American Home Shield
ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, ShieldPlatinumCompare the covered systems and appliances, service-fee choice, limits and exclusions in the agreement issued for your address.
Official contracts ↗INDEPENDENT CONTRACT DESK · U.S.
Compare the contract. Then compare the price.
A home warranty can sound like a repair fund. The written service contract decides what happens after a failure. Put American Home Shield, Choice and Cinch quotes on the same annual-cost line—then inspect the coverage gaps.
The Federal Trade Commission describes these products as service contracts that cost extra. They are not homeowners insurance, and coverage may overlap a manufacturer or builder warranty.
FTC consumer guidance ↗THREE LARGE PROVIDERS · ZERO PAID RANKING
Start from official plan families, not a “best” badge.
Names and availability can change. Use these links to retrieve the agreement that applies to your address and quote date.
Choice Home Warranty
Basic Plan, Total PlanCheck the current user agreement for covered items, service-call rules, optional coverage, renewal and cancellation terms.
Official user agreement ↗Cinch Home Services
Appliances, Built-in Systems, Complete HomeMatch the plan summary to the state-specific terms, including deductibles, limits, exclusions and cancellation provisions.
Official terms by state ↗PRIVATE QUOTE WORKSPACE · NO SIGNUP
Turn three sales quotes into one comparable number.
Enter the price shown in each quote. We add plan price, optional add-ons and the service-call fees you expect—not hypothetical claim payouts.
ESTIMATED CONTRACT OUTLAY / YEAR$0$0 over 3 years if pricing and use stay the same
Record contract terms
- Confirm the quote date and state-specific agreement.
- Ask whether a return visit creates another service fee.
- Ask whether a second trade creates another service fee.
- Record both per-item and contract-term dollar limits.
- Confirm when coverage begins and which failures remain excluded.
- Record renewal changes, cancellation fees and refund method.
- Paste or summarize the highest-impact exclusions with page references.
- Document required records, authorization steps and appeal path.
ESTIMATED CONTRACT OUTLAY / YEAR$0$0 over 3 years if pricing and use stay the same
Record contract terms
- Confirm the quote date and state-specific agreement.
- Ask whether a return visit creates another service fee.
- Ask whether a second trade creates another service fee.
- Record both per-item and contract-term dollar limits.
- Confirm when coverage begins and which failures remain excluded.
- Record renewal changes, cancellation fees and refund method.
- Paste or summarize the highest-impact exclusions with page references.
- Document required records, authorization steps and appeal path.
ESTIMATED CONTRACT OUTLAY / YEAR$0$0 over 3 years if pricing and use stay the same
Record contract terms
- Confirm the quote date and state-specific agreement.
- Ask whether a return visit creates another service fee.
- Ask whether a second trade creates another service fee.
- Record both per-item and contract-term dollar limits.
- Confirm when coverage begins and which failures remain excluded.
- Record renewal changes, cancellation fees and refund method.
- Paste or summarize the highest-impact exclusions with page references.
- Document required records, authorization steps and appeal path.
READ THE NUMBER CORRECTLY
Annual outlay is the covered benefit needed just to break even.
A lower outlay does not mean better coverage. A plan would still need to approve and pay at least that much in otherwise out-of-pocket covered work to recover the entered cost. Keep a separate repair reserve for exclusions, caps and work outside the contract.
THE SIX-LINE CONTRACT TEST
A covered category is not a covered claim.
Record the actual clause or page number beside every answer. A sales summary is not a substitute for the agreement.
Covered failure
Does the contract cover the failed part and the cause of failure—not only the named appliance or system?
Service-call fee
When is it charged, and can a second trade or return visit create another fee?
Dollar limits
Find limits per item, event and contract term, plus access, disposal and code-upgrade limits.
Maintenance proof
What records can be required, and how are pre-existing conditions, rust or improper installation handled?
Contractor control
Who selects the technician, what is the response process and can outside work ever be authorized?
Renewal and exit
Is renewal automatic, can price or terms change, and how are cancellation fees and refunds calculated?
Dispatch convenience has value to you.
You accept the provider's claims process and contractor rules, have read the exclusions and limits, and can still fund uncovered work.
You want full contractor and scope control.
You already have overlapping coverage, prefer to save the plan cost, or would not tolerate authorization delays and contract limits.
EDITORIAL LIMIT
No universal winner. No invented current price.
HomeCostGrid is not ranking these companies and receives no compensation for their position here. Prices, availability, service fees and terms vary by location and contract. The calculator evaluates only the numbers you enter; it cannot predict approvals, repair frequency, workmanship or claim outcomes.
