Fidelity National Home Warranty vs. Choice Home Warranty

Plans and what's covered

Choice Home Warranty sells two main plans. The Basic plan covers home systems and common appliances such as heating, electrical, plumbing, plumbing stoppages, the water heater, a whirlpool tub, oven and cooktop, dishwasher, built-in microwave, garbage disposal, garage door opener and ceiling and exhaust fans. The Total plan adds air conditioning, the refrigerator, and the clothes washer and dryer.

Fidelity National Home Warranty builds coverage around a standard plan with options. Its standard homeowner plan leaves out air conditioning and the refrigerator, which you add for an extra charge. Its sample California contract lists optional coverage such as a kitchen refrigerator, a limited roof leak repair and a well pump, each with its own dollar limit.

Both cover breakdowns from normal wear and tear and exclude preexisting conditions, though the exact exclusions differ by contract. If air conditioning is the main reason you’re buying a warranty, compare Choice’s Total plan price with Fidelity National’s standard plan plus the air conditioning option, because that line item often decides which costs more. Ask each company for the sample contract for your state before you pay.

Service fees, caps and costs

Neither company publishes plan prices. Fidelity National quotes by phone at 1-800-862-6837, and Choice uses an online quote form. Prices depend on your state, home size and type, and any add-ons.

Service fees. Choice charges a $100 trade service call fee per claim, paid to the technician, regardless of the repair cost. Fidelity National charges a non-refundable Trade Call Fee for each trade, due even if the claim is denied; its sample California contract sets it at $75. Your contract’s declaration page shows your amount.

Caps. Choice’s user agreement limits what it pays to $3,000 per covered item per 12-month period, with lower limits on some items, such as $500 for a well pump. If a replacement unit isn’t available, Choice may offer cash at its replacement cost, which it says can be less than retail. Fidelity National’s sample contract sets item-by-item limits, such as $1,500 per water heater or heating system and $1,000 for ductwork.

A central air conditioner replacement can exceed either company’s limit, so read the cap that applies to the items you care about most.

Complaints and regulator actions

Choice Home Warranty settled a consumer fraud lawsuit with the Arizona Attorney General. The judgment, entered January 23, 2026, requires Choice to reform its sales practices, give clearer disclosures before selling warranties, and pay $11.8 million, which the Attorney General called the largest settlement with a home warranty company in Arizona history. The state filed the suit in 2019 after complaints that Choice didn’t replace air conditioners and other appliances it had advertised as covered. Arizona customers who bought a Choice warranty by phone between January 1, 2013 and January 1, 2023 may be eligible for restitution through the Attorney General’s website. Choice’s BBB rating is B.

Fidelity National Home Warranty has been BBB accredited since 2005 and holds an A+ rating, with 622 complaints in the last three years. Its Trustpilot page is small and negative: 1.7 out of 5 from 19 reviews, with complaints about claim denials, slow service and fees. It is licensed by the California Department of Insurance as a home protection company.

Complaints about both companies center on denied claims and slow repairs, which is common across the home warranty industry. The contract’s exclusions decide most disputes.

Buying through a home sale

Many home warranties are bought at closing, often paid by the seller or included by an agent.

Fidelity National is built for this. It is a sister company of Fidelity National Title and Chicago Title, sells largely through real estate agents and escrow, and lists sales representatives in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. If your agent or title company offers it, the price is set at closing and coverage starts with the sale.

Choice also has programs for buyers, sellers and real estate professionals, and sells direct to homeowners in most states.

Whichever company your agent suggests, you can ask for a different one. A warranty bundled into closing costs is still a separate contract, and you’re the one who will file claims. Ask for the contract for your state, check the service fee and caps, and confirm whether the seller’s coverage during the listing period carries over to you as the buyer.