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Liberty Home Guard vs. American Home Shield (2024)

Author Image Written by Dana Getz + 1 other Reviewer Icon Reviewed by Jacquelyn Kfoury Updated 04/17/2024

Both American Home Shield (AHS) and Liberty Home Guard (LHG) are reputable in the home warranty industry. American Home Shield has more customizable plan options and more years of experience. However, Liberty Home Guard has cheaper monthly premiums and lower service fees.

This review provides an in-depth comparison of these two providers on important home warranty criteria such as plans, customer ratings, and pricing.

Continue reading for a detailed analysis of each provider to determine which offers the best home warranty for you.


How Do Liberty Home Guard and American Home Shield Compare?

ProviderLiberty Home GuardAmerican Home Shield
This Old House Rating4.5/54.4/5
Coverage OptionsAppliance Guard, Systems Guard, Total Home GuardShieldSilver, ShieldGold, ShieldPlatinum
Monthly Premiums$49–$60 per month$29–$90 per month
Service Call Fee$65–$125$100–$125
State Availability49 (all except WI)48 (all except WA and HI)
BBB RatingNRB
Years in Business552

What Are the Pros and Cons of Liberty Home Guard?

Below is a list of pros and cons for Liberty Home Guard.

Pros
Extends a 60-day workmanship guarantee
Offers 38 unique optional add-ons, including pest control and gutter cleaning
Provides a live-chat customer service feature
Cons
Doesn’t allow plan price or service call fee customization
Covers high-end appliances only with add-on purchase
Is not transparent about services fees during the quote process

Liberty Home Guard, a relatively new company, started selling home warranties in 2017. Liberty Home Guard offers three different coverage plans and 38 optional coverage items to include with any plan.

For a free quote from Liberty Home Guard, fill out this online form or call 866-452-9107.


What Are the Pros and Cons of American Home Shield?

Here is a list of pros and cons for American Home Shield coverage.

Pros
Offers a flexible service call fee model that allows customers to adjust monthly fees to fit their budget
Sets generous coverage caps ($5,000 on built-in systems and up to $4,000 for appliances with ShieldPlatinum)
Provides coverage for unknown preexisting conditions, items damaged by rust and corrosion, and items that have been improperly installed or modified
Cons
Requires customers to use contractors within AHS network
Offers less coverage flexibility than most providers with only a few add-on options

Liberty Home Guard is one of the most popular home warranty providers in the industry and we also rank them as one of the best home warranty companies.


Liberty Home Guard vs. American Home Shield Coverage

Both American Home Shield and Liberty Home Guard offer plans for appliances and systems.

Liberty Home Guard offers more optional add-ons than American Home Shield, but American Home Shield covers more items in each of its plans.

What Coverage Does Liberty Home Guard Offer?

There are three Liberty Home Guard plans: Appliance Guard, System Guard, and Total Home Guard. The Appliance Guard plan covers nine appliances, the System Guard plan covers six systems, and the Total Home Guard plan covers all 15 of these items.

Liberty Home Guard Plan Comparison

PlansAppliance GuardSystem GuardTotal Home Guard
Clothes washer
Clothes dryer
Kitchen refrigerator
Built-in microwave oven
Dishwasher
Garbage disposal
Range/oven/cooktop
Ceiling and exhaust fans
Garage door openers
Air conditioning
Heating
Ductwork
Plumbing
Electrical
Water heater

What Coverage Does American Home Shield Offer?

There are three American Home Shield plans: ShieldSilver™, ShieldGold™, and ShieldPlatinum™. ShieldGold covers laundry and kitchen appliances with major household systems, while ShieldSilver covers home systems only. ShieldPlatinum offers comprehensive coverage for both systems and appliances with extra benefits such as roof leak coverage.

American Home Shield Plan Comparison

Systems and AppliancesShieldSilver™ShieldGold™ShieldPlatinum™
Air Conditioning
Heating System
Ductwork
Electrical
Doorbells
Smoke Detectors
Ceiling Fans
Plumbing and Stoppages
Water Heaters
Water Dispensers
Central Vacuums
Refrigerators
Ranges, Ovens, and Cooktops
Clothes Washer
Clothes Dryers
Dishwashers
Built-In Microwave
Trash Compactors
Freestanding Ice Maker
Garage Door Opener
Built-In Food Centers
Coverage Boost
Roof Leak Coverage

Liberty Home Guard vs. American Home Shield Add-Ons Compared

Liberty Home Guard Add-Ons

American Home Shield Add-Ons

Liberty Home Guard offers 38 optional add-ons that you can purchase separately with any plan:

