Choice Home Warranty vs. First American: What Actually Matters in 2025

If you’re torn between Choice Home Warranty and First American, you’re not alone. Here’s the thing: both can save a headache when your AC dies in July, but they win in different ways. I’ll keep this practical and human—what you can expect, what can trip you up, and how I’d decide. I’m writing this for you as one person at Consumer's Best, not a committee.

The quick take

If you want straightforward pricing and broad, budget-friendly coverage, Choice Home Warranty often feels simpler. If you care more about stronger upgrade options and a long-established contractor network, First American usually edges it. In a pure choice-home-warranty-vs-first-american matchup, it’s less about the logo and more about how you’ll actually use the plan.

Coverage: what’s actually protected

Both cover the usual suspects—HVAC, water heaters, kitchen appliances, plumbing, electrical. Choice Home Warranty leans into simple plan tiers that bundle a lot without making you micro-manage add-ons. First American often looks similar at first glance but stands out for optional upgrades that soften painful denials, like coverage that can help with things like code upgrades or improper installations in some states. Believe it or not, those extras can be the difference between a covered fix and an awkward out-of-pocket surprise.

One more thing: exclusions are where warranties live or die. Pre-existing conditions, maintenance neglect, or secondary damage can be no-gos. In the choice-home-warranty-vs-first-american reality, sample contracts matter more than marketing pages. Take 10 minutes and read the PDF for your state.

Service fees and payout caps (where the math happens)

You’ll pay a service call fee each time a tech comes out—typically somewhere in the $75–$125 range for both brands, depending on your plan and state. Payout caps vary by system and appliance. This is the unsexy part that actually decides value: how high each cap is, and whether parts and labor are split. If your AC repair runs long, a higher cap or more generous parts coverage can save a few hundred bucks, easily.

Here’s my rule of thumb: if your home has older, expensive-to-repair equipment, lean toward the plan with stronger caps and clearer upgrade options. If your systems are mid-life and you mainly want budget stability, the simpler plan may be fine.

Claims and contractor experience

Speed matters when your fridge quits. Both offer 24/7 claim intake and assign in-network contractors. First American’s vendor network is deep in many metro areas and often praised for consistency. Choice Home Warranty’s network is broad and typically fast on straightforward issues. Every market’s different, though—rural areas can be a toss-up. If you’re picky about who enters your home, check whether you can request reimbursement for using your own licensed pro. In a strict choice-home-warranty-vs-first-american comparison, that “own contractor” option (and how reimbursement works) can be the tie-breaker.

Real-world costs (and sneaky gotchas)

Monthly pricing for both usually lands in the mid-$40s to mid-$60s per month for common plans, depending on your state, home size, and add-ons. That’s the headline. The fine print is where you’ll see items like coverage waiting periods, roof leak limits, refrigerant handling, and disposal fees. None of this is scary if you know it’s there—it just prevents a nasty surprise later.

Tip from me to you: before you buy, make a 60‑second list of the two systems most likely to fail in your home this year. Then check the caps, exclusions, and service fee for those two items only. That’s the most honest way to compare First American with Choice without getting lost in the weeds.

When Choice Home Warranty makes more sense

You want broad, easy coverage without juggling too many add-ons. You’re aiming to tame “normal” repair risk on systems and kitchen appliances, and you’d prefer a straightforward price. If that sounds like you, Choice is usually the cleaner setup. In the choice-home-warranty-vs-first-american debate, this path fits homeowners who value simplicity and predictable monthly costs over niche upgrade options.

When First American makes more sense

You want stronger upgrade choices and a long-standing contractor network, especially if your home has quirks—older wiring, code issues, prior DIY installs. If you’ve been burned by “improper installation” denials in the past, the right First American plan can feel like armor. Between First American and Choice, that extra flexibility is what sways folks with complex homes.

Bottom line (and what I’d do next)

If your gear is average age and you want a clean, budget-friendly safety net, I’d start with Choice Home Warranty. If you suspect messy installs, live in an older home, or want more robust upgrade options, I’d lean First American. Either way, grab the sample contract for your ZIP, skim the exclusions for HVAC, water heater, and refrigerator, and then decide.

If you want my unfiltered picks and a few money‑saving notes, I put screenshots, caps, and plan quirks in my full reviews on Consumer's Best. Search for the Choice Home Warranty review or the First American Home Warranty review and you’ll see exactly how I’d choose for different homes.

Quick disclaimers I wish more folks saw

Plans, pricing, service fees, and coverage caps vary by state and can change. Approvals depend on contract terms, maintenance history, and inspector findings. Always read the sample contract for your address before you buy. It’s 10 minutes that can save you hundreds.