Traeger vs Pit Boss: Which Pellet Grill Should You Buy?

How to Pick: Which One Fits You?

Your cooking habits point to the right brand.

Find the line that sounds like you, then jump to the section that backs it up.

How Are Traeger and Pit Boss Grills Different?

Same pellet design; the differences are searing, software and warranty.

Both brands use the design Joe Traeger developed in Oregon in the 1980s. An auger feeds pellets into a firepot, a hot rod igniter lights them, a fan feeds the fire and a controller cycles the auger to hold your set temperature.

Same hopper-and-barrel layout; the Pit Boss adds a slide handle for its Flame Broiler.

Pit Boss is made by Dansons, a separate company. The two compete directly, but they share the same quirks: both need a few minutes to light and settle, both make the most smoke at low temperatures, and both depend on dry pellets.

That means the choice comes down to details. Pit Boss adds direct-flame searing and more cooking area per dollar; Traeger adds a more refined app, Super Smoke on some models and longer warranties on current grills.

Which Is Better for Smoking?

A near tie; Traeger is a little more polished.

Both brands held overnight temperatures well in our testing. The Traeger Woodridge Pro held 213–237°F against a 225°F setpoint through a 12-hour brisket, and its 24 lb hopper ran 12–14 hours at 225°F.

The upper rack lets sides finish while the brisket rests below.

The Pit Boss Navigator 850 kept 225°F within about 12–15°F through a 10-hour unattended pork shoulder. On a rack of ribs you won't taste the difference; on a 14-hour winter brisket, controller tuning and insulation matter more. Our brisket guide works on either brand.

Each brand gives you a smoke boost. Traeger's Super Smoke, on the Woodridge Pro and Ironwood, works between 165°F and 225°F, according to Traeger. Many Pit Boss controllers have a P-setting that changes the pause between auger feeds in Smoke mode; one model's manual lists P0 to P7 with P4 as the default, where a higher number means a cooler fire and more smoke.

Any food-grade hardwood pellet works in either brand, so buy on flavor and freshness. Our best wood chips for smoking chart matches woods to meats.

Which Is Better for Searing Steaks?

Pit Boss wins, thanks to the Flame Broiler.

On the Pit Boss Navigator 850, sliding the Flame Broiler plate open put a ribeye right over the firepot and gave it a crust with visible char. The direct zone is small, so you sear a few steaks at a time.

Leave the main lid open while the slide plate is open, then close it after.

Most Traegers cook only with indirect heat. They grill burgers and chicken well, but Woodridge Pro grates can sit under 300°F with the controller set to 500°F, so thick steaks brown slowly.

Watch out: don't expect grill marks from a Traeger on its top setting. Use the reverse sear method instead: smoke the steak low, then finish it in a very hot cast-iron pan.

Which Has the Better App?

Traeger's WiFIRE is more polished; Pit Boss covers the basics.

On the Woodridge Pro, WiFIRE tracked within 2–3°F of our own probes and dropped only twice in six weeks, reconnecting on its own both times. The Woodridge Pro also adds a pellet sensor, so the hopper level shows in the app.

The Navigator 850 connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and stayed connected across all eight of our cooks, even through interior walls overnight. Its readings lagged 30–60 seconds behind the grill right after we opened the lid.

Check probes from the couch instead of lifting the lid, which costs heat and pellets.

Plan on a firmware update before first use with either brand; the Navigator 850 and Traeger Woodridge we tested both hit one. If you're always home during a cook, you can skip Wi-Fi: the Traeger Pro 34 has none and needs no pairing.

Traeger vs Pit Boss Models Compared

Pit Boss gives more space, hopper and searing at each tier; newer Traegers give the longer warranty.

Here are the models we've tested from each brand, matched by size and features, with the closest rivals paired at the top.

The clearest head-to-head is the Woodridge against the Navigator 850. The Navigator holds 3 lb more pellets, gives a little more grate and sears over open flame. The Woodridge answers with twice the warranty and the more polished app. If space is tight, the Pit Boss 150 is the only tabletop model from either brand we've tested, and its Flame Broiler still lets it sear.

