Traeger vs Pit Boss
The two names every pellet shopper compares. Traeger sells polish, resale value and the biggest ecosystem in wood-fired cooking; Pit Boss sells more grill and real searing for less money. Here's the split, on the numbers.
Quick answer
Buy the Pit Boss Navigator 850 if you want the most grill for the money and the ability to sear— its Flame Broiler lever opens direct flame to around 1,000°F, and you get 932 sq in and a 30 lb hopper for less than a comparable Traeger. Buy the Traeger Woodridge if you value polish, resale value and the largest accessory ecosystem, and you’ll cook mostly low-and-slow where its reliable app control and RTD sensor shine. For a first-time pellet upgrader on a budget, the Pit Boss is the better value; for a set-and-forget cook who wants the smoothest software, the Traeger is worth the premium.
How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one, or point you to a cheaper option when it’s the better buy. Full disclosure.
| Spec |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking area | 860 sq in | 932 sq in |
| Hopper capacity | 20 lb | 30 lb |
| Temp range | 180-500°F | 180-500°F (sear to ~1,000°F) |
| Control | WiFIRE app + RTD probe | WiFi + Bluetooth |
| Price | $899.99 · View on Amazon Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded | $830.42 · View on Amazon Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded |
The short version
These grills do the same core job — burn hardwood pellets, hold a set temperature with a controller, and let you walk away. Where they part ways is what you pay for and what you get for it. Traeger is the category’s premium default: better software, a huge parts-and-accessory ecosystem, and the resale value that comes with the name. Pit Boss undercuts it on price while adding a genuinely useful trick Traeger doesn’t offer at this tier — a direct-flame searing lever.
Cooking area and hopper
The Pit Boss Navigator 850 gives you 932 sq in of cooking space and a 30 lb hopper; the Traeger Woodridge gives 860 sq in and a 20 lb hopper. The extra hopper capacity matters most on long overnight cooks — more pellets means fewer 3 a.m. refills. On raw capacity, the Pit Boss simply gives you more grill per dollar.
Searing is the real difference
Both grills top out around 500°F in normal cooking, which is fine for smoking but limited for searing a steak. The Pit Boss adds a Flame Broiler leverthat slides open to expose the food to direct flame for searing up to roughly 1,000°F. If you want one grill that smokes a brisket and then sears a steak, that lever is the reason to pick the Pit Boss. Traeger keeps the fire fully baffled, so searing means a separate step or a separate grill.
Software, support and resale
This is where the Traeger premium earns its keep. Traeger’s WiFIRE app is the most polished in pellet, its RTD temperature sensor is more stable than a cheap thermocouple, and the accessory and parts ecosystem is enormous — if something breaks in three years, you can get the part. Traegers also hold resale value better than any rival. Pit Boss’s app and controller are perfectly usable but feel a step behind, and build tolerances vary more unit to unit.
So which one?
If your budget is the deciding factor and you’d use a searing function, the Pit Boss Navigator 850 is the value winner — more area, more hopper, real searing, less money. If you want the smoothest software, the best support if something goes wrong, and the resale value of the name, the Traeger Woodridge is worth paying more for. Neither is a mistake; they’re priced and built for different buyers. See how both stack up against the rest of the field in our best pellet grills roundup, and if you’re still deciding between wood-pellet convenience and a stick-burner, read offset smoker vs pellet grill.
Frequently asked questions
Is Traeger or Pit Boss better?
Neither is universally better. Pit Boss gives you more cooking area, a bigger hopper and real direct-flame searing for less money. Traeger gives you more polished software, a bigger support and accessory ecosystem, and better resale value. Choose Pit Boss for value and searing; choose Traeger for software and support.
Can a Pit Boss sear like a gas grill?
Closer than a Traeger can. The Navigator 850's Flame Broiler lever slides open to expose food to direct flame for searing up to around 1,000°F. It's not identical to a dedicated searing station, but it's a genuine reverse-sear finish that most pellet grills, including Traeger at this tier, can't do.
Does Traeger's higher price get you better food?
Not directly — both hold temperature well enough to produce great barbecue. Traeger's premium buys reliability of the software, ecosystem and support, plus resale value. The pellets and the temperature control determine the food; the brand determines the ownership experience.
Which lasts longer, Traeger or Pit Boss?
Both are steel grills that last for years with cover-and-clean care; the controller and igniter are the usual first parts to fail on either. Traeger's advantage is parts availability — its ecosystem makes a three-year-old grill easier to repair. Keep either one covered and the hopper dry and it will outlast several seasons.
Keep reading
Best Pellet Grills
The full field, ranked on area, hopper, control and price.
See the roundup →Is a Pellet Grill Worth It?
The honest case for and against pellet before you spend.
Read the guide →