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.
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Today’s window manufacturers prioritize energy efficiency and quality performance. We researched the best window brands in the industry, comparing and scoring them on product selection, features, warranty coverage, cost, customer service and more.
The best window brands for your home are Renewal by Andersen, Castle Windows and Harvey Windows + Doors. Renewal by Andersen is our overall winner thanks to its many customization options, industry certifications and awards, and longtime positive reputation. Castle Windows is a great option for those prioritizing top-tier warranty coverage, and Harvey is unbeatable in window variety.
Regardless of this being a new build or looking for affordable window replacement options, get started with a few of our top picks:
Here are some of the top window brands we have extensively researched:
Please use our tool below to compare the best window brands from our research:
Consider factors such as the best time to get replacement windows, how much to budget and what energy-efficiency features you want to help you choose the right windows for your home. Heat gain and loss through your windows are responsible for 25%–30% of your HVAC system’s energy use. If you have old windows, you need to look no further than your monthly electric bill for a reason to upgrade.
We used our methodology to assess the most popular window companies, analyzing product performance, warranty coverage and more. We also read through customer reviews to gauge companies’ services and warranty claim handling. The following companies scored the highest, making them the brands we recommend most for your window project.
What we like
Renewal by Andersen holds many certifications and awards for its window performance and customer satisfaction. Its homepage displays its Energy Star Partner of the Year award, National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) certification and SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certification that signals compliance with rigorous indoor air quality emission requirements. It’s also won the J.D. Power “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Window and Patio Door Manufacturer Brands” honor multiple years in a row.
Aside from that, we like the company’s many window material options, including its Fibrex window frames and sashes that contain 40% reclaimed wood fiber. You can choose from many customization options for hardware, paint color and grille layout, and the company’s quality products are set at a wide price range for varying budgets.
What we don’t like
We don’t like that the company has many online customer reviews citing long installation delays. Some even report missed appointment times. One of the most common customer complaints is aggressive sales tactics. Some consumers report frequent door-to-door sales visits and frequent calls after requesting a quote.
Renewal by Andersen has an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) site 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 others that cite long waits for installation, pushy 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 windows certified by Energy Star. You can choose from multiple window styles, including the following:
Renewal by Andersen windows are backed by a transferable limited warranty.
The brand is a full-service installer, meaning it has its own certified installers. While you can choose to hire a 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 get started with the company by requesting a quote or consultation on its website or by visiting a Renewal by Andersen showroom.
Castle Windows is one of the few brands that offers a true lifetime warranty. Although competitors claim to provide lifetime coverage, the fine print exposes warranty gaps. Castle is also unique in that it’s a full home improvement company. It sells and installs roofing, siding, windows and doors. The company is highly awarded, making Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500 list and HomeAdvisor’s Best Of list. It also provides 24/7 customer support.
Castle 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. Another drawback of Castle is that its products are only available in 11 states.
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 styles as its competitors, and it only sells vinyl windows. Its window styles include the following:
Castle’s glass, parts and labor are all covered under a lifetime warranty. Coverage is also transferable, meaning you can pass it on to the new homeowner if you sell your house. Castle does a great job explaining its warranty coverage and conditions on its site.
The brand is a full-service installer, so you can buy and schedule installation with the same company. To start the process, you can speak with a representative about your options and get a free quote. A Castle crew will handle everything on your installation date, even disposing of your old windows.
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. The company only serves the eastern part of the U.S., which means it tailors its energy features to those regions. Harvey prioritizes energy efficiency as an Energy Star partner and also sells triple-pane windows for extra glass insulation in colder climates.
Harvey only manufactures windows. You’ll have to purchase Harvey windows through a retailer or distributor. While the brand isn’t the only window company to do this, it does mean you’ll have a third-party installer and labor warranty coverage, which could get complicated. The other thing to note about Harvey is it’s only available in 16 states.
