- Amazon Home Warranty vs American Home Shield
Amazon Home Warranty vs American Home Shield
Amazon Home Warranty and American Home Shield are both popular home warranty companies and highly ranked competitors on our review site. But what sets them apart?
American Home Shield is considered the founder of the home warranty industry and boasts over four decades in business; many home warranty companies have looked to its example to build a successful business model.
On the other hand, Amazon Home Warranty has been in business for a little over a decade, but it has nearly the same nationwide reach as AHS.
These warranty companies compete head-to-head on their pricing and coverage, but our breakdown can illuminate some differences in their warranty plans, customer service, and contracted technicians.
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Overview
Amazon Home Warranty
American Home Shield
Reviews
Amazon Home Warranty
American Home Shield
Reviews for Amazon Home Warranty
Helpful Favorable Review
cordy meirick
It is so convenient to have them handle all the professionals when we need them for any repairs at our house. The professionals they have sent have been great, much to our pleasure. It is worth the investment to have Amazon Home Warranty.
Helpful Critical Review
Verified Customer
Tyler Cooper
We selected AHW on June 22nd and the sellers of the home we purchased paid for the coverage at the time of our closing on June 26th. I did not get confirmation of the purchase until July 11th and the service does not start until August 10th. As luck (and Murphy's Law) would have it, two days after the point of when the warranty SHOULD have kicked in we are having trouble with our water softener and will be paying out of pocket for the repair (assuming it needs repair pending a service inspection).
Reviews for American Home Shield
Helpful Favorable Review
Verified Customer
Whitney Newport
Helpful. Sometimes the customer service rep isn't the friendliest. We were recommended a company for our AC because it went out and it was a 5 day wait in the middle of a FL summer. I wish they would check how busy a company is first. I called them back and they found a different company to come the same day. But we lost a whole day trying to coordinate.
Helpful Critical Review
Verified Customer
marica Williams
I didn't get what I was told when I 1st signed up also I had to pay 107.for Plummer that was ok but to pay 549.extra to put my jot water heater in wasn't right that's why I pay them every month ahat if I didn't have it cause I was told different
The Final Word
Service Fee (Winner: American Home Shield)
AHS and Amazon Home Warranty both have plan options with a $75 service fee. AHS also has the option to customize your plan with a $100 or $125 service fee, opting for a lower premium when you choose a higher service fee.
American Home Shield’s customization makes it the better option. If you want a warranty policy but aren’t sure you’ll use it often, choosing a higher service fee for a lower premium will be more convenient.
Home Warranty Cost (Winner: Amazon Home Warranty)
Both companies offer home warranties with a wide range of annual price tags, varying in the $350 to $600 range. These options let you select your warranty coverage for a price point that’s competitive with the rest of the industry.
However, for the basic appliance or system plan with either home warranty company, Amazon Home Warranty has lower rates. AHS charges $49.99 per month or $599.88 annually with a $75 service fee. Amazon Home Warranty’s appliance or system plan costs $349 annually. Amazon Home Warranty wins for a basic plan with a $75 service fee.
Contract (Winner: Amazon Home Warranty)
Customers don’t want to be locked into a warranty service unless they’re certain it will be worth the cost.
American Home Shield requires a one-year contract for the first year. Then, at renewal, customers can choose if they would like a month-to-month option.
Amazon Home Warranty allows customers to choose either an annual or monthly contract. If you’re new to home warranties and would like to test a company out, Amazon Home Warranty has the more flexible option.
Basic Coverage (Winner: American Home Shield)
While AHS has a higher price point for its basic plan for both systems and appliances, the systems plan covers more items.
American Home Shield’s appliances plan ($599.88) covers these items:
- Refrigerators
- Ranges/ovens/cooktops
- Clothes washers
- Clothes dryers
- Dishwashers
- Built-in microwave ovens
- Trash compactors
- Freestanding ice makers
- Garage door openers
- Built-in food centers
The AHS systems plan ($599.88) covers these features:
- Air conditioning and ductwork
- Heating and ductwork
- Electrical
- Doorbells
- Smoke detectors
- Ceiling fans
- Plumbing (including stoppages)
- Water heaters
- Garbage disposal
- Instant hot/cold water dispensers
- Central vacuums
Meanwhile, the Amazon Home Warranty appliance plan (typically $349) covers these items:
- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator (with ice maker)
- Clothes dryer
- Freezer (stand alone)
- Trash compactor
- Oven/range/stove/cooktop
- Clothes washer
- Microwave ovens
And the system plan (typically $349) covers these features:
- Central AC system
- Central heating system
- Plumbing (including stoppages)
- Electrical system
- Hot water heater
- Ductwork
- Jetted bathtub
- Garage door openers
American Home Shield wins by a hair for coverage, offering more coverage with its systems plan than the Amazon systems plan. But for the price tag, customers might wonder if extra coverage for doorbells, smoke detectors, central vacuums, and garbage disposals is worth over $200 more per year.