  • Additional spa
  • Carpet cleaning
  • Casita guest unit
  • Central Vacuum
  • Ejector pump
  • Electronics protection
  • Freestanding ice maker
  • Generator
  • Grinder pump
  • Gutter cleaning
  • In-fridge ice maker
  • Instant hot water dispenser
  • Lawn sprinkler system
  • Lighting fixtures
  • Limited roof-leak
  • Pest control
  • Plumbing fixtures
  • Pool and spa
  • Pro-series clothes dryer
  • Pro-series dishwasher 
  • Pro-series microwave
  • Pro-series range/oven/cooktop 
  • Pro-series refrigerator 
  • Pro-series washing machines
  • Re-key services
  • Reverse osmosis water filter system
  • Saltwater pool
  • Second refrigerator 
  • Septic system pumping
  • Stand-alone freezer
  • Sump pump
  • Swamp cooler
  • Trash compactor
  • Water dispenser water line
  • Water softener
  • Well pump
  • Window washing/cleaning
  • Wine cooler/fridge

Here are the five optional add-ons offered by American Home Shield:

  • Electronic extended warranty
  • Guest units up to 750 square feet
  • Pool and spa
  • Septic pump
  • Well pump

How Do Liberty Home Guard and American Home Shield Costs Compare?

Liberty Home Guard offers a cheaper monthly premium than American Home Shield. Regarding service call fees, Liberty Home Guard offers $65–$125 service call fees for customers. American Home Shield allows customers to select their own service fee between $100–$125.

With American Home Shield, choosing a lower service fee may lead to a higher monthly premium, while homeowners who are willing to pay a higher service fee will have a relatively lower monthly premium.

Note: The cost of a home warranty depends on where you live, the square footage of your home, and the type of plan you choose. Because of these factors, getting a quote from both providers is the best way to determine the specific cost of a home warranty for your situation.

American Home Shield Pricing

  • Monthly cost: $29.99–$89.99
  • Service call fee cost: $100-$125 per claim
Plan$125 Service Fee Price$100 Service Call FeeCoverage Caps
ShieldSilver$29.99$39.99$5,000
ShieldGold$49.99$59.99Systems: $5,000
Appliances: $2,000
ShieldPlatinum$79.99$89.99Systems: $5,000
Appliances: $4,000

Liberty Home Guard Pricing

  • Monthly cost: $49.99–$59.99
  • Service call fee cost: $65-$125 per claim
PlanMonthly CostService FeeCoverage Caps
Appliance Guard$49.99$65–$125$2,000
Systems Guard$54.99$65–$125$2,000 (Plumbing & electrical: $500)
Total Home Guard$59.99$65–$125Coverage caps remain the same

What Do Customers Say About Liberty Home Guard and American Home Shield?

Liberty Home Guard and American Home Shield both have thousands of reviews across third-party sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot.

Home Warranty Reviews Comparison

ProviderLiberty Home GuardAmerican Home Shield
BBB ratingNR*B
BBB accreditationNoYes
Number of customer reviews on BBB webpage1,929 reviews11,681 reviews
Average BBB customer review rating (out of 5 stars)4.5 stars2.2 stars

*As of April 2024, Liberty Home Guard is listed as NR on the Better Business Bureau. It also has a BBB alert noting “a Pattern of Complaints regarding the claims process, customer service, and sales tactics for Liberty Home Guard.”

We contacted LHG, which shared this statement: “Despite the BBB’s alert, our customer satisfaction levels remain by far the highest relative to our scale. Last month, we had the lowest percentage of customer cancellation requests in our entire history. On the BBB’s own platform, Liberty Home Guard has achieved a star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from nearly 2,500 reviews. For added context, the approximately 480 resolved complaints on Liberty Home Guard’s BBB profile equate to an extremely low fraction of a percentage relative to the size and scale of our total customer base. As we navigate this situation, which we believe will be resolved in time, we want to assure you that we remain committed to our customers and their satisfaction; they are the key stakeholders we orient all our efforts around.”

We’ve noted LHG’s consistently high review scores across third-party review sites, including 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. In contrast, American Home Shield has 2.2 stars on BBB and 2.1 stars on Trustpilot. These higher-than-average customer review scores indicate overall LHG customer satisfaction.