Harvey has an A+ rating on the BBB and a 4.8 out of 5 customer rating on the site, one of the best scores we’ve seen among window brands. Since Harvey doesn’t sell directly to you but instead to distributors, many reviews are from contractors who have 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 found some customers with the opposite experience, citing window defects and difficulty resolving their issues over the phone.
Harvey only offers two window frame materials, vinyl and wood, but it offers more window-style options than any other provider on our list:
Harvey varies its warranty coverage by material.
Harvey only manufactures windows and sells them through retailers or distributors. It doesn’t have its own installation team. Because of this, we can’t say exactly what your installation process will look like, but most installers remove and dispose of old windows, install and seal new windows, and clean up their work area when done.
Champion Windows is another brand that sells more than windows. The company sells doors, builds sunrooms and installs vinyl siding. Champion 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, Efficient Windows Collaborative (EWC) and Vinyl Siding Institute as well.
Champion only makes aluminum and vinyl windows, so it’s not your best option if you desire the look of wood or fiberglass. It also only offers in-home estimates. While this may result in a more precise estimate, it’s not as convenient as getting a quote over the phone.
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 3,500 reviews.
Customers who rate the brand highly reference its speedy installations, helpful sales reps and fair pricing. We did, however, notice that Champion has had lower customer reviews for the last year than in previous years. Recent complaints mention pushing back installation dates and taking a long time to resolve issues.
Champion only sells vinyl and aluminum windows, but it does sell a wide variety of window styles, including the following:
Champion provides a limited lifetime warranty on all products. The company doesn’t include a sample policy on its website or offer specifics, but it says it covers every aspect of installation, parts, labor and materials. The 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. As with any company, 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 aspects of your warranty.
Marvin Windows & Doors’ product selection is big on helping you create an inviting atmosphere in your home. The brand sells many popular window types but branches out into skylights designed to let in more natural light and air circulation for improved health.
Marvin also sells its proprietary Skycove, a glass extension structure that maximizes natural light and adds to your room’s usable space. We like this design innovation and that Marvin doesn’t require you to purchase a certain number of windows before you can schedule installation.
Marvin doesn’t handle installation, so you won’t get a labor warranty through the company. Our main issue with Marvin is that it has many customer complaints despite a high BBB rating. Negative feedback consistently points to delays, poor communication and unimpressive window construction.
Marvin has an A+ BBB rating but low customer scores on various review sites such as Yelp and Best Company. While some reviews from customers and installers cite great service and quality, many note product flaws and difficulty getting issues fixed. Most of these complaints pertain to doors rather than windows, however.
The majority of online reviews mention a defect in hardware, glass or framing. We read many reviews citing windows that don’t open and close properly, lack of security stops, wrong window size and other issues. Contractors report problems with window construction that prevent successful installation.
Marvin is one of the few brands that doesn’t sell vinyl windows. It does, however, sell aluminum, fiberglass and wood. It also sells several types of windows, including the following design options:
Marvin’s warranty coverage varies by collection. You can see specifics in its sample warranty policy, but here are the highlights:
Marvin manufactures windows but doesn’t handle installation. You can purchase the windows from Marvin and hire a contractor to install them. Ensure your contractor is licensed and provides a labor warranty.
While the following providers didn’t make our top five, they still scored at least 4 out of 5 stars in our methodology and are worth looking at for their products and services.
Pella has many window options, with advanced performance built into every style. In addition to rigorous testing for energy efficiency, Pella also designs windows to be impact-, sound- and weather-resistant. You can even add optional smart-home integration to increase security and convenience, such as remote locking and blind-lowering.
We don’t like how much Pella’s warranty coverage varies across window lines and parts. While some competitors also do this, we prefer a brand that stands strongly behind everything it makes. Our other issue with the company is the number of negative customer reviews it has online.
Pella has an A+ rating on the BBB, but its customer ratings and reviews are low. However, there are customers — even repeat customers — who expressed an entirely positive experience with the company. One noted that she received exceptional customer service, and her home is far more energy-efficient.
