Comparisons
Pellet Grill vs Gas Grill
Gas is faster and hotter. Pellets taste of wood and can smoke. If you only cook burgers on weeknights, gas is the honest answer.
By Mike M. · Last updated November 6, 2026 · How we pick
Pellet vs Gas
Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series
Pit Boss · score 9.6/10 · Most backyards — the default pick
The most cooking space per dollar of any WiFi pellet grill we track, and the one we point most buyers at first.
Also direct from Pit Boss — $799.99 (list price as of 2026-11-07)
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Quick picks
Ranked by our value-weighted score. Prices are live from Amazon as of November 7, 2026 — tap a price to check it now, or tap a row to jump to the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pit Boss 850 Navigator SeriesThe most cooking space per dollar of any WiFi pellet grill we track, and the one we point most buyers at first. | Most backyards — the default pick | 9.69.6 out of 10 | $799.99Amazon |
| 2 |  Z Grills 600D2572 sq in, PID 3.0 and a storage cabinet for well under $400 — the best all-round budget pellet grill we track. | Best overall value under $400 | 9.89.8 out of 10 | $339.00Amazon |
| 3 |  Pit Boss 500 FB2 SeriesThe cheapest full-size pellet grill we would actually recommend — 518 sq in, direct-flame searing, five-year warranty. | First pellet grill on a tight budget | 9.19.1 out of 10 | $357.30Amazon |
#ad We earn a commission on Amazon purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the ranking — here is the method.
The short answer
Buy gas if most of your cooking is quick weeknight grilling and you want food on the table in ten minutes. Buy a pellet grill if you want wood flavor and the ability to smoke, and can accept 10-15 minutes of warm-up and a weaker steak crust. Most people who own both end up using the pellet grill at weekends and the gas grill on Tuesdays.
Side by side
| Pellet grill | Gas grill | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Real hardwood smoke | Essentially neutral | Pellet |
| Time to cooking | 10-15 min warm-up | Under 5 min | Gas |
| Searing heat | 450-500°F, mostly indirect | 500-700°F direct | Gas |
| Low-and-slow smoking | Yes, 180-250°F for hours | No | Pellet |
| Temperature control | Set a number, it holds it | Manual knob management | Pellet |
| Needs electricity | Yes — auger, fan, igniter | No | Gas |
| Fuel cost per cook | 1-3 lb pellets/hour | Propane, broadly comparable | About even |
| Cold-weather performance | Struggles if thin-walled | Largely unaffected | Gas |
| Cleanup | Grease tray plus ash | Grease tray only | Gas |
| Versatility | Grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise | Grill, and roast at a push | Pellet |
Where gas genuinely wins
Speed
A gas grill is cooking in under five minutes. A pellet grill needs 10-15 to come up to temperature, because an auger has to feed pellets, an igniter has to light them and a fan has to bring the chamber up. On a Tuesday with hungry children, that gap decides the evening.
Searing heat
Gas burners put 500-700°F of direct radiant heat under the grate. A pellet grill circulates convection heat at 450-500°F and, on most models, never exposes the food to flame. The result is that gas makes a better steak crust, and it is not close unless the pellet grill has a direct-flame slider.
No power needed
Gas needs no outlet. Every pellet grill does, which rules them out at a remote campsite unless you buy one of the 12V DC portables.
Where pellets win decisively
Flavor
This is the only reason the category exists. A pellet grill burns hardwood and the food tastes of it. A gas grill cooks with a hydrocarbon flame and the food tastes of the food. Nobody buys a pellet grill for any other primary reason.
Low-and-slow
A pellet grill holds 225°F for twelve hours unattended. A gas grill cannot: its lowest stable setting is usually too hot, and it has no smoke. Ribs, brisket, pulled pork and smoked chicken are simply not gas-grill foods.
Set-and-forget control
You set a number and a controller holds it. On gas you manage knobs and lid position and learn your grill’s hot spots. For precision cooking the pellet grill is the easier machine by a wide margin.
Versatility
Every pellet grill here is marketed as 6-in-1 or 8-in-1: grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, sear, char. That is not pure marketing — a pellet grill really is an outdoor convection oven, and it will bake a pie or roast a chicken properly. A gas grill grills.
Running cost: closer than people assume
Pellets cost more per pound than propane does per equivalent BTU, but a pellet grill at 225°F draws very little fuel. Figure 1 to 1.5 lb of pellets an hour smoking, 2 to 3 lb grilling hot. On a 40 lb bag that works out reasonably against a propane tank, and the electricity is negligible — see electricity cost for the arithmetic.
Where pellets lose on cost is cold weather, when a thin-walled grill burns substantially more to hold the same temperature.
The honest recommendation
If you are replacing a gas grill and expect the same experience, do not. You will be frustrated by the warm-up and disappointed by the steak. Buy a pellet grill because you want to smoke and because you want wood flavor — and keep the gas grill for weeknights if you can.
If you can only have one and you want both capabilities, buy a Pit Boss with the Flame Broiler slider. It is the only pellet grill design that also sears properly. See best pellet grills for searing.
The picks in full
#1 · Most backyards — the default pick
Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series
Pit Boss · score 9.6/10
The most cooking space per dollar of any WiFi pellet grill we track, and the one we point most buyers at first.
Also direct from Pit Boss — $799.99 (list price as of 2026-11-07)
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 932 sq in across two tiers
- Hopper
- 30 lb, with a viewing window
- Temperature range
- 180-500°F in 5°F steps
- Controller
- LCD digital, two meat probes included
- Connectivity
- WiFi + Bluetooth, Pit Boss Grills app
- Warranty
- 5 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.4/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.6/10.
What it does well
- 932 sq in for well under four figures — roughly 20% more grate per dollar than the closest Traeger
- 30 lb hopper is double what most sub-$500 grills carry, so overnight cooks do not need a refill
- Flame Broiler slider gives you direct-flame searing, which most pellet grills in this range cannot do
- Two probes in the box rather than one
Where it falls short
- LCD controller is a step below the touchscreen PID on the 1300/1600 and the Advantage 850SL
- Pit Boss app has a long history of connection complaints in owner threads
- Assembly is a genuine two-person, ninety-minute job
#2 · Best overall value under $400
Z Grills 600D2
Z Grills · score 9.8/10
572 sq in, PID 3.0 and a storage cabinet for well under $400 — the best all-round budget pellet grill we track.
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 572 sq in (24 burgers, 5 rib racks or 4 chickens)
- Hopper
- Hopper with cleanout
- Temperature range
- 180-450°F
- Controller
- PID V3.0, meat probes included
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.6/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.8/10.
What it does well
- Matches a Traeger Pro 22's 572 sq in for well under half the money
- PID V3.0 with auto-start and an intelligent temperature display
- Bottom storage cabinet and a side shelf with tool hooks
- Wheels with brakes, so it stays put
Where it falls short
- No app and no WiFi
- 450°F ceiling
- Powder-coated steel, not stainless — keep it covered
#3 · First pellet grill on a tight budget
Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series
Pit Boss · score 9.1/10
The cheapest full-size pellet grill we would actually recommend — 518 sq in, direct-flame searing, five-year warranty.
$399.9911% off
Also direct from Pit Boss — $399.99 (list price as of 2026-11-07)
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 518 sq in across two tiers
- Hopper
- 5 lb
- Temperature range
- 180-500°F in 5°F steps
- Controller
- LCD digital, one probe included, two ports
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 5 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 7.9/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.1/10.
What it does well
- Full-size 518 sq in chamber for close to what a portable costs
- Flame Broiler lever opens direct flame for searing up to 1,000°F — rare at this price
- Five-year warranty is unusually long for a budget grill
Where it falls short
- 5 lb hopper is the real compromise: expect to refill on any long smoke
- No connectivity at all
- Thin-gauge body loses heat in cold weather, so winter cooks run longer
Our recommendation
Top pick
Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series
Most backyards — the default pick.
Also direct from Pit Boss — $799.99 (list price as of 2026-11-07)
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Runner-up
Z Grills 600D2
Best overall value under $400.
Questions people actually ask
Is a pellet grill better than a gas grill?
For flavor, smoking and versatility, yes. For speed, searing heat and simplicity, no. They are genuinely different tools, and plenty of people own both.
Can a pellet grill replace a gas grill?
It can do everything a gas grill does, but more slowly and with a weaker sear unless it has a direct-flame slider. If weeknight speed matters to you, a pellet grill will feel like a downgrade in that one respect.
Do pellet grills cost more to run than gas?
Roughly comparable in mild weather. Pellets cost more per pound than propane per equivalent BTU, but a pellet grill at 225°F uses very little. In cold weather pellet consumption rises substantially.
Do pellet grills get hot enough to sear?
Most reach 450-500°F, which is hot but indirect. A Pit Boss with the Flame Broiler exposes direct flame rated to 1,000°F; other brands need sear grates.
Do pellet grills need electricity?
Yes — for the auger, fan and igniter. The draw is small, but it means a wall outlet or a 12V supply is required. Gas grills need no power.
Sources
Read next
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How Many Watts Does a Pellet Grill Use?
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Pellet Grill vs Charcoal Grill
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