01Recommended
Old Republic Home Protection
Customer satisfaction
- Comprehensive plans
- High HVAC and appliance caps
17 Best Home Warranty Companies of 2026
Old Republic Home Protection is the best fit for homeowners who want high payout caps and a straightforward comprehensive plan, American Home Shield for broad systems and appliance coverage with flexible service-fee options, and Elite Home Warranty for high-end appliances with higher payout limits. Decide which systems or appliances you actually need covered, then compare the service fee, payout caps and exclusions before buying.
Fact-checkedOur top 3 picks
Independent picks from our 2026 ranking. No paid placements.
02Best overall coverage
American Home Shield
Systems and appliance coverage
- Three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum
- $4,000 to $6,000 per-appliance caps
03Best for high-end systems
Elite Home Warranty
High-end appliances
- Three plans: Appliance, Systems and Complete
- High per-item payout caps
Advertiser disclosure RaveReviews may earn a commission from links on this page. That never influences our scores or rankings. How we make money.
The RaveReviews AlgorithmSources, weights and method
How the score works
We collect published rankings in this category, normalize each placement to a 0–100 scale, weight the sources by category fit and recency, and average only the lists where a provider appears. The result is divided by 10 and rounded to one decimal.
- 01Collect the source rankings.
- 02Normalize every position.
- 03Weight the sources.
- 04Calculate the RaveReviews Algorithm score.
Scoring factors
- Coverage30%
- Service fees25%
- Price20%
- Contractors15%
- Reputation10%
Sources used
Last reviewed 2026-11-02. 6 sources contributed to this ranking.
The ranking at a glanceScores, chart and shortlist shape
Score curve
How the top 10 scores fall from first to tenth.
#1#5#10
Top scores
The first five, scored out of 10.
What you need to know before you choose.
Compare home warranty plans on the service fee, per-item payout caps and what the contract excludes, not just the monthly premium. The cheapest plan can cost more once a claim is denied or a cap limits the repair.
Read the coverage exclusions before buying. A low monthly premium can be undermined by a high service fee, a long waiting period or an exclusion for the system you actually need to replace. Confirm the per-item and aggregate payout caps, and check whether pre-existing conditions or improper installation are covered.
What the research says.
This shortlist is built from published rankings, not a single editor's opinion. Here is the evidence behind the score.
17options reviewed
5.0average score
8.6top score
6authority sources
The home should be the treasure chest of living.
Key insights
17options reviewed
Compared on value, features, ease, support and reputation.
5weighted ranking factors
The same published model across every category.
0paid placements
Compensation never changes a score or a rank.
Home & Living options ranked
17 options, scored on value, features, ease of use, support and reputation.
Old Republic Home Protection
RecommendedBest customer satisfaction- Comprehensive plans
- High HVAC and appliance caps
- HVAC tune-ups on the Elite plan
American Home Shield
Best overall coverage- Three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum
- $4,000 to $6,000 per-appliance caps
- Roof leak repair add-on
Elite Home Warranty
Best for high-end systems- Three plans: Appliance, Systems and Complete
- High per-item payout caps
- Premium appliance add-ons
Liberty Home Guard
Best for customization- Three plans: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard and Total Home Guard
- 40+ coverage riders
- 360-day workmanship warranty
HomeServe
Best for older homes- Modular plumbing and drainage plans
- Heating and cooling plans
- Home protection bundles
AFC Home Warranty
Best workmanship guarantee- Four plans: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond
- $3,000 per-appliance cap
- $50,000 aggregate coverage
ARW Home
Best for month-to-month- Three plans: Kitchen Plus, Platinum and Platinum Premier
- Optional water, sewer and electronics plans
- Flat $125 service fee
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Best budget pick- Appliance-only and comprehensive plans
- $15,000 total HVAC coverage
- Rust, corrosion and sediment coverage
Cinch Home Services
Best overall value- Repair-only, repair-and-replace and premier plans
- 180-day workmanship guarantee
- Rust and corrosion coverage
America’s Preferred Home Warranty
Best for contractor choice- Basic plan with upgraded options
