The Home Service Club vs. American Home Shield | 2021

Home Service Research Team
·8 min read

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A home warranty company can offer peace of mind, providing protection from unexpected high expenses should one of your covered systems or appliances break down from normal wear and tear. However, the provider that is right for one homeowner might not be the right company for another.

The Home Service Club (HSC) and American Home Shield (AHS) are two of the top providers in the industry. Learn about each company's coverage plans, customer reviews, and pricing to determine which of the two is the best home warranty for you and your home.

To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, call 800-842-9334 or complete this form. For a free quote from American Home Shield, call 844-529-9298 or fill out this form.

The Home Service Club vs. American Home Shield Comparison

Compare The Home Service Club and American Home Shield below.

The Home Service Club

  • Get a free quote: Visit site

  • Superlative: Best for Quick Coverage

  • Number of plans: 2

  • Premium cost: $51–$63 per month

  • Service fee: $95

  • State availability: 49 states (all except Wisconsin)

  • BBB rating: C

  • Years in business: 12

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American Home Shield

  • Get a free quote: Visit site

  • Superlative: Best Overall

  • Number of plans: 3

  • Premium cost: $40–$58 per month

  • Service fee: $75–$125

  • State availability: 49 states (all except Alaska)

  • BBB rating: B

  • Years in business: 50

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Pros & Cons

Both The Home Service Club and American Home Shield have benefits and drawbacks, and one home warranty company may be a better option for you than the other. Compare the pros and cons of each company below.

The Home Service Club Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Offers 12 optional add-ons

  • Its Comprehensive Plan protects 30 home systems and appliances

  • Has a 10-day waiting period before coverage kicks in

Cons

  • Only offers two coverage plans

  • Better Business Bureau (BBB) notes a pattern of complaints with customer service

American Home Shield Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Is the most experienced home warranty company in the industry

  • Holds a BBB accreditation

  • Has flexible service fees

Cons

  • Only offers five optional add-ons

  • Premiums are more expensive than some competitors

The Home Service Club Coverage Plans

The Home Service Club offers two plans: a Standard Plan and a Comprehensive Plan. Both plans include protection for home systems and appliances, but the company's Comprehensive Plan covers 12 more home items than the Standard Plan. Additionally, The Home Service Club provides a service guarantee of 90 days on repairs for both plans.

Here are the specific items covered under each plan:

Standard Plan

  • Heating system

  • Garbage disposal

  • Central vacuum(s)

  • Air conditioners

  • Water leaks

  • Water heater

  • Electrical system

  • Ceiling fans

  • Plumbing system

  • Garage door opener

  • Built-in microwave

  • Dishwashers

  • Refrigerators

  • Ovens, ranges, and cooktops

  • Trash compactors

  • Built-in food centers

  • Clothes washer/clothes dryer

  • Freestanding ice makers

The Comprehensive Plan includes everything under the Standard Plan, plus the following items:

  • Ductwork

  • Gas leaks

  • Sump pump

  • Whole-house exhaust and attic fans

  • Instant hot/cold water dispenser

  • Pest control

  • Telephone wiring

  • Alarm wiring

  • Smoke detectors

  • Doorbells

  • Whirlpool motor and pump assemblies

  • Plumbing stoppage coverage

The Home Service Club also provides 12 optional add-ons:

  • Spa and spa heater

  • Sprinkler system

  • Freestanding additional refrigerator

  • Refrigerator built-in units with dual compressors

  • Utility line coverage

  • Freestanding freezer

  • Roof coverage

  • Jetted bathtub

  • Well pump

  • Sewage ejector pump

  • Pool or spa

  • Water softener

To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, call 800-842-9334 or complete this easy form.

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American Home Shield Coverage Plans

American Home Shield offers a systems-only plan and two combo plans. The ShieldSilver™ Plan protects important home systems like the air conditioning and electrical system. The ShieldGold™ Plan combines those covered systems with appliances like your refrigerator and dishwasher. The ShieldPlatinum™ Plan provides comprehensive coverage for both systems and appliances in addition to extra features and coverage limit boosts.

Regardless of the plan you choose, American Home Shield provides a service guarantee of 60 days on both parts and labor.

Here's what each American Home Shield plan covers:

ShieldSilver

Includes the following major systems:

  • Water heaters

  • Electrical

  • Air conditioning

  • Heating

  • Whirlpool tub motor and components

  • Breakers and fuze boxes

  • Plumbing

  • Toilets

  • Faucets and valves

  • Ductwork

  • Ceiling fans

  • Built-in exhaust, vent, and attic fans

  • Doorbells

  • Garage door openers

ShieldGold

Covers everything in the ShieldSilver plan, plus:

  • Refrigerators

  • Clothes washers

  • Clothes dryers

  • Built-in microwave ovens

  • Garbage disposals

  • Ranges/cooktops

  • Ovens

  • Dishwashers

  • Hot or cold water dispensers

ShieldPlatinum

Covers everything in the other two plans, plus:

  • Unlimited AC refrigerant limits

  • One free HVAC tune-up

  • Roof leak repairs

  • $1,000 coverage for code violations

  • $3,000 increase to appliance coverage limit

American Home Shield offers the following optional add-ons:

  • Well pump

  • Guest unit under 750 square feet

  • Electronics extended warranty

  • Pool and spa

  • Septic pump

To get a free quote from American Home Shield, call 844-529-9298 or complete this simple form.