Want to look beyond these two? Recteq and Camp Chef are the other pellet brands shoppers compare most often. We've tested the recteq Flagship 1600, a stainless smoker with 1,667 sq in for big crowds; Camp Chef isn't rated here yet.

If you'll keep the grill for a decade, Traeger's 10-year coverage narrows the gap. If you want the most cooking for the least outlay, Pit Boss wins.

Which Uses Fewer Pellets in Cold Weather?

Insulation beats brand; a single-wall grill of either kind burns more.

The Woodridge Pro burns about 1 lb of pellets per hour near 225°F and about 3 lb per hour at 450°F. Expect more on cold, windy days, since the controller feeds extra pellets to hold temperature.

The Navigator 850 and Woodridge models are single-wall steel, and the Woodridge Pro has no lid gasket. It took 18–20 minutes to reach setpoint on a 36°F morning in our testing.

The Traeger Ironwood 885 is the cold-weather pick. Its double-wall sides held 225°F within about 8–12°F over 12 hours, and it used noticeably fewer pellets than the Pro 34 on the same cook. It's the pre-2024 Ironwood design, which Traeger has since replaced, so buy it only at a real discount.

For either brand, a grill blanket made for your model or a simple windbreak cuts pellet use in winter.

Which Has the Better Warranty and Build?

Current Traegers carry twice the warranty term.

• Current Traegers like the Woodridge and Woodridge Pro: 10-year limited.
• Traeger Pro 34 and Ironwood 885: 3 years.
• Pit Boss pellet grills, including the Navigator 850: 5-year limited, with labor not included, so a claim can still cost you something.

Pit Boss sells an optional protection plan at checkout that extends coverage. Register either grill when it arrives and keep the receipt.

Wear parts are the same on both: hot rod igniter, auger motor, fan and controller, all replaceable. Damp pellets cause most auger jams on any brand, so store them in a sealed bin and run the shutdown cycle every time.

Vacuum the firepot every few cooks; built-up ash can smother the fire or cause a hard start.

Still Unsure?

A few quick checks settle it.

• Count your steak nights: if you sear more than twice a month and want one grill, buy the Pit Boss.
• Check your patience for apps: if you'll never use your phone to cook, the Traeger Pro 34 is the simple choice.
• Check your climate: long winter smokes favor an insulated grill over either brand's single-wall models.
• Check your budget: if you want Wi-Fi for the smallest outlay, the Navigator 850 is the one to buy.

Still weighing pellet against charcoal or gas? Our Weber vs Traeger comparison covers grilling-first options.

Our Picks: Which Traeger or Pit Boss Should You Buy?

The grills from each brand we'd buy first.

For most people who smoke and sear, the Navigator 850 is the better value. If smoking is the whole point and you want the best app and warranty, the Woodridge Pro is the one; the base Woodridge is the cheaper way into WiFIRE and a 10-year warranty, without Super Smoke.

Before you settle on either brand, compare the full field in our best pellet grills picks.

Best Pit Boss

Pit Boss Navigator 850 Pellet Grill★ 4.5/5

Smokes overnight and sears over the Flame Broiler, with the biggest hopper here.

Check Current Price Read review

Best Traeger for smoking

Traeger Woodridge Pro★ 4.3/5

Steady overnight brisket smoker, with Super Smoke and a pellet sensor. Weak sear.

Check Current Price Read review

Best-value Traeger

Traeger Woodridge★ 4.4/5

WiFIRE app and Traeger's longest warranty for less, minus Super Smoke.

Check Current Price Read review

The Takeaway

Both brands smoke well, so decide on everything else. Traeger is for polish, app control and a long warranty; Pit Boss is for more grill per dollar and a real sear.

• Smoke and sear on one grill: buy the Pit Boss Navigator 850.
• Overnight smoking with the best app: buy the Traeger Woodridge Pro.
• Wi-Fi Traeger on a budget: buy the Traeger Woodridge.
• No app wanted: buy the Traeger Pro 34.
• Long winter smokes: look for a discounted Traeger Ironwood 885.