Traeger vs Pit Boss Pellet Grill 2026
Traeger wins on temperature consistency and app control; Pit Boss wins on cooking area per dollar.
See Today’s Price →At a Glance
Traeger vs Pit Boss Pellet Grill Buying Guide
Traeger Pro 22 at $389 is the reference-standard pellet grill — Digital Pro Controller with ±15°F temperature consistency, WiFIRE connectivity for remote monitoring, and 572 sq in of cooking space. Pit Boss PB1150G at $366.98 delivers 1,150 sq in of cooking area at $131 less with a flame broiler that opens to expose direct-flame searing heat that Traeger doesn't offer at this price point. The Pit Boss PB700FB1 at $366.98 covers 743 sq in at the same price. Traeger leads on temperature control precision and connected cooking experience; Pit Boss leads on area-per-dollar and searing versatility. This comparison covers temperature consistency at smoking temps, hopper capacity, and which grill matches your balance of low-and-slow smoking versus high-heat grilling.
Our Top Pick: Traeger Grills Pro 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, 572 sq in, 6-in-1 BBQ, Bronze At $497.49, it offers the best overall value. See today's price. Best Budget Pick: Pit Boss 71700FB Wood Pellet Grill 700 Square Inches ($366.98) — The original Pit Boss 700FB established the Flame Broiler format — Best for Best Pit Boss: Pit Boss PB1150G Wood Pellet Grill 1150 Square Inches with Cover — The Pit Boss PB1150G provides 1,150 sq in across main and warming. ---Temperature Consistency: The Key Performance Difference
Pellet grill temperature consistency is determined by the controller — how accurately it feeds pellets to maintain setpoint temperature. Traeger's D2 Direct Drive controller holds within ±15°F of setpoint. Pit Boss controllers on base models hold within ±25°F. For briskets and long smokes where temperature drift affects outcome, the tighter Traeger tolerance is meaningful. For grilling and shorter cooks, the difference is minor.
Pit Boss's value proposition is simple: more cooking area at lower prices. The Pit Boss PB1150G provides 1,150 sq in of cooking space at $499 — more than double what you'd get from an equivalently priced Traeger. For backyard competition cooks or large family gatherings where volume matters more than precision, Pit Boss delivers more grill space per dollar.
Traeger's WiFIRE connectivity lets you monitor and adjust temperature, set timers, and receive cook completion alerts from your phone anywhere with cellular service — genuinely useful for long brisket cooks when you're doing other things at home. Pit Boss's Bluetooth app control has a limited range of about 30 feet. For real remote monitoring, Traeger's WiFi connectivity is the functional standard.
Both brands consume approximately 1-3 lbs of pellets per hour depending on temperature setpoint and ambient conditions. Traeger's insulated lid and D2 system are slightly more efficient at lower smoke temperatures. Pit Boss's larger cooking areas require more pellets to fill and maintain temperature. For year-round use, pellet cost is a real operating expense — budget $30-60/month for regular grilling.
Not sure which fuel type fits how you cook? Our complete grill buying guide compares gas, charcoal, pellet, and kamado for every cook and lifestyle.
Quick Decision: If budget is the priority, go with the Pit Boss 71700FB Wood Pellet Grill 700 Square Inches; if you want the best overall, choose the Traeger Grills Pro 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker, 572 sq in, 6-in-1 BBQ, Bronze; if you need best pit boss, the Pit Boss PB1150G Wood Pellet Grill 1150 Square Inches with Cover is your pick.
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Grill Buying Guide: Gas vs Charcoal vs Pellet
We compared Traeger and Pit Boss across WiFi controller accuracy, hopper capacity, temperature swing, and long-term pellet consumption efficiency, cross-referencing expert measurements, thorough reviews, and verified owner satisfaction data.
Watch Before You Buy
“Traeger Pro 22 (Pro 575): D2 controller with WiFIRE — best pellet grill for temperature-controlled smoking.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- 572 sq in
- 6-in-1 cooking
- Wood pellet flavor
- Wi-Fi control
Watch out for
- Very expensive at over $1,000
- Pellet fuel creates ongoing cost compared to propane or charcoal
- 572 sq in cooking surface is smaller than larger models in the Pro series
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D2 Direct Drive auger maintains ±15°F setpoint accuracy. WiFIRE app enables full remote monitoring and control via Wi-Fi. 572 sq in cooking area handles 4 racks of ribs. Porcelain-coated grill grates.
