Looking for a comprehensive home warranty? American Home Shield is a leading provider. High coverage limits, comprehensive service plans, and unknown pre-existing condition coverage make this company a good choice for many homeowners. But is it right for you?
This American Home Shield review details costs, coverage, exclusions, and more so you can decide if this home warranty company is right for your home.
About American Home Shield
American Home Shield (AHS) is well known in the home warranty industry and offers coverage in every state except Alaska. AHS is known for its high coverage limits and inclusion of unknown pre-existing conditions, making it ideal for homeowners who want maximum protection for their home. Plans start at $49.99 per month for system-only coverage and go up to $99.99 per month for comprehensive ShieldPlatinum plans that include additional features like roof leak protection and HVAC tuning.
AHS offers great coverage, but it comes at a price. Monthly costs are higher than most competitors, with a standard service fee of $125 approximately $50 more than the average $75 per case. Although it costs more, comprehensive coverage is hard to beat.
Pros and cons of American Home Shield
Strong Points:
- Covers unknown existing diseases
- High total coverage limit of $50,000
- Up to $4,000 per appliance; up to $5,000 per HVAC system
Cons:
- Monthly fees are higher than competitors
- High service charge of $125
- No appliance-only plans available
American Home Shield Availability
Home warranty plans from American Home Shield are currently available in every U.S. state except Alaska. Coverage options may vary depending on your location. Enter your zip code in the map below to see what types of coverage are available for your home.
American Home Shield plans and pricing
American Home Shield comes in three plans: a one-system only plan and a two-combo plan. American Home Shield’s home warranty plans start at $49.99 per month to cover only the most basic systems and go up to $99.99 per month for comprehensive ShieldPlatinum systems and appliance plans. All plans include a high coverage limit of $50,000 (total) per year.
The prices in the table below reflect a $125 service call charge, which is approximately $50 more per claim than our competitors. There is an option to lower the service fee to $100, but each plan increases by $10 per month.
- ShieldSilver (starting at $49.99/month): 19 home systems (heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing systems). The maximum coverage per HVAC system is $5,000.
- ShieldGold (starting at $69.99/month): 28 home systems and appliances (ShieldSilver and kitchen and laundry appliances); Coverage limits are $5,000 per HVAC system and $2,000 per appliance.
- ShieldPlatinum (starting at $99.99/month): 28 home systems and appliances, plus leaky roof repair, free HVAC tune-ups, violations and permits, and other member benefits. Coverage limits are $5,000 per HVAC system and $4,000 per appliance.
Cost data was collected for a 2,500 square foot home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Data is current as of March 2026.
American Home Shield Discount
American Home Shield offers discounts to active military and veterans, AARP members, and those who want coverage for multiple properties. AHS also has a referral program that gives you a $25 Amazon gift card for every referral.
American Home Shield add-on coverage
American Home Shield’s plans are powerful, but they don’t cover everything. AHS offers six add-ons ranging from $5 per month to an additional $24. These add-ons are more expensive than what competitors offer (often less than $10 per add-on), so add them only when you need them.
| additional items | average cost |
|---|---|
| Roof leak repair* | $10/month |
| Electronic equipment protection plan | $14/month |
| Pool and built-in spa facilities | $24/month |
| guest unit | $20/month |
| septic tank pump | $5/month |
| well pump | $8/month |
*ShieldPlatinum includes roof leak protection, which can be added to other plans for $10 per month.
Cost data was collected for a 2,500 square foot home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Data is current as of March 2026.
What does American Home Shield cover?
ShieldSilver is AHS’s most basic coverage option, which only includes your home’s core systems, such as plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems. ShieldGold and ShieldPlatinum include the ShieldSilver system, and both cover the same 28 systems and appliances. The main difference is that ShieldPlatinum comes with additional benefits like roof leak protection, HVAC tune-ups, and code violation and permit coverage (which we don’t think are covered by other providers).
- HVAC (heating and cooling system): Air conditioners, ductwork, heat pumps, furnaces, mini-splits, geothermal systems.
- Electrical system: Outlets, built-in exhaust fans, light switches, doorbells, wiring, breaker boxes, ceiling fans, and garage door openers.
- Piping system: Water heaters, water pipes, permanent drain pumps, gas pipes, drain pipes, toilets, shower heads, ejector pumps, plumbing stops, etc.
