Range across tiers
American Home Shield
4.1/5 · BBB B
“Homeowners who want broad systems coverage with the flexibility to lower premiums by accepting a higher service fee.”
Photo · Naomi Hébert / Unsplash
First American Home Warranty
3.8/5 · BBB B
“Owners of newer homes who prioritize appliance coverage and want a low, selectable service fee.”
Photo · Avi Werde / Unsplash
vs
§ 01Round by round
The Warranta verdict
If HVAC or systems coverage is the reason you are buying, American Home Shield is the answer: up to $6,000/yr caps and rare protection for some undetectable pre-existing conditions, at higher premiums. The exception is the newer home where appliances are the real exposure. There, First American's $37/mo appliance tier, $75 entry fee, and up-to-$3,500/yr appliance cap win, as long as you accept thinner systems limits.
Round by round · 11 criteriaSourced ratings
| Criterion | American Home Shield | First American Home Warranty | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.1Wins | 3.8 | — |
| Pricing | 3.7 | 4.2Wins | — |
| Coverage | 4.5Wins | 3.7 | — |
| Claims process | 3.8Wins | 3.4 | — |
| Customer service | 3.6Wins | 3.5 | — |
| Contractor network | 4.3Wins | 3.8 | — |
| Pricing | — | WinsWins | First American's appliance tiers start at $37/mo with a $75 selectable fee versus AHS's $30 to $95/mo and $100 or $125 fee; First American is the cheaper entry. |
| Annual caps | WinsWins | — | AHS reaches up to $6,000/yr on systems; First American caps appliances at up to $3,500/yr with variable, thinner system caps. |
| Coverage breadth | WinsWins | — | Both cover some installation or maintenance-related failures others deny; AHS's systems coverage is broader while First American's appliance coverage is competitive for newer homes. |
| Customer sentiment | WinsWins | — | AHS's overall 4.1 leads First American's 3.8, with AHS ahead on coverage and contractor-network sub-scores. |
| Claims experience | Tie | Tie | Both carry denial and dispatch complaints; First American's are concentrated on older equipment, AHS's are broader, and both rate near 3.4 to 3.8 on claims. |
American Home Shield
BBB B · 1971
4.1
Overall
First American Home Warranty
BBB B · 1984
3.8
Overall
§ 02Who wins for you
If
“Pricing matters most”
First American's appliance tiers start at $37/mo with a $75 selectable fee versus AHS's $30 to $95/mo and $100 or $125 fee; First American is the cheaper entry.
EdgeFirst American Home Warranty
If
“Annual caps matters most”
AHS reaches up to $6,000/yr on systems; First American caps appliances at up to $3,500/yr with variable, thinner system caps.
EdgeAmerican Home Shield
If
“Coverage breadth matters most”
Both cover some installation or maintenance-related failures others deny; AHS's systems coverage is broader while First American's appliance coverage is competitive for newer homes.
EdgeAmerican Home Shield
If
“Customer sentiment matters most”
AHS's overall 4.1 leads First American's 3.8, with AHS ahead on coverage and contractor-network sub-scores.
EdgeAmerican Home Shield
Across 5 rounds, American Home Shield takes more than it loses, but the right pick still turns on which of these criteria you weight. See the verdict above.
§ 03The figures, side by side
American Home Shield
- Monthly premium
- $30–$95/mo depending on plan tier
- Service fee options
- $100$125
- Service fee range
- $100 or $125 trade service-call fee
- Annual coverage limit
- Up to $6,000/yr on systems; per-appliance caps apply
- Waiting period
- 30-day waiting period for new plans (waived on real-estate transactions)
- Eligibility notes
- No home-age limit; pre-existing/known issues excluded
- Available in
- 8 states (VA, TX, FL, NC, CO, CA…)
At a glance
Per visit, paid to tech
Across plan tiers
Resets each contract year
Before claims are eligible
Home age / pre-existing
Excludes territories
First American Home Warranty
- Monthly premium
- $37–$82/mo depending on plan tier
- Service fee options
- $75$100$125
- Service fee range
- $75–$125 selectable service-call fee
- Annual coverage limit
- Up to $3,500/yr per covered appliance; system caps vary
- Waiting period
- 30-day waiting period for direct-purchase plans
- Eligibility notes
- No home-age limit; pre-existing conditions excluded
- Available in
- 8 states (TX, FL, NC, CO, CA, GA…)
At a glance
Range across tiers
Per visit, paid to tech
Across plan tiers
Resets each contract year
Before claims are eligible
Home age / pre-existing
Excludes territories
American Home Shield
4.1/5 · BBB B
“Homeowners who want broad systems coverage with the flexibility to lower premiums by accepting a higher service fee.”
See a quote
FTC ↘Warranta earns a commission when you buy a plan through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial analysis or the price you pay. Disclosure policy
First American Home Warranty
3.8/5 · BBB B
“Owners of newer homes who prioritize appliance coverage and want a low, selectable service fee.”
See a quote
FTC ↘Warranta earns a commission when you buy a plan through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial analysis or the price you pay. Disclosure policy
Round winners and the use-case cards above reconcile against Warranta’s rating methodology. Scores are on a 5-point scale.
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