Pellet grills have taken over backyard cooking because they combine the convenience of a “set it and forget it” thermostat-controlled smoker with genuine wood-fired flavor — no babysitting charcoal or propane required. In 2026 the category spans everything from sub-$900 workhorses with huge hoppers to app-connected flagships that sear at 700°F and text you when dinner’s ready. Below we compare five current, in-stock pellet grills to help you pick the right one for your patio and your budget.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traeger Ironwood XL | Best Overall | $1,999.99 | See Price on Amazon → |
| Z Grills 700D4E | Best Budget | ~$877 | See Price on Amazon → |
| Pit Boss Pro Series II 850 | Best for Large Groups | $599-$699 | See Price on Amazon → |
| Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24 | Best Hybrid | $1,299.99 | See Price on Amazon → |
| recteq Deck Boss 900 | Best WiFi/App Control | $899.99 | See Price on Amazon → |
1. Traeger Ironwood XL (TFB93RLG) — Best Overall
Pros: large 924 sq in cooking area fits a full packer brisket plus sides, WiFIRE app control with remote monitoring and Alexa integration, Super Smoke Mode adds noticeably more wood-fired flavor, dual-wall insulated build holds temperature in cold/wind.
Cons: premium price (~$2,000) well above most competitors, 22 lb hopper is small relative to its size, so more frequent refills, best experience assumes buy-in to Traeger’s pellets/accessories.
2. Z Grills 700D4E (Flagship 700D4E WiFi) — Best Budget
The Z Grills 700D4E undercuts the premium brands on price while still packing WiFi/Bluetooth app control, a PID 3.1 controller for tighter temperature swings, and two included meat probes — features that used to be exclusive to $1,000+ grills. Its 28 lb hopper is larger than several pricier competitors, meaning fewer mid-cook pellet refills on long smokes. Build quality and app polish aren’t quite at Traeger or Weber levels, but for the price it’s one of the best value propositions in the category.
Pros: strong value: WiFi + PID control at a budget-friendly price, large 28 lb hopper supports long, unattended cooks, two meat probes and an LCD control screen included, 697 sq in of cooking space is competitive for the price tier.
Cons: fit, finish, and paint durability trail premium brands, customer service/warranty support gets mixed reviews, WiFi connectivity reported as less reliable than rivals.
3. Pit Boss Pro Series II 850 Wood Pellet Grill (PB850PS2) — Best for Large Gatherings
With 850 sq in of cooking space and a Flame Broiler system that opens for direct-flame searing up to 1,000°F, the Pro Series II 850 gives you both low-and-slow smoking capacity for a crowd and the ability to reverse-sear steaks on the same cooker. WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity via the Pit Boss app, a digital PID control board, and a 5-year limited warranty round out a genuinely competitive feature set. The tradeoff is that it’s a Lowe’s retailer exclusive, so shopping around is less straightforward.
Pros: spacious 850 sq in cooking area for large cookouts, Flame Broiler enables true direct-flame searing to 1,000°F, WiFi + Bluetooth app control with a digital PID board, backed by a 5-year limited warranty.
Cons: sold as a Lowe’s retailer exclusive, limiting price comparison, ships with only one meat probe despite two probe ports, live pricing was unconfirmed at research time.
4. Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24 (PG24WWSB) — Best Hybrid (Pellet + Gas Searing)
The Woodwind Pro 24 stands out by combining pellet smoking with a built-in gas sear capability and a new Smoke Box accessory for true cold-smoking with wood pellets, chunks, or charcoal — a versatility mix none of the other grills on this list offer. WiFi connectivity lets you monitor and adjust temperature remotely, and the all-stainless-steel body on four caster wheels is built to hold heat and resist corrosion outdoors long-term.
Pros: hybrid design adds gas-assisted searing alongside pellet smoking, new Smoke Box accessory enables true cold-smoking, WiFi app control for remote temperature monitoring, durable all-stainless-steel construction on rolling casters.
Cons: one of the pricier grills in this roundup (~$1,300), heavy at 152 lbs, so less portable once placed, exact cooking-area square footage was unconfirmed at research time.
5. recteq Deck Boss 900 (RT-900DBS) — Best WiFi/App Control
The Deck Boss 900 is recteq’s WiFi-connected everyday flagship, offering 956 sq in of cooking space, an unusually wide 180-700°F temperature range (high enough for real pizza-oven-style searing), and recteq’s widely praised companion app for full remote monitoring and control. An advanced PID controller plus a 304 stainless steel firepot and drip pan with a cast iron heat deflector point to a grill built for consistency and longevity.
Pros: best-in-class app experience among the grills researched here, wide 180-700°F range enables searing, not just low-and-slow, large 956 sq in cooking area, all-stainless-steel firepot/drip pan construction.
Cons: 18 lb hopper is small, needing more frequent refills, sold mainly direct via recteq.com, so Amazon availability is unclear, predecessor RT-700 was recently discontinued, so lineup has shifted.