Verdict
All guidesResearchOpen dataMethodologyAboutContact
Head-to-head · Best Gutter Guards

A-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch Aluminum vs GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.
The short answer

A-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch Aluminum is the only one of the two with a published score (4.4); GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard has none, so this is not a close call so much as an unmeasured one. A-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch Aluminum is best for: Budget DIY installs on 5-inch K-style gutters where the debris is mostly large leaves. Read the strengths below before deciding.

A-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch Aluminum
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Gutter Guards
A-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch Aluminum
1 sourceall derived$347.99as of Oct 11

The A-M Gutter Guard is a perforated aluminum panel that screws to the front lip of a 5-inch K-style gutter. This Old House found it effective against large debris such as oak leaves and twigs, but noted that dirt particles and pine needles can pass through the holes. Bob Vila liked that it cannot be seen from the ground and is easy to cut around brackets, and disliked that the self-tapping screws it needs are not in the box.

Strengths
  • — Blocks large debris such as oak leaves and twigs, per This Old House
  • — Easy to cut and install, even around brackets, per Bob Vila
  • — Screw-down mounting gave the most secure connection in This Old House's testing
Watch-outs
  • — Self-tapping screws are not included, per Bob Vila
  • — Dirt particles and pine needles can pass through the holes, per This Old House
  • — Designed only for K-style gutters and overflows under heavy rainfall, per This Old House
$347.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard
Ranked #5 in Best Gutter Guards
GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard
Unrated3 sources$29.95as of Oct 11

GutterBrush is a cylindrical bristle insert that sits inside a standard 5-inch gutter with no screws or tools. This Old House says it has the easiest installation of the guards in its under-$1,000 guide and traps large debris well, but does not block shingle grit or pine needles as effectively as other brands and costs the most per foot. Bob Vila found it the most universal guard it tested and warns that it is not maintenance-free.

Strengths
  • — No tools, screws or fasteners needed, per This Old House
  • — Works with fascia-mounted and shingle-mounted brackets; the most universal guard Bob Vila tested
  • — Allows ample water flow, per Bob Vila
Watch-outs
  • — Does not block small debris such as shingle grit or pine needles as effectively as other brands, per This Old House
  • — Prone to clogging with larger debris and not maintenance-free, per Bob Vila
  • — The most expensive system in This Old House's under-$1,000 guide
$29.95 · Buy at gutterbrush.comFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

A-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch Aluminum

The A-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch Aluminum is a perforated aluminum panel, where the Raptor Gutter Guard Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh and the Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard use stainless steel micro-mesh and the GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard is a bristle insert. Raptor includes self-tapping screws; A-M does not. GutterBrush needs no fasteners at all, while A-M is screwed to the gutter lip.

GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard

The GutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard is a bristle insert that needs no fasteners, where the A-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch Aluminum is screwed to the gutter lip and the Raptor Gutter Guard Stainless Steel Micro-Mesh and Waterlock Micromesh 5-Inch Gutter Guard are micro-mesh covers. This Old House says GutterBrush does not block small debris such as shingle grit as effectively as other brands; Bob Vila found the Waterlock mesh stopped asphalt granules.

Specs side-by-side

SpecA-M Gutter Guard 5-Inch AluminumGutterBrush 5-Inch Gutter Guard
Material.018-gauge aluminum—
StylePerforated screenBrush insert
Gutter Compatibility5-inch K-style guttersStandard 5-inch K-style gutters
Length200 feet (linked listing)6 feet (trial pack, four 18-inch pieces)
Perforations380 1/8-inch holes per linear foot—
FastenersSelf-tapping screws, not included—
WarrantyLifetime (terms not published, per This Old House)10-year material warranty
Brush Diameter—4.25 inches
Bristles—UV-protected polypropylene
Core—Galvanized steel
Installation Method—Slides into the gutter, no fasteners
← See the full ranking of best gutter guards