If you’ve been shopping for a pellet grill for more than five minutes, you’ve run into Traeger. It’s the brand that basically invented the category back in the 80s, and it shows up first in almost every search. Grilla Grills is the smaller name that keeps getting mentioned as the value alternative. So which one actually deserves your money? Here’s how they stack up on the things that matter once the grill is sitting in your backyard.
The Quick Backstory on Both Brands
Traeger goes back to 1985, when Joe Traeger built the first wood pellet grill in Oregon. That’s not a marketing claim, it’s just true, and it’s a big part of why Traeger has the biggest dealer network and brand recognition in the space. The company went public in 2021 and has kept expanding its lineup ever since.
Grilla Grills started as a small direct-to-consumer brand out of Holland, Michigan. In 2022, it got acquired by American Outdoor Brands, and operations moved to Columbia, Missouri, consolidating what used to be separate facilities in Michigan, Texas, and Oregon. It’s still sold direct-to-consumer, still smaller than Traeger, but it’s got real backing behind it now and a reported repeat customer rate of around 50%, which says something about people who’ve actually bought one.
Price
This is where the gap is real. A Grilla Silverbac 2.0 runs around $1,134, with the larger XL version closer to $1,890. Traeger’s lineup starts lower on paper with the Pro series (roughly $700-1,000), but climbs fast through the Ironwood tier and tops out north of $3,800 for a top-spec Timberline. So depending on which model you’re comparing, Grilla can land either cheaper or right in the same range as a mid-tier Traeger. It’s not the budget-vs-premium split people assume going in.
Build Quality and Performance
Grilla’s Silverbac uses quarter-inch stainless steel rod grates and can hit 500°F, which matters more than it sounds like. A lot of pellet grills, including some Traeger entry models, cap out around 350-375°F, which makes it tough to get a real sear. One owner who’d had a Silverbac for close to five years called it “a tank,” reporting it still ran fine in temperatures as low as -10°F with only minor cosmetic wear over that time.
Traeger’s higher-end models use 16-gauge steel and generally feel more solid out of the box, and its temperature control system has a reputation for being more consistent and refined. Both brands use PID controllers now, so the days of huge temperature swings on either one are mostly behind us. But side by side, Traeger’s interface and overall build tends to edge out Grilla on the newer comparisons, especially at similar price points.
Hopper Size and Everyday Use
Grilla’s Silverbac holds 33 lbs of pellets, up 50% from the earlier 1.0 model, so you’re refilling less often on long cooks. Traeger hoppers on comparable models run closer to 24 lbs. Neither brand includes a pellet-level window on every model, so you’re often checking manually either way, but Grilla’s bigger hopper is a genuine practical advantage if you do overnight briskets often.
Wi-Fi and App Control
Traeger’s WiFIRE app is polished and one of the more reliable ones in the category, which matters if you actually plan to monitor your cook from your phone. Grilla’s connected models (like the Alpha Connect) have improved over the years but don’t have quite the same track record or user base behind them yet.
Warranty and Customer Support
Here’s a genuinely surprising one: Grilla’s Silverbac comes with a 4-year warranty, which is unusually long for this category. Traeger, though, offers 10 years on most current models, which is hard to beat on paper. In practice, Grilla’s customer support has gotten strong marks in long-term owner accounts, including free replacement parts shipped quickly when something failed. It’s worth noting that Grilla’s Trustpilot page only has a handful of reviews, so that public rating isn’t a reliable sample size either way. Traeger, being the bigger and older company, has more support infrastructure and dealer access if something goes wrong locally.
So Which One Should You Buy?
If brand reputation, dealer support, and a longer warranty matter most to you, and you’re comfortable spending toward the higher end, Traeger is the safer, more proven pick. If you want a grill that runs hotter for real searing, holds more pellets between refills, and comes from a company that’s earned loyal repeat buyers even while being the underdog, Grilla is worth serious consideration, especially in the $1,000-1,900 range where it competes directly with Traeger’s mid-tier lineup.
Neither one is a bad choice. It really comes down to whether you’re paying for the name and network, or the specs and value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grilla Grills as good as Traeger?
In several practical areas, yes, and in some cases better. Grilla’s Silverbac reaches a higher max temperature and holds more pellets than comparable Traeger models. Traeger still leads on app polish, dealer network, and warranty length.
Which brand has a better warranty?
Traeger, with 10 years on most models compared to Grilla’s 4-year coverage on the Silverbac. Both are longer than budget competitors like Z Grills, which typically offer 3 years.
Is Grilla Grills cheaper than Traeger?
Sometimes. Entry Traeger models can be cheaper than Grilla’s Silverbac, but once you’re comparing similar cooking capacity and features, the two brands often land close together, and Grilla can undercut Traeger’s mid-to-upper tiers.
Where are these grills made or assembled?
Grilla’s operations are based in Columbia, Missouri, following the 2022 acquisition by American Outdoor Brands. Traeger has a longer-established supply chain and dealer network built over four decades.
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