Short answer
American Home Shield's sample contract is stronger on unknown pre-existing issues and cancellation. First American Home Warranty's is stronger on best appliance cap and overall limit. Which fits better depends on whether your biggest risk is aging systems, appliances, or contract flexibility. Confirm terms in the contract for your state.
American Home Shield Choose your service fee 
First American Home Warranty High appliance caps on Premium Side by side
| Checked Oct 23, 2026 | American Home Shield | First American Home Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | 3 plans (best of those shown) ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, ShieldPlatinum | 3 plans (best of those shown) Starter Plan, Essential Plan, Premium Plan |
| Heating & cooling cap | $5,000 (best of those shown) per system | Not stated (best of those shown) |
| Best appliance cap | $4,000 (best of those shown) per appliance, top tier | $7,000 (best of those shown) per appliance, top tier |
| Overall limit | $50,000 (best of those shown) per term | No limit (best of those shown) |
| Service fee | $100 or $125 (best of those shown) | Set in your plan (best of those shown) Not published |
| Code & permit upgrades | Limited (best of those shown) Platinum only, up to $250 | Limited (best of those shown) Optional Advantage add-on: $500 (Essential), $1,500 (Premium) |
| Unknown pre-existing issues | Limited (best of those shown) Excluded only if known or reasonably detectable | Excluded (best of those shown) Covered only for real estate transaction customers |
| Cancellation | Anytime (best of those shown) Yes; pro-rata refund, admin fee after 30 days | Restricted (best of those shown) Full refund within 30 days if no claims; after a claim, non-cancelable |
| Waiting period | 30 days (best of those shown) | Not stated (best of those shown) |
| Availability | Varies by ZIP (best of those shown) No state list published | Varies by ZIP (best of those shown) No state list published |
| Sample contract | Read it (best of those shown) | Read it (best of those shown) |
| Links | Review | Review |
Covered Limited Excluded Best Most favorable term among the providers shown From each provider's sample contract and plan pages. Not a quote; terms can vary by state.
Which one fits your home?
American Home Shield may suit
- Homeowners who want to choose between a $100 and $125 service fee
- Homes where systems matter more than appliances (ShieldSilver)
- Buyers who want a contract that excludes only pre-existing problems that were known or reasonably detectable
Watch for: Code, permit, and modification costs are excluded except a $250 allowance on ShieldPlatinum.
First American Home Warranty may suit
- Homes with higher-value appliances (Premium's $7,000 per-appliance limit)
- Owners who can't document past maintenance, since the contract covers failures due to lack of maintenance
- Buyers in a real estate transaction, who get unknown-defect coverage
Watch for: Direct (non-real-estate) buyers don't get unknown pre-existing coverage, and code/permit coverage is an add-on.
AHS vs. First American: common questions
Is American Home Shield better than First American Home Warranty?
American Home Shield's sample contract is stronger on unknown pre-existing issues and cancellation. First American Home Warranty's is stronger on best appliance cap and overall limit. Which fits better depends on whether your biggest risk is aging systems, appliances, or contract flexibility. Confirm terms in the contract for your state.
Which has higher coverage caps, AHS or First American?
Heating and cooling: AHS $5,000 per system, First American Not stated. Appliances: AHS $4,000 per appliance, First American $7,000 per appliance. Caps are from each provider's sample contract and can vary by plan and state.
Can I cancel AHS or First American at any time?
AHS: Yes; pro-rata refund, admin fee after 30 days. First American: Full refund within 30 days if no claims; after a claim, non-cancelable.
Next steps
- Read the full American Home Shield review and First American Home Warranty review.
- See how both stack up against every other provider on our comparison page.
- Check which plans are sold where you live with the plan finder.
This page is general education, not legal, financial, or insurance advice. Home warranty terms vary by provider, plan, and state; the contract you sign controls what is covered. Spotted an error? Request a correction.
