The 5 Best Traeger Alternatives We’ve Tested in 2023

Traeger invented pellet grills way back in 1986, and nearly four decades later they’re still the market leader.

Just because they have an unlimited marketing budget, that doesn’t make them the best option for your hard-earned dollars.

After testing dozens of different pellet grills from leading brands like Camp Chef, Weber, Pit Boss, Z Grills, and Yoder, here are the best Traeger alternatives.

5 Alternatives if you aren’t ready to join the ‘Traegerhood’

Let’s get one thing straight. We don’t consider ourselves Traeger haters. I’ve been cooking on a Pro 575 for a couple of years. On our team, Jordan has made plenty of recipes on his Timberline, and Nick is a fan of the portable Ranger (especially for wings!)

But over the years, we’ve found pellet grills that are better value, more feature packed or better built.

1. If you want better value than a Traeger – Z Grills 700D4E

Read our full Z Grills 700D4E review.

One of the worst-kept secrets in the industry is that Z Grills used to manufacture grills for Traeger.

Since they started selling direct to the public, Z Grills has earned a reputation for offering great value.

For less than the bottom-of-the-range Traeger Pro 575, you can get the Z Grills 700D4E which gives you more room to cook on, an enclosed cart for storage, more meat probes, and a bigger hopper.

You’ll even get a free cover included, which would run you an extra $70.00 from Traeger.

The one big thing the Traeger has is WiFi connectivity to control your grill via the app. The Traeger app is one of our favorites, and it’s certainly nice to have.

We would also give a slight advantage to Traeger when it comes to build quality.

	Z Grills 700D4E	Traeger Pro 575
Cooking Area	697 sq in (504 main + 193 top rack)	572 sq in (418 main + 154 top rack)
Pellet Hopper Capacity	20 lbs	18 lbs
Temp Range	180°F – 450°F	180-500°F
Shelves & Storage	One shelf on pellet hopper plus storage cabinet	Front folding shelf costs extra
Temp Probes	two	one
WiFi/App	No	Yes
Warranty	3 year	3 years
Price	Check Latest Price	Check Latest Price

We’ve got a video review of the 700D4E you can check out to see it in action.

My Favorite Entry Level Pellet Grill - Z Grills 700D4E Review

Still on the fence? One of our readers, Matt left this comment about his experience:

“After researching pellet smokers for almost 3 weeks, I finally pulled the Z Grills on the 700D4E. It has blown my expectations away, from the durable build quality, ease of use, and flawless operation.”

Matt

If you don’t mind sacrificing WiFi connectivity for a larger grill with better storage, for less money, then the Z Grills 700D4E is a great option.

2. If you want more versatility than a Traeger – Camp Chef Woodwind

Read our full Camp Chef Woodwind review.

For $100 less than the Traeger Pro 780, you can pick up a Woodwind 24 from Camp Chef with more grill area, adjustable smoke levels, slide and grill capability and a side shelf included.

Those would be enough reasons to go for the Camp Chef but we haven’t even mentioned the SideKick.

This replaces your side table with a propane burner which can connect to a griddle, searing station or pizza oven to turn your pellet grill into a fully featured outdoor kitchen.

While the Traeger is a capable smoker, it struggles to grill and sear. This can be a problem when reverse searing a large steak or prime rib.

With the Woodwind, you can smoke your protein and then slap it on the searing station to get a beautiful crust.

Getting the Woodwind + Sidekick will set you back more than the Treager, but you can always add the SideKick on later and still create a small sear zone with the slide and grill option.

	Camp Chef Woodwind	Traeger Pro 780
Cooking Area	811 sq in (429 main + 382 upper rack)	780 sq in (570 main + 210 top rack)
Pellet Hopper Capacity	22 lbs	18 lbs
Temp Range	160°F – 500°F (up to 650° with direct flame grilling)	180-500°F
Shelves & Storage	Two side shelves, one front shelf	Front folding shelf costs extra
Temp Probes	Four	One
WiFi/App	Yes	Yes
Warranty	3 year	3 years
Price	Check Latest Price	Check Latest Price

There are plenty of other things we love about the Woodwind, including the ash cleanout feature that makes it easy to drop burnt ash into a cup for easy removable.

If you’re willing to spend even more, you could also upgrade to the Woodwind Pro which has better build quality, insulation and includes a built-in smoke box for burning wood chunks or charcoal for enhanced smoke flavor.

That would make the Traeger comparison downright unfair.

3. If you want something unique – Grilla Grills Alpha Connect

Read our full Grilla Grills Alpha review.

When we review grills we tend to get stuck into the nitty gritty. Comparing features, build quality and performance.

We forget that the grill can be the centrepiece of your outdoor area, and it should look impressive to.

While there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with Traeger’s design, you can’t deny there’s nothing interesting about them. Especially when you can spot on in pretty much every backyard and patio across the country.

