Comparisons
Z Grills vs Traeger
The widest value gap in pellet grilling. Z Grills gives you more grate, a bigger hopper and a better controller for less — and no app, and weak resale.
By Mike M. · Last updated November 6, 2026 · How we pick
Z Grills vs Traeger
Z Grills 7002C
Z Grills · score 9.8/10 · Most kit included for the money
697 sq in, a 28 lb hopper, two probes, a grease bucket and a cover — all in the box for under $500.
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 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 |
| 2 |  Traeger Pro 22The cheapest way into a full-size Traeger. No WiFi, 450°F ceiling, and a +/-15°F swing — but it is a Traeger that will outlive the warranty. | Brand-loyal buyers on a budget | 99 out of 10 | $549.99Amazon |
| 3 |  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 |
| 4 |  Traeger WestwoodTraeger's own answer to the budget question: WiFIRE at the lowest price they sell it, with 653 sq in and a 450°F ceiling. | The cheapest grill with a Traeger app that works | 9.49.4 out of 10 | $664.99Amazon |
#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.
The specification gap at the same price
The cleanest comparison in the whole market is the Z Grills 7002C against the Traeger Pro 22, because they sit close on price and are both non-WiFi full-size barrels.
| Z Grills 7002C | Traeger Pro 22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking area | 697 sq in | 572 sq in |
| Hopper | 28 lb, tool-free cleanout | 18 lb, clean-out door |
| Controller | PID 3.0 | Digital Pro Controller, +/-15°F |
| Temperature range | 180-450°F | 180-450°F |
| Probes included | 2 | 1 (built in) |
| In the box | Rain cover, grease bucket, gloves | Grill only |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
| Accessory ecosystem | Limited | Full Traeger range |
| Resale | Weak | Strong |
That is 125 more square inches, 10 lb more hopper, a better class of controller, an extra probe and roughly a hundred dollars of included accessories, for less money. The Traeger’s advantages are the accessory range and the resale value, neither of which affects a single cook.
The controller point deserves emphasis
Traeger quotes +/-15°F on the Pro 22’s Digital Pro Controller. Z Grills quotes +/-20°F on the 450E’s PID 3.0. On those numbers Traeger looks better — but the comparison is not apples-to-apples, because a PID board and a timed-feed board fail differently. A PID controller corrects continuously based on where the temperature is heading; a simpler board overshoots and undershoots around a set point.
What is fair to say: both are good enough for barbecue, Z Grills publishes its figure where Pit Boss does not, and anyone claiming to have measured the real-world difference between these two controllers without instrumenting both grills is guessing. We have not instrumented either.
Where Traeger is genuinely worth the money
One place, and it is a real one: WiFIRE. Z Grills does not sell a WiFi grill in the range we cover. If app control matters to you, this comparison is over before it starts and the cheapest route in is the Traeger Westwood.
If what you actually want is a phone alert when the meat is done — not remote temperature control — then a wireless meat thermometer on a Z Grills does that for a fraction of the price difference, and you keep the extra cooking area.
The support question, honestly
This is Z Grills’ real weakness and we are not going to soften it. Traeger has a deep US dealer and parts network. Z Grills sells direct with a three-year warranty and phone and online support, but a thinner network — so in year four, replacing an auger motor is more of a project.
Resale compounds it. A used Traeger moves in days at a high fraction of its price. A used Z Grills can sit. If you are the kind of owner who upgrades every couple of years, that difference is part of the real cost and it favors Traeger more than the sticker price suggests.
The picks in full
#1 · 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
#2 · Brand-loyal buyers on a budget
Traeger Pro 22
Traeger · score 9/10
The cheapest way into a full-size Traeger. No WiFi, 450°F ceiling, and a +/-15°F swing — but it is a Traeger that will outlive the warranty.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 572 sq in (24 burgers, 5 rib racks or 4 chickens)
- Hopper
- 18 lb, with a clean-out door
- Temperature range
- 180-450°F, +/-15°F
- Controller
- Digital Pro Controller, built-in meat probe
- Connectivity
- None
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 7.7/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9/10.
What it does well
- 18 lb hopper with a cleanout at a sub-$600 price
- Sawhorse chassis and side lift bar — easier to move than its weight suggests
- Takes the full Traeger accessory range
Where it falls short
- +/-15°F is a real swing; the PID boards on cheaper Z Grills hold tighter
- 450°F max, so searing is weak
- No WiFi, which is most of why people buy Traeger in the first place
#3 · 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
#4 · The cheapest grill with a Traeger app that works
Traeger Westwood
Traeger · score 9.4/10
Traeger's own answer to the budget question: WiFIRE at the lowest price they sell it, with 653 sq in and a 450°F ceiling.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 653 sq in, dual tier
- Hopper
- 18 lb
- Temperature range
- 180-450°F
- Controller
- Digital with meat probe
- Connectivity
- WiFIRE, Traeger app
- Warranty
- 3 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.2/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.4/10.
What it does well
- WiFIRE for several hundred dollars less than the Pro 780
- 653 sq in is enough for most families
- P.A.L. rail accessories and integrated side shelf included
Where it falls short
- 450°F instead of 500°F, so searing is the weak point again
- Still costs more per square inch than any Pit Boss or Z Grills here
- No Super Smoke mode — that starts at Ironwood and Woodridge Pro
Our recommendation
Top pick
Z Grills 7002C
Most kit included for the money.
Runner-up
Traeger Pro 22
Brand-loyal buyers on a budget.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Questions people actually ask
Are Z Grills as good as Traeger?
On cooking area, hopper capacity, controller class and included accessories, Z Grills is better at the same price. On app, support network and resale, Traeger is better. Neither cooks noticeably better food.
Why are Z Grills so much cheaper?
Direct-to-consumer sales, no dealer margin and a much smaller marketing spend. Z Grills states over 30 years as a grill manufacturer; the savings come from distribution, not from leaving steel out.
Does Z Grills make a WiFi grill?
Not in the range we cover. If app control is essential, Traeger’s Westwood is the cheapest route to a reliable one.
Which holds temperature better, Z Grills or Traeger?
Z Grills uses PID 3.0 and publishes +/-20°F; Traeger quotes +/-15°F on the Pro 22’s digital board. The architectures differ enough that the quoted numbers are not directly comparable, and we have not instrumented either grill, so we will not declare a winner we cannot evidence.
Sources
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