Choice Home Warranty vs First American Home Warranty: Two Fixed-Fee Plans, Different Tiers
Both charge one fixed trade fee instead of a selectable tier, so the fee model is a wash. The real gap is add-on breadth, tier count, and which state list each provider is actually on.
Updated August 2026
Who wins what
Homeowners with a well pump, septic system, or pool that needs separate coverage.
Basis: First American's plan page names specific add-on categories, including well pump and septic, that are not listed the same way on Choice's published add-on list.
Everyone comparing a fixed trade fee.
Basis: Both publish a single fixed trade fee rather than a selectable tier, so neither has a structural pricing edge from the fee model alone; the actual dollar amount must be compared at quote time.
Everyone.
Basis: Both dispatch from their own network by default with no standard published homeowner-choice provision.
Key differences at a glance
Plan tier names
Even- Choice Home Warranty
- Basic and Total
- First American Home Warranty
- Basic and Premier
Add-on catalog
First American Home Warranty- Choice Home Warranty
- Shorter published list than several competitors
- First American Home Warranty
- Names well pump, septic, and pool or spa equipment specifically
Advertised base price positioning
Even- Choice Home Warranty
- Markets a lower advertised base price than several competitors
- First American Home Warranty
- Prices as an annual premium without a headline low-price claim
State footprint
Even- Choice Home Warranty
- Not sold in every state
- First American Home Warranty
- Sold in a defined set of states
Parent company
Even- Choice Home Warranty
- Choice Home Warranty, standalone brand
- First American Home Warranty
- First American Financial Corporation, also known for title insurance
Full scorecard
| Metric | Choice Home Warranty | First American Home Warranty | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan structureBoth run a two-tier structure; the difference is add-on naming, not tier count | Two tiers (Basic, Total) with a shorter published add-on list | Two tiers (Basic, Premier) with named add-ons like well pump and septic | Even |
| Service call feeBoth publish a fixed, non-selectable fee model | Single fixed trade fee stated in the plan agreement | Fixed trade fee stated in the plan agreement | Even |
| Published coverage capsBoth cap by item and tier; compare the matching tier before ranking either higher | Per-item caps listed in the plan agreement, by item and plan | Per-item caps generally higher on Premier than Basic per the plan agreement | Even |
| Waiting periodBoth publish the same standard waiting period | 30 days from contract start | 30-day waiting period published in the sample contract | Even |
| Contractor choiceNeither publishes a homeowner-choice provision as standard | Provider's own network by default | Provider's own network by default | Even |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Choice Home Warranty if…
- You want the lower advertised base plan price and a shorter add-on list to review.
- You do not need well pump, septic, or pool add-ons and just want core systems and appliances.
- You want a plan already marketed at a value price point rather than a mid-tier positioning.
Choose First American Home Warranty if…
- You need a well pump, septic, or pool and spa add-on specifically named on the plan page.
- You want Premier's generally higher published caps for an expensive system.
- You are comparing add-on pricing item by item rather than picking the lowest headline number.
Choose neither if…
- Neither provider is currently sold in your state; confirm this before requesting either quote.
- Your systems and appliances are new enough to be under a builder or manufacturer warranty already.
- You have not compared the Basic tier item list of each provider against what you actually own.
- Assuming Choice's lower advertised base price includes the same item list as First American's Basic tier.
- Adding a well pump or septic add-on to a quote without confirming the specific cap for that item.
- Requesting a quote before checking whether either provider is sold in your state.
- Treating the Total and Premier tier names as interchangeable without reading each item list.
Tools and next steps
Frequently compared next
Frequently asked questions
Do both providers charge a fixed service fee?
Yes. Choice Home Warranty and First American Home Warranty both publish a single fixed trade fee rather than a selectable tier tied to the premium.
Which plan covers well pumps or septic systems?
First American names well pump and septic as specific optional add-ons on its plan page. Choice's published add-on list does not name these items the same way, so confirm directly if you need this coverage.
Is either provider sold in every state?
No. Choice Home Warranty is not sold in every state, and First American is sold in a defined set of states. Confirm availability for your address before comparing quotes.
What is the difference between Choice's Basic and Total plans?
Total adds appliance categories, such as refrigerator and washer or dryer, on top of Basic's core systems and components list.
What is the difference between First American's Basic and Premier plans?
Premier expands the covered item list and generally publishes higher per-item caps than Basic.
Do either of these providers publish claim approval rates?
No. Neither Choice Home Warranty nor First American Home Warranty has published a claim approval figure that can be independently checked, so disregard any number without a cited source.
Verify these details yourself
- Actual claim approval outcomes for either provider.
- The current state availability list for both providers as it applies to your address.
- Your address-specific premium and fee for either provider's plan.
Methodology and sources
Specifications, pricing, warranties, and availability may change. We verify key details against official or reputable public sources and note where information is estimated or not publicly disclosed. HomeownerAnswers does not perform product testing.
- Choice Home Warranty plan and pricing pages - Official warranty provider, checked 2026-08-03, confidence: high
- Choice Home Warranty sample contract - Official warranty provider, checked 2026-08-03, confidence: medium
- First American Home Warranty plan pages - Official warranty provider, checked 2026-08-03, confidence: high
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