If you’re in the market for a new pellet smoker/grill, but don’t know where to start, look no further!
Z Grills and Pit Boss are two popular brands today that offer wood-pellet grills of all sizes.
But which one should you choose?
It has earned a reputation for its superior technology and temperature precision. Pit Boss has everything you need to branch out from traditional wood pellet grills.
It is a convenient and cost-effective alternative if you’re looking for features like open-fire grilling, among others.
In this blog post, we’ll compare both brands by taking a closer look at their advantages and disadvantages – So continue reading and find out which is better – Z Grills or Pit Boss?
Z Grills Vs. Pit Boss — Brand Overviews
Let’s take a moment to size up these two brands. Who are they? Where do they come from? The answers are here.
Z Grills
They are at the end of any list of pellet grill makers, both in terms of the alphabet and of time, since Z Grills didn’t start selling under their own name until 2017.
Before that, for about 30 years, they made pellet grills and parts for other companies.
So, a lot of experience, though almost all of it was in the background.
Currently, Z Grills has about ten pellet grills in three series: 1000, 700, and Basic.
Pit Boss
This revolutionary brand is from the province of Alberta, which is located in the country of Canada, sometimes known as the Great White North.
They started off creating pellet warmers, but like Traeger, they soon shifted their focus to making pellet grills when they got their start in 1999.
Their additional offerings include charcoal, electric, and gas grills, as well as smokers, kamados, and a “three-headed beast” that combines the functions of a gas barbecue, charcoal grill, and electric smoker into a single unit.
Which Is Better, Z Grill Or Pit Boss?
We evaluated two of these well-known brands by analyzing their features, prices, and ratings in several categories, including performance, product range, and temperature control.
1- Versatility Of Products
When it comes to variety, Pit Boss is the clear winner in terms of the product range.
They offer pellet grills, vertical smokers, griddles, gas smokers, charcoal grills, combos, as well as fire pits.
The catalog from Z Grills has over 15 pellet grills within four series (450-550,600 Series, 700 Series, and 1000 Series with WiFi series).
Out of which, Z Grill’s 700D3 is their costliest product, retailing at $799, while Cruiser 200A – a 200A portable pellet grill and smoker system is their least-priced offering at an approximate price of $299 only.
When it comes to Pit Boss too, there are many enticing deals involving various options and categories, including meat draws too.
For its range of glistening models, the Pit Boss Navigator 1150 precisely costs around $999 to own.
While a model like the 440 got distinguished features that consist of a selling point of being available at cheaper pricing yet allowing alluring Barbecuing experience every time.
2- Size And Cooking Capacity
Both brands offer a range of sizes and capacities to suit different requirements. Pit Boss has a slight edge in that they sell around twice as many models as Z Grills.
Z