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Home warranties can be difficult to compare since they can vary by city and state. The coverage and technicians’ work depends on your specific situation. When we compared First American Home Warranty vs American Home Shield we looked at them side by side and we think you’ll be surprised to read what our research uncovered. This is an ever evolving category and company reputations can change quickly, as we’ve learned in our research for this article. So make sure you re-evaluate your home warranty company regularly to make sure you are happy with your purchase. If not, there are always other options to consider.
Visit American Home Shield | Visit First American
We Think American Home Shield Is Better
We compared American Home Shield (AHS), which is our #1 pick for best home warranty, against First American Home Warranty (FAHW). The table below is an overview of which company won each category, but be sure to read the sections following so you have a full understanding of why we think American Home Shield is better.
| First American Home Warranty | American Home Shield | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Coverage |  |
|
| Best Plans | |
|
| Available in More States | |
|
| Best Customer Service & Reputation | |
|
| Overall Winner | |
Best Coverage
The table below displays what appliances and systems can be covered for each company.
| First American Home Warranty | American Home Shield | |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | |
|
| Additional Refrigeration | |
|
| Dishwasher | |
|
| Air Conditioning | |
|
| Heating | |
|
| Ductwork | |
|
| Clothes Washer & Dryer | |
|
| Electrical | |
|
| Plumbing | |
|
| Range/Oven/Cooktop | |
|
| Water Heater | |
|
| Built-In Microwave | |
|
| Garbage Disposal | |
|
| Free-Standing Ice Maker | |
|
| Instant Hot-Cold Water Dispenser | |
|
| Telephone Wiring | |
|
| Trash Compactor | |
|
| Central Vacuum | |
|
| Garage Door Opener | |
|
| Smoke Detector | |
|
| Built-In Food Processor | |
|
| Doorbell | |
|
| Ceiling Fan | |
|
| Sump Pump | |
|
| Septic Plumbing | |
|
| Well Pump | |
|
| Pool/Spa Equipment | |
|
| Stand Alone Freezer | |
|
| Double Oven | |
As you can see, American Home Shield covers more appliances and systems than First American Home Warranty.
Winner: American Home Shield
Best Plans
Pricing for the companies can vary based on location so please check with the company for your specific state.
First American Home Warranty Plans
| Basic | Premier | Optional Add-Ons |
|---|---|---|
| Range/Oven/Cooktop | Everything in the Basic plan | Additional Refrigeration |
| Dishwasher | Ductwork | Well Pump |
| Garbage Disposal | Garage Door Opener | Central Air Conditioner |
| Built-In Microwave | Electrical | Pool/Spa Equipment |
| Trash Compactor | Plumbing | |
| Kitchen Refrigerator | Plumbing Stoppages | |
| Ceiling/Attic/Exhaust Fans | Heating | |
| Instant Hot Water Dispenser | Water Heater | |
| Clothes Washer | Central Vacuum System | |
| Clothes Dryer |
First American Home Warranty also has up to a $3 handling fee for each payment. This does not apply to Full Payment Plan.
American Home Shield Plans
Below are the details for AHS’s Appliances and Systems plans. They also offer a Build Your Own plan and a Combo plan, which includes everything in both the Appliances and Systems plans. The prices listed are the ranges for the minimum of each plan. Please be sure to contact AHS and get a quote for your specific state.
Combo Plan: $39.99-$71.99/month
Build Your Own Plan: $31.99-$64.99/month
| Systems Plan | Appliance Plan |
|---|---|
| Air Conditioning w/ Ductwork | Refrigerators |
| Heating w/ Ductwork | Ranges/Ovens/Cooktops |
| Electrical | Clothes Washers |
| Doorbells | Clothes Dryers |
| Smoke Detectors | Dishwashers |
| Ceiling Fans | Built-In Microwave Ovens |
| Plumbing (Including Stoppages) | Trash Compactors |
| Water Heaters | Free-Standing Ice Makers |
| Garbage Disposals | Garage Door Openers |
| Instant Hot/Cold Water Dispensers | Built-In Food Centers |
| Central Vacuums |
Optional Add-Ons
All of these add-ons cost extra and are available for any plan.
- Pool/spa
- Well pump
- Septic plumbing
We can’t compare pricing since it varies based on location, but we can compare plans. We like that AHS offers appliance and system specific plans but we also like that you can get a good mix with First American Home Warranty’s packages. The winner for this category is based off your personal wants, which is why we have a tie.
Winner (Tie): American Home Shield and First American
Available In More States
First American is available in 35 states and Washington DC. American Home Shield is available in all states except Alaska. AHS is the clear winner for this category.
Winner: American Home Shield
Best Customer Service & Reputation
Both companies have a B rating from the Better Business Bureau but overall, American Home Shield prevails in this category. Our readers have told us that AHS and First American Home Warranty will choose to repair a system or appliance over and over instead of replacing the entire unit. This results in consumers going long amounts of time without their appliance or system working. Where they differ is that a large portion of the reviews online for First American Home Warranty are negative while there is a more balanced mix for AHS.
Winner: American Home Shield
First American Home Warranty vs American Home Shield: Other Comparisons
Below are some other comparisons for these companies for you to take into consideration before purchasing.
| First American Home Warranty | American Home Shield | |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting Period | 30 Days | 15 Days |
| Request Service | 24/7 online or phone | 24/7 online or phone |
| Service Call Fee | $50-$100 | $75-$125 |
| Years of Experience | 30+ Years | 40+ Years |
| Unlimited Service Requests | |
|
| BBB Rating | B | B |
To learn more about American Home Shield and First American Home Warranty, read their individual reviews.
We’d like to leave you with one extremely important reminder. When purchasing a home warranty be sure to read the fine print. These contracts can be overwhelming. However, to make sure you are getting everything covered that you think you are, you need to read every word on that contract. The AARP agrees with us and thinks home warranties can be beneficial, especially for older homes.
Is Another Home Warranty Provider A Better Option?
This was a very close comparison, but in the end American Home Shield wins by a hair. In the future we will keep an eye on these two companies. We could see First American Home Warranty making a come back but for the time being, American Home Shield is the winner in this comparison. To see how the two companies compete against other providers, check out our comprehensive home warranty showdown which compares over 15 home warranty companies.
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