American Home Shield vs The Home Service Club
Industry leader vs a smaller, no-age-limit plan
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The verdict
9.4/10 vs 8.3/10
American Home Shield is the stronger pick for most people - $5,000 HVAC cap. Full reasoning, pricing and the cases where The Home Service Club wins are below.
| At a glance | American Home Shield | The Home Service Club |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$30-$90/mo by tier (reported) | ~$54-$67/mo |
| Service fee | $100 or $125 (you choose) | ~$65-$125 |
| Plans | ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, ShieldPlatinum | Standard, Comprehensive |
| Coverage caps | $2,000-$4,000 per appliance; $5,000 HVAC | $300-$2,000 per item; $6,000-$9,000 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
Two straightforward plans with no age limit on covered systems and appliances
- Standard & Comprehensive plans
- No age limit on covered items
- Up to 33 covered items
The full breakdown
American Home Shield vs The Home Service Club: 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 The Home Service Club?
The Home Service Club has sold home warranties since around 2008-2009. Its pitch is simplicity and inclusiveness: two plans - Standard (18 items) and Comprehensive (33 items) - and no age limit on covered systems and appliances.
Read the full The Home Service Club breakdown▾
This review covers its plans, cost, limits and who it suits.
What you get with The Home Service Club
- Standard (18 items) and Comprehensive (33 items) plans
- No age limit on covered systems and appliances
- Per-item caps mostly $300-$2,000
- Annual aggregate cap of ~$6,000 (Standard) or ~$9,000 (Comprehensive)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Online and phone claims
Who The Home Service Club is best for
- Homes with very old systems or appliances
- Homeowners who want a long covered-item list
- Buyers who understand and accept the caps
How much does The Home Service Club cost?
Approximate only.
Full pricing details▾
The Standard plan has been listed from about $54 a month ($650 a year) and Comprehensive from about $67 a month ($799 a year). Service fees range from about $65 to $125.
Confirm current pricing on the company's site.
Standard
18 systems and appliances including HVAC, plumbing, refrigerator, washer/dryer
Listed
- ~$6,000 annual cap
Comprehensive
33 systems and appliances
Listed
- ~$9,000 annual cap
What we like about The Home Service Club
- No age limit on covered items
- Simple two-plan structure
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Comprehensive plan covers a long item list
Worth keeping in mind
- Low per-item caps, plus an annual aggregate cap
- Recent Trustpilot snapshots are low
- Complaints about low cash-out offers and slow refunds
- Waiting period and state details not clearly published
American Home Shield vs. The Home Service Club: What’s the Difference?
The key differences to consider when comparing the two providers.
| American Home Shield | The Home Service Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$30-$90/mo by tier (reported) | ~$54-$67/mo |
| Service call fee | $100 or $125 (you choose) | ~$65-$125 |
| Plans | ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, ShieldPlatinum | Standard, Comprehensive |
| Coverage caps | $2,000-$4,000 per appliance; $5,000 HVAC | $300-$2,000 per item; $6,000-$9,000 per year |
| Waiting period | 30 days | 30 days (reported) |
| Not available in | Alaska, Hawaii | None reported |
| In business since | 1971 | ~2008 |
So which one should you pick?
Find the line that sounds like you - that’s your answer.
Here’s the short version
American Home Shield is the largest home warranty company in the US; The Home Service Club is a smaller provider that stands out for covering items regardless of age. Here's how they compare.
The quick answer
Go with American Home Shield if you want
- $5,000 HVAC cap
- Up to $4,000 per appliance
- BBB accredited
The Home Service Club makes more sense if you want
- No age limit on items
- Simple two-plan lineup
- Comparable mid-range price
Had to pick one for most people? American Home Shield. The numbers and customer feedback below are why - and where The Home Service Club wins instead.
American Home Shield vs The Home Service Club: FAQs
Which is better, American Home Shield vs The Home Service Club?
American Home Shield wins clearly on caps, plan options and reputation. The Home Service Club is only worth considering if you have very old equipment and accept its low per-item and annual limits.
Which has better coverage, American Home Shield or The Home Service Club?
AHS's caps are substantially higher than The Home Service Club's mostly $300-$2,000 item limits.
Older equipment: American Home Shield or The Home Service Club?
The Home Service Club covers items regardless of age.
Which has the better reputation, American Home Shield or The Home Service Club?
AHS has a long track record and BBB accreditation; recent Home Service Club reviews are largely negative.
Plan options: American Home Shield or The Home Service Club?
AHS offers three tiers and a long add-on list.
Related Comparisons
Sources & methodology
We built this comparison of American Home Shield and The Home Service Club 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
- The Home Service Club - 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.