Best Storm Window Brands (2024 Guide)

• Made from an exclusive Fibrex composite material for better durability
• Comes in 49 interior and exterior color and finish combinations
• Meets the highest grade of forced-entry resistance

Keep in Mind

• Takes months to install from time of order, according to some customers
• Limits frame warranty coverage to 20 years and glass coverage to 10 years

Renewal by Andersen is our top pick for storm windows for several reasons. For one, the company has won the Energy Star Partner of the Year award for several consecutive years. We also like that its window frames are made from its trademarked Fibrex composite material—an extra durable formulation no other company has. This composite combines the strength of wood with the low maintenance of vinyl. It can withstand temperatures up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and is guaranteed to not crack, pit, corrode, sag, warp, or rot. It’s also formulated to resist high humidity, salt water, and termites.

RbA’s Coastal Impact collection uses impact-resistant glass and includes a high-performance, low-emissivity coating to prevent UV transfer, meaning it prevents sunlight from heating or fading your home’s interior. The collection comes in 49 color and finish combinations.

Renewal by Andersen’s installation process is another thing that sets it apart. The company handles every aspect of your purchase in-house, from your initial consultation to installation by its certified crew. This streamlines your project by preventing the miscommunication and warranty disputes that can happen when you have to hire outside contractors.

We don’t like the brand’s limited warranty coverage, which covers the window frame for 20 years and the glass for 10. We prefer coverage for the window’s full lifetime (typically 30 years). Still, the coastal product line is certified for use in high velocity hurricane zones and has a performance grade of 40, the highest grade of forced-entry resistance.

The top themes we noticed among customer reviews on sites such as BBB and Trustpilot have to do with service more than window quality. Many customers report canceled appointments and delays, both regarding installation and repairs. Customers say it takes several months from the time they order their windows to the time they’re installed. However, another theme is professional and courteous representatives. Many reviewers note that those they spoke to by phone and the installers who came to their home were eager to help and handled their project knowledgeably.

Here’s what two customers had to say:

“[RbA was] very proficient and cleaned every bit of mess up. They laid plastic down to avoid dust and even sectioned part of the house to avoid dust and dirt. We could not imagine what a difference the windows make. We feel no heat coming through the windows and our house is super quiet. We did pay a lot more than the competitors are offering, but the money has been well spent. I would highly recommend Renewal by Andersen as absolutely the best.” —Ed L., July 2024, BBB

“After many, many phone calls to set up an appointment and after canceling other appointments they never showed up. Had to call them. They said no supervisor was available.” —Hank, September 2024, Trustpilot

• Rigorously tested against hurricane pressure
• Designed with predrilled holes for easier installation
• Made to be exceptionally insulative for better energy efficiency 

Keep in Mind

• Made from vinyl, which is common but isn’t as durable as composite framing
• Comes in limited window styles

Pella has two impact window lines: Hurricane Shield and Defender. The only difference between them is that the Defender line only includes single-hung windows, whereas Hurricane Shield also includes awning and casement styles. Both lines use vinyl framing, which is pretty standard in the windows industry, but it’s not as durable as composite or fiberglass.

Both series’ glass is highly tested against hurricane conditions. The laminated glass is tested a minimum of 6,000 times at 140 degrees Fahrenheit and 100% humidity. The testing team fires a 2-by-4 at the glass at 50 feet per second. After impact, the team subjects the window to 9,000 cycles of hurricane pressure to assess how well the window stays intact. The windows include a strong polymer layer between the panes of glass to provide reinforcement even if the glass shatters. There are 18 insulating air chambers filled with nontoxic argon gas between window panes for maximum insulation.

Our main issue with Pella is its warranty limitations. While nonglass components are covered as long as the original purchaser owns the home, laminated glass is only covered for 10 years. Plus, coverage of many nonglass components isn’t transferable to subsequent homeowners as is common with other companies. We prefer a lifetime warranty for all window parts, especially for glass, the most vulnerable component.