Most reviews, however, cite product quality issues, such as window parts that easily break or degrade or windows that don’t perform as promised. Some customers report that with this comes communication issues and that it’s challenging to get these problems resolved.
Pella offers three popular window materials: vinyl, fiberglass and wood. You can choose from these nine window types:
Pella’s warranties vary by window material.
Most of Pella’s warranty coverage is transferable for a certain period.
Pella is a full-service installer, so its team handles every aspect of your window replacement from start to finish. You can get started by scheduling a free consultation on Pella’s website.
Simonton Windows & Doors stands out to us for its energy-efficiency features. Energy Star has recognized several Simonton window models as Most Efficient for the last few years, and all products are Energy Star-certified. That means they’ve gone through rigorous performance testing. We also like that Simonton tests its products to ensure they resist break-ins and that they design them to better resist wind, rain and sun damage.
Despite thorough product testing, former customers indicate that Simonton doesn’t meet their expectations. The company has a concerningly low BBB score and customer rating. Customers commonly complain of long wait times for repair services and warranty claim resolution. However, we’re still including it on our list of top window brands because Simonton’s energy efficiency and safety features make for quality products. We believe that customer issues may result from poor installation by third-party contractors.
Simonton has an F rating on the BBB, so it doesn’t make our top-five list. As mentioned above, though, many customer reviews have to do with long wait times, and you may not run into this issue. The other theme we see among reviews is difficulty getting warranty claims resolved. Again, you may not have this problem, but you can help prevent it by carefully reading the company’s warranty policy before purchasing so you know what’s covered.
Not everyone echoes these issues. Marian H. left a review on Google Reviews saying, “They had my order number (still under warranty), shipped me a replacement sash at no charge. It took me 5 min to replace. The employee on the phone was extremely nice and helpful.”
Simonton sells most popular window styles that other brands offer, including the following:
The company’s warranty policy varies by collection. Generally, Simonton’s warranty covers vinyl, hardware, screens and glass units for the product’s lifetime. This is a double lifetime warranty, meaning you can pass it to new owners once if you sell your home, as long as you’ve registered the warranty.
Keep in mind that Simonton doesn’t cover labor-related issues like some other popular window companies such as Renewal by Andersen and Castle. You’ll need to get a labor warranty from the third-party installer you choose.
Simonton doesn’t install its windows. As with many other window manufacturers, you must hire a professional installation company separately. You can use Simonton’s Find a Pro page on its site to find someone in Simonton’s network who operates in your area.
We surveyed 1,500 window buyers in October 2023 about the brand they bought and how much they paid for differing project sizes. According to respondents, Renewal by Andersen, Castle and Pella have the most affordable window prices.
Your windows will tell you when it’s time to replace them. Drafts, high energy bills, condensation, moisture buildup between panels, visible damage and poor operation are all signs you need an upgrade. You may want to invest in new windows if you desire special features, such as noise reduction, storm protection or smart-home integrations.
Window replacement pricing varies based on window type, size, material and features, plus which installation company you hire. Home Depot notes that vinyl windows average between $800 and $1,900, though larger, more complex windows such as bays and bows are the exception at up to $6,000. Wood windows range from $1,200–$3,800, though bays and bows could cost as much as $11,000.
We suggest prioritizing energy efficiency when looking for windows. Today’s best window manufacturers include energy-saving features that help reduce heating and cooling bills. They can also aid in making your home more comfortable and protect your furniture, walls and flooring from fading due to UV rays.
Look for the Energy Star sticker that tells you a window went through rigorous testing and is suitable for your climate before purchasing windows.
Replacing your home’s windows is a big investment. Below are some tips to help you get the best value.
We recommend purchasing NFRC– and Energy Star-certified windows. This means the windows have undergone rigorous energy performance testing. You’ll see a sticker for each on the windows listing these certifications, but you’ll also see a label noting which climate the windows best suit: northern, north-central, south-central or southern. Energy Star performance criteria are based on energy ratings certified by the NFRC and vary for each climate zone.