- Contractor freedom
- Roof leak add-on
The Home Service Club
Best for home sales- Standard and Comprehensive plans
- 18 or 33 covered items
- Real Estate Home Warranty plan
First American Home Warranty
Best for high payouts- Three plans: Starter, Essential and Premium
- $3,500 to $7,000 appliance caps
- Seasonal HVAC tune-ups on Premium
Choice Home Warranty
Best for fast claims- Basic and Total plans
- $3,000 per-item cap
- 90-day parts and 60-day labor guarantee
Regency Total Warranty
Best for technicians- Two home warranty plans
- Systems and appliance coverage
- Optional add-on coverage
First Premier Home Warranty
Best for affordable comprehensive- Premier and Platinum plans
- Combined systems and appliance coverage
- High appliance caps for the price
Select Home Warranty
Best for roof coverage- Bronze Care, Gold Care and Platinum Care plans
- $3,000 HVAC cap
- Roof leak coverage included
Home Warranty of America
Best for eco-friendly replacements- Select and Select Plus plans
- GreenPlus eco upgrade
- OrangePlus add-on
Old Republic combines high customer satisfaction scores with strong claims handling and high HVAC and appliance caps.
8.6RaveReviews Algorithm
Compare the top options
The details that matter most, in one view.
| Offer | Old Republic Home Protection | American Home Shield | Elite Home Warranty | Liberty Home Guard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RaveReviews Algorithm | 8.6 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 6.8 |
| Best for | Customer satisfaction | Systems and appliance coverage | High-end appliances | Customization |
| Price | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Highlight | Comprehensive plans | Three plans: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum | Three plans: Appliance, Systems and Complete | Three plans: Appliance Guard, Systems Guard and Total Home Guard |
Showing the top 4 of 17 options. See every ranked option.
The questions buyers actually ask
Clear answers to the decisions that come after the shortlist.
What is the best choice in home warranty companies?
If you want the short answer, start with Old Republic Home Protection. It earned a 8.6 out of 10 in our 2026 ranking, and it is the option we would shortlist first for customer satisfaction. That does not mean it is the right choice for every reader. It means it is the most defensible place to begin.
The ranking is a shortlist, not a finish line. The right option depends on the job you need done, the total cost after fees and the support you will actually use. American Home Shield is the stronger fit for systems and appliance coverage. Elite Home Warranty is worth a close look for high-end appliances. Start with the top pick, then compare the runner-up on the details that change your decision.
Most buyers do not need the longest feature list. They need a clear answer to a smaller question. What will this cost over a year? What happens when something goes wrong? Can I leave without a penalty? Those questions separate a good shortlist from a good decision.
How did we rank home warranty companies?
We used the same five-factor model across this category. Coverage at 30%, service fees at 25%, price at 20%, contractors at 15%, reputation at 10%. The weights are published because a score without a method is just a vibe with a decimal point.
The process starts with the evidence a buyer can actually check. We review provider materials, published pricing, contract terms and the support model. Then we compare the details that tend to cause regret later. A low headline price does not count for much if the service fee, cancellation term or coverage limit undoes it.
We also separate popularity from quality. A brand can be everywhere and still be a poor fit for your situation. The ranking rewards fit, not advertising spend. That is why the top pick may not be the most famous name on the page.
What should you look for in home warranty companies?
Start with the features that affect your actual use case. For Old Republic Home Protection, the relevant details include comprehensive plans, high hvac and appliance caps, hvac tune-ups on the elite plan. Those are not decoration. They are the parts of the product that determine whether it works on a normal Tuesday, not just on the day you sign up.
Then look at the terms. Price is easy to compare. Contract length, service fees, cancellation rules, support hours and eligibility are harder. They are also where most of the real cost hides. Ask for the total annual cost, not the monthly teaser. Ask what happens if you need to cancel, move or change the plan.
