Pick Traeger if you want to load pellets, set an app, and walk away from a 12-hour brisket. Pick Weber if you want hotter searing, a gas or charcoal option, or a longer warranty. The brands only overlap in pellet grills, so this comparison pits Weber’s Searwood against Traeger’s Woodridge Pro and Westwood, then adds Weber’s gas and charcoal lines, which Traeger doesn’t make. Traeger’s April 2026 Westwood launch, its cheapest connected grill so far, makes the pellet side closer than it was a year ago.
| Spec | Weber Searwood 600 Wood Pellet Smoker Grill 9.1/10 | Traeger Woodridge Pro Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker 9/10 | Weber Genesis E-335 Gas Grill 9.4/10 | Traeger Westwood Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker Unavailable 8.6/10 | Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22-Inch 9.2/10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cooking_area | Approx. 600 sq in | 970 sq in (585 primary + 385 secondary) | 641 sq in (513 primary + 128 warming rack) | 653 sq in (dual-tier) | 363 sq in |
| temperature_range | 180-600°F | 180-500°F | — | 180-450°F | — |
| connectivity | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth (Weber Connect) | — | — | — | — |
| special_features | DirectFlame cooking, Rapid React PID controller | — | — | — | — |
| warranty | 5 years on grill body | 10-year limited | 12 years per Weber's Genesis line | 7-year limited | 10 years (bowl, lid, center ring) |
| Rating | 9.1/10 | 9/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 |
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
Prices change daily — tap Check Price for the current Amazon price.
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Fuel Range
Traeger sells pellet grills only. Weber sells pellet, gas, and charcoal, so one brand can cover a patio built around a gas workhorse plus a kettle for weekend cooks. If you already own a gas grill and want a dedicated smoker, Traeger is the cleaner add. If this will be your only grill, Weber’s range gives you more ways to cook.
Searing and Temperature
This is the clearest split. The Weber Searwood 600 reaches 600°F and uses DirectFlame cooking, which exposes food to live fire. The Traeger Woodridge Pro tops out at 500°F and the Westwood at 450°F, both with indirect heat only. Weber’s Genesis E-335 adds a dedicated sear zone, and the Original Kettle runs well past 700°F with direct charcoal heat. For steaks, Weber has the edge on every fuel type.
Smoking and Automation
Traeger built its reputation here. Super Smoke Mode on the Woodridge Pro increases smoke output at low temperatures, and WiFIRE is the app most reviewers rate highest for stability and recipe support. The Searwood holds temperature well through its PID controller, but owners and reviewers describe Traeger’s app and recipe library as the deeper of the two. On the Weber side, only the Searwood automates anything; the Genesis and Kettle are cooks that need attention.
Cooking Area
The Woodridge Pro has 970 sq in. The Westwood has 653 sq in, the Genesis E-335 has 641 sq in including its warming rack, and the Searwood 600 is around 600 sq in. The Kettle has 363 sq in, which suits families of four and small gatherings.
Warranty
Warranty terms differ more than price does. The Genesis line carries 12 years, the Woodridge Pro and the Kettle’s bowl, lid and center ring carry 10, the Westwood carries 7, and the Searwood’s grill body carries 5. Terms vary by component, so read the fine print on firepots, electronics, and finishes before you buy.
Weather, Assembly and Placement
Weber’s porcelain-enameled bowls and lids resist rust and fading in rain and sun, and a fitted grill cover extends the life of any model here. Both pellet brands need a nearby 120V outlet, so check your deck layout first. Plan on roughly 30-45 minutes for the Kettle and a longer, two-person build for the pellet grills and the Genesis.
A Closer Look at Each Pick
1. Weber Searwood 600
The Searwood 600 is Weber’s answer to Traeger, and it’s the better choice for people who care about steak as much as brisket. A 600°F ceiling, DirectFlame mode, and a side-mounted hopper make it a flexible one-grill setup. The trade-offs are a smaller cooking area than the Woodridge Pro and a shorter body warranty.
2. Traeger Woodridge Pro
The Woodridge Pro wins for smoking in volume. At 970 sq in with Super Smoke Mode, WiFIRE, and a 10-year limited warranty, it suits anyone who cooks for crowds or runs long smokes. Searing is its weak spot, since the grill stops at 500°F.
3. Weber Genesis E-335
If you want fast, repeatable weeknight grilling, the Genesis E-335 is the pick. Three main burners put out 39,000 BTU, with a sear zone and side burner for steaks and sauces. See our Weber Spirit vs Genesis breakdown if you are deciding between Weber’s two gas lines.
4. Traeger Westwood
Traeger Westwood Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
The Westwood is the lowest-cost route into Traeger’s app ecosystem. A 450°F ceiling limits searing and the 18 lb hopper needs more attention on long cooks. It is still the better value if WiFIRE and a 7-year warranty matter more to you than a bigger grate.
5. Weber Original Kettle
The Original Kettle is the budget and flavor pick. It lacks any automation, but it sears harder than every Traeger here and weighs 32 lbs. For a head-to-head against a premium ceramic cooker, see Weber Kettle vs Big Green Egg.
Who Should Buy What
Buy the Woodridge Pro if smoked brisket, ribs and pork shoulder are the point and you want the longest pellet warranty.
Buy the Searwood 600 if you want one pellet grill that smokes and also sears steaks.
Buy the Genesis E-335 if you grill most nights and want speed, a sear zone and a side burner.
Buy the Westwood if you want Traeger’s app on a tighter budget.
Buy the Kettle if you want the lowest cost of entry and don’t mind managing vents by hand.
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FAQ
Is Weber or Traeger better?
It depends on the cook. Traeger is better for low-and-slow smoking and app-driven convenience. Weber is better for searing, for gas and charcoal options, and for buyers who want the Genesis line’s 12-year warranty.
Does Weber make a pellet grill that competes with Traeger?
Yes. The Searwood 600 competes with the Woodridge Pro and Westwood. It reaches 600°F against Traeger’s 450-500°F, but it has less cooking area and a shorter body warranty than the Woodridge Pro.
Which has the better app?
Owner and reviewer feedback generally favors Traeger’s WiFIRE for recipe support and connection stability. Weber Connect covers temperature monitoring and alerts, with a lighter recipe library.
Can a pellet grill sear a steak?
Traeger’s models here can sear at 450-500°F, but results are milder than over direct flame. The Searwood’s DirectFlame mode at up to 600°F is the closest a pellet grill in this comparison gets to gas or charcoal searing.
Do I need electricity for these grills?
Both pellet grills need a 120V outlet to run the igniter, fan and controller. The Genesis cooks on propane and the Kettle uses charcoal, so neither needs power for cooking.
Which is cheaper to run, pellets or propane?
Pellets burn faster at high heat, while a propane tank lasts longer for short grilling sessions. Charcoal in the Kettle sits between the two. Check current prices before buying fuel in bulk.
The Bottom Line
For smoking, the Traeger Woodridge Pro is the strongest pellet grill here, with the largest grate and the longest pellet warranty. For anyone who also wants a real sear, the Weber Searwood 600 is the better single grill, and the Weber Genesis E-335 is the best pick for everyday gas grilling. On a budget, choose the Traeger Westwood for automation or the Weber Original Kettle for flavor and simplicity.