:

• Appliance Guard: This appliance-only plan covers nine essential appliances, including built-in microwaves, ranges, and washing machines. You receive a $2,000 coverage cap for appliances. 
• Systems Guard: This next plan provides systems-only protection for six built-in systems, including cooling, electrical, and plumbing. All systems are covered up to $2,000 except for plumbing and electrical, which have a lower limit of $500.
• Total Home Guard: The highest plan combines the Appliance Guard and Systems Guard plans for comprehensive home protection. All coverage limits remain the same. 

LHG offers monthly and annual premiums. Our sample quote included two free months of service with an annual option. Unlike other home providers, LHG doesn’t offer standard service call fees or let you choose your preferred option. Instead, the company assigns a fee between $65 and $125 based on your plan, location, and add-on options. Most home warranty companies offer two or more service fee options, letting you customize your pricing. In addition, choosing a higher service call fee typically lowers your fees. However, LGH doesn’t offer that cost flexibility. Premiums remain the same even with the highest service call fee option.  

Here’s an overview of LHG coverage pricing:

With 38 add-on options, LHG has one of the most extensive catalogs compared to other providers reviewed. Additional add-ons can increase costs by $3.99–$35.99 per month, depending on the coverage. Roof-leak coverage, typically offered as an add-on, will cost $11.99 monthly. This is slightly higher than other reviewed companies. 

Some additional coverage options include the following protections:

• Central vacuum
• Instant hot water dispenser
• Pool and spa
• Septic system pumping

In customer reviews, many LHG users praised the efficient customer support line. To test this, we called during secret shopping and connected with a rep in under 30 seconds. LHG also offers live chat, which is unique for a home warranty company, though it first connects you to a bot. After two requests, we were transferred to a live agent. Overall, the reviews citing great service aligned with our experience of fast connection times by phone and chat.

Our rating: 4.4
Monthly cost: $39–$99

We recommend American Home Shield for homeowners seeking comprehensive protection for older homes and appliances. The company includes more system and appliance protection under its standard plans, plus protection for preexisting conditions and damage. Because of its extensive coverage, its plans have the highest plan costs in this review. 

We scored American Home Shield 4.4 out of 5 stars in our review standards. Here’s how we rated it in key categories.

• Coverage (4.7 out of 5): AHS received a high score for its comprehensive appliance coverage, which includes preexisting conditions. 
• Value (4 out of 5): AHS lost points for its comprehensive plan costs, which are the highest in this review. 
• Trustworthiness and Transparency (4.25 out of 5): AHS lost points for its lower customer review scores.
• Availability and Service (4.7 out of 5): AHS scored well for quick claims processing.

American Home Shield provides three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. We read through the American Home Shield sample contract and learned that AHS does not offer an appliance-only plan option. The company offers one system-only plan and two comprehensive options, which cost more than the other reviewed providers. The highest plan, ShieldPlatinum, includes free roof-leak coverage, which many companies don’t offer in standard plans. Despite its higher cost, AHS plans offer generous coverage limits that help offset more repair and replacement costs.  

We’ll explain American Home Shield’s coverage plans below:

• ShieldSilver: This system-only coverage plan protects major home systems, such as cooling, heating, and electrical. Each system received a $5,000 coverage limit.  
• ShieldGold: The lowest comprehensive plan includes systems and appliances, such as built-in microwaves, garbage disposals, and ovens. Systems limits remain the same, but you receive $2,000 for appliances. 
• ShieldPlatinum: The highest coverage plan includes ShieldGold protections, plus roof-leak repairs and HVAC tune-ups. The appliance limit doubles to $4,000, but system coverage remains unchanged. 

AHS is one of the few companies not to offer an annual option, eliminating the chance for added savings with bonus months of coverage or an annual discount. You can adjust your premiums with a $100 or $125 service call fee. AHS is the only reviewed company that doesn’t offer any service calls fee below $100. 

Here’s a breakdown of  AHS costs and service fees:

Due to its comprehensive protections, AHS offers only six add-on options. Add-on pricing falls between $4.99 and $21.99. Adding roof-leak coverage for the ShieldSilver and ShieldGold plans will add $9.99 to your monthly costs. 

We’ve highlighted additional AHS add-ons below:

• Electronics protection plan
• Guest units
• Pools and built-in spa equipment  
• Septic pumps

Our team tested the AHS home warranty claims process. After filing an online claim for a leaky bathroom pipe, text and email confirmations arrived instantly. AHS scheduled a next-day service appointment five minutes after the confirmations arrived. The covered repairs took only two hours. The only out-of-pocket cost was the service call fee. 

