American Home Shield vs 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Sister brands under Frontdoor - a home warranty leader vs a structural-warranty specialist
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The verdict
9.4/10 vs 8.1/10
American Home Shield is the stronger pick for most people - Higher appliance and HVAC caps. Full reasoning, pricing and the cases where 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty wins are below.
| At a glance | American Home Shield | 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$30-$90/mo by tier (reported) | From ~$27-$35/mo |
| Service fee | $100 or $125 (you choose) | $65-$125 |
| Plans | ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, ShieldPlatinum | Systems & combo tiers (check site) |
| Coverage caps | $2,000-$4,000 per appliance; $5,000 HVAC | $2,000 per core system; $25,000 per year |
Prices are the providers’ published rates at our last verification - confirm the final figure at checkout, as offers change. How we verify prices
The industry's oldest home warranty company - three plan tiers, a choice of service fee and some of the highest coverage caps
- ShieldSilver, Gold & Platinum
- Up to $5,000 HVAC coverage
- Choose a $100 or $125 fee
A structural-warranty specialist owned by Frontdoor, with low-cost home warranty plans for buyers and homeowners
- Low starting price
- $25,000 annual coverage limit
- Builder & real-estate expertise
The full breakdown
American Home Shield vs 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty: a closer look at each
Both are credible providers in this category, and the right pick comes down to fit. So instead of crowning a “winner,” here’s the real rundown on each - what you get, what it actually costs, and what real customers are saying - so you can pick the one that fits you.
What is American Home Shield?
American Home Shield (AHS) has been selling home warranties since 1971 and is owned by Frontdoor, Inc., a publicly traded company that also owns 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty. AHS offers three main tiers - ShieldSilver for systems, ShieldGold to add appliances, and ShieldPlatinum for the broadest coverage - plus a menu of add-ons.
Read the full American Home Shield breakdown▾
This review covers what each tier includes, what it costs, the caps that matter and who AHS suits best.
What you get with American Home Shield
- Three tiers: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, ShieldPlatinum
- Appliance caps of $2,000 (Gold) to $4,000 (Platinum) per item
- $5,000 HVAC limit
- ShieldPlatinum adds roof leak repair, an HVAC tune-up and permits/code coverage
- Choose a $100 or $125 service fee
- Online, app and phone claims
Who American Home Shield is best for
- Homeowners who want the highest limits and broadest coverage
- Older homes where code upgrades and permits could come up
- Anyone who values a long track record over the lowest price
How much does American Home Shield cost?
Approximate only - AHS prices vary by address and promotion.
Full pricing details▾
Reported ranges are roughly $30-$40 a month for ShieldSilver, $50-$60 for ShieldGold and $80-$90 for ShieldPlatinum. You choose a $100 or $125 service fee per request (a higher fee lowers the premium).
Add-ons such as pool/spa, well pump and septic are reported at roughly $5-$18 a month each. AHS runs rotating promotions, so check the current offer.
ShieldSilver
14 home systems - heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, water heater and more
Reported
- Systems only
ShieldGold
ShieldSilver + 9 kitchen and laundry appliances
Reported
- Systems + appliances
- $2,000 per appliance
ShieldPlatinum
ShieldGold + roof leak, HVAC tune-up, permits & code violations
Reported
- $4,000 per appliance
- Roof leak up to $1,000
What we like about American Home Shield
- Some of the highest coverage caps in the industry
- Top tier covers permits and code upgrades - a common source of denials elsewhere
- 50+ years in business under a publicly traded parent
- Choice of service fee to balance premium and per-visit cost
Worth keeping in mind
- ShieldPlatinum is among the more expensive plans we track
- Using your own contractor requires prior approval
- Not available in Alaska or Hawaii
- Low BBB customer review average despite accreditation
What is 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty?
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty has operated since around 1980 and is best known for new-home structural warranties that builders provide to buyers. In December 2024, Frontdoor, Inc. - the parent of American Home Shield - completed its $585 million acquisition of 2-10.
Read the full 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty breakdown▾
The company also sells home warranties covering systems and appliances through agents and directly. This review covers those plans, what they cost and who they suit.
What you get with 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
- Home warranty plans for systems and appliances
- Reported $2,000 cap per core system (heating, AC, plumbing, electrical)
- Reported $25,000 annual aggregate limit
- Service fee options of about $65-$125
- Network of 6,000+ independent contractors
- Owned by Frontdoor, Inc. since 2024
Who 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty is best for
- Buyers of new construction whose builder uses 2-10
- Home buyers offered a 2-10 plan at closing
- Budget shoppers who accept lower caps
How much does 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty cost?