Comparing the Best Home Warranty Companies

Company BBB Rating Monthly Cost Service Fee Visit Site
NR $49–$59 $65–$125 VISIT SITE
B $29–$89 $100–$125 VISIT SITE
B- $44–$47 $60–$75 VISIT SITE
B $42–$82 $75–$125 VISIT SITE
B $35–$94 $75–$125 VISIT SITE
A+ $44–$58 $70 VISIT SITE
B+ $30–$56 $100–$150 VISIT SITE
A $27–$70 $65–$100 VISIT SITE
No results were found.
Star Rating BBB Rating Monthly Cost Service Fee Response Time Link
Liberty Home Guard Liberty Home Guard
NR $49–$59 $65–$125 Up to 48 hours VISIT SITE
American Home Shield American Home Shield
B $29–$89 $100–$125 Up to 48 hours VISIT SITE
Select Home Warranty Select Home Warranty
B- $44–$47 $60–$75 48-84 hours VISIT SITE
First American Home Warranty First American Home Warranty
B $42–$82 $75–$125 4-48 hours VISIT SITE
AFC Home Warranty AFC Home Warranty
B $35–$94 $75–$125 24-48 hours VISIT SITE
Elite Home Warranty Elite Home Warranty
A+ $44–$58 $70 Up to 48 hours VISIT SITE
Cinch Home Services Cinch Home Services
B+ $30–$56 $100–$150 2-24 hours VISIT SITE
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
A $27–$70 $65–$100 Up to 48 hours VISIT SITE
Liberty Home Guard
Logo Liberty Home Guard
Star Rating
BBB Rating NR
Monthly Cost $49–$59
Service Fee $65–$125
Response Time Up to 48 hours
VISIT SITE
American Home Shield
Logo American Home Shield
Star Rating
BBB Rating B
Monthly Cost $29–$89
Service Fee $100–$125
Response Time Up to 48 hours
VISIT SITE
Select Home Warranty
Logo Select Home Warranty
Star Rating
BBB Rating B-
Monthly Cost $44–$47
Service Fee $60–$75
Response Time 48-84 hours
VISIT SITE
First American Home Warranty
Logo First American Home Warranty
Star Rating
BBB Rating B
Monthly Cost $42–$82
Service Fee $75–$125
Response Time 4-48 hours
VISIT SITE
AFC Home Warranty
Logo AFC Home Warranty
Star Rating
BBB Rating B
Monthly Cost $35–$94
Service Fee $75–$125
Response Time 24-48 hours
VISIT SITE
Elite Home Warranty
Logo Elite Home Warranty
Star Rating
BBB Rating A+
Monthly Cost $44–$58
Service Fee $70
Response Time Up to 48 hours
VISIT SITE
Cinch Home Services
Logo Cinch Home Services
Star Rating
BBB Rating B+
Monthly Cost $30–$56
Service Fee $100–$150
Response Time 2-24 hours
VISIT SITE
2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Logo 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty
Star Rating
BBB Rating A
Monthly Cost $27–$70
Service Fee $65–$100
Response Time Up to 48 hours
VISIT SITE

Liberty Home Guard vs. American Home Shield – Our Final Take

Liberty Home Guard and American Home Shield both offer comprehensive plans that protect major systems and appliances within the home. Liberty Home Guard offers more optional add-ons than American Home Shield, but American Home Shield offers more coverage plans with more comprehensive options Both providers offer affordable plans and have received positive customer reviews.

Because of American Home Shield’s years of experience in the industry and its fully customizable plan option, we recommend this provider for most homeowners, especially those looking to customize coverage. To learn more about each provider, read our Liberty Home Guard review and our American Home Shield review.


Frequently Asked Questions

Should I purchase a home warranty?

Purchasing a home warranty plan provides peace of mind for homeowners by protecting them from expensive repairs that they can’t afford. Since major home systems and appliances will break down from normal wear and tear and may need repairs from time to time, a home warranty can offer you protection and save you money.

How does a home warranty work?

With home warranty coverage, you pay a monthly premium of about $25 to $60. When one of your systems or appliances breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee of about $75 to $125.

What is the waiting period on a home warranty?

Many home warranty and home appliance insurance companies require you to wait a specific amount of time after purchasing your plan before you can submit your first claim. Both Liberty Home Guard and American Home Shield require you to wait 30 days before going through the claims process.


Our Rating Methodology

We back up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to score each provider objectively. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. 

We score each provider against our review standards, which include four comparison categories: coverage, value, trust and transparency, and availability and service. We rate each provider across 31 factors within these categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We then convert the final scores to a 5-star rating. 

Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:

  • Coverage (40%): We scored coverage based on included home systems and appliances, add-on options, and unique benefits. We also compared coverage caps and policy exclusions.
    • Additional coverage items
    • Annual coverage cap
    • Home systems coverage
    • Major appliances coverage
    • Obstructed wall coverage cap
  • Value (30%): We compared the coverage level received to monthly pricing to determine plan value. We considered premium pricing, service fees, and flexibility in customizing plan costs.
    • Average monthly cost
    • Cost flexibility
    • Lowest service fee
  • Trust and Transparency (16%): We evaluated each company’s reputation using the Better Business Bureau ratings and customer reviews on third-party review sites. We read through plan change policies, workmanship protections, and sample contract availability.
    • Brand reputation
    • Policy change flexibility
    • Sample contract availability
    • Workmanship guarantee length
  • Availability and Service (14%): We award higher scores for faster claim processing and response times. We also considered service technician policies, including options to choose your technician.
    • Claims process
    • Guaranteed response time
    • Service flexibility

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.