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4 Best Home Warranty Companies Of 2023


One of the biggest costs of owning a home is maintenance. If your water heater starts acting suspiciously or your fridge suddenly malfunctions, you might be looking at a hefty repair or replacement bill.

For a relatively low monthly fee, a home warranty can save you this type of trouble, covering the cost of those repairs or replacing broken items. Unlike homeowners insurance, which focuses on unexpected disasters or accidents, a home warranty covers events that may be expected, such as normal wear and tear. Depending on the coverage you choose, it can protect your home’s most vital systems, such as HVAC and plumbing, your most used appliances — or both. Often, you can even add your expensive electronics to the policy.

CNBC Select analyzed dozens of home warranty companies based on several factors and chose the best options, whether you’re looking for the most comprehensive coverage, great customer service or something budget-friendly. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best home warranty providers.)

Best home warranty companies

Best overall

American Home Shield

  • Plans available

  • State coverage exclusions

    Alaska, New York City, Hawaii

  • Service fee

  • Membership benefits

    Maintenance services, plumbing installation, HVAC upgrade discounts, rekeying, tech installation and support (benefits vary by plan)

Pros

  • Maintenance benefits
  • Option to choose your own contractor
  • Comprehensive coverage
  • Roof leak repair included in the highest-tier plan

Cons

  • Comprehensive coverage can be expensive

Who’s this for? American Home Shield can be an excellent option for many types of homeowners thanks to its customization options and additional membership benefits. The provider offers three plans, so you can cover your HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems and add kitchen and laundry appliances. The most comprehensive plan also comes with roof leak repair, which is rare for home warranties. Further, you can opt to include add-ons, such as for your home electronics, pool and spa equipment, guest or rental unit and more.

Standout benefits: Membership benefits include maintenance services, such as HVAC upgrade discounts and seasonal maintenance, rekeying, plumbing installation and maintenance services and tech installation and support. Benefits vary by plan.

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Runner-up

America’s First Choice Home Club

  • Plans available

  • State coverage exclusions

  • Service fee

  • Membership benefits

    Discounts on insurance, home security, electronics coverage, household goods and more

Pros

  • Four plan options
  • Option to choose your own contractor
  • Many customizations available
  • Access to discounts
  • Repair guarantee for the life of the membership

Cons

  • No coverage for unknown preexisting conditions for systems and appliances

Who’s this for? America’s First Choice (AFC) Home Club is another great pick for customizing your home warranty policy to fit your needs. You can choose from four plans, protecting the most common household systems or appliances — or combining these coverages, as well as adding extras such as fans, ice makers and others. Examples of add-ons include electronics, pool and spa, roof leak repair and central vacuum.

Standout benefits: AFC is an insurance marketplace and you might be able to find insurance discounts, including for home and auto insurance (in certain states), life insurance and pet insurance, among other coverage types. Additionally, you can unlock discounts on home security, electronics coverage, parts and home goods.

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Best for customer satisfaction

Liberty Home Guard

  • Plans available

  • State coverage exclusions

  • Service fee

  • Membership benefits

    Discounts on appliances and for additional policies, referral incentives

Pros

  • Affordable plans
  • High customer satisfaction
  • Access to discounts
  • Many add-on options

Cons

  • No coverage for unknown preexisting conditions

Who’s this for? If you prefer to rely on customer reviews when choosing financial products, Liberty Home Guard is worth looking into. The company has an A rating with Better Business Bureau (BBB) — the highest of all providers on our list.

Standout benefits: Liberty Home Guard offers three simple plans and a variety of add-ons to customize your coverage. According to the company’s website, the plans start at less than $1 per day. There are many opportunities to save with Liberty Home Guard, including discounts on appliances, discounts for buying home warranties for multiple properties as well as referral incentives.

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Best for affordable plans

Select Home Warranty

  • Plans available

  • State coverage exclusions

  • Service fee

  • Membership benefits

Pros

  • Affordable plans
  • Generous discounts
  • Low service fees

Cons

  • Can’t choose your own technician

Who’s this for? Select Home Warranty could be a good choice if your primary goal is to save on your home warranty. The company offers affordable plans and advertises promotions, such as $150 off any plan, two extra months free of charge and even free roof coverage. It also has lower service fees than other providers.

Standout benefits: Select Home Warranty can be a budget-friendly option — but it doesn’t provide any additional benefits.

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More on our top home warranty companies

American Home Shield

America’s First Choice Home Club

Liberty Home Guard

Select Home Warranty

FAQs

Is a home warranty worth it?

A home warranty can be worth it to financially protect your home’s systems and appliances — unless they’re still covered by manufacturer warranties.

What is a service call fee?

A service call fee is the fee you pay each time a contracted technician comes to your home after you submit a claim.

Is a home warranty required?

Is a home warranty the same as home insurance?

A home warranty is different from home insurance as it covers repairs and replacements of systems and appliances in your home that happen due to normal wear and tear, while home insurance covers damage to the home and its contents due to covered perils, such as natural disasters or burglary.

Bottom line

A home warranty can bring peace of mind by providing financial protection for the systems and appliances in your home. However, offers can vary greatly by company, so it’s essential to shop around. Compare plans from different providers, as well as any extra benefits they advertise. Pick several companies and contact them for quotes to find coverage that works for you.

Why trust CNBC Select?

Our methodology

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.





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