- Kitchen appliances: Refrigerator, range, oven, stove, dishwasher, built-in kitchen extractor fan, built-in microwave, garbage disposal, instant hot/cold water dispenser.
- Laundry appliances: washer and dryer.
If you choose ShieldPlatinum, you get all of the above, plus:
- unlimited ac refrigerant
- $1,000 roof leak repair coverage
- Coverage limit of $4,000 or more per appliance
- Coverage for breaches, permits, and changes up to $250 per period
What American Home Shield Doesn’t Cover
American Home Shield has a standard list of exclusions, but unlike most home warranty providers, it covers pre-existing conditions as long as the known conditions are unknown. The following items are not expected to be covered by the AHS Home Warranty:
- Cosmetic damage and damage that does not affect the main functions of the product
- Problems caused by misuse, vandalism, pests and pets
- Known pre-existing disease
- Failure due to system or appliance not being sized correctly for your home
- outdoor kitchen
- smart home system
- chimney and fireplace
To learn more about American Home Shield exclusions, read our online sample agreement.
American Home Shield Alternatives
American Home Shield is the best option for homeowners who want the most comprehensive coverage. Because AHS covers unknown pre-existing conditions, it is also an ideal option for new homeowners purchasing older homes with unknown histories. However, if you want the most comprehensive coverage, this provider will be expensive.
If you want a more affordable option, Liberty Home Guard or Select Home Warranty may be better options.
How to file a claim with American Home Shield
American Home Shield has a standard 30-day waiting period during which you are not eligible to make a claim. Once this period has elapsed, you can begin the claim process for systems or appliances that have failed due to normal wear and tear. The easiest way to do this is to visit the AHS MyAccount portal online or use the mobile app.
- Log in to MyAccount and select the option to request service.
- Select the item you need repaired and select the problem or symptom.
- Please pay the service fee ($100 or $125).
- American Home Shield will begin processing your service request.
Once your request is in our system, it may take up to 48 hours for American Home Shield to schedule your diagnostic appointment. Repairs will be performed at the time of your booking or at a later date if parts or replacements are required.
What we like about American Home Shield
American Home Shield has been offering home warranty plans for decades and has proven to be a reliable provider. There are three tiered plans that cover appliances, systems, or both, and several add-ons for even more coverage.
We like the high coverage limits for systems and appliances, plus the $50,000 annual coverage limit for all claims. Many home warranty companies limit this amount to $10,000 or less, so you can’t even compare it to AHS.
The added benefits make American Home Shield a top home warranty company. Complimentary HVAC tune-ups, key renewal services, dryer vent cleaning, and more add to the value of your plan.
What I don’t like about American Home Shield
The downside to American Home Shield is the price. Plans can cost upwards of $100 per month, so if you want extra benefits, you’ll need to buy the most expensive ShieldPlatinum plan.
American Home Shield rating by USA TODAY
USA TODAY’s editorial team applies rigorous in-house methodologies to evaluate and rank home warranty providers, including big names like American Home Shield. To create our list of the top 10 home warranty companies, we researched 20 of the nation’s largest providers. We used factors such as plan options, coverage details, pricing, quality of service, customer satisfaction, and overall reliability to create our list.
Bottom line: Is American Home Shield right for you?
If you want comprehensive coverage and high coverage limits, AHS is your home warranty company. No other provider can match our hefty $50,000 coverage limit, which almost guarantees you won’t have to pay out-of-pocket if your home systems or appliances break down due to normal wear and tear.
The disadvantage is that the monthly insurance premium is high, as is the service fee. So if you buy a home warranty from American Home Shield and don’t use it, it will cost you money. But if you end up making one or two approved claims, it can easily pay for itself.
FAQ
Is American Home Shield better than HomeServe?
It depends on your needs. If you want a lower monthly fee and low or no bill-time service fees, HomeServe may be the right option for you, but American Home Shield has stronger coverage options.
What isn’t covered by American Home Shield?
American Home Shield does not cover cosmetic damage, pest or vandalism damage, or known pre-existing conditions.
Will American Home Shield replace my air conditioner?
If your air conditioning system fails due to normal wear and tear, American Home Shield will repair or replace your air conditioning system at your expense.
