If you are looking for a versatile and easy to use smoker, then you do not need to look any further than a pellet smoker.

These are able to produce an amazing barbecue, and they can be a lot more practical than some of the more traditional methods.

Since there is a wide variety of these pellet smokers available, we have included a wide array of different choices which have differing features at different price points, this way there will be something for everyone.

We’ll also be including some pellet grills as well since a lot of these have smoking capabilities too.

If you have any questions about pellet smokers, these will likely be answered in the buyer’s guide or the FAQ section which is included after the list!

So, if you are looking for a pellet smoker, but you have no idea where to start, keep reading!

Our Favorite Pellet Smokers And Grills

We have included a wide variety of different pellet smokers and grills which all work in a variety of different ways.

Because of this, just because something is our top choice, does not mean that it will be the top choice for you!

So, make sure to read through all our options to see which will suit you best!

Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 Pellet Grill

Why We Chose The Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 Pellet Grill

This is our favorite overall pellet smoker being a good balance of all the traits you want from a great pellet smoker!

What We Love About The Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 Pellet Grill

• This device is incredibly easy to work with, the digital controls give you an incredibly accurate level of control and is one of the most simple pellet smokers we have worked with
• Amazing searing capability with the option to crank the heat pretty high which is great if you are making burgers or steak
• The option of the sidekick attachment which you configure to work as a grill, griddle, or even a pizza oven is a great option to have
• Good level of smoke adjustment control with you getting a scale of 1 to 10 to choose just how subtle or obvious you want the smokey flavor to be

What We Do Not Love About Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 Pellet Grill

• While you get quite a small storage shelf, there is no cabinet door included which would be perfect for keeping dry pellets in
• The app connectivity does give you lots of options, but occasionally it will just lose connection which can be frustrating

Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 Pellet Grill Product Description

This is one of the best mid sized smokers you can get, with a great balance of value to quality.

There is also plenty of impressive tech included like the PID controller which lets you have great control over the level of smoke which you want.

The color touch screen also gives you plenty of control which you can also access using the smartphone app as well!

This pellet smoker actually comes in 2 different sizes with 24 inch and the 36-inch model both giving you a generous amount of space to work with.

Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Grill

Why We Chose The Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Grill

This is our favorite runner-up option and is a great alternative option to our top pick if you have slightly different preferences.

What We Love About The Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Grill

• We loved how accurate the D2 PID controller is and how it uses a speed fan to help you speed up or slow down the temperature changes to get more precise results.
• The wifi connectivity is some of the best we have seen, especially compared to some others which do not have the extra features this one does

What We Do Not Love About Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Grill

• Having to pay extra for some important accessories like a grill cover or folding shelf feels bad especially since most other grill manufacturers will include this in the base cost

Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Grill Product Description

This is one of the best selling pellet grills internationally, and this is for a reason. The newest Traegers have a reliable design which is perfect for getting you the right temperature.

Similar to our previous choice, you also get the option of a 575 inch or 780 square inch cooking space, and you can even choose to get the pellet smoker in bronze or black.

While having the extra space is a nice bonus, you will want to ensure that you are using it as it needs more pellets to keep hot.

Similarly to a lot of the other pellet smokers included, this one also has wifi connectivity and the app which Traeger uses is one of the best available and even comes with recipes included for you to try out.

The temperature probes which are included are also perfect for letting you keep track of what you are cooking.

It is worth noting that you will need to buy the extra pellet sensor if you want better tracking features though.

Z GRILLS 700D4E Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker

Why We Chose The Z GRILLS 700D4E Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker

This is our favorite budget option, so if you do not want to break the bank this is a perfect option!

What We Love About The Z GRILLS 700D4E Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker

• The value for money you get with this pellet smoker is unmatched and you get an impressive amount of cooking space for less than you would on some other more expensive options
• The temperature is very stable with no swings ruining things.
• The pellet clean out system is incredibly handy, and makes changing different types of pellets incredibly simple and not the hassle it can be.

What We Do Not Love About Z GRILLS 700D4E Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker

• The handle placement on the lid means you have to be careful when moving it as you are very close to the hot surface and you need to be aware of the dangers of burning yourself

Z GRILLS 700D4E Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker Product Description

If you are not looking to spend too much on a pellet smoker then this is going to be one of the best options available.

Usually budget smokers do not have the same technology which makes their more expensive counterparts worth it, however, this one now uses a PID controller which makes them a lot more stable to work with.

This particular pellet smoker also uses a large screen display which is useful, as well as handy pellet cleaning functions.

However, it does not have all the bells and whistles the more expensive ones have.

For example, there is no compatible app, or Wifi tracking at all. However, you do get a lower cost, as well as a trap door for clearing pellets, and a sizable storage cabinet too.

You get an impressive 694 square inch cooking surface which is incredibly impressive for the price you are paying.

Weber SmokeFire Gen 2

Why We Chose The Weber SmokeFire Gen 2

This is our favorite option for both smoking and grilling.

What We Love About The Weber SmokeFire Gen 2

• Perfect option for searing
• Gives the food you cook with it an amazing flavor
• There were some issues when originally launched which have all been fixed

What We Do Not Love About Weber SmokeFire Gen 2

• There are no cabinets or side trays which would be useful
• The grease drainage system needs work

Traeger Tailgater

Why We Chose The Traeger Tailgater

This is our favorite portable option!

