Cheapest home warranty companies 2024

What we like

2-10 Home Buyers Warranty is our top pick for affordable home warranty protection. It also offers a variety of additional coverage options other companies don’t, such as wine cooler protection and coverage upgrades.

Here’s what else we like:

• Charges under $40 per month for its basic appliance plan
• Features unique coverage perks such as appliance color matching
• Provides an unlimited workmanship guarantee

What we don’t like

Although 2-10 offers affordable appliance-only and systems-only coverage plans, its comprehensive plan costs over $60. 

We also dislike the following:

• Adds a 9.5% processing fee for monthly premiums
• Doesn’t offer major system coverage in its base plan
• Excludes clothes washer and dryer protection from its home appliance plan

2-10 offers flexible service call fees, ranging from $65 to $100 per claim. Select the $100 service call fee to obtain the cheapest monthly premium. Choosing a lower service fee will increase your plan premium.

Here are the plan specifics:

• Simply Kitchen ($31–$35 per month): Covers built-in microwaves, dishwashers, ranges, ovens, cooktops, and refrigerators with ice makers and beverage dispensers
• Complete Home ($47–$53 per month): Covers all home appliances listed in the Simply Kitchen, plus central air conditioning and heating, plumbing, and electrical systems

• Pinnacle Home ($61–$68 per month): Covers all items in the Simply Kitchen and Complete Home plans, clothes dryers, washers and its Supreme coverage add-on

Add-on options: 2-10 features extensive add-on coverage options. It offers “frequently purchased together” add-ons, which are combinations of three popular add-ons. Per our quote, expect to pay $23 monthly for washer, dryer, plumbing, electrical and roof-leak coverage.

Other factors that influence coverage: 2-10 provides a solid $2,000 coverage limit per covered item. The company also offers an “Even If” guarantee — this guarantee ensures that you’ll receive a refund for your service call fee, even if the technician determines your item isn’t eligible for repair or replacement.

2-10 has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, it has a low customer rating of 1.3 out of 5 stars. Complaints mostly center on unexpected fine-print surprises and low payouts for repairs.

That said, we saw positive reviews on BBB and other third-party review sites such as Trustpilot. Marie F. on BBB praised 2-10 for replacing her sink with an upgraded model. She also mentioned the quick installation from 2-10’s in-network technicians.

What we like

Liberty Home Guard (LHG) is another home warranty provider that pairs robust coverage with budget-friendly plans.

We also like the following:

• Offers its comprehensive plan for under $60 per month
• Has over 40 unique add-on options
• Includes a 60-day workmanship guarantee for each covered item

What we don’t like

While reading LHG’s sample contract, we noticed it provides lower coverage limits for select systems and add-ons.

Here’s what else we dislike:

• Covers pro-grade appliances only as an add-on
• Lacks service fee transparency 
• Charges an 8% surcharge for annual and monthly premiums

Unlike many home warranty companies, LHG doesn’t offer flexible service call fees. According to a representative we spoke with, its service fee ranges from $65 to $125 per claim.

Below are some plan details:

• Appliance Guard ($49 per month): Covers common home and kitchen appliances such as clothes washers and dryers, garbage disposals and ceiling fans
• Systems Guard ($54 per month): Covers home systems such as air conditioners, heating, electrical and plumbing systems; also covers water heaters

• Total Home Guard ($61–$68 per month): Covers all Appliance and Systems Guard items

Add-on options: Like 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, LHG provides a robust list of additional coverage options. Sump pump coverage costs $9 extra per month, per our quote.

Other factors that influence coverage: LHG provides a $2,000 coverage cap for all items except electrical and plumbing systems. Within the first 90 days, LHG covers up to $250 for repairing or replacing these items. After 90 days, it increases its coverage cap to $500.

LHG has a stellar customer rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on BBB, although its BBB rating is an NR (not rated). Its BBB profile has an alert centered on an alleged increase in customer complaints, such as a lack of response from customer representatives. LHG responded to these claims in March 2024 by stating it plans to hire more customer representatives and provide additional training to existing representatives to better serve customers.

On Trustpilot, LHG also holds high customer ratings. Many positive reviews praise the company’s stellar customer service.

What we like

Elite Home Warranty is another solid pick for affordable home warranty protection. It provides a 90-day workmanship guarantee, comprehensive protection and a low service call fee.

We also like the following:

• Allows you to select your own service technician 
• Charges under $60 per month for its flagship plan
• Covers appliance and system components such as doors, drawers and dials

What we don’t like

While Elite features many of the coverage perks and options of other home warranty companies, it doesn’t provide online pricing. 

We also dislike the following:

• Charges higher service call fees for pro-grade appliances and weekend repair visits
• Excludes major system coverage from its entry-level plan
• Won’t provide its workmanship guarantee for out-of-network technicians

Elite offers three coverage plans and a fully custom protection plan that allows you to select each item. Elite pairs its plans with a $70 service call fee, which is lower than the $99 industry average.

Here’s a closer look at the provider’s plans:

• Elite Appliances ($44 per month): Covers major appliances such as dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, ceiling fans and refrigerators
• Elite Systems ($49 per month): Covers eight major systems, including heating, cooling, plumbing stoppages, garage door openers and water heaters

• Elite Complete ($60 per month): Covers everything listed in the Elite Appliances and Systems plans

Add-on options: Like 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty and Liberty Home Guard, Elite offers numerous optional add-ons. Some are unique to Elite, such as limited roof patching and swamp cooler protection.

Other factors that influence coverage: Elite extends a 90-day workmanship guarantee for all completed repairs. Upon reviewing its sample contract, however, we noticed it won’t guarantee repair work from an out-of-network service provider.

Elite features an A+ rating on BBB and a customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars — the highest customer rating of all companies we’ve reviewed. Most customers on BBB give glowing reviews to Elite’s helpful customer service representatives.

Elite features excellent customer reviews on Trustpilot too — many also praise Elite’s customer service. Steve from Trustpilot highlighted how an Elite claims specialist went above and beyond to ensure his refrigerator’s ice maker got fixed.

What we like

First American Home Warranty provides unlimited coverage caps for several major systems, unlike most home warranty providers. However, you pay a higher premium for this type of coverage.

Here’s what else we like:

• Covers up to $7,000 per home appliance
• Includes a coverage upgrade add-on in its midtier and flagship plans
• Offers discounts for wholesale major appliance purchases

What we don’t like

First American only services 35 states, so we consider it the fourth-best choice for affordable home warranties.

We also dislike the following:

• Charges high monthly and annual premiums
• Excludes air conditioning protection from its entry-level system plan
• Requires a $2 handling fee for monthly premiums

First American has three plan options and three service call fees. Its service fees are $75, $100 and $125 per claim. To save on your plan premium, select the highest service fee.

Here’s a closer look at the provider’s plans:

• Starter Plan ($47–$62 per month): Covers a mix of appliances and systems, such as heating systems, ductwork, kitchen range hoods and microwave ovens
• Essential Plan ($57–$72 per month): Covers all items in the Starter Plan, plus clothes washers and dryers, water heaters, air conditioning and garage door openers; this plan is our pick because First American prices it under $60 with a $125 service fee.

• Premium Plan ($72–$87 per month): Covers all items in the Essential Plan and adds luxury appliance coverage, garbage disposal protection and faucet repair

Add-on options: First American offers eight separate add-ons, including additional refrigeration, HVAC tune-ups and limited roof-leak repairs. According to our quote, First American charges $9 monthly for roof-leak protection.

Other factors that influence coverage: First American has a 30-day workmanship guarantee, which is shorter than those from our top three recommended companies. However, First American has higher coverage caps — it’ll cover up to $7,000 per appliance in its Premium Plan.

First American has a B rating on BBB. However, its customer rating is 1.8 out of 5 stars. Its BBB profile features mixed reviews, with complaints mainly citing poor communication and unexpected claim denials.

Several positive reviews on BBB, such as one from Carol H., praise the speed of First American’s claims resolution team. Carol noted that the assigned technician arrived and fixed the issue within the same day.

What we like

American Home Shield (AHS) is our final recommendation. Its systems-only plan provides solid value if you only need major system coverage.

Here are some other factors we like:

• Covers unique situations such as rust, corrosion or sediment damage
• Features a flexible service call fee structure
• Offers comprehensive appliance and system coverage

What we don’t like

Although AHS provides competitive pricing for its systems-only plan, its other two plans are pricier than other companies’ offerings.

Here’s what else we dislike:

• Has a limited number of add-on options
• Doesn’t offer an appliance-only plan
• Requires you to file a claim as soon as you discover an issue

AHS has three coverage plans and two service call fees. You can choose from a $100 or $125 service fee when purchasing a plan.

Here’s a closer look at the provider’s plans:

• ShieldSilver ($30–$40 per month): Covers heating and air conditioning, ductwork, faucets, garage door openers, toilets and water heaters
• ShieldGold ($50–$60 per month): Covers all ShieldSilver items plus various major appliances, such as clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, and instant hot and cold water dispensers

• ShieldPlatinum ($80–$90 per month): Covers everything listed in the ShieldGold and adds a free HVAC tune-up, roof-leak protection and unlimited refrigerant recapture

Add-on options: AHS has six add-ons to choose from, most of which other providers offer, too. However, AHS is one of the few companies that provides guest unit protection. Our quote listed guest unit coverage at $10 monthly.

Other factors that influence coverage: AHS has a 30-day workmanship guarantee on all completed repairs. Its coverage caps are comprehensive — it covers HVAC systems up to $5,000 per repair. With its ShieldGold plan, AHS pays up to $4,000 per covered appliance breakdown.

AHS has a low customer rating of 2.1 out of 5 stars and a B rating on BBB. Recent reviews are mixed, with several citing unexpected claim denials. However, others praised AHS’ quick claims processing. Mike K. on BBB reported that AHS answered his claim within 15 minutes of submission.

Customer reviews on Trustpilot also report quick claims processing. Deb B. stated that AHS typically sends service technicians within the next business day of filing a claim.