American Home Shield vs Select Home Warranty
Premium coverage and high caps vs a low-cost, promotion-driven plan
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The verdict
9.4/10 vs 9.1/10
American Home Shield is the stronger pick for most people - Up to $4,000 per appliance (ShieldPlatinum). Full reasoning, pricing and the cases where Select Home Warranty wins are below.
| At a glance | American Home Shield | Select Home Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$30-$90/mo by tier (reported) | ~$36-$64/mo before promos |
| Service fee | $100 or $125 (you choose) | ~$60-$75 typical |
| Plans | ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, ShieldPlatinum | Bronze, Gold, Platinum Care |
| Coverage caps | $2,000-$4,000 per appliance; $5,000 HVAC | ~$500 per item; ~$3,000 HVAC per term |
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
One of the lowest-cost plans available, with frequent free-month and free roof coverage promotions
- Bronze, Gold & Platinum Care
- Low starting price
- Free roof leak coverage promo
The full breakdown
American Home Shield vs Select Home 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 Select Home Warranty?
Select Home Warranty has sold plans since about 2012 and competes hard on price. Its three plans - Bronze Care (appliances), Gold Care (systems) and Platinum Care (both, plus extras) - are frequently advertised with free months, dollar-off discounts and free roof leak coverage.
Read the full Select Home Warranty breakdown▾
This review covers what Select includes, what it really costs, the limits in its contract and who it suits.
What you get with Select Home Warranty
- Three plans: Bronze, Gold and Platinum Care
- Frequent promotions: free months, $150 off, free roof coverage
- Low add-on prices (e.g. pool ~$8/mo, well pump ~$3/mo reported)
- Multi-year plan options
- Typical service fee around $60-$75
- Reported per-item caps around $500
Who Select Home Warranty is best for
- Budget-conscious homeowners who mainly want help with smaller repairs
- Homes with newer major systems
- Buyers who will read the limits table before signing
How much does Select Home Warranty cost?
Approximate only. Select's plans are reported at roughly $36-$64 a month before promotions, and around $480-$525 a year with them. Promotional free months typically require paying for the year upfront. The service fee is usually about $60-$75 but Select's own materials describe a range depending on the contract, and the terms list a $75 cancellation fee. Compare the annual total, not just the promotion.
What we like about Select Home Warranty
- Among the lowest prices we track, especially with promotions
- Low-cost add-ons
- Roof leak coverage frequently included free
- Lower typical service fee than many competitors
Worth keeping in mind
- Low per-item caps (around $500 for many items, per third-party reviews)
- Promotional free months require annual prepayment
- BBB B- rating, not accredited, with a high complaint volume
- Reported unavailable in Nevada, Washington and Wisconsin
American Home Shield vs. Select Home Warranty: What’s the Difference?
The key differences to consider when comparing the two providers.
| American Home Shield | Select Home Warranty | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | ~$30-$90/mo by tier (reported) | ~$36-$64/mo before promos |
| Service call fee | $100 or $125 (you choose) | ~$60-$75 typical |
| Plans | ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, ShieldPlatinum | Bronze, Gold, Platinum Care |
| Coverage caps | $2,000-$4,000 per appliance; $5,000 HVAC | ~$500 per item; ~$3,000 HVAC per term |
| Waiting period | 30 days | 30 days |
| Not available in | Alaska, Hawaii | Nevada, Washington, Wisconsin (reported) |
| In business since | 1971 | 2012 |
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 and Select sit at opposite ends of the market. AHS charges more but offers some of the highest caps and broadest top-tier coverage in the industry.
Select is one of the cheapest options, especially with its frequent promotions, but its limits are low. Here's how they compare.
The quick answer
Go with American Home Shield if you want
- Up to $4,000 per appliance (ShieldPlatinum)
- $5,000 HVAC limit
- Founded 1971
Select Home Warranty makes more sense if you want
- Much lower starting price
- Free months and roof coverage promos
- Lower service fee
Had to pick one for most people? American Home Shield. The numbers and customer feedback below are why - and where Select Home Warranty wins instead.
American Home Shield vs Select: FAQs
Which is better, American Home Shield vs Select?
American Home Shield wins for anyone worried about a big repair: its appliance caps of $2,000-$4,000 and $5,000 HVAC limit dwarf Select's reported ~$500 per-item caps. Select is the budget pick for homeowners who mainly want help with smaller repairs and accept the limits.
Which has better coverage, American Home Shield or Select Home Warranty?
AHS's appliance and HVAC caps are several times higher than the limits reported for Select.
Is American Home Shield cheaper than Select Home Warranty?
Select's prices and promotions make it one of the cheapest plans available; AHS's top tier costs considerably more.
Top-tier extras: American Home Shield or Select Home Warranty?
ShieldPlatinum adds permits and code-violation coverage, roof leak repair and an HVAC tune-up.
Which has the better reputation, American Home Shield or Select Home Warranty?
AHS is BBB-accredited and has a long track record; Select is not BBB-accredited and its BBB file shows a high complaint volume.
Related Comparisons
Sources & methodology
We built this comparison of American Home Shield and Select Home 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
- Select Home 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.