Comparisons
Pit Boss vs Z Grills
The two value brands, and the answer flips depending on your budget: under $450 it is Z Grills, over $700 it is Pit Boss.
By Mike M. · Last updated November 6, 2026 · How we pick
Pit Boss vs Z Grills
Z Grills 600D2
Z Grills · score 9.8/10 · Best overall value under $400
572 sq in, PID 3.0 and a storage cabinet for well under $400 — the best all-round budget pellet grill we track.
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 | 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 |
| 2 |  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 |
| 3 |  Z Grills 7002C697 sq in, a 28 lb hopper, two probes, a grease bucket and a cover — all in the box for under $500. | Most kit included for the money | 9.89.8 out of 10 | Check price |
| 4 |  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 |
#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.
Why the answer flips
These two brands optimize for different things, and their ranges barely overlap in the middle.
- Z Grills’ strength is the bottom. They put PID 3.0 on grills in the low $300s. Pit Boss’s cheap grills (500 FB2, 440 Mahogany) use LCD and LED boards with 5 lb hoppers.
- Pit Boss’s strength is the top. The Navigator range runs 932 to 1,593 square inches with 30 lb hoppers and WiFi. Z Grills tops out around 697 square inches with no connectivity.
| Budget | Best Pit Boss | Best Z Grills | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $350 | 440 Mahogany (518 sq in, 5 lb, LED) | 550B2 (553 sq in, PID 3.0) | Z Grills |
| $350-450 | 500 FB2 (518 sq in, 5 lb, searing) | 600D2 (572 sq in, PID, cabinet) | Z Grills |
| $450-550 | 700 Carbon (718 sq in, 13.5 lb) | 7002C (697 sq in, 28 lb, PID, cover) | Z Grills, narrowly |
| $550-700 | — nothing in range | 700 insulated / cabinet (697 sq in, 28 lb) | Z Grills |
| $700-1,000 | Navigator 850 / 1300 (932-1,329 sq in, WiFi) | — nothing in range | Pit Boss |
| Over $1,000 | Navigator 1600, verticals to 2,224 sq in | — nothing in range | Pit Boss |
The $450-550 band is the real contest
This is the only place the two brands meet properly, in the Pit Boss 700 Carbon against the Z Grills 7002C.
Pit Boss gives you 718 square inches against 697, and a five-year warranty against three. Z Grills gives you a 28 lb hopper against 13.5 lb, a PID board against an LCD one, two probes against one, and a cover, grease bucket and gloves included.
On balance we take the Z Grills, because the hopper difference is the one that changes how you cook and the controller difference is the one that changes how reliably you cook. Pit Boss wins if you want the extra two years of warranty and the easier parts supply more than you want 15 extra hours of hopper.
What only Pit Boss has
- Direct-flame searing. The Flame Broiler slider, on almost every barrel including the cheapest. Z Grills has no equivalent at any price.
- WiFi. Across the whole Navigator range.
- Five-year warranty. Against Z Grills’ three.
- Big vertical cabinets. 50 lb and 75 lb hoppers, 130°F minimums, 1,118 and 2,224 square inches. Z Grills does not compete here.
- A wider parts and dealer network. Real in year four.
What only Z Grills has
- PID control under $400. The single biggest quality step in budget pellet grilling.
- Published accuracy figures. +/-20°F on the 450E. Pit Boss publishes none.
- Accessories in the box. Covers, extra probes, grease buckets, gloves.
- An insulated grill for mid-$600s. Pit Boss does not sell an insulated pellet grill in the range we cover.
The picks in full
#1 · 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
#2 · 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
#3 · Most kit included for the money
Z Grills 7002C
Z Grills · score 9.8/10
697 sq in, a 28 lb hopper, two probes, a grease bucket and a cover — all in the box for under $500.
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 697 sq in
- Hopper
- 28 lb, tool-free cleanout
- Temperature range
- 180-450°F
- Controller
- PID 3.0, LCD, two meat probes
- 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
- 28 lb hopper is close to Pit Boss territory and nearly double Traeger's 18 lb
- Rain cover, two probes, grease bucket and gloves included
- Two locking casters plus two wheels
- Pellet viewing window
Where it falls short
- No WiFi, so the app crowd should look elsewhere
- 450°F ceiling
- Z Grills calls it an 'electric' pellet grill in the listing, which confuses buyers — it burns wood pellets and needs a wall outlet, like every pellet grill here
#4 · 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
Our recommendation
Top pick
Z Grills 600D2
Best overall value under $400.
Runner-up
Pit Boss 500 FB2 Series
First pellet grill on a tight budget.
$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
Questions people actually ask
Is Pit Boss or Z Grills better value?
Z Grills under about $450, because of the PID controller. Pit Boss over about $700, because Z Grills has nothing in that range. In between it is close and comes down to hopper size versus warranty length.
Does Z Grills have anything over $700?
Not in the range we cover — the insulated 700 series is around the top of their line-up. Above that, Pit Boss’s Navigator barrels and vertical cabinets have the market largely to themselves at value prices.
Which has the better controller?
Z Grills, on almost every model: PID 3.0 versus Pit Boss’s LCD and LED boards. The exception is Pit Boss’s Advantage 850SL, which has a touchscreen PID board and is the best controller of either brand.
Can Z Grills sear like a Pit Boss?
No. Pit Boss’s Flame Broiler exposes direct flame; Z Grills caps at 450°F indirect. Sear grates close most of the gap for a small fraction of the price difference.
Sources
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