Combo Coverage (Winner: American Home Shield and Amazon Home Warranty)
Both warranty companies have strong combo plans.
The AHS combo plan has these features:
- Air conditioner and ductwork
- Heating and ductwork
- Electrical
- Doorbells
- Smoke detectors
- Ceiling fans
- Plumbing (including stoppages)
- Water heater
- Garbage disposals
- Instant hot/cold water dispensers
- Central vacuums
- Refrigerators
- Ranges/ovens/cooktops
- Washing machine
- Clothes dryers
- Dishwashers
- Built-in microwave ovens
- Trash compactors
- Freestanding ice maker
- Garage door openers
- Built-in food centers
The Amazon combo plan competes with these features:
- Central AC system
- Central heating system
- Plumbing (including stoppages)
- Electrical system
- Hot water heater
- Ductwork
- Jetted bathtub
- Garage door openers
- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator (with ice maker)
- Clothes dryer
- Freezer (stand alone)
- Trash compactor
- Oven/range/stove/cooktop
- Clothes washer
- Microwave ovens
- Instant hot water dispenser
- Garbage disposal
- Attic fan
- Ceiling fan
- Bathroom exhaust fan
- Doorbell
- Kitchen fan/exhaust hood
As you can see, the competition is very close. AHS enumerates a couple features Amazon doesn’t specify whether it covers: smoke detectors, central vacuums, and built-in food centers. Amazon has a couple things that AHS doesn’t specify whether it covers: standalone freezers, attic fans, bathroom exhaust fans, and kitchen fans. Which one sounds better to you will depend on the appliances in your home.
Add-On Coverage (Winner: Amazon Home Warranty)
Amazon Home Warranty has more add-ons for greater customizability:
- Pool
- Spa
- Additional central heating
- Additional central AC
- Lawn sprinkler system
- Central vac
- Septic system
- Well pump
- Whole house humidifier
- Wine refrigerator
- Ice maker (free standing)
- Septic tank pumping
- Sump pump
- Additional fridge
- Limited roof leak
- Water softener
American Home Shield still has several major add-ons:
- Electronics Plan by Asurion
- Pool and in-ground spa
- Guest unit
- Septic pump
- Well pump serving as home water source
You may not need all this extra coverage, so choose based on which company offers the best plan options for your needs.
Build-Your-Own Coverage (Winner: American Home Shield)
Are you looking at these plans and seeing several features you don’t need? AHS has the option to build your own customized coverage at $659.88 per year based on a $75 service fee. You select 10 items, and you have the options to add more than 10 for $2 for each added product per month.
Amazon Home Warranty doesn’t have a build-your-own option. However, the company offers several add-on options for its basic and combo plans.
Licensed Contractors (Winner: American Home Shield and Amazon Home Warranty)
Amazon Home Warranty and American Home Shield both have licensed contractors for consumers’ service repairs and claims. It’s important to choose licensed service providers, and both companies do the homework for you.
24/7 Customer Service (Winner: American Home Shield and Amazon Home Warranty)
Both companies have a 24/7 claims service. You can contact the service providers day or night to file claims, which is especially convenient if an appliance breaks on a weekend or holiday.
Customer Reviews (Winner: Unclear)
On the surface, the winner seems obvious: Amazon Home Warranty has an average rating of over 4 stars, while AHS hovers around and average of 3. But Amazon Home Warranty has 367 reviews; AHS has 2,291. The massive difference in reviews makes it difficult to compare the average. We recommend reading the user reviews for each company to better understand the unique triumphs and challenges of the two providers.
Amazon Home Warranty vs. American Home Shield: Which is the better option?
Amazon Home Warranty and American Home Shield are neck and neck on our site, and it’s plain to see why they’re close.
Which company you’ll choose depends on a number of factors and personal preference, so it’s difficult to choose a clear winner between two companies so closely ranking.
Amazon Home Warranty wins in the following areas: home warranty cost, contract, add-on coverage
American Home Shield wins in these areas: service fee, basic coverage, build-your-own coverage
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