Best-Of Buying Guide4 grills compared
Which Traeger should you buy? Four Traegers we've reviewed, matched to how you cook, with each one's hopper, app features and warranty, and the models we haven't reviewed yet.
By Marcus ReillyLast updated:13 min read
Contents
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The best Traeger for most smokers is the Woodridge Pro. It adds a pellet sensor, Super Smoke and Keep Warm to WiFIRE app control, carries a 4.4 Review Score and comes with Traeger's 10-year limited warranty. If you want the app for less, the base Woodridge gets you WiFIRE at $899.99 list.
These picks come from the four Traegers SmokyHQ has fully reviewed, built from Traeger's specs, warranty terms and retailer listings. Choose how you cook first, and the right Traeger follows.
Overnight smokers who want a pellet sensor and Super Smoke on WiFIRE.
First-time pellet grill buyers who want Traeger's app at the lowest price.
Find the line that sounds like you.
| Your situation | Our pick | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| You smoke overnight and want to check pellets from your phone | Woodridge Pro | Pellet sensor, Super Smoke and Keep Warm on WiFIRE |
| This is your first pellet grill and you want the app | Woodridge | The least expensive WiFIRE Traeger, 24 lb hopper |
| You want set-and-forget smoking with no app to pair | Pro 34 | Digital Pro controller, 884 sq in, no Wi-Fi |
| You smoke through cold, windy winters | Ironwood 885 | Dual-wall insulation, the only insulated pick here |
Want to sear steaks as often as you smoke? A Traeger is the wrong tool; see Can a Traeger sear? below.
Best for: Overnight smokers who want a pellet sensor and Super Smoke on WiFIRE
Why we picked it: It has the features that matter most on long, unattended cooks. The Traeger Woodridge Pro shows hopper level in the app through a digital pellet sensor, so you can top up before the fire runs out. Super Smoke adds smoke at low temperatures (Traeger's Super Smoke page gives a 165–225°F range), and Keep Warm holds finished food until you serve.
It ties the Ironwood 885 on Review Score and wins the tie on two counts: it's a current Traeger model, and it carries a 10-year limited warranty against the 885's 3 years. For the kind of overnight cook it suits, see our guide on how to smoke a brisket.
Specs that matter:
Who it's for: Smokers who cook brisket, pork butts or ribs overnight and want to check the grill and the pellet level from their phone.
Skip it if: You sear more than you smoke; it tops out at 500°F with no sear station. If you smoke through cold winters and want an insulated body, Traeger lists that only on the Woodridge Elite and the Ironwood range.
Best for: First-time pellet grill buyers who want Traeger's app at the lowest price
Why we picked it: It's the least expensive Traeger with WiFIRE, at $899.99 list. The Traeger Woodridge lets you set and check the grill temperature from your phone, uses an RTD temperature sensor and has the same 24 lb hopper as the Woodridge Pro. If you want a budget Traeger pellet grill with the app, start here.
Cleanup runs through the EZ-Clean Grease & Ash Keg, and a hopper clean-out lets you switch pellet flavors without emptying the hopper by hand. Traeger backs it with the same 10-year limited warranty as the Pro.
Specs that matter:
Who it's for: First-time pellet grill buyers who want app control and a long warranty without paying for features they may not use.
Skip it if: You smoke overnight often and want a pellet sensor and Super Smoke. Those are the Woodridge Pro's additions.
Best for: App-free, set-and-forget smoking on a big grate
Why we picked it: Not everyone wants a grill on Wi-Fi. The Traeger Pro 34 uses a Digital Pro controller: you set a temperature and it feeds pellets to hold it, with nothing to pair. Its 884 sq in of grate is close to the Woodridge's.
The US bronze model is the TFB88PZB, which Traeger's support guide lists as active. The retail listing we link to is the TFB88PZBO variant of the same Pro Series 34, so check the model number before you buy.
Specs that matter:
Who it's for: Cooks who want hands-off smoking on a big grate and are happy to check the grill in person.
