Traeger vs Masterbuilt 2026: Pellet Grill vs Electric Smoker Comparison
Traeger wins for authentic wood-fire smoke flavor from real hardwood pellets. Masterbuilt wins for simplicity and price — electric smokers require no pellet management and cost hundreds less.
See Today’s Price →At a Glance
| # | Product | Award | Price | Our Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Traeger Grills Pro 22 Wood Pellet Grill… |
Best Overall | $497 | 9.2 | Buy → |
| 2 |  Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Sm… |
Best Masterbuilt Value | $249 | 8.9 | Buy → |
| 3 |  Traeger Pro 34 Wood Pellet Grill and Sm… |
Best Large Traeger | $729 | 8.5 | Buy → |
| 4 | Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Sm… |
Best Large Electric Smoker | $314 | 8.2 | Buy → |
| 5 |  Traeger TFB30KLF Tailgater 20 Portable … |
Best Portable Traeger | $444 | 7.8 | Buy → |
| 6 |  Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital… |
Best Premium Masterbuilt | $999 | 7.5 | Buy → |
Showing 6 of 6 products
Traeger Grills Pro 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, 572 sq in, 6-in-1 BBQ, Bronze
“The Traeger Pro 22 delivers the wood-fired BBQ flavor that charcoal and gas cannot replicate, with the set-it-and-forget-it convenience that makes it practical for weeknight smoking. The WiFIRE contro”
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The Traeger Pro 22 delivers authentic hardwood smoke flavor with WiFIRE smartphone monitoring. 572 sq in of cooking space handles a brisket or two racks of ribs. Best for: outdoor cooks who want real wood-fire flavor with smart temperature management.
Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker MB20071117
“The Masterbuilt 30" is the gold standard entry smoker — simple, reliable, and produces genuinely good results without the learning curve of charcoal or pellet smokers.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Easy digital temperature control
- Side wood chip loader — no heat loss
- Four chrome-coated racks
- Consistent temperature ±5°F
- Compact footprint for small patios
Watch out for
- 30" cooking area limits large briskets
- No Bluetooth/app control
- Thin metal exterior
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The Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker is the easiest smoker to use — plug in, set temp, add chips. 730 sq in of rack space fits 6 racks of ribs. Best for: beginner smokers who want hassle-free results without learning fire management.
Traeger Pro 34 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker 884 Sq In Bronze
“A large-format Traeger for families and entertainers who need to feed a crowd. Best for regular backyard hosts who want consistent results over a bigger cooking surface.”
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The Traeger Pro 34 expands cooking area to 884 sq in — enough for two briskets side by side. Same WiFIRE app control as the Pro 22. Best for: households that frequently smoke for 10+ people or love to meal prep large batches.
Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Smoker MB20072918
“The 40" Masterbuilt hits the sweet spot for dedicated electric smokers — large enough for competition-style cooks but still simpler than managing a pellet or charcoal offset.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- 1,050 sq in — fits full brisket flat
- Bluetooth connectivity with app
- Six chrome racks
- Built-in meat thermometer
- Precision ±5°F digital control
Watch out for
- Large footprint (~30" wide)
- App still limited vs. pellet-smoker apps
- Higher price for electric category
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The Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital provides 970 sq in of cooking space with four chrome-coated racks. Side chip loader adds wood without opening the door — maintaining consistent temperature. Best for: large-capacity electric smoking at a fraction of pellet grill prices.
Traeger TFB30KLF Tailgater 20 Portable Pellet Grill 300 Sq In
“A portable pellet grill for tailgaters and campers who want real wood-fired flavor away from home. Best for those who need the Traeger experience in a pack-and-go format.”
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The Traeger Tailgater 20 is the most portable full-featured pellet grill available. Folding legs for transport, 300 sq in cooking area, and Digital Arc Controller. Best for: tailgating, camping with RV power, or small-space patios.
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Combo Smoker Grill
“A serious charcoal smoker and grill combo for pitmasters who refuse to compromise on smoke flavor. Best for dedicated BBQ cooks who want charcoal authenticity with digital convenience.”
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The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 combines digital temperature control with charcoal and wood chunk fuel for serious smoke flavor — bridging the gap between electric convenience and charcoal authenticity. Best for: serious smokers who want digital precision without sacrificing flavor.
Traeger vs Masterbuilt Buying Guide
Fuel Type & Flavor
Traeger uses compressed hardwood pellets — hickory, applewood, mesquite — that burn cleanly and impart genuine wood smoke flavor. Masterbuilt digital electric smokers use wood chips in a side chip loader, producing smoke but less of the complex flavor of a pellet system. If authentic smoke flavor is your priority, Traeger wins decisively.
Temperature Control
Both brands use digital controllers. Traeger's WiFIRE app lets you monitor and adjust temperature from your phone. Masterbuilt's digital panel controller is simpler and reliable but lacks WiFi on base models. The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 adds WiFi and charcoal/wood chunk capability for more authentic flavor.
Cooking Capacity
Traeger's Pro 22 offers 572 sq in of cooking space. The Pro 34 expands to 884 sq in — enough for two full briskets. Masterbuilt's 40-Inch Digital fits 4 racks of ribs. Both brands scale up with premium models.
Startup & Convenience
Electric smokers like Masterbuilt heat up in 15 minutes with no startup procedure. Traeger pellet grills require 10-15 minutes to auger pellets and establish temp, and pellets must be replenished during long cooks. For pure convenience, Masterbuilt wins.
Price Comparison
Masterbuilt digital electric smokers start at $249.99. Traeger pellet grills start at $444. Operating costs are also higher for Traeger (pellets at $20-25/20lb bag vs wood chips at $5-10). The long-term cost of ownership favors Masterbuilt.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do electric smokers produce real smoke flavor?
Can Traeger be used as a regular grill?
How much do Traeger pellets cost?
Is Masterbuilt good for beginners?
What's the Masterbuilt Gravity Series?
How We Analyze Products
We analyze Amazon review data — often thousands of reviews per product — to surface patterns that individual buyers miss. Our process aggregates star ratings, review counts, and buyer sentiment at scale, identifying which strengths and weaknesses appear consistently across the largest review samples available. The 17,100+ reviews analyzed on this page represent real verified-purchase feedback from Amazon buyers.
Each product earned its placement through data: total review volume, average rating, and the specific praise and complaints that repeat most often across buyers. No manufacturer paid for placement on this page. Products appear here because buyers endorsed them at scale, not because a company asked us to feature them.
We use AI to summarize review sentiment — not to fabricate opinions, but to condense what thousands of buyers actually wrote into a readable format. The pros and cons you see reflect the most common themes found in verified purchaser reviews, paraphrased for clarity. We do not claim to have accessed Reddit, YouTube, or specific publications in generating these summaries.
Prices shown reflect Amazon pricing at the time this page was last generated. Click “See Today’s Price” to get the current live price on Amazon. Read our full methodology →