Here are a few definitions to know so you can decipher the label:
To ensure your windows are high-performance and have truly undergone proper testing, Michelle Blackston, NFRC Senior Director of Development and Engagement, said, “You want the window to have both labels because that’s the only way you can guarantee that the window will do what it says it’s going to do.”
She let us know that if you see a window with an Energy Star sticker but not an NFRC sticker, that should cause doubt about who you’re buying it from. “I would ask to see the NFRC label because you can’t have one without the other. You can’t have the Energy Star label and not the NFRC label.”
Going with the most budget-friendly window shouldn’t be your main goal. You need to consider the return on investment over the lifetime of the windows you choose. Windows have an average lifetime of 15 to 30 years, with glass typically maintaining performance for 20 years. In that time, energy-efficient windows can dramatically reduce your electricity bills.
Windows with low-emissivity window glass coatings and argon gas insulation better regulate your home’s temperature so your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard, lowering energy usage and preserving your system.
According to the EWC, replacing inefficient windows with energy-efficient ones reduces cooling costs by 11%–37% and heating costs by at least 15%. Remodeling Magazine reports that window replacement projects have one of the highest cost recoup percentages of any home improvement project at 68.5% for vinyl windows and 61.2% for wood windows.
In addition to the financial benefits of installing new windows, you can save money on the purchase. There are several state and federal financing options and incentives to help you reduce your investment. We recommend looking into the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s property improvement loan program, as well as the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency and the Energy Star Rebate Finder.
When choosing the best house window material for your home, you should consider the following four factors:
You want a window that looks great, lowers your energy bill and is easy to maintain at the price you’re willing to pay for those features.
Wood windows look great but require more upkeep. If you live in a coastal area, you can expect a shorter life span on them, as the salty air will degrade them faster. If you want easy maintenance and high performance, vinyl and fiberglass are good options, though they don’t offer the curb appeal of wood. Aluminum windows are highly durable and low maintenance, but they’re not as insulative and are prone to condensation.
All window frame materials have pros and cons, but we recommend prioritizing the window’s climate zone performance and longevity. Opt for vinyl or fiberglass windows, which perform better and last longer. You’ll save money on electricity, have a more comfortable home, and get more years out of your investment.
Spending wisely on your window project isn’t just about choosing affordable windows; it also comes down to choosing the right window installer. An installer who doesn’t install your windows correctly can cancel out the great energy-efficiency features you paid for and cause you unexpected expenses.
We suggest asking an installer these questions before hiring them:
The most important factors to look for are state licensure, installation experience, and trained and background-checked installers. You may want to ask friends, family members or neighbors for recommendations if they’ve used a window installation company.
Our pick for the best replacement window brand is Renewal by Andersen. Using our methodology, its window performance and customer service score highest. Don’t rush your window decision. Researching brand options and what they offer goes a long way in ensuring you get long-lasting, high-quality windows at an affordable price.
Regardless, we recommend getting quotes from at least three companies to compare pricing. You should also read customer reviews and review warranty policy details carefully before making a final decision.
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 scores are accurate as of April 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.
Renewal by Andersen is a popular and distinguished brand in the window replacement industry. It’s highly awarded and well-certified, and we learned why in our analysis of its warranty policy, customer reviews, pricing and service. They are consistently among the best window brands available. The brand’s warranty coverage and commitment to energy efficiency are…
Champion Windows is a well-respected brand in the home improvement industry, which is seen in its many awards, certifications and online ratings. Overall, its commitment to energy efficiency and various styles make it a good option if you’re looking for replacement windows. However, it’s not a nationwide company and only sells windows in two materials,…
Our Harvey windows review examines pricing, customer feedback and more. While the brand offers a large product selection, its warranty coverage is limited.