Our main takeaway from reading Pella’s customer reviews across BBB, Trustpilot, and Google Reviews is that customer support over the phone is frustrating, while customer support in person is superb. Many customers write how difficult it is to get in touch by phone for repair requests and warranty questions, also noting that calls are often not returned. However, many rave about how helpful and courteous in-person representatives are, praising their sales rep, installation crew, and project manager for their communication and quality control.

Here are two reviews that stood out to us:

“So far, we are loving the 11 new replacement windows installed by Pella. The experience started with the great salesperson, Charlie Faulk. He has been there for us from beginning to end. The cost was reasonable when compared to other replacement window folks. The install crew was on time, efficient, neat, and left everything cleaned up. We have had a great experience with Pella.” —Ricky D., May 2024, Google Reviews

“Pella Windows and Doors doesn’t care about their customers’ needs, or at least that is my experience with them. They don’t have any knowledge about who does what. I contacted them for some repairs on my windows at my building and after collecting the service fees of $175. They never followed up with me for my windows replacement. Every time I call I get sent to a new person who doesn’t know anything about my account. I will not be contacting them for any of their services nor recommending the company.” —Aline P., September 2023, BBB

• Offers aluminum and fiberglass exteriors and wood interiors
• Known for sleek, modern designs and larger window sizes
• Comes in more storm window styles than most brands

Keep in Mind

• Begins warranty coverage at time of purchase, not installation
• Warranty coverage length is shorter than most companies

Marvin has three impact lines: Coastline, Ultimate, and Elevate. Coastline is its dedicated storm line, rated for high velocity hurricane zones (HVHZ) such as Miami-Dade county. This line is made from extruded aluminum and includes larger window sizes and narrow framing so you can take in more of that coastal view. We like how many window styles are available in this line, whereas other brands have limited options. Coastline comes in seven styles, almost as many as standard windows.

Marvin’s Ultimate and Elevate lines aren’t exclusively hurricane windows, but each line features impact options. They include fewer style choices and aren’t HVHZ-approved. However, they’re still good options if you live outside of these zones. The Ultimate series is made of extruded aluminum, but what we really like is the Elevate line’s fiberglass frames combined with real wood interiors. Fiberglass is considered by many to be the most durable window material, and wood provides a classic, warm look. According to Marvin’s website, it tested the fiberglass’s tensile strength, which is the maximum amount of force a material can withstand before it breaks or permanently deforms. The fiberglass performed roughly seven times better than vinyl. 

We’re not super happy with Marvin’s warranty coverage, though. Its terms say that coverage begins at the time of purchase rather than installation, something we haven’t seen from other warranties. Coverage lengths are also shorter than many brands. For example, instead of lifetime or 20-year coverage for nonglass components, Marvin allows five years for hardware and three for screens.

A big positive theme we noticed from reading Marvin’s online reviews is that customers really like the company’s representatives. Many say everyone they spoke to throughout the process were helpful and personable. We did notice a major negative theme on Reddit in a thread about how the company’s installation requirements differ from other manufacturers, often resulting in a gap around the window if you’re not aware of this variance.

“Getting a new Marvin window was the most amazing experience! From the enthusiastic sales person’s first contact to the manager who came back to pick up the leftover materials the workers left behind in my bedroom.” —Julie F., October 2023, Google Reviews

“Marvin windows have ‘unique’ (or perhaps more precious) installation requirements. This was news to my contractor. No one had ever seen instructions to install double-hung windows by tightly shimming the sides. Once they did this, under guidance of the Marvin rep, the double hungs did not have gaps and did open/close more smoothly. My contractor is still skeptical because apparently *no* other windows ever ask to be installed this way.” —vancitygirl88, October 2022, Reddit

• Meets the Florida Building Code and Texas Department of Insurance’s highest standards
• Greatly reduces sound and UV transfer in addition to impact resistance 
• Offers window insurance that could be valuable if you don’t have homeowner’s insurance