What We Love About The Traeger Tailgater

• Good consistent temperature
• Very portable
• Simple to clean

What We Do Not Love About Traeger Tailgater

• Folding legs are clunky to deploy
• Pellet hopper feels limiting with how small it is

Buyer’s Guide

When it comes to buying a pellet smoker, and you have never bought one before, you might not know what you should be considering before buying one.

Because of this we have gathered all of the information and categories which should be considered before buying one of these smokers so you know what you should be prioritizing!

How Much Cooking Do You Need To Do?

This is one of the more obvious things to consider, but you will always want to keep in mind what you will want to be cooking with your pellet smoker.

For example, will you be cooking an entire animal at once, or will you just be cooking some smaller cuts?

These will need different pieces of equipment, and you do not want to end up with a smoker which is far too big for you to take advantage of, or too small to cook what you want to.

It is also worth considering that just because a grill is bigger, does not mean that it is automatically better.

For example, if you are buying a massive pellet smoker, this means you will be spending more on pellets to burn to make it work properly.

You will also want to consider that the temperature inside a pellet smoker will be quite equal, so an upper rack will still be a cooking area, instead of a warming area on a traditional grill, so keep this in mind when thinking about how much space you have to cook with.

Wi-Fi Capability

A more recent feature which has been noticed in newer pellet smokers is that they now have computers built into them which can use wifi connectivity.

This allows you to remotely monitor the temperature of your pellet smoker, as well as control the temperature as well.

These usually connect to free apps which mean you can use them conveniently from wherever you need to be.

Meat Probes

This is related to the previous point, but a lot of pellet smokers now include meat probes which you can directly plug in.

This gives you more accurate readings on bigger cuts of meat which can be incredibly useful to have if this is the style of cooking you are more likely to be going.

Grilling Options

Some pellet smokers have grilling options, others do not.

For some people this is a feature they will definitely want, but for others, they already have a grill, so they do not need another one in their smoker.

Make sure you know which side of the fence you are on when choosing which will suit you better.

Pellet Removal

Most pellet smokers will recommend that you remove your leftover pellets when you are cooking.

This can be simple with some pellet smokers having a chute built-in which makes this easy to do, however, other pellet smokers need you to use a vacuum to get rid of any unused pellets.

Add Ons

Some features for a pellet smoker are not included in the base cost, and will need to be purchased as an add-on instead.

Make sure that the features you want from your pellet smoker will be included in the base package, or if you will be happy to pay the extra cost for the add-on.

Durability

You will want to pay attention to all the different materials which your pellet smoker is made from.

A lot of companies are able to trick consumers by making the exterior of the smoker look durable, while cutting corners with the parts which are used on the inside.

You should also keep an eye on the warranty as this will let you know how long your pellet smoker will likely last for, and how willing the manufacturer is to replace broken parts.

Some pellet smokers will last a lifetime, while this is certainly not the case from some others.

You will want a grill which is made from powder coated steel, and has a coating which is high quality.

Clean Up

Some pellet smokers are incredibly difficult to clean up after they have been used, while others now include features which make this process as simple as possible.

You can see if features like this have been included by looking at the build of the product, but you can also look at reviews as this is where people will complain about a model being difficult to clean up.

Hopper Size

You will simply get more cooking time with a bigger hopper for storing the pellets in. Furthermore, you will usually get about an hour of cooking for a pound of pellets.

You also want to take into account the temperature of where you are living as more pellets will be needed to heat up the smoker in a colder environment.

Pellet Consumption

While on average a pound of pellets will get an hour of cooking time, this varies depending on the build of smoker you are using.

For example, if the pellet smoker is too thin, this extra surface area will cause it to lose heat as quickly, whereas it will also need extra pellets if it is too thick as the walls of the smoker will act as a heat sink.

So as well as the other categories, you will want to see how efficiently the smoker uses pellets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Will Benefit From A Pellet Smoker The Most?

It is worth keeping in mind that on average a pellet smoker will end up being a bit more expensive than a standard grill, however, this extra cost does pay off since you will get more versatility out of this product, as well as a simpler process of cooking.

These are quite a new type of cooker with only 2 companies producing them back in 2008. However, there are now plenty of different options to choose from with them becoming more popular in recent years.

The main reason people want to get a pellet smoker is because of the convenience of using one, and the versatility in how it can be used.

All you have to do is set the temperature and put what you want to cook in there, and you can leave it to do its thing.

These also run off electricity, so if you are living in a condo, or a similar situation, these are a convenient option as well.

How Does A Pellet Smoker Work?

While they work a little similarly to a gas or electric smoker, they do have a slightly different way of working.

These machines, as the name suggests, use smaller wooden pellets which you will add into a hopper which is on the side of the smoker.

It is worth noting that the phrase pellet grill and smoker are often used interchangeably.

You will plug the grill in and set it to a specific heat using a digital controller, and the pellets will be pushed into the smoker and burned into heat and smoke.

There are many different methods of controlling a pellet smoker with multiple options available, so make sure to look at the grills you like and see if they can be controlled in a style you like!