Our rating: 4.3
Monthly cost: $44–$47

We recommend Select Home Warranty for homeowners looking for minimal coverage at a reasonable price point. The company provides plans under $48 per month and service fees of $60–$75 per claim, some of the industry’s lowest prices.

We scored Select Home Warranty 4.3 out of 5 stars in our review standards. Here’s how we rated it in key categories.

• Coverage (3.7 out of 5): Select received a low rating due to its coverage caps, which are below industry standards.
• Value (5.5 out of 5): Select received a perfect score for its cost-effective pricing.    
• Trustworthiness and Transparency (4.5 out of 5): We deducted points due to its lower review scores across multiple third-party review sites. 
• Availability and Service (4.3 out of 5): Select lost points due to its slower claim process than other reviewed providers.

Select Home Warranty offers three plan options: Bronze Care, Gold Care, and Platinum Care. After we reviewed the Select Home Warranty’s sample contract, we discovered each plan includes free roof-leak coverage, which is a rarity in the home warranty industry. Most companies require additional fees for this coverage.  Platinum Care offers combined appliance and systems coverage for less than $48 monthly. This is one of the lowest costs we’ve seen for comprehensive home coverage.

However, the trade-off for lower premiums is reduced coverage caps. While Select offers a $3,000 limit for HVAC, all other appliances and systems receive $500 max. 

Here are full details on Select Home Warranty’s coverage plans:

• Bronze Care: This appliance-only plan includes dishwashers, garbage disposals, and stoves. You receive a $500 coverage limit for each appliance. 
• Gold Care: This system-only plan covers essential home systems, including HVAC, electrical systems, and water heaters. The coverage limit for HVAC is $3,000, but all other systems are capped at only $500.
• Platinum Care: The highest plan tier combines the Bronze and Gold Care plans and includes plumbing stoppages and ceiling fans. All coverage caps remain the same. 

Select offers annual and monthly plan options, which is typical for most home warranty companies. Annual options also include two free months of service. A service call fee of $60–$75 is assigned to your account, limiting your pricing options. However, Select offers lower service call fees compared to its competitors. 

See below for a breakdown of Select Home Warranty’s coverage pricing:

Select has nine add-on options with pricing ranging from $3.33–$8.33, lower than other reviewed companies. However, there’s a $400 coverage limit for add-on items, which is lower than the $500 industry standard.  

Additional add-on coverage includes the following items: 

• Central vacuums
• Pools
• Septic pumps 
• Standalone freezers

Through conversations with Select’s customer service, we learned they prefer handling plan issues and claims by phone rather than online. They dispatch technicians from their approved network but will allow customers to choose their own provider if none are available locally, pending Select’s approval.

Our rating: 4.6
Monthly cost: $47–$87

We recommend First American Home Warranty for homeowners seeking coverage for their high-end appliances. The company offers appliance caps ranging from $3,500–$7,000, plus coverage plans starting at $47 per month. 

We scored First American Home Warranty 4.6 out of 5 stars in our review standards. Here’s how we rated it in key categories.

• Coverage (4.7 out of 5): First American received high scores for its unlimited system caps and high appliance limits. 
• Value (4 out of 5): First American lost points due to its slightly higher service call fees.
• Trustworthiness and Transparency (4.8 out of 5): First American scored well due to its high customer review scores and excellent brand reputation. 
• Availability and Service (4.3 out of 5): First American lost points for its restrictive service technician policy.

First American Home Warranty offers three plan options: the Starter Plan, Essential Plan, and Premium Plan. After analyzing the First American’s sample contract, the company doesn’t offer appliance-only or system-plus plans. Each plan tier includes varying levels of comprehensive coverage, leading to higher premium costs.

In addition, the company excludes some essential items, including clothes washers, dryers, and air conditioners, from its Starter Plan. You must move to a more expensive plan to get coverage. The First American Upgrade can be added at no cost to the Essential and Premium plans, providing coverage for preexisting conditions and damage.

Here are more details about First American’s plan coverage:

• Starter Plan: The lowest comprehensive plan covers some appliances and systems, such as cooktops, heating systems, and refrigerators. Appliances are covered up to $3,500, while systems have unlimited coverage.
• Essential Plan: The next plan tier includes Starter Plan coverage and adds items, including air conditioning, clothes dryers, and washing machines. All coverage caps remain the same. 
• Premium Plan: The highest plan includes Essential Plan items, adding luxury appliances, roof leaks, and window air conditioning units. The unlimited systems coverage remains the same, but appliance coverage doubles to $7,000.