Skip it if: You want phone alerts or a hotter top end. The Woodridge adds WiFIRE, a 24 lb hopper and a 500°F max.
Best for: Overnight smokers in cold or windy climates
Why we picked it: It's the only insulated grill among our picks. The Traeger Ironwood 885 has dual-wall construction, which Traeger says reduces temperature fluctuation, plus WiFIRE, a pellet sensor and Super Smoke.
It's a legacy model. Traeger still sells it under its Legacy Grills at $1,399.99 list, but the all-new Ironwood and Ironwood XL are its successors. We haven't reviewed those yet; Traeger lists the Ironwood XL at 925 sq in, and the new range carries a 10-year limited warranty.
Specs that matter:
Who it's for: Overnight smokers in cold or windy climates who value insulation over the longer warranty.
Skip it if: You want a 10-year warranty or the newest Traeger features. The Woodridge Pro has more space and a bigger hopper with the longer warranty.
Use the specs to confirm a pick, not to choose one.
| Grill | Review Score | Cooking area | Hopper | Pellet sensor | WiFIRE | Super Smoke | Max temp | Warranty | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodridge Pro | 4.4/5 | 970 sq in | 24 lb | Yes | Yes | Yes | 500°F | 10-year limited | Current | Check Current Price |
| Woodridge | 4.4/5 | 860 sq in | 24 lb | No | Yes | No | 500°F | 10-year limited | Current | Check Current Price |
| Pro 34 | 4.0/5 | 884 sq in | 18 lb | No | No | No | 450°F | Check Traeger's terms | Current | Check Current Price |
| Ironwood 885 | 4.4/5 | 885 sq in | 20 lb | Yes | Yes | Yes | 500°F | 3 years | Legacy | Check Current Price |
The Pro adds a pellet sensor, Super Smoke, Keep Warm, a folding side shelf and 110 sq in more grate. Both have WiFIRE, a 24 lb hopper and a 10-year limited warranty. Our Woodridge Pro review goes through the differences.
The Ironwood 885 has insulated walls; the Woodridge Pro has more grate, a bigger hopper and a 10-year warranty against 3 years, and it's a current model. Unless you smoke through cold winters, the Woodridge Pro is the better buy.
The Woodridge adds WiFIRE app control, a 24 lb hopper instead of 18 lb and a 500°F max instead of 450°F. Choose the Pro 34 only if you'd rather not use an app at all.
Traeger sells several series, and we've reviewed four grills across them. Models we haven't reviewed are listed so you know where they sit, not as recommendations.
| Series | Models | What it adds | Reviewed by SmokyHQ? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro Series | Pro 34 | Digital Pro controller, no app | Yes (Pro 34) |
| Woodridge | Woodridge | WiFIRE, 24 lb hopper | Yes |
| Woodridge | Woodridge Pro | Pellet sensor, Super Smoke, Keep Warm | Yes |
| Woodridge | Woodridge Pro Plus | A storage cabinet | No |
| Woodridge | Woodridge Elite | A side sear station and body insulation | No |
| Ironwood (legacy) | Ironwood 885 | Dual-wall insulation, sold under Legacy Grills | Yes |
| Ironwood (current) | Ironwood, Ironwood XL | Traeger's current insulated range; XL 925 sq in, 10-year limited | No |
| Timberline | Timberline, Timberline XL | Not covered here | No |
| Portables | Tailgater, Ranger | Not covered here | No |
If none of the picks matched you exactly, these are the things that decide which Traeger suits you.
WiFIRE lets you set and check the grill temperature from Traeger's app and get probe alerts. Three of our four picks have it. The Pro 34's Digital Pro controller holds the temperature you set too, but you check it in person. If you cook overnight or leave the grill while you're out, WiFIRE is worth having.
Among our picks, only the Woodridge Pro and Ironwood 885 have a pellet sensor and Super Smoke. The sensor reports hopper level in the app. Super Smoke is Traeger's button for more smoke.
Low-temperature cooks are where a pellet grill makes the most smoke flavor.
