Freedom Home Warranty was a Utah-based home warranty company that sold residential service contracts in 11 states. It went out of business in May 2020 when Old Republic Home Protection acquired the provider. In this article, we’ll provide guidance on buying a home warranty plan and recommend the best home warranty providers nationwide.
How Are Freedom Home Warranty’s Customer Reviews?
According to Freedom Home Warranty’s Better Business Bureau (BBB) page, the provider had a D+ rating for its failure to respond to customer complaints. With only six customer reviews, it’s hard to make generalizations about customer satisfaction, but here are some excerpts from those BBB reviews:
“Great experience with a very friendly and knowledgeable staff.” — Donna J., 6/11/18, 5 stars
“We had an HVAC tech come to our home to look and they recommended replacement. Freedom Home Warranty had someone come out to get a second opinion and that opinion was the same. They will not cover it however and called it a pre-existing condition.” — KRC, 6/21/18, 3 stars
“All appliances have a pre-existing condition that you aren’t aware of. You just bought the house. This is why you buy the warranty! They can use this excuse on all appliance problems.” — Bernadette B., 8/23/18, 2 stars
Top-Rated Alternatives to Freedom Home Warranty
While Freedom Home Warranty stopped selling home protection plans in 2020, there are plenty of reputable home warranty providers available that offer the coverage you need. Below are our top three providers.
American Home Shield
American Home Shield is our top pick for home warranty coverage because it provides the best balance between home protection and plan customization. Our 2025 survey revealed that 38% of respondents ranked AHS as their favorite home warranty provider, with nearly 83% of respondents saying they were either satisfied or very satisfied with their coverage. American Home Shield is a great choice if you own an older home with aged items, as the company covers undetectable preexisting conditions. However, it’s one of the pricier providers, with a home warranty cost that ranges from $36 to $100 monthly.
Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty is a top pick for affordable home repair insurance. It offers two competitively priced plans that cover essential major systems and appliances. The Basic Plan covers common household items, while the Total Plan covers high-demand appliances like refrigerators and air conditioning systems. This range allows homeowners to select a plan that fits their needs and budget. We appreciate that Choice Home Warranty provides affordable home warranty plans without limiting flexibility. The provider boosts its appeal by offering a wide variety of optional add-ons, including furnace coverage and pool protection.
Elite Home Warranty
Elite Home Warranty is another solid home warranty provider. It offers broad coverage and customization options, including over 30 add-ons, making it one of the most customizable companies on our list. Elite even offers a fully customizable plan that allows you to pick and choose only the items you want to cover. If you need a plan for specific protection, such as high-end appliance coverage, Elite Home Warranty is worth considering.
Are Home Warranties Worth It?
Home warranties can be worth it for homeowners looking to protect themselves from unexpected repair costs. Home warranty coverage plans cover major home systems and appliances, reducing out-of-pocket expenses when breakdowns occur. Instead of scrambling to find a contractor, homeowners can file a claim with their provider and have the issue addressed quickly. This convenience makes home warranties particularly beneficial for those who prefer predictable maintenance costs and don’t have the time or expertise to handle repairs themselves.
Whether a home warranty is worth it depends on the homeowner’s needs and expectations. Those with older appliances and systems may find warranties particularly useful in offsetting repair or replacement costs. On the other hand, homeowners with newer systems or those comfortable handling minor repairs might see less benefit. Evaluating the cost of a home warranty against potential repair expenses can help you determine if investing in a plan makes financial sense.
FAQs About Home Warranty Coverage
Why should I buy a home warranty?
You should buy a home warranty for a variety of reasons. One compelling reason is that an essential system or appliance can break down unexpectedly. Home warranties connect you to a vetted service technician who can fix your issue with minimal downtime. Home warranties also charge a monthly cost, whereas replacing a broken system or appliance can cost hundreds or thousands more at one time. Although your situation may be unique, having a home warranty can minimize the stress of dealing with breakdowns.
Do home warranties cover other types of home items?
Yes, home warranties cover a wide range of home items other than common systems and appliances. For example, home warranties cover pools and spas, septic systems, sump pumps, standalone freezers, well pumps, and more. Generally, providers cover these items as add-ons. Check your provider’s sample contract to see what add-on options are available.
Why is there a waiting period before my home warranty coverage begins?
Most home warranty companies have a waiting period of 30 days before coverage begins because they want to ensure the breakdown your systems and appliances may suffer is from normal wear and tear rather than a preexisting condition. Home warranty providers won’t cover an already broken item like any other insurance company.
Can I transfer my home warranty to another home?
Yes, most home warranty providers allow you to transfer your policy to another home. In addition, some allow you to transfer your policy free of charge. However, you must contact your provider before moving into your new home to process the policy transfer correctly.
Our Rating Methodology
We use a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each home warranty company we review. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and running focus groups and homeowner surveys.
We use this information to score each provider in six comparison categories that we think are most important when choosing a home warranty. We rate each provider across 23 factors within those categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We convert the final scores to a 5-star rating.
Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:
- Coverage (35%): This category looks at how comprehensive each provider’s coverage is, including whether it covers unique items. Companies that cover the most items and have higher annual limits received the highest scores. We docked points from providers that impose long waiting periods or have depreciation policies that decrease your payouts for aging items.
- Cost (20%): We looked at average monthly prices and service call fees. We gave the most points to companies offering pricing at or below the industry average that don’t impose any surcharges or extra fees.
- Trustworthiness (15%): To gauge reputation and reliability, we reviewed customer ratings across sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot, as well as companies’ responses to complaints. We also checked for National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA) membership. Providers with the highest ratings and longest workmanship guarantees received higher scores. We deducted points for any ongoing legal issues.
- Plan transparency (10%): We read terms, policies, and disclosures in provided contracts and on each company’s website. Providers with transparent contract details and policies received more points.
- Customer support (10%): Companies with multiple claims filing options, fast response times, and accessible customer support scored well in this category.
- Flexibility (10%): We awarded more points to providers offering more plan options, larger add-on catalogs, the ability to choose your own technician, and customer-friendly cancellation policies.