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The Home Service Club vs. American Home Shield Cost

Based on the sample quotes our team received, the monthly premiums for each home warranty company are similar. The Home Service Club charges between $45.95–$60.95 per month, and American Home Shield charges between $39.99–$64.99 per month.

Additionally, The Home Service Club charges a $95 service fee while American Home Shield lets homeowners choose a $75, $100, or $125 service fee. The higher the service fee a homeowner selects, the lower their monthly premium will be and vice versa.

Note: The cost of each company's optional add-ons depends on the specific items selected. On average, each optional item adds $40 to $180 to a homeowner's annual home warranty cost.

Customer Reviews

American Home Shield is accredited by the BBB and currently holds a B rating from the organization. The Home Service Club is not accredited with the BBB, and it holds a C rating. However, the BBB does note a pattern of complaints pertaining to The Home Service Club's customer service department.

Here are a few BBB customer reviews for The Home Service Club and American Home Shield:

The Home Service Club Reviews

"I have never felt so comfortable filing for a claim as I was with HSC! No jitters because the agent was very accommodating to my needs!" — Alyssa W. on July 21, 2020

"This company told me they would help me only if I changed my one-star review to a five-star review. Regrettably, I did this because I needed their help. Since then, they have denied all subsequent claims, citing loopholes in their contract. They also are difficult to reach." — Jason K. on November 16, 2020

American Home Shield Reviews

"Excellent service. Great response and great companies to fulfill our service needs through American Home Shield." — James S. on August 17, 2020

"I have been without a working refrigerator since January 30. AHS has sent 3 different service providers out and they have all given the same diagnosis and I still have a broken refrigerator. This is a waste of money and you are better served to find another home warranty company. I finally ended up having to call someone myself to service the refrigerator." — Akiko R. on February 9, 2021

Here's a comparison of The Home Service Club and American Home Shield's ratings:

The Home Service Club

  • BBB accreditation: No

  • BBB rating: C

American Home Shield

  • BBB accreditation: Yes

  • BBB rating: B

Our Conclusion

The Home Service Club and American Home Shield are both popular home warranty companies that are available in 49 U.S. states. Our review team named American Home Shield the best overall home warranty provider because of its comprehensive coverage plans, its reputation as an industry leader in the home warranty space, and its flexible service fees. We named The Home Service Club as Best for Quick Coverage because of its 10-day waiting period—one of the shortest in the home warranty industry.

If you prefer to work with a more experienced provider, we recommend choosing American Home Shield. If you're seeking quick coverage, The Home Service Club may be a better option.

To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, call 800-842-9334 or complete this form. For a free quote from American Home Shield, call 844-529-9298 or fill out this short form.

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Home Warranty Rating Methodology

The Home Service Research Team at Better Homes & Gardens strives to provide unbiased and objective reviews to readers by compiling relevant information on home warranty companies and rating the providers on a variety of factors.

Here's what our review process looks like:

  • We examine each provider's website to determine plan details, coverage, customer service offerings, and other benefits. We also speak with company representatives to get more insight on plan details.

  • We read sample contracts from each home warranty company to analyze and compare coverage details, limits, and exclusions.

  • We read at least 100 third-party customer reviews for each home warranty company to determine the real-life benefits and drawbacks of each provider.

  • We gather cost information for a variety of home warranty plans in different states by completing online quote forms and speaking with sales representatives to simulate the quote process.

  • We revisit each company's offerings on a seasonal basis, ensuring that we include the most up-to-date information in our reviews.

We also created a 100-point rating system to score companies based on objective factors, such as plan options, coverage, and customer service:

Overall, the Home Service Research Team has reviewed over 70 home warranty companies to select the top-rated providers in the industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do home warranties cover?

A home warranty plan, also known as a home service contract, covers home systems and appliances when they break down due to normal wear and tear. Instead of paying out of pocket for important repairs and replacements, homeowners with a home warranty pay a monthly or annual premium in addition to a service fee every time service is requested. On average, monthly premiums cost between $25–$60 while service fees cost between $75–$125.

What is the waiting period for The Home Service Club and American Home Shield?

A waiting period is the amount of time a customer must wait after signing a home warranty contract before their coverage kicks in and they can submit a claim. The Home Service Club has a 10-day waiting period while the waiting period for new American Home Shield customers is 30 days.

What are some other reputable home warranty companies?

Here are more top-rated home warranty companies to consider: