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Jessica Wimmer is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront. She specializes in writing reviews and informational articles in the home and pet insurance industries. Jessica analyzes the best brands and has read over 1,000 customer reviews to learn what matters most to buyers. She’s been published in Deep South Magazine, The Dead Mule Journal of Southern Literature and The Deep Water Literary Journal. She’s also a Pushcart Prize nominee, Write Well award winner and former English teacher. Jessica hails from Virginia but currently resides in the Raleigh, North Carolina area.
Whether replacing one window or upgrading your entire home, new windows are a significant investment — and we’re not just talking about cost. The windows you choose make a big difference in your home’s comfort, how hard your HVAC system works, and the number you see on your monthly energy bill.
We researched best window brands to gauge their product quality and customer satisfaction. We looked at window selection, energy efficiency, customer reviews, warranty coverage and more to pick our top choices for the best replacement windows.
Renewal by Andersen, Harvey Windows + Doors and Champion Windows topped our list for their efficient, top-quality windows, credentials and warranties.
If it’s your first time buying replacement windows, you may be wondering what to look for. To sum it up, opt for the type of window you want with the performance you need at the price you can afford. Choose performance over aesthetics if your budget requires you to compromise. Here are a few more things to know when replacing your windows.
Window replacement costs vary greatly based on style, size, materials and energy features. According to Home Depot, standard window types, such as double-hung windows and awning windows, cost between $825 and $1,400. Popular casement windows average $1,000–$1,900, depending on size. Large varieties, such as bay windows, can cost several thousand dollars. These price ranges include permitting, installation and tax.
The most common window materials are vinyl, wood, aluminum and fiberglass. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Aluminum and vinyl windows are the most budget-friendly, but they’re not as attractive as wood, and aluminum is prone to rust.
Wood windows have classic curb appeal but are high-maintenance and expensive. Fiberglass windows are durable and long-lasting but harder to customize. Most homeowners opt for vinyl windows. They’re affordable, low-maintenance and energy-efficient.
We don’t recommend installing windows yourself. Window replacement is a bigger project than you may realize. You can end up with wall damage and an even bigger, more costly project to take care of. The most common mistake with a do-it-yourself installation is improper sealing, which leads to air and moisture leaks that make your home drafty and can lead to mold. You may also void your warranty coverage if a licensed professional doesn’t install your windows.
We tested the industry’s leading window companies using our methodology. We rated them based on their window styles and materials, energy features, Better Business Bureau (BBB) and customer ratings, industry certifications and more. The following brands scored the highest, ranging from 4.2 to 4.6 out of 5 stars.
What we like
Renewal by Andersen backs its window quality with several certifications and many awards. The company is an Energy Star Partner of the Year award winner multiple times over and holds a National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) certification and SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certification, both of which signal compliance with rigorous indoor air quality emission requirements. Renewal by Andersen has also won the J.D. Power “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Window and Patio Door Manufacturer Brands” honor multiple years in a row.
We like that all windows are Energy Star-certified and designed with superior thermal insulating properties such as low-emissivity (low-e) coatings and argon gas filling. This means you get some of the most efficient windows possible to help lower your energy bills.
What we don’t like
Customers often note Renewal by Andersen’s high prices, though our in-house survey data from October 2023 showed comparable pricing to other leading brands. It may be that customizations and advanced energy features drive up the price significantly.
The biggest issue we see with the company is its long wait times. Many customer reviews report months of waiting between ordering their windows and their scheduled installation date.
Renewal by Andersen has an A+ rating from the BBB and mixed customer reviews on this and other customer review sites. We found plenty of positive feedback, including this review from Michael on Trustpilot, pointing to great product quality, professionalism among the installation team and helpful, friendly customer service.
We found other reviews citing long waits for installation, persistent sales tactics and difficulty with warranty claims. Molly reported a long wait for a part replacement, as many others have echoed.
Renewal by Andersen sells aluminum, composite, wood and vinyl window materials. You can choose from the following window styles:
Renewal by Andersen backs its windows with a transferable limited warranty.
Renewal by Andersen is a full-service window company, meaning it’s both a manufacturer and installer, so you don’t need to look outside the company for any aspect of your window project. You’ll schedule installation after you’ve worked with a representative to choose and order your windows. When your installation date arrives, your certified, in-house Renewal by Andersen installation team will install your windows and clean up before leaving.
While you can hire your own contractor, you won’t get Renewal by Andersen’s labor warranty coverage, and using a third-party installer may void aspects of your parts and materials warranties. You can start with the company by requesting a quote or consultation on its website or by visiting a Renewal by Andersen showroom.
Harvey Windows + Doors has one of the broadest varieties of window styles and backs its products with a 10- to 20-year manufacturer’s warranty. Harvey is an Energy Star partner, so all its windows come with the Energy Star label, indicating superior performance.
We especially recommend Harvey if you live in a colder climate. Harvey operates primarily on the East Coast, so its window features are ideal for cold northeastern winters, with options such as triple panes and insulative low-e coatings.
Harvey isn’t for you if you want full-service installation, as it’s only a window manufacturer. Our biggest fault with Harvey products is that it doesn’t place as much emphasis on design or innovation as competing window companies. If you want high-end designs, advanced features or many customization options, Harvey probably isn’t the right fit.
Harvey has an A+ rating on the BBB and a customer rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on the site, one of the best scores among window replacement companies. Since Harvey doesn’t sell directly to you but to distributors, many reviews are from contractors who’ve installed its products. This is still helpful feedback because contractors won’t be happy with a brand if their customers consistently have issues with its windows.
Most online reviews emphasize great customer service and quality, long-lasting window components. Many reviews mention short wait times for parts and responses. However, we did find some customers with the opposite experience, citing window defects and difficulty resolving their issues over the phone.
Harvey only offers vinyl and wood window frame materials, but it provides more window style options than any other provider on our list:
The warranty coverage Harvey offers differs based on the material used.
Harvey only makes windows; it doesn’t install them. You’ll need to hire a third-party contractor for installation, which means you’ll have a manufacturer’s warranty from Harvey and a labor warranty from your installer. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can add confusion if you ever submit a warranty claim. Harvey does have a distribution network to make finding a professional installer easier.
Champion Windows carries the AAMA Gold Label from the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, a seal of approval for its product quality. It’s certified by Energy Star, the NFRC, the Efficient Windows Collaborative (EWC) and the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI). And it’s not just industry organizations that endorse Champion’s quality — it also has great customer reviews. We found thousands of happy customers online praising the brand’s quality.
Champion doesn’t have as much variety as many competitors; it only makes aluminum and vinyl windows. Both are budget-friendly but don’t offer the curb appeal of wood or the superior strength of fiberglass. Our biggest issue with Champion is that while its customer reviews regarding product quality are high, we did see a theme of communication issues and slow problem resolution.
Champion Windows isn’t accredited with the BBB but has a customer rating of 3.43 out of 5 stars based on more than 1,000 reviews. It also has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on more than 3,500 reviews.
Customers who rate the brand highly reference its speedy installations, helpful sales reps and fair pricing. However, we discovered that Champion has had lower customer reviews in the last year than in previous years. Recent complaints mention pushing back installation dates and taking a long time to resolve issues.
As far as window materials, the brand only sells vinyl and aluminum, but it offers various window styles, including the following:
Champion provides a limited lifetime warranty on all products. It doesn’t include a sample policy on its website or offer specifics, but Champion says it covers every aspect of installation, parts, labor and materials. Champion’s website claims, “If it breaks, we will fix it.”
Champion is a full-service window company. It manufactures, sells and installs its products using its in-house team. You can purchase the windows and have a third-party contractor install them or install them yourself. However, we don’t recommend this because it could void your warranty.
While these window brands didn’t rank as highly as our top three, they still deserve an honorable mention for their selection and customer satisfaction.
Castle Windows is highly awarded and featured on Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500 list and HomeAdvisor’s Best Of list. It’s one of the few window companies that offers 24/7 customer support, and it’s rare in that it offers a true lifetime warranty with no catches or caps.
Castle is also convenient if you’re tackling multiple home improvement projects at once since it specializes in more than windows. It makes and installs doors, roofing and siding as well.
Castle didn’t make our top picks because it doesn’t emphasize its energy-efficient features as much as other brands. While competitors list their certifications and energy-saving features on their websites, we didn’t find them on Castle’s.
Castle is accredited with the BBB and holds an A+ rating on the site. Customer reviews are mixed but lean mostly positive. Many customers report professional and friendly service over the phone and from installers and great craftsmanship on windows and doors.
However, we read several customer reviews that mentioned windows not being installed correctly, leading to draftiness and rain getting in. A few others pointed to installation taking longer than expected.
Castle doesn’t offer as many window materials as other brands; it only sells vinyl windows. Castle’s window styles include the following:
Castle’s glass, parts and labor are all covered under a lifetime warranty. Coverage is transferable, meaning you can give it to the new homeowner if you sell your home. The company does a great job defining its warranty coverage and conditions on its site.
The brand is a full-service installer, so you won’t need to hire any third parties. Castle’s in-house team will take care of window measurements, installation and cleanup.
Pella has many window options and rigorous performance testing. It designs its windows to be energy-efficient and impact-, sound- and weather-resistant. You can also add optional smart-home integration to increase security and convenience, such as blind-lowering and remote locking.
We’ve included Pella in our best-of-the-rest picks due to its advanced technology options, which aren’t common in the industry. However, its customer ratings are concerning. Despite a high BBB score, Pella has many negative customer reviews. Many reviews regard its doors, but some note issues with quality and customer service when purchasing windows.
Pella has an A+ rating on BBB, but its customer ratings and reviews are low. However, some customers — even repeat customers — expressed an entirely positive experience with the brand. One noted that she received outstanding customer service and that her home is more energy-efficient.
Most reviews mention product quality issues, such as window parts that easily break or degrade or windows that don’t perform as promised. Some customers report that this begets communication issues and that it’s challenging to resolve problems overall.
When it comes to window frame materials, Pella offers vinyl, fiberglass and wood. You can also choose from these nine window types:
The warranties Pella offers differ based on the type of window material.
Pella is a full-service installer, so its team handles every aspect of your window project from start to finish. You can start your project by scheduling a free consultation on the company’s site.
Finding the right windows takes some vetting. We recommend that you do the following:
There’s no point in considering a company that doesn’t have the type of windows you want. Most window companies have a drop-down menu on their website that tells you which window styles they offer, such as awning, casement, garden, picture or single-hung windows.
You may have to dig deeper to see the company’s window materials. Almost all make vinyl windows, but some have two or three more options. Choose the style and materials that suit your climate and budget and blend well with your existing windows.
Don’t purchase any window without checking that it’s certified by top industry organizations that indicate high performance. Look for the Energy Star label that tells you the window has undergone rigorous performance testing and which climate it’s suitable for. Also, look for the NFRC label that indicates independent testing by one of the most respected organizations in the industry.
Highly energy-efficient windows are worth investing in. Replacing old windows with efficient ones lowers heating costs by at least 15% and cooling costs by 11%–37%, according to the EWC.
All companies worth buying from provide a manufacturer’s warranty, and installers should provide a labor warranty. The longer and more comprehensive a window warranty, the better. Most companies cover window glass and other components for 10–20 years and labor for at least two years. The best warranty is a lifetime warranty, which covers window parts for their life span. Most companies link their warranty policy on their site. Be sure to read the fine print.
A full-service company installs the windows it manufactures. It handles everything in-house, so your warranties will be from one company, and your installation team will be certified in installing that company’s products. A company that isn’t full-service only manufactures windows but doesn’t install them, so you’ll have to hire an outside contractor.
Many brands that aren’t full-service have a page on their site listing a dealer network. These are dealers the brand has vetted and trusts to install its windows. A full-service window installer may be easier to work with, but don’t count out outside dealers if a company you like isn’t full-service.
All major businesses have an online reputation now, even window companies. Search around online to see what others have to say about the company. Note if a brand has any lawsuits, and look at scores on review sites such as the BBB, Trustpilot, Yelp and Google.
We always recommend reading testimonials. Look to see if there are common themes, such as poor customer service, low product quality or scam issues. Also, look at a company’s years of experience and any licensure your state requires.
Renewal by Andersen, Harvey and Champion are at the top of our list of the best window replacement companies because of their quality products and reputation.
Renewal is an all-around solid choice due to its certifications, focus on energy efficiency and high-quality, full-service installation. Harvey has exceptional customer reviews and a wide selection of styles, and it’s ideal if you live on the East Coast since it tailors its features to these climates. Champion provides various installation services, is highly credentialed and has many favorable reviews from past customers.
Check to see which companies offer the window types and materials you want, then get a quote from each to compare pricing and see which is best suited for your budget. You should also check out and request quotes from other companies to see how they compare.
Our aim is to provide you with the information you need to assess and choose a window company when updating or replacing your windows. We conducted research to thoroughly understand the window industry from both a consumer and company perspective.
Our in-depth methodology compares window companies based on various attributes, including window options, energy efficiency, warranties, reputation, reviews, customer service, communication, installation and other services. Each attribute is worth points that add up to a possible total of 100. We then translate that score into our 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
BBB and Trustpilot ratings are accurate as of January 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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