Keep in Mind

• Is more expensive than other brands we reviewed
• Has unresponsive customer support, according to many reviews

Simonton’s StormBreaker Plus collection includes several popular window styles and uses vinyl framing. This line’s laminated, impact-resistant glass is certified to meet Missile D impact specifications for the Florida Building Commission and Texas Department of Insurance evaluation for the Texas coast. This is the highest standard, so you can feel confident even in volatile hurricane zones. The glass also deflects up to 99% of UV rays that heat your home in summer and fade furniture and walls. Its windows include a sound-dampening interlayer that reduces noise pollution by 50%.

While we wish Simonton had a true lifetime warranty, its limited lifetime coverage is more generous than many companies with this warranty type. It actually covers its framing, hardware, and screens for the window’s life. It covers glass for 20 years and the exterior coating for 10, which is still better than only covering glass for 10 years as some brands do.

Communication and responsiveness are two complaints we repeatedly saw in Simonton reviews. Customers note difficulty getting in touch with customer support, unreturned calls, and months of waiting for solutions and repairs. However, plenty of other customers say they had a smooth, pleasant experience from start to finish.

“Simonton folks just installed windows throughout our bedroom house. We had a great experience throughout the process. Dave was amazing in showing us different options and helping us pick the right products. Ismar and Jose did an awesome job of installing the windows professionally. One thing that especially separates the team to stand out is their patience and detailed attention to your needs.” —Nader A., October 2022, Google Reviews

“Since January 31st of this year I have been waiting to hear back about a warranty claim on a leaking window. No movement so far. After calling multiple times I finally got the case to move forward. Turns out, it will still take months before anything gets fixed, or even happens.” —Stef P., March 22, 2023, BBB

• Is cheaper than any other brand we reviewed 
• Includes range of impact style options
• Has a sloped sill design to ensure water quickly drains away

Keep in Mind

• Doesn’t have HVHZ-approved windows
• Has vague warranty terms that may vary by location

We recommend Window World if you’re on a tight budget. According to our survey data, its prices average $300–$400 cheaper per window than other companies. It also provides frequent discounts. That doesn’t mean it’s low-quality, though—we often recommend Window World in other reviews because of its solid reputation and in-house installation service.

The brand’s Impact line has several style options with vinyl framing. However, while the site says these are hurricane-rated windows, it doesn’t explicitly say they’re HVHZ-approved like the other companies we reviewed. We called and spoke with two representatives, but neither could confirm if the line has Florida Building Code approval. This simply means that we can’t confidently recommend Window World for high-velocity zones, which is why we put it at the bottom of our list despite its higher overall score.

The other thing we don’t like about Window World is its lack of warranty transparency. The other brands we reviewed link a sample policy online. Window World has you enter your ZIP code and takes you to that location’s site to view warranty terms. While we can’t read every location’s warranty, this may mean that coverage varies by location. What we do know is that the policies we were able to read were much more vague than other companies. They state coverage for vinyl, glass, and mechanical parts, but don’t specify length of coverage.

Customers have a lot of good things to say about Window World. They note being impressed by the windows’ look and performance and the quick turnaround times for installation. A common negative theme we noticed was miscommunication with installers. While some customers said their installers were professional and great to work with, many others said their installers’ workmanship was poor and that they didn’t follow the homeowner’s instructions.

“Excellent job. I am so happy with the new windows installed by Window World in early June 2024. The installers and the management were very professional, polite, and did exactly what they were supposed to. It took them approximately 6 hours to install all the windows in the contract and clean up after the work was done. Thank you so very much for the job well done.” —Katyanee S., June 2024, BBB</span

“Windows are 9 out of 10. Installers’ workmanship gets a 2. No idea how to remove old windows. Tore my siding up. Big gap between J channel and siding. Water leak. Told me not responsible. No response for a call back.” —Joe D., October 2024, Trustpilot