Select Home Warranty vs Choice Home Warranty: Budget Showdown

If you're shopping at the budget end of the home warranty market, Select Home Warranty and Choice Home Warranty are two of the most common names you'll compare. Both promise affordable protection for your appliances and systems, but they differ on price, coverage limits, perks, and contractor reach. This guide breaks down which budget pick actually delivers more value.

Select vs Choice at a glance

Pricing compared

Select Home Warranty is the budget champion here, with plans frequently in the $35–$48 per month range — among the cheapest in the industry. It also commonly runs promotions that add a couple of free months or waive fees.

Choice Home Warranty sits slightly higher at roughly $46–$60 per month, with a flat service fee of about $85. You pay a bit more, but you get a larger contractor network and somewhat more generous coverage limits.

💡 Tip: With budget providers, the lowest premium can be a false economy if coverage caps are low. A $35/month plan that caps a repair at a few hundred dollars may leave you paying the difference on a big-ticket failure. Compare the per-item caps, not just the monthly price.

Plans and coverage

Select Home Warranty offers three tiers:

• Bronze Care — appliances only.
• Gold Care — systems only (HVAC, plumbing, electrical).
• Platinum Care — combined appliances and systems (the most popular).

A nice budget perk: Select includes limited free roof-leak coverage on its plans, which many competitors charge extra for.

Choice Home Warranty keeps it to two plans:

• Basic Plan — appliances plus some systems (no A/C).
• Total Plan — Basic plus A/C, refrigerator, washer, and dryer.

Choice's Total plan is the one most homeowners want, and its coverage caps are generally more generous than Select's.

Service fees and claims

• Select — service fee typically $75–$100, lower coverage caps, smaller contractor network.
• Choice — flat ~$85 service fee, moderate caps, and an industry-leading contractor network that often means faster technician assignment.

Both assign contractors from their own networks (neither lets you choose your own), and both can be slower in rural areas — though Choice's larger network gives it an edge on availability.

⚠️ Watch out: Select Home Warranty's lower coverage caps are the most common source of customer frustration — a covered repair may only be partially reimbursed. Read the contract's payout limits carefully, especially for HVAC and refrigerators.

Coverage caps: where Choice pulls ahead

The defining difference between these two budget options is coverage caps. Select's rock-bottom premiums come with lower per-item payout limits, meaning you may shoulder more of a large repair. Choice's slightly higher price buys more generous caps, so a major HVAC or appliance failure is more likely to be fully covered.

If you're protecting newer, lower-risk appliances, Select's savings may be worth it. If you're protecting older or expensive equipment, Choice's higher caps usually justify the small premium bump.

Customer reviews and reputation

Both are budget brands with mixed reviews. Choice generally earns higher marks for value and customer service in head-to-head comparisons and benefits from its large contractor network. Select is praised for affordability and its roof-leak perk but criticized more often for claim payouts limited by low caps. As always, contractor quality varies by region — check recent local reviews before committing.

Which should you choose?

Choose Select Home Warranty if absolute lowest monthly cost is your top priority, you want free roof-leak coverage, and you're protecting newer or lower-value items.

Choose Choice Home Warranty if you want better coverage caps, a larger contractor network for faster service, and you're protecting older or higher-value systems and appliances.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Select or Choice? Select Home Warranty is typically cheaper, with monthly premiums often $10+ lower than Choice.

Does Select Home Warranty really include free roof coverage? Yes — Select includes limited roof-leak coverage on its plans, which many competitors offer only as a paid add-on. Note the coverage is limited in scope.

Which has better coverage limits? Choice Home Warranty generally offers more generous per-item coverage caps, which can mean fewer out-of-pocket costs on big repairs.

Can I choose my own contractor with either? No. Both assign a technician from their own network.

Which is better for an older home? Choice, because its higher coverage caps better protect against the expensive failures common in older homes.

Related articles

• Cheapest Home Warranty Plans That Are Actually Worth It
• Choice Home Warranty Review: Cost & Coverage Breakdown
• Select Home Warranty Review: Budget Pick or Skip?
• Best Home Warranty for Older Homes in 2026
• Is a Home Warranty Worth It for Appliances?

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and reflects pricing and plan details that change over time. Always confirm current plans, prices, service fees, and contract terms directly with the provider before purchasing. We may earn a commission from links on this page at no extra cost to you.