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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Window World may not be as recognizable a name as those on our list of the best window installation companies, but with more than 200 locations nationwide, you’re likely to have a showroom location near you.
Window World is an Energy Star partner with a wide selection of styles and an in-house professional installation team. However, it only sells vinyl windows and has a running theme of installation issues and inconveniences, according to the customer feedback we read.
Our Window World review looks at the brand’s selection, performance, warranty coverage, pricing and more to help you gauge whether it’s the right company for your new window purchase.
Window World earned a decent score when rated against our methodology. We evaluated what the brand has to offer in terms of product selection, energy efficiency, customer ratings, certifications and more. We gave the company 3.7 out of 5 stars.
It earned points for its many industry certifications and window types as well as its high Better Business Bureau (BBB) score, but it lost points for its limited warranty coverage and lack of window frame material options.
We like that Window World offers 10 window styles — a slightly above-average selection compared to many leading brands. We also like that Window World installs its own windows, so you won’t have to hire a third party and get a separate labor warranty for installation.
The company offers in-house financing options, weather-resistant products and a range of energy-saving features. In addition to being an Energy Star partner, Window World is also certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), ASTM International and the Environmental Protection Agency. It also holds a Good Housekeeping seal.
Window World’s biggest drawback is that it only sells vinyl windows, so you don’t have choices like you do with brands such as Marvin Windows & Doors and Milgard Windows and Doors, which offer wood, aluminum and fiberglass options.
We also wish the brand had an unlimited warranty. While limited lifetime warranties are common in the industry, even among quality window brands, it’s always better for customers to have a true lifetime warranty with unlimited coverage.
Lastly, we’re concerned about the theme we see in Window World’s customer reviews citing poor installation practices.
Window World pulls slightly ahead of many brands for its diverse window styles, but it can’t compare in material options.
Window World has been accredited with BBB since 2009 and has an A+ rating on the site. We’re surprised, however, to see that the company has no BBB customer reviews. It doesn’t have many online reviews in general, though we did find a decent number on Trustpilot and Yelp.
The two biggest themes we see among customer reviews are poor installation and communication issues. A good number of customers report that their windows were installed with gaps and sloppy caulking work that resulted in leakages and needed repairs. Many of the same customers cited that it was challenging to get their issues resolved, both due to communication errors and long wait times. Customer Jesse Hobbs left a review on Trustpilot detailing one such experience.
Reviews on Trustpilot from Eric Smith and Mary Jo Mansell report positive experiences with Window World. Eric said his installers were professional and communicative and that the end result was beautiful; Mary Jo similarly acknowledged her installers’ courtesy and punctuality and expressed appreciation for Window World’s lifetime warranty.
Window World offers 10 window styles and a product line geared toward storm-prone areas.
Window World has one distinct line: its Impact series. Made for coastal regions and inclement weather zones, the Impact window line is designed with specially engineered strength and features that help protect your windows from weather damage and air leakage.
This line includes the following products:
The brand sells all the popular styles you’d expect. Its selection is competitive with leading brands that have large inventories. Window World makes the following types of windows:
Window World doesn’t offer many frame material options, but it does have energy-efficient triple-pane windows.
Window World only makes vinyl windows. Vinyl is a common window material and is popular among homeowners due to how durable and customizable it is. It’s long-lasting, low-maintenance and budget-friendly. Window World offers customizations for color and grid layout, as well as good warranty coverage for all vinyl parts.
The downsides to vinyl are that it’s not as heavy-duty as fiberglass and it doesn’t have the classic, high-end look that wood does.
As with most quality window companies, Window World sells both double-pane and triple-pane window options. Double-pane windows are standard in most homes today. Triple-pane windows offer an extra layer of glass that adds weather protection, both in terms of storm-resistance and temperature control. Triple-pane windows are recommended for northern climates with harsh winters or storm-prone areas with high winds and hail.
Window + Door’s 2023 Industry Pulse survey showed that 82% of today’s buyers are looking for energy-efficient windows and doors, making energy efficiency the top priority when it comes to window replacement. Window World is certified by both Energy Star and the NFRC, meaning its products have undergone rigorous independent testing to rate their energy performance.
Window World’s windows are designed with several features that enhance performance, including the following:
We spoke with a representative who said that most of the brand’s standard window types range from $500–$900 for the window unit, not including installation or tax. Depending on the type of window, materials and customizations, you may pay as little as $300 or as much as $1,500, but expect to pay several hundred dollars on average. This range is comparable to, if not slightly less than, those of leading window companies.
Window World, as with most window companies, doesn’t list its window prices online. You’ll have to request a quote on its website or by phone to get an estimate for the window type you’re looking for.
You’ll be happy to know that Window World does offer financing. The company partners with Wells Fargo to offer a Window World credit card with a revolving line of credit, convenient monthly payments and an online portal where you can keep track of your balance and pay your bill. You can also speak with your bank about other financing options, such as a home equity loan.
Additionally, you can help finance your window project by getting a window tax credit. Energy Star-certified windows qualify for a tax credit that allows you to claim 30% of the product cost up to $600 in the year you install them. Energy Star products often qualify for rebates and special offers as well.
Window World lists the following window installation process on its site:
Window World backs its quality products with a limited lifetime warranty. A warranty overview can be found on the Window World North Puget Sound website. The company’s warranty covers broken glass, insulated glass units, labor (workmanship), mechanical window parts and vinyl parts. The warranty is transferable, meaning you can pass it to a subsequent homeowner if you sell your house, although the labor warranty does not transfer.
Most window brands cover window components for at least 10 years and glass for 20 years, but we can’t guarantee that Window World will follow suit, as we could not find this information specified anywhere.
We don’t see any major red flags with Window World, but we do think there are better options. We like its diverse window styles, storm series and in-house installation; however, it only sells vinyl windows, and its reviews about improper installation are concerning. If you want to pursue Window World options, we recommend speaking with a salesperson or visiting a showroom.
Renewal by Andersen and Castle Windows may be better options for vinyl windows. Or, if you want other material options, check out Harvey Windows + Doors or Marvin.
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, Trustpilot and Yelp 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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