“Traeger Pro 34: 884 sq in with same D2 WiFIRE system — expanded Traeger capacity.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- 884 sq in
- 6-in-1 cooking
- Wood pellet
- Wi-Fi control
Watch out for
- Large footprint requires significant patio or deck space
- Pellet supply must be maintained to avoid temperature drops
- Higher initial cost than traditional gas grills
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Larger cooking area than Pro 22 with the same D2 Direct Drive controller and WiFIRE connectivity. 884 sq in handles a full brisket alongside a rack of ribs. Same temperature consistency as the Pro 22 with more room.
“Pit Boss PB1150G: 1,150 sq in cooking area — most grill space per dollar in this comparison.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- 1,150 sq in cooking surface handles large volumes of meat or multiple racks simultaneously
- Wood pellet fuel produces authentic smoke flavor that propane and charcoal grills cannot replicate
- Digital temperature control makes precise low-and-slow smoking accessible without constant monitoring
- Includes a protective cover that extends outdoor equipment life through weather exposure
Watch out for
- A wood pellet smoker and grill — designed for cooking, not decorative outdoor fire
- $366.98 is the highest price on this page and represents an entirely different product category from fire pits
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1,150 sq in across main and upper racks accommodates full party-sized cooks. Flame broiler for direct-flame searing capability. Porcelain-coated cast iron grates. Best Pit Boss option for buyers who need volume cooking capacity.
“Pit Boss PB700FB1: 700 sq in — Pit Boss mid-range with digital controls and flame broiler.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- 743 sq in capacity for large cooks — 6 racks of ribs
- Flame Broiler lever opens direct-flame zone for searing
- Digital controls for precise temperature from 180-500°F
- Fan-forced convection for even heat distribution
Watch out for
- Pit Boss pellet quality affects flavor — use quality pellets
- Hopper capacity requires refilling on long overnight smokes
Read Full Analysis
Pit Boss's flagship feature — the flame broiler slide plate — enables direct flame searing on this 700 sq in model. Digital controller. Good balance of capacity and price for buyers who want Pit Boss's grilling versatility.
“Pit Boss 71700FB: 700 sq in Classic Series — reliable entry point for pellet grill beginners.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Established Pit Boss Flame Broiler design
- 700 sq in cooking area for large family meals
- Lower price than PB700FB1 newer model
- Wide accessory ecosystem and spare parts availability
Watch out for
- Older model — fewer digital control features than PB700FB1
- Slightly less cooking area than newer 743 sq in PB700FB1
Read Full Analysis
On the Traeger vs Pit Boss comparison page, the Pit Boss 71700FB represents the original Classic Series entry point — the model that established Pit Boss's value position against Traeger before the updated PB700FB1 (also $366.98 on this page) arrived. Both share the same price, making the choice between them a comparison of generation: older-generation digital controls versus the updated model's more precise temperature management, at identical cost. The Flame Broiler design is Pit Boss's signature differentiator from Traeger in the pellet grill segment. A sliding plate beneath the cooking grate creates an open flame zone when shifted — enabling direct-flame searing that Traeger's indirect-heat closed-bottom design cannot replicate. For buyers who want pellet-smoked low-and-slow cooking AND the option for direct-flame searing, the Flame Broiler provides a capability the Traeger Pro 22 ($497.49) and Traeger Pro 34 ($729.99) on this page don't match at any price tier they offer. The 700 square inches of cooking area is competitive for the price segment, accommodating full rib racks, multiple brisket flats, or large family meals simultaneously. The accessory ecosystem is a practical long-term ownership consideration: the 71700FB's established production run means grill grates, covers, and replacement components remain widely available through Pit Boss retail channels and third-party suppliers, unlike newer models where parts availability is still building out. The honest trade-off is digital control generation. The PB700FB1's updated control system provides more precise PID-style temperature management compared to the 71700FB's older digital controller, which exhibited wider temperature variance in its cycle. Both are at $366.98 on this page — the PB700FB1 is the stronger digital choice at equivalent price unless a specific current discount makes the 71700FB the better deal at time of purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Traeger or Pit Boss better?
What pellets should I use?
How long does it take to smoke a brisket?
Can pellet grills sear?
Do pellet grills need electricity?
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 4,560+ 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 →
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