First American Home Warranty vs. Old Republic Home Protection 2026 — Side-by-Side Comparison
First American Home Warranty vs. Old Republic Home Protection: HVAC caps, appliance limits, pricing, service fees, availability, and which one is the better buy in 2026.
These are the two "quiet quality" picks in the home warranty industry — both owned by large, established insurance parents, both with far lower complaint volumes than AHS or Choice, and both with the highest appliance coverage caps in the business. This is a genuinely close comparison between two of our recommended companies.
Short answer: Old Republic wins on HVAC coverage and customer satisfaction. First American wins on availability and entry price. If both serve your state, Old Republic is the slightly better buy — but check availability first, because combined they cover barely half the country.
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Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | First American | Old Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $36-$54 | $32-$52 |
| Service fee | $75 or $100 | $75 or $100 |
| HVAC cap | $4,500 | $6,500 per unit (Elite) |
| Appliance cap | $3,500 (Essential) / $7,000 (Premium) | $3,500 (Basic/Deluxe) / $7,000 (Elite) |
| BBB rating | A | A+ |
| Plans | Starter / Essential / Premium | Basic / Deluxe / Elite |
| Availability | 35 states | 28 states |
| Our score | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Parent company | First American Financial (public) | Old Republic International (public) |
| Special coverage | First American Advantage add-on package | Rekeying + 24-hour emergency service |
Availability: The First Question to Ask
Before comparing anything else, check whether both companies even serve you. Neither is a national provider:
- ✓ Available in 35 states
- ✓ Strongest in the West and South (California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia)
- – Not available in much of New England, the Northern Plains, or Alaska/Hawaii
- ✓ Available in roughly 28 states
- ✓ Concentrated in the West and South; strong in California and Texas
- – Skips most of the Midwest, Northeast, and Northwest
Reality check: For many homeowners this comparison ends before it starts. Both companies cluster in overlapping Western and Southern markets — if you live in, say, Ohio or Pennsylvania, neither is likely an option. In California, Texas, Arizona, and the Southeast, both usually are, and the rest of this comparison applies.
HVAC Coverage: Old Republic Wins
HVAC is the most expensive thing a home warranty can cover, and this is where the two companies separate:
- ✓ HVAC cap up to $4,500 (Premium plan)
- ✓ No cap on electrical system repairs (Premium)
- – Starter plan excludes air conditioning entirely
- ✓ $6,500 for heating AND $6,500 for cooling on Elite (no combined limit)
- ✓ That's up to $13,000 of effective HVAC coverage per contract year
- – Basic plan excludes air conditioning
Old Republic's structure is the best HVAC deal among the major insurers short of AFC's no-cap coverage. Because the $6,500 limit applies to heating and cooling separately rather than to HVAC as a combined category, a contract year with both a failed furnace and a failed compressor is covered up to $13,000 — more than AHS Platinum's $5,000 per-unit cap in most scenarios and more than double First American's $4,500 cap.
Sample scenario: Heat pump replacement quoted at $11,000. Old Republic Elite pays $6,500 — you pay ~$4,500 plus the service fee. First American Premium pays $4,500 — you pay ~$6,500 plus the fee. The ~$2,000 difference in out-of-pocket cost dwarfs any monthly price gap between the two.
Appliance Coverage: A Rare Tie
Both companies offer the highest appliance caps in the industry, and the structures are nearly identical:
- ✔ Mid-tier plans (First American Essential, Old Republic Basic/Deluxe): $3,500 per appliance
- ✔ Top-tier plans (First American Premium, Old Republic Elite): $7,000 per appliance
- ✔ Both cover refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, and built-in microwaves at every tier
- – Both exclude washer/dryer from their base plan (First American Starter, Old Republic Basic)
A $7,000 per-appliance cap is exceptional — most competitors cap appliances at $1,500–$3,000. For a high-end refrigerator or range, either company's top plan covers essentially any realistic repair or replacement.
Pricing: Nearly Identical
This is one of the closest pricing matchups in the industry:
- • Entry pricing: Old Republic starts around $32/month; First American around $36/month
- • Top-tier pricing: Old Republic Elite tops out around $52/month; First American Premium around $54/month
- • Service fees are identical: both offer $75 or $100 per trade call
Quoted prices vary by state, home size, and plan, but for equivalent coverage tiers the two companies are within a few dollars of each other. Neither uses the aggressive low-entry pricing of Choice or Select, and neither has the premium pricing of AFC.
Bottom line on price: Price is not a meaningful differentiator here. A $2–$4/month gap is noise compared to the $2,000 HVAC cap difference. Decide on coverage and availability, not price.
The Extras: Different Philosophies
Each company adds value in a different way:
An optional add-on package that covers situations most warranties exclude: code violations, permits, haul-away and disposal of old equipment, and certain improper-installation and mismatched-system scenarios. It pays up to $500 total on Essential and $1,500 total on Premium. If your home has older wiring or an aging HVAC install, this closes real coverage gaps.
Includes rekeying service (useful right after buying a home), 24-hour emergency service dispatch, and an HVAC tune-up included with the Elite plan. Online portal for requesting service. Backed by Old Republic International, a $12B publicly traded insurance holding company — among the strongest financial guarantees in the industry.
First American's Advantage package is more targeted (it fixes specific exclusions), while Old Republic's perks are broader and included free. First American's parent, First American Financial, is also a large public insurer, so both carry more financial stability than the PE-backed and startup providers.
Complaint History: Both Are Among the Cleanest
This is the quiet strength of both companies. Compared to AHS (roughly 28,000 BBB complaints over three years) or Choice (15,000+), both are standout performers:
- ✔ First American: roughly 3,500 BBB complaints over three years, A letter grade
- ✔ Old Republic: under 1,000 BBB complaints over three years, A+ letter grade — the best complaint profile of any major provider
- ✔ Neither has been the subject of a state attorney general enforcement action
Old Republic's complaint volume is especially low given its size — its combination of an A+ grade and sub-1,000 complaint volume is unmatched among the companies we track. Common complaints for both companies follow the industry pattern: denied claims over maintenance or pre-existing issues, and parts-availability disputes on older appliances.
Who Each Is Best For
Choose Old Republic if:
- ✔ It serves your state and HVAC is your biggest risk
- ✔ You want the strongest HVAC cap structure ($6,500 heating + $6,500 cooling)
- ✔ Complaint history and customer satisfaction are priorities (A+ BBB, industry-best)
- ✔ You just bought the home and want the rekeying perk
Choose First American if:
- ✔ Old Republic doesn't serve your state but First American does
- ✔ Your home has code-violation or improper-installation exposure (the Advantage add-on)
- ✔ You want no cap on electrical repairs with the Premium plan
- ✔ You want the cheapest entry price between the two
Consider a third option if:
- • You have aging HVAC in a hot climate and want zero HVAC caps — AFC Home Club's no-cap coverage beats both (at a higher premium)
- • You're not in either company's footprint — check AHS (national) or Liberty Home Guard (50 states) instead
- • You need month-to-month flexibility with no long-term contract — Armadillo is the niche player there
The Verdict
Old Republic wins this comparison for most homeowners — the $6,500-per-system HVAC structure, the industry-best A+ complaint profile, and nearly identical pricing make it the better value where both are available. It earns our highest score of the two (8.2 vs. 7.8).
But this is the friendliest comparison on this site: both are insurance-parent-backed, both carry $7,000 top-tier appliance caps, and both are among the cleanest complaint records in the industry. If Old Republic isn't available in your state, First American is an excellent fallback — and if your home has code or installation exposure, the Advantage add-on can make First American the smarter pick.