SMOKE & SEAR
Best Pellet Grills

Best Pellet Grills of 2026

Set-and-forget smoking has never been better. We ran five of the most popular pellet grills through brisket, ribs, and weeknight burgers to find the ones worth your money.

SBy the Smoke & Sear Editorial Team · Reviewed by our pitmaster panel
★ Editor's Pick — The Short Answer

Traeger Pro 22 (Pro 575)

If you just want the best pellet grill for most people, this is it — bulletproof temp control, easy app, and the biggest pellet ecosystem. Read the full review ↓

Check Price on Amazon 4.8/5 · Tested by our team
At a glance

Quick Comparison

Our top 5 picks ranked. Tap any "Check Price" to see today's price on Amazon.

RankProductScoreBest ForPriceBuy
#1 Traeger Pro 22 (Pro 575) PICK572 sq in 4.8 Set-and-forget smoking $$$ Check Price
#2 Z Grills 700D4E697 sq in 4.5 Value seekers who want big capacity $$ Check Price
#3 Pit Boss 700FB700 sq in 4.3 High-heat searing on a pellet grill $$ Check Price
#4 Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24811 sq in 4.6 Flavor chasers who want real smoke $$$ Check Price
#5 Weber SmokeFire EX4672 sq in 4.2 Weber loyalists wanting hot + low $$$ Check Price
The full breakdown

Detailed Reviews

Traeger Pro 22 (Pro 575) illustration Check Price on Amazon
#1

Traeger Pro 22 (Pro 575)

★ Editor's PickBest OverallSCORE 4.8/5

The Traeger Pro 22 is the pellet grill we hand the most first-timers. WiFIRE app control, rock-steady temps, and Traeger's enormous recipe ecosystem make low-and-slow genuinely foolproof.

What we liked

  • WiFIRE app lets you watch temps from the couch
  • Holds set temp within ±10°F all day
  • Huge pellet flavor selection & recipe library
  • Solid build, reliable auger

Watch-outs

  • Pricier than off-brand pellet grills
  • Single meat probe included

Best for: Set-and-forget smoking  ·  Cooking area: 572 sq in  ·  Price tier: $$$

Check Price on Amazon → Read why it ranks #1
Z Grills 700D4E illustration Check Price on Amazon
#2

Z Grills 700D4E

Best ValueSCORE 4.5/5

Z Grills delivers nearly 700 square inches and a 20-lb hopper for hundreds less than the big names. The PID controller is genuinely good for the money.

What we liked

  • 697 sq in — fits two racks of ribs easily
  • 20-lb hopper for overnight cooks
  • Accurate PID temperature control
  • Excellent price-to-capacity ratio

Watch-outs

  • No WiFi or app control
  • Cart casters feel a bit flimsy

Best for: Value seekers who want big capacity  ·  Cooking area: 697 sq in  ·  Price tier: $$

Check Price on Amazon → Read why it ranks #2
Pit Boss 700FB illustration Check Price on Amazon
#3

Pit Boss 700FB

SCORE 4.3/5

Pit Boss leans into flame-broiling with a slide-plate that exposes the fire pot, so you can sear steaks at 500°F+ — something most pellet grills can't touch.

What we liked

  • Flame-broiler slide plate hits 500°F+
  • 700 sq in across two tiers
  • Big 21-lb hopper
  • Aggressive price

Watch-outs

  • Temp swings wider than Traeger
  • Build quality is hit-or-miss

Best for: High-heat searing on a pellet grill  ·  Cooking area: 700 sq in  ·  Price tier: $$

Check Price on Amazon → Read why it ranks #3
Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24 illustration Check Price on Amazon
#4

Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24

SCORE 4.6/5

The Woodwind's secret weapon is the Smoke Box — a charcoal/wood-chunk tray that bolts on for true wood-fire flavor pellet grills usually lack. The slide-out ash cleanout is brilliant.

What we liked

  • Smoke Box adds real wood-chunk flavor
  • Slide-out ash cleanout = 30-second cleanup
  • Gen-2 PID holds temp tightly
  • 811 sq in with the upper rack

Watch-outs

  • Smoke Box is a paid add-on dance
  • Premium price

Best for: Flavor chasers who want real smoke  ·  Cooking area: 811 sq in  ·  Price tier: $$$

Check Price on Amazon → Read why it ranks #4
Weber SmokeFire EX4 illustration Check Price on Amazon
#5

Weber SmokeFire EX4

SCORE 4.2/5

Weber's pellet entry swings from 200°F smoking up to a true 600°F sear in one box, with the Weber Connect app guiding every step. A wide temp range in classic Weber build quality.

What we liked

  • 200–600°F range — smoke AND sear
  • Weber Connect app step-by-step coaching
  • Porcelain-enameled, built to last
  • Large 672 sq in primary grate

Watch-outs

  • Early models had pellet-jam issues (now improved)
  • Heavy and bulky

Best for: Weber loyalists wanting hot + low  ·  Cooking area: 672 sq in  ·  Price tier: $$$

Check Price on Amazon → Read why it ranks #5
Buyer questions

FAQ

Are pellet grills worth it for beginners?

Absolutely — they're the most forgiving way to smoke. You set a temperature like an oven, the auger feeds pellets automatically, and good models hold temp within ±10°F. The Traeger Pro 22 with app control is about as foolproof as BBQ gets.

Can a pellet grill sear a steak?

Most top out around 450–500°F, which is enough for a decent sear. If searing is a priority, the Pit Boss 700FB's flame-broiler slide plate and the Weber SmokeFire's 600°F ceiling are the standouts here.

How much do pellets cost to run?

Budget roughly $1–$3 per hour of cooking depending on temperature and pellet brand. Smoking at 225°F sips pellets; high-heat searing burns through them faster.

How we tested

Every grill in this roundup was assembled and cooked on by our editorial team across multiple seasons — searing steaks, running long low-and-slow briskets, and tracking temperature stability with calibrated probes. We weight our scores toward the things that actually matter to home cooks: flavor, ease of use, temperature control, build quality, and value. Read more about how we test.

Related reading: BBQ 101: Your First Cook · The Only Brisket Temp Chart You Need · Charcoal vs Pellet vs Gas: Which Should You Buy? · Best BBQ Rubs & Sauces of 2026

Free Download

Get the Free Brisket Cheat Sheet

The one-page temp-and-timing chart we keep taped inside our smoker lid. Join 18,000+ backyard pitmasters getting our weekly cook tips.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We never sell your email.

🔥 You're in! Check your inbox — your Brisket Cheat Sheet is on the way.