Not well. Our three WiFIRE picks top out at 500°F and the Pro 34 at 450°F, and none has a direct-flame zone. Traeger adds a side sear station only on the Woodridge Elite, which we haven't reviewed. If searing matters, a cast-iron pan on the grate helps, or see our Traeger vs Pit Boss comparison for a pellet grill with a Flame Broiler.
All four picks have between 860 and 970 sq in of grate, enough for most families. Hoppers run from 18 lb on the Pro 34 to 24 lb on the Woodridge pair. Traeger doesn't list pellet use per hour, so fill the hopper before a long cook.
The Ironwood 885 is the only insulated grill among our picks; in the Woodridge series, Traeger lists body insulation only on the Elite. On any uninsulated Traeger, place the grill out of the wind. Our guide on how to winterize your grill covers the rest.
The Woodridge and Woodridge Pro carry a 10-year limited warranty, as does Traeger's new Ironwood range. The Ironwood 885 has 3 years. For the Pro 34, check Traeger's warranty terms before you buy. Register any Traeger and keep the model number for parts.
If you mostly sear steaks, a Traeger isn't the best fit. You also need an outdoor outlet, since every pellet grill here runs on power. Our best pellet grills guide compares other brands, Weber vs Traeger weighs the two brands, and pellet grill vs smoker helps if you're still choosing a type.
Traeger's Flatrock is a propane griddle, not a pellet grill; see our Traeger Flatrock griddle review.
We started from the Traegers we've fully reviewed from Traeger's specs, product pages and warranty terms and retailer listings, then matched each to a common way people cook. Each rating is the Review Score from the full review, so you can compare it with our pellet grill rankings.
We weighed features for long smokes (pellet sensor, Super Smoke, app control), capacity, temperature control by design, warranty and current status. Where two grills tied, the current model with the longer warranty ranked higher. Traegers we haven't reviewed are excluded.
The Woodridge Pro for most smokers: it has a pellet sensor, Super Smoke, Keep Warm and WiFIRE with a 10-year limited warranty. If you want the app for less, buy the Woodridge. Choose the Pro 34 if you don't want an app, and the Ironwood 885 only if you smoke through cold winters.
The Woodridge. It's the least expensive Traeger with WiFIRE, has a 24 lb hopper and 860 sq in, and carries a 10-year limited warranty.
No. The Pro 34 uses a Digital Pro controller with no Wi-Fi or app. The Woodridge, Woodridge Pro and Ironwood 885 all have WiFIRE.
The Woodridge, Woodridge Pro and Traeger's new Ironwood range carry a 10-year limited warranty. The Ironwood 885 has 3 years. For the Pro 34, check Traeger's warranty terms.
Not well. None of our picks has a direct-flame zone, and they top out at 500°F (450°F on the Pro 34).
Not yet. Traeger still sells it under its Legacy Grills, but the all-new Ironwood range is now its top insulated line.
If you smoke overnight, yes: it adds a pellet sensor, Super Smoke, Keep Warm and 110 sq in more grate. If you rarely cook low and slow, the base Woodridge is the better buy.
For smoking with a long warranty, a Woodridge-series Traeger makes a strong case; for searing, Pit Boss's Flame Broiler gives you direct flame. See how Traeger and Pit Boss compare.
The Woodridge Pro is the best Traeger for most smokers, with a pellet sensor, Super Smoke and a 10-year limited warranty. The Woodridge is the beginner pick if you want WiFIRE for less, and the Pro 34 suits cooks who don't want an app. Choose the legacy Ironwood 885 only for cold-weather smoking.
Written by
Marcus Reilly
Senior Editor & Researcher
Marcus Reilly is a KCBS Certified Judge with 15 years of competition barbecue. He researches and writes SmokyHQ’s smoker, pellet, charcoal and kamado coverage, comparing verified specs, warranties and documented owner feedback so you can see which cookers suit brisket, ribs or overnight smokes.
Every grill is scored on the same scorecard, from verified specs and documented owner feedback. How we score