Unlike most Traeger alternatives we’ve looked at, the Alpha doesn’t beat the Traeger in price or size.

With the Grilla Alpha you’re getting something unique that will really elevate your outdoor space. Even the gorilla logo doubles as a window through to the firepot. A nice touch that provides ambiance while you’re cooking at night.

Grilla started as a direct to consumer start-up, but sold in 2022 to American Outdoor Brands, the parent company who owns Meat Your Maker!

	Grilla Grills Alpha Connect	Traeger Pro 575
Cooking Area	488 sq in (346 main + 142 top rack)	572 sq in (418 main + 154 top rack)
Pellet Hopper Capacity	20 lbs	18 lbs
Temp Range	180°F – 500°F	180-500°F
Shelves & Storage	One rear shelf	Front folding shelf costs extra
Temp Probes	One	one
WiFi/App	Yes	Yes
Warranty	4 years	3 years
Price	Check Latest Price	Check Latest Price

If you’re worried about space you could also consider the Silverbac, but you would miss out on that unique design.

One big advantage with the Grilla is its superior heavy-steel construction. For a smaller grill you are looking at 145 lbs total weight vs 124 lbs for the larger Traeger.

4. If you aren’t 100% sold on pellets – Masterbuilt Gravity Series

Read our full Masterbuilt Gravity review.

Most people looking for a pellet grill are willing to trade depth of smoke flavor for more convenience.

What if I told you that you could get charcoal flavor, with the convenience of a pellet grill? The Masterbuilt Gravity smoker uses a charcoal hopper with a fan and thermometer so you can set your temperature and sit back and relax.

You can get the gravity in three sizes, starting with the 560, followed by the 800 and finally the range-topping 1050 which we review in more detail in our guide to the best gravity-fed smokers.

The 800 would be the sweet spot for most people, and will set you back around the same as the Traeger Pro 575.

For that price you get more storage and cooking space, a griddle insert and the option to smoke or sear.

	Masterbuilt Gravity 800	Traeger Pro 575
Cooking Area	800 sq in (346 main + 142 top rack)	572 sq in (418 main + 154 top rack)
Hopper Capacity	16 lbs briquettes or 10lbs lump for up to 10 hours cooking	18 lbs
Temp Range	180°F – 700°F	180-500°F
Shelves & Storage	Front and side shelf	Front folding shelf costs extra
Temp Probes	One	one
WiFi/App	Yes	Yes
Warranty	1 years	3 years
Price	Check Latest Price	Check Latest Price

Before you rush out to buy a pellet grill, you need to consider a gravity fed charcoal smoker.

5. If you want to buy made in the USA – Yoder YS640S

Read our full Yoder YS640S review.

If you aren’t happy that Traeger moved manufacturing to China and want to buy a pellet grill that’s made in the USA the Yoder YS640S is one of your best options.

These grills look more like an old fashioned offset smoker. Built out of 10-gauge steel, the YS640S weighs in at 335 lbs, a whopping 68% heavier than the comparably priced Traeger Ironwood XL!

The Yoder will set you back a few hundred more than the new Ironwood, but is still $1,000 cheaper than the top of the line Timberline.

	Yoder YS640S	Traeger Ironwood XL
Cooking Area	1,070 sq in (Four 8”x19.75′ main + 15.5×28′ slide out)	616 sq in (396 main + 220 top rack)
Pellet Hopper Capacity	20 lbs	22 lbs
Temp Range	150°F – 600°F	180-500°F
Shelves & Storage	Two side shelves, one front shelf	Side shelf included, optional front shelf
Temp Probes	Two	Two
WiFi/App	Yes	Yes
Warranty	3-10 years	10 years
Price	Check Latest Price	Check Latest Price

For once Traeger includes a side shelf in the base price, but the additional side and front shelves will cost you extra. The Yoder has the front and side shelf included, plus space on top of the hopper for resting a cutting board. Both grills have an open style cart with space for storage.

Both grills offer a variety of customization options. For the Yoder you’ll be able to option various features including stainless steel grease shield, door temperature gauge and cast iron griddle.

With the Ironwood you’ll be using the P.A.L ‘Pop-And-Lock’ system of components including storage options, accessory hooks and cast-iron griddle.

The Yoder is only available to purchase through their network of dealers, while the Traeger can be ordered off their website or found at your local hardware stores.

Honerable mentions

We left some popular grills off this article to avoid double-ups and because we didn’t want it to get too long.

If you’re budget conscious and don’t want to go Z Grills, you could also look at Pit Boss. If you want something between a Pro and an Ironwood, then the Weber SmokeFire keeps getting better, especially the latest Stealth edition.

Recteq has legions of fans that swear they beat the pants off a Traeger, and Green Mountain Grills are competitive, when they aren’t being sued by Traeger that is…

If you’re still on the fence, let us know what grill you are trying to decide between in the comments, and we’ll try and help you make up your mind.