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recteq vs. Traeger: Which Wood Pellet Grill Should You Choose?
In one corner, we have the original—and to this day, the most well-known—pellet grill brand with a devoted following across the country. And in the other corner is a company coming off a rebrand but not lacking for passionate supporters in its own right. Such is the scene for the heavyweight bout between Traeger and recteq, respectively, a pair of popular pellet grill brands commonly compared by customers interested in the low-and-slow experience.
Both manufacturers have a powerful reputation among consumers and within the industry, and with good reason: each delivers a desirable mix of quality, performance, and features at competitive price points. Still, you’re here because you’re trying to decide between Traeger and recteq pellet grills, and we’re going to do our best to help you pick a winner with an in-depth analysis of what they bring to the table. We’re taking everything into account to empower you to make an informed decision, so come claim a front-row seat to this outdoor cooking clash as we break it all down.
History & Overview
Traeger History & Overview
Named for founder Joe Traeger, who invented the first pellet grill way back in 1985, Traeger dominated this product category until its original patent expired in 2006. The family-run company sold not long after that, later moving from Oregon to Salt Lake City, Utah. Traeger has predictably continued innovating in the pellet grill space, incorporating Wi-Fi and high-tech temperature maintenance systems into their products to stay ahead of the competition. In short, there’s a reason why Traeger remains one of the most trusted names among pellet grill brands.
The Skinny
- Pellet grilling’s first, most well-known, and bestselling brand.
- Amazing cooking versatility, from low-and-slow smoking to grilling.
- Easy-to-use digital controls (most with Wi-Fi) for a true set-it-and-forget-it experience.
- Innovative grills deliver smokey flavor with greater efficiency than ever.
- A value-packed pellet grill with one of the best reputations in the industry.
recteq History & Overview
Ron Cundy and Ray Carnes made waves in 2009 when they founded what was then known as Rec Tec, an upstart pellet grill manufacturer that has garnered a growing and loyal following ever since. Though the company rebranded to recteq in 2020, it still abides by its founding principles: stainless steel construction, generous warranties, and a robust customer service department. Plus, with the highest-rated grilling app and more convenience features, recteq pellet grills set the standard in grilling excellence.
The Skinny
- Temperatures range from 180ºF to 700ºF, so you can grill, dehydrate, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and sear.
- Uses high-quality stainless steel construction to create durable grills.
- Convenient and accurate PID controls lock in temperatures to simplify cooking.
- Wireless monitoring and temperature control are possible thanks to Wi-Fi capabilities.
- Solid track record of customer service with lengthy warranties.
Traeger vs. recteq: Key Differences
We’ll come right out with it: these are two of the better pellet grill brands on the market, and neither offers enough over the other to establish itself as an outright winner. We’re confident you’ll be happy no matter which way you go, so our goal today is to help you draw your own conclusions based on your individual needs. Before getting into specific grill series, let’s run down some of the major factors and see how Traeger and recteq stack up against each other as overall brands.
| Traeger | recteq | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature controls | D2 Controller | PID controller |
| Wi-Fi capability | Yes | Yes |
| Smart device compatibility | Google Home, Amazon Alexa | None |
| Cooking space | 572–1,300 sq. in. | 380–2,500 sq. in. |
| Exterior material | Powder-coated steel | Stainless steel |
| Double-walled interior | Yes | No |
| Pellet hopper capacity | 18–24 lbs. | 20–53 lbs. |
| Pellet hopper cleanout | Yes | Yes |
| Pellet sensor | Yes | No |
| Mobility | All-terrain, heavy-duty locking caster wheels | Rollerblade-style, rubber locking wheels |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2, 4, or 6 years |
Top Traeger Pellet Grills
| Grill Model |
Woodridge
|
Woodridge Pro
|
Woodridge Elite
|
)
Timberline XL
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Material | Powder Coated Steel | Powder Coated Steel | Powder Coated Steel | Powder Coated Steel |
| Cooking Grate Material | Porcelain Coated Steel | Porcelain Coated Steel | Porcelain Coated Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 24 lbs | 24 lbs | 24 lbs | 22 lbs |
| Temperature Range | 165℉ - 500℉ | 165℉ - 500℉ | 165℉ - 500℉ | 165℉ - 500℉ |
| Main Cooking Area (square inches) | 520 | 585 | 585 | 594 |
| Total Grilling Area (square inches) | 860 | 970 | 970 | 1320 |
| Burger Count | 20 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
| Number of Racks | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Weight (pounds) | 152 | 168 | 220 | 289 |
| WiFi Enabled | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Enabled | No | No | No | Yes |
| Smartphone Companion App | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Meat Probes Included | 1 Included | 1 Included | 1 Included | 4 Included - 2 MEATER, 2 wired |
| Super Smoke Mode | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pop And Lock (P.A.L.) Accessory Rail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Built-In Model Available | No | No | No | Yes |
| Side Burner | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hopper Clean-Out | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shop Grills | Shop Now | Shop Now | Shop Now | Shop Now |
Top recteq Pellet Grills
| Grill Model |
)
Flagship 1600
|
)
X-Fire Pro 825
|
)
RT-2500 BFG
|
)
E-Series Built-In 1300
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Material | 430 Stainless Steel | 430 Stainless Steel | 430 Stainless Steel | 304 Stainless Steel |
| Cooking Grate Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 40 lbs | 20 lbs | 53 lbs | 27 lbs |
| Temperature Range | 180℉ - 700℉ | 225℉ - 1,250℉ | 180℉ - 650℉ | 180℉ - 700℉ |
| Main Cooking Area (square inches) | 650 | 825 | 982 | 618 |
| Total Grilling Area (square inches) | 1567 | 842 | 2500 | 1300 |
| Burger Count | 60 | 30 | 99 | 55 |
| Number of Racks | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Weight (pounds) | 218 | 222 | 560 | 196 |
| WiFi Enabled | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Enabled | No | No | No | No |
| Smartphone Companion App | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Meat Probes Included | 2 Included | 2 Included | 2 Included | 2 Included |
| Built-In Model Available | No | No | No | Yes |
| Side Burner | No | No | No | No |
| Hopper Clean-Out | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Shop Grills | Shop Now | Shop Now | Shop Now | Shop Now |
Final Considerations
Now that we’ve made every last comparison between these two brands, we hope you see why it’s such a difficult choice. Both Traeger and recteq continually set the standard for pellet grills, with some of the most feature-heavy and well-made models on the market. The brand that’s right for you will always come down to your specific needs, and it’s our hope that the information presented here helped you realize what those needs are—and which manufacturer is best suited to meet them.
Now’s the perfect time to get on the phone with one of our grilling experts and talk through what you’re thinking. They’re standing by at 1-877-743-2269 to field whatever questions you might have about pellet grills, and maybe even chat about what they threw on the smoker this weekend.
