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. We’ve been cooking on the latest Woodridge for the last few months. 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 – Pit Boss 850 DX

Read our full Pit Boss 850 DX Review.

Pit Boss is Traeger’s biggest rival at the budget end of the pellet grill market, and the 850 DX is one of the best-value grills it makes.

Traeger’s answer at this price is the Westwood. The two are priced close together, and it’s not a close fight on size: the 850 DX gives you 840 sq in of cooking space to the Westwood’s 653, plus more main grate space and a bigger hopper.

It also runs hotter. The Westwood tops out at 450°F, which limits it on the grill. The 850 DX goes to 500°F, and its flame broiler opens the firepot to direct flame, with Pit Boss claiming around 1,000°F in that zone.

In our testing, we got good color on pork chops without even opening the broiler. The direct-flame area is small, though, and cleanup takes longer.

On storage, both have a side shelf and a bottom shelf, but only the 850 DX comes with a folding front shelf. On the Westwood, that’s an add-on.

Smoke output impressed us too. On an 8-hour chuck roast cook, the 850 DX put out a steady stream of smoke and gave the meat a solid smoke flavor that never tasted harsh.

Traeger wins on the app. It took us around 45 minutes to get the 850 DX connected, and the Pit Boss app isn’t as polished, though it handles most tasks fine. The Westwood also carries a 7-year warranty, while the 850 DX has 5 years.

If app polish matters most, the Westwood has the edge. If you want a bigger grill with real searing power for about the same money, the 850 DX makes the stronger case.

Pit Boss 850 DX Pellet Grill

Our Verdict: The 850 DX delivers serious value. It’s easy to use, cooks consistently, and includes features you don’t usually get at this price. The app and cleanup could be better, but for most people, it’s one of the best pellet grills you can buy for the price.

Pros:

• Excellent value for the price
• Useful Keep Warm feature with probe
• WiFi controller with solid temp control

Cons:

• Direct-flame searing makes cleanup take longer
• App setup can be slow initially

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

Read our full Camp Chef Woodwind review.

For around the same price as the Traeger Woodridge, 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.

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.

Camp Chef Woodwind 24

4.6

Pros:

• Adjustable smoke levels
• Sidekick adds versatility
• Ash cleanout system

Cons:

• No cabinet door

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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 centerpiece of your outdoor area, and it should look impressive, too.

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!

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.

Grilla Grills Alpha Connect Wood Pellet Smoker

4.5

Pros:

• Heavy-duty construction
• Easy to open/close lid
• Generous smoke output
• Steady temperature
• Bluetooth connectivity

Cons:

• Difficult to utilize side trays
• Basket-shaped drip can
• Small cooking chamber

Check Latest Price at Grilla Grills

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 600, followed by the 800, 1050 and finally XT, which we review in more detail in our guide to the best gravity-fed smokers.

The 1050 would be the sweet spot for most people, and will set you back around the same as the Traeger Woodridge.

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

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

Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 XL Digital Charcoal Grill & Smoker

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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.

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 shelves 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 a stainless steel grease shield, a door temperature gauge, and a 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 a cast-iron griddle.

You can order the Yoder from AT BBQ and select dealers, while you can order the Traeger from its website and find it at many local hardware stores.

Yoder YS640s Pellet Grill

A heavy-duty, American-made pellet grill that delivers real smoke flavor. Built in Kansas, trusted on the competition circuit, and made to last.

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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. We have a direct comparison if you want to learn more. If you want something between a Pro and an Ironwood, that can also grill then the Weber Searwood is a top choice.

Rec teq 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 which grill you are trying to decide between in the comments, and we’ll try to help you make up your mind.