First American provides flexible service call fees, offering more options for customized pricing.  Our sample quote included options for a  $75, $100, or $125 service call fee. Our premium increased or decreased depending on our selected service call fee. We received the largest premium discount with the highest service call fee. First American charges a $2 processing fee if you choose monthly premiums. You avoid this fee by choosing an annual premium.

Below is an overview of First American Home Warranty costs:

First American includes 12 add-on options, with pricing ranging from $2.08–$20.83. Adding roof-leak coverage to the Starter Plan and Essential Plan costs  $8.33, which is midrange compared to other providers. If you want central air conditioning coverage for the Starter Plan, you’ll add $8.33 to your monthly premium.  

First American offers additional add-ons, such as:

• HVAC tune-ups
• Septic tank pumping/system
• Up to two pools/spa equipment
• Water Softener

We tested the First American claim process with a team member who had an active plan. He submitted a claim to fix a broken garage door opener. After completing his online submission on a Friday, he received a text 30 minutes later with his technician’s details. The technician then called to schedule a repair visit for the following Monday. Repairs took less than 30 minutes, and he only paid the service call fee. 

Our rating: 4.6
Monthly cost: $36–$96

We recommend America’s First Choice Home Warranty (AFC Home Warranty) for homeowners who want the best plan flexibility and customization. The company offers four coverage plans, three service call fees, and 13 add-on options, offering more variety than other reviewed providers. 

We scored AFC Home Warranty 4.6 out of 5 stars in our review standards. Here’s how we rated it in key categories.

• Coverage (4.3 out of 5): AFC Home Warranty lost points for its depreciated value coverage, which lowers the claim payout amount for older items.
• Value (4.5 out of 5): AFC Home Warranty received a high score for its extensive coverage plan options and flexible service fees. 
• Trustworthiness and Transparency (4.8 out of 5): AFC Home Warranty scored well for its unlimited workmanship guarantee.  
• Availability and Service (5 out of 5): AFC Home Warranty received a perfect score for its flexible service technician policy.

AFC Home Warranty offers four plan options: the Silver Plan, the Gold Plan, the Platinum Plan, and the Diamond Plan. We read the AFC Home Warranty’s sample contract and learned that the company offers an unlimited workmanship guarantee, the longest of this review. You receive roof-leak protection on every plan with a no-cost add-on feature.  Coverage includes $3,000 for appliances and varying limits for systems. However, AFC Home Warranty adjusts its payout for items five years or older. 

We’ll explain each plan offered by AFC Home Warranty below:

• Silver Plan: This appliance-only plan protects nine appliances, including cooktops, dishwashers, and refrigerators. You receive a $3,000 coverage cap for covered appliances. 
• Gold Plan: The next plan provides comprehensive system and appliance protection for 15 items, including air conditioning, heating, and plumbing. Coverage caps remain the same for appliances but vary between systems. 
• Platinum Plan: This plan extends coverage to 20 systems and appliances, such as built-in microwaves and ice makers. Coverage caps remain the same.  
• Diamond Plan: The highest plan includes Platinum coverage plus coverage for electronics and external sewer and water lines. Note: The Diamond Plan is unavailable in AK, CA, HI, MT, MS, NC, NJ, UT, VA, WA, WV, or WI.

AFC Home Warranty warranty pricing falls on the high end for comprehensive plans, placing it closer to American Home Shield. The company offers a $75, $100, or $125 service call fee.  It’s one of the few companies offering annual and monthly plans and a three-year plan option. Our sample contract included a $100 discount for a one-year plan and $250 off for a three-year premium. 

We’ve detailed AFC Home Warranty’s costs and fees below:

AFC Home Warranty offers 13 add-on options, with costs from $25 to $150 per year. The company offers annual rates for its add-ons but offers a cost breakdown when using the online quote tool. For example, adding septic system coverage for $50/year added $4.17 to our estimated monthly premium. The one exception is the electronics add-on, which costs $24.99 monthly, adding almost $300 to your plan. 

Below are some add-on coverage options offered:

• Double ovens
• Ice makers
• Septic systems
• Standalone freezers

We learned that AFC Home Warranty is one of the few providers allowing you to select your service technician. In addition, AFC Home Warranty offers some exclusive membership perks not found with other providers. The company offers several unique services, such as emergency alert services, free credit monitoring, and identity protection.