Finally, check the track record. A provider that answers a sales call quickly may be slow when you need help. Read recent reviews, look for patterns and ask how disputes are handled. The best time to learn how a company behaves is before you depend on it.
How much do home warranty companies cost?
Old Republic Home Protection starts at Varies plans from about $45/mo; $100–$125 service fee. American Home Shield starts at Varies plans from $29.99 to $89.99/mo; $100–$125 service fee. Elite Home Warranty starts at Varies plans from $44.99 to $58.99/mo; $70–$100 service fee. Those prices are a starting point, not a full budget. The final number depends on the plan, the contract, the add-ons and where you live.
Here is the part most shoppers miss. The cheapest monthly price is often the most expensive decision. A low rate with a long contract, a large service fee or a narrow coverage set can cost more than a higher headline price with clean terms. Compare the total cost over the period you expect to use the product.
Set a budget before you compare. Then decide which features are worth paying for. If you cannot explain why an upgrade matters to your actual use, it is probably not an upgrade. It is a sales feature.
Which option is best for customer satisfaction?
Old Republic Home Protection is the pick here because old republic combines high customer satisfaction scores with strong claims handling and high hvac and appliance caps.. It is not the cheapest option in the category, and it is not trying to be. It is the option that makes the fewest compromises where the decision matters most.
That recommendation comes with a condition. If your priority is different, the ranking should change. A reader who needs the lowest possible upfront cost should look at the value pick. A reader who needs hands-on support should pay attention to service quality. The best answer is always relative to the job.
Use the top pick as a benchmark. Compare every other option against it on price, terms and the one feature you cannot do without. If another option wins on those three points, it deserves a closer look.
What should you verify before you buy?
Verify the total cost, not the promotional price. Ask for the monthly cost after any introductory period ends. Ask about setup fees, service fees, cancellation fees and anything that changes when you add a user, a location or a feature. The number you see in an ad is rarely the number you will pay in month twelve.
Verify the terms that are easy to miss. Contract length, renewal rules, data practices and support hours matter more than most buyers expect. If the provider cannot explain them clearly before the sale, assume the answer will be harder to get afterward.
Verify the fit with your actual workflow. A demo can make any product look simple. A free trial or a short pilot can show you what the product feels like on a normal day. Use the trial to test the one feature you need most. That is a better use of time than touring every menu.
What should you do next?
Start with the top pick and read the full review. Then compare the runner-up on the three details that matter most to you. If you are still unsure, use the comparison table and the methodology on this page. The goal is not to keep researching forever. The goal is to make a decision you can explain.
Before you sign up, confirm the current price, the contract term and the cancellation policy directly with the provider. Prices change. Terms change. A ranking can point you in the right direction, but the final check has to happen at the source.
If this ranking helped you narrow the list, stop there. A shortlist of two or three good options is enough. The best decision is the one you can act on with confidence, not the one that keeps you in the research phase for another month.
Who wrote and reviewed this ranking
Every ranking has a named editor and a separate quality review before publication.
David Krug
Head of Content
David leads the RaveReviews editorial team, turning research into clear comparisons and useful guides. He oversees content strategy, testing standards and the final read on every ranking.
LinkedIn
Annie Membreve
Head of Quality Control
Annie runs quality control at RaveReviews, checking sourcing, scoring and the details readers rely on. She reviews every ranking before publication and manages corrections.
TikTokFrequently asked questions
Is a home warranty the same as homeowners insurance?
No. Homeowners insurance covers damage from events such as fire or storms. A home warranty is a service contract for repairing or replacing systems and appliances that fail from normal wear.
What is a service fee?
A service fee is the amount you pay when a covered item needs a repair or replacement. It is separate from the monthly premium and varies by plan.
Can I choose my own contractor?
Some providers allow it and some require their network. Check the terms before buying if contractor choice matters to you.
Keep comparing
More rankings and guides for the decision in front of you.