Approximate only. Reported starting prices are around $27-$35 a month, with service fee options from about $65 to $125. Plan names and prices vary by source and state, so check 2-10's site for your address. Cancellation within 30 days is refunded minus claim costs; after that, refunds are prorated minus an admin fee and claim costs (terms vary by state).
What we like about 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
- Low starting price
- Decades of experience in builder and real estate warranties
- Backed by Frontdoor, Inc.
- Waiting period waived for renewals and real estate coverage
Worth keeping in mind
- Modest $2,000 caps on core systems
- Small, mostly negative Trustpilot sample
- Reported unavailable in six states
- Plan names and details are hard to pin down
American Home Shield vs. 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty: What’s the Difference?
The key differences to consider when comparing the two providers.
| American Home Shield | 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$30-$90/mo by tier (reported) | From ~$27-$35/mo |
| Service call fee | $100 or $125 (you choose) | $65-$125 |
| Plans | ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, ShieldPlatinum | Systems & combo tiers (check site) |
| Coverage caps | $2,000-$4,000 per appliance; $5,000 HVAC | $2,000 per core system; $25,000 per year |
| Waiting period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Not available in | Alaska, Hawaii | AK, HI, NH, OK, WI, WY (reported) |
| In business since | 1971 | ~1980 |
So which one should you pick?
Find the line that sounds like you - that’s your answer.
Here’s the short version
Since December 2024, American Home Shield and 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty have shared a parent company, Frontdoor, Inc. They remain separate brands: AHS is the largest consumer home warranty company, while 2-10 is best known for new-home structural warranties sold through builders.
Here's how their home warranty plans compare.
The quick answer
Go with American Home Shield if you want
- Higher appliance and HVAC caps
- 48-state availability
- Wide add-on menu
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty makes more sense if you want
- Low starting price
- $25,000 annual aggregate
- Strong builder and real-estate presence
Had to pick one for most people? American Home Shield. The numbers and customer feedback below are why - and where 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty wins instead.
American Home Shield vs 2-10: FAQs
Which is better, American Home Shield vs 2-10?
American Home Shield wins for homeowners shopping on their own: higher caps, more add-ons, 48-state availability and a much larger customer record. 2-10 is a reasonable option if a builder or agent offers it, and its starting price is low - but check its caps and state list first.
Which has better coverage, American Home Shield or 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty?
AHS offers $2,000-$4,000 per appliance and $5,000 for HVAC; 2-10 reportedly caps core systems at $2,000 each.
Is American Home Shield cheaper than 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty?
2-10's plans reportedly start around $27-$35 a month, below most AHS tiers.
Which is available in more states, American Home Shield or 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty?
AHS is unavailable only in Alaska and Hawaii; 2-10 is reported unavailable in six states.
Which has the better reputation, American Home Shield or 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty?
AHS has a much larger public customer record; 2-10's Trustpilot sample is small and mostly negative.
Related Comparisons
Sources & methodology
We built this comparison of American Home Shield and 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty from each provider's own published pricing, plans and sample contracts, cross-checked against regulator and public-record sources, and read alongside real customer feedback. Prices and plan details were verified against the provider's published information; we do not take providers' word for their own claims without checking.
Provider information
Pricing, plans, caps and contract terms, checked against each provider's own site.
- American Home Shield - full pricing & plan breakdown
- 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty - full pricing & plan breakdown
Provider data checked October 2026
Customer & community feedback
Third-party signals shown on this page and in our full reviews: Trustpilot ratings and Better Business Bureau records, as captured on the dates we note. We report what these sources say - we never fold their ratings into our own scores.
Regulatory & public-record references
- 1.Attorney General Mayes Announces $11.8 Million Settlement with Choice Home Warranty - Arizona Attorney General - February 2026
- 2.Frontdoor, Inc. Completes Acquisition of 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty - Frontdoor, Inc. via Business Wire - December 2024
- 3.Frontdoor, Inc. Quarterly Report (Form 10-Q), Q2 2026 - U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR)
- 4.American Home Shield plans - American Home Shield
- 5.Choice Home Warranty user agreement - Choice Home Warranty
- 6.Select Home Warranty terms and conditions - Select Home Warranty
- 7.The Home Service Club pricing and plans - The Home Service Club
Last reviewed October 2026. We revisit comparisons when providers change their pricing or policies. This page is information only and is not legal, insurance or financial advice - always read the full contract before buying a plan.