A home warranty protects homeowners from expensive repair bills when their appliances and systems break down due to normal wear and tear. In this review, we discuss two popular home warranty providers—The Home Service Club and American Home Shield—and help you determine which is best for your home.
Written by Dana Getz + 1 other
Reviewed by Jacquelyn Kfoury Updated 04/11/2024
Dana Getz is an experienced content manager with more than a decade of publishing experience across various industries. She has spent the last several years covering home services, specializing in home warranty recommendations and helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
Need to compare The Home Service Club vs. American Home Shield? These top-rated home warranty companies offer plans that protect major systems and appliances when they unexpectedly break down. In this article, we examine coverage plans, cost, customer reviews, and more so that you can decide which company best fits your home protection needs.
Best Customer Ratings Best Overall Affordable plan prices Nationwide availability Comprehensive coverage $200 Off + 2 Months free + Free Roof Leak Coverage Best for Comprehensive Coverage Best for Comprehensive Coverage Flexible service fees Nationwide availability 50+ years of experience Labor Day Sale: 50% OFF Select Plans Best Value Best Value
| Provider | The Home Service Club | American Home Shield |
|---|---|---|
| This Old House rating | 9.15/10 | 9.5/10 |
| Get a free quote | Not available through This Old House | Visit site |
| Coverage options | Standard, Comprehensive, and optional add-ons | Systems, Appliances, Combo, and optional add-ons |
| Monthly premiums | $45.95–$60.95 per month | $39.99–$57.99 per month |
| Service fee deductible | $95 | $75–$125 |
| State availability | 47 states (excluding Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin) | 49 states (excluding Alaska) |
| BBB rating | C | B |
| Years in business | 11 | 49 |
Covers 18 systems and appliances in the Standard Plan and 30 systems and appliances in the Comprehensive Plan
Provides coverage on systems or appliances, regardless of age, make, or model
Offers a 30-day labor guarantee and 90-day parts guarantee
ConsNot available in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin
Not accredited by the BBB
The Home Service Club offers two coverage plans that protect a variety of home systems and appliances. This provider also offers 12 optional add-ons that allows customers to further customize coverage.
Has over 45 years of industry experience
Offers coverage for damage due to rust and corrosion
Available in 49 states
ConsOffers only five optional add-ons
Customers can’t choose their own technician
American Home Shield has been in the home warranty industry since 1971 and has a contractor network of over 16,000 independent professionals. Because of how popular American Home Shield is, nearly one out of every two home warranty customers purchases their home warranty from the company. To get $50 off of a new plan, call 844-529-9298 or submit this form.
Keep reading to compare coverage details between the two providers.
The Home Service Club offers two coverage plans: a Standard Plan and Comprehensive Plan. The Standard Plan covers 18 home appliances and systems, and the Comprehensive Plan covers 30 home appliances and systems. The Home Service Club includes more in its base plan than American Home Shield.
Here are the items covered in each Home Service Club plans:
| Plans | Standard Coverage | Comprehensive Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioners | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heating system (including heat pumps) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plumbing system | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water leaks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water heater | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electrical system | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ceiling fans | ✓ | ✓ |
| Central vacuum(s) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garbage disposal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garage door opener | ✓ | ✓ |
| Microwave oven (built-in) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dishwashers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refrigerators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ovens, ranges, and cooktops | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trash compactors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Food centers (built-in) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clothes washer/clothes dryer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Freestanding ice makers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ductwork | ✓ | |
| Gas leaks | ✓ | |
| Sump pump | ✓ | |
| Whole house exhaust and attic fans | ✓ | |
| Instant hot/cold water dispenser | ✓ | |
| Pest control | ✓ | |
| Telephone wiring | ✓ | |
| Alarm warning | ✓ | |
| Smoke detectors | ✓ | |
| Doorbells | ✓ | |
| Whirlpool motor and pump assemblies | ✓ | |
| Plumbing stoppage coverage | ✓ |
American Home Shield offers three plans: ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, and ShieldPlatinum. ShieldPlatinum combines ShieldSilver and ShieldGold and adds extra perks like coverage boosts and roof leak coverage. In contrast to The Home Service Club, kitchen and laundry appliances aren’t covered in the base plan.
Here’s what each American Home Shield plan covers:
| Systems and Appliances | ShieldSilver™ | ShieldGold™ | ShieldPlatinum™ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heating System | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ductwork | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electrical | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Doorbells | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smoke Detectors | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ceiling Fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Plumbing and Stoppages | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water Heaters | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water Dispensers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Central Vacuums | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refrigerators | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ranges, Ovens, and Cooktops | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clothes Washer | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clothes Dryers | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dishwashers | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-In Microwave | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trash Compactors | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Freestanding Ice Maker | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Garage Door Opener | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-In Food Centers | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coverage Boost | – | – | ✓ |
| Roof Leak Coverage | – | – | ✓ |
American Home Shield and The Home Service Club offer these add-ons to customers:
American Home Shield Add-Ons Home Service Club Add-OnsBased on the quotes we received, monthly premiums from The Home Service Club are roughly the same as premiums from American Home Shield. Note: The Home Service Club doesn’t offer flexibility with its service fee, but American Home Shield allows you to choose a service fee between $75–$125—the amount you choose impacts your monthly premium.
| Company | The Home Service Club | American Home Shield |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium Cost | $45.95–$60.95 per month | $39.99–$57.99 per month |
| Service Call Fee | $95 | $75–$125 |
The Home Service Club is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and received a lower rating than American Home Shield from the organization. However, The Home Service Club reviews have been more positive, on average, than American Home Shield reviews.
| Provider | The Home Service Club | American Home Shield |
|---|---|---|
| BBB rating | C | B |
| BBB accreditation | No | Yes |
| Average BBB customer review rating (out of 5 stars) | 4.5 stars | 2.5 stars |
| Number of customer reviews on BBB webpage | 1,483 reviews | 6,198 reviews |
Because of its reputation as an industry leader, comprehensive plan options, and flexible service fees, we recommend American Home Shield over The Home Service Club for most homeowners. That being said, The Home Service Club is still a strong choice and should be considered by homeowners who need quick protection, as it doesn’t require a home inspection before coverage begins.
Best for Comprehensive Coverage4.8/5 We grade all home warranty companies on the most important factors to homeowners such as coverage, value, trust, transparency, availability, and service. We account for 15 specific data points such as coverage caps, systems and appliances covered, monthly costs, service fees, sample contract availability, response time, claims process, and workmanship guarantee length to then calculate a score, created fully by our Editorial team.
Before buying a home warranty, we recommend getting a free quote from The Home Service Club and American Home Shield in the panel above. You can also learn more about both of these companies by reading our The Home Service Club review and our American Home Shield review.
A home warranty, also known as a home service contract, protects your home systems and appliances from expensive repairs caused by normal wear and tear. Homeowners who have a home warranty pay a relatively low premium that costs about $25 to $60 per month. Whenever service is needed, they pay a service call fee between $75–$125. Without a home warranty, common repairs and replacements could cost thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Most home warranty companies offer coverage for pools and spas as an optional add-on, which can be purchased separately from the company’s pre-packaged plans.
After a home warranty plan is purchased, most home warranty companies have a waiting period before a homeowner can submit their first claim. American Home Shield and The Home Service Club have a waiting period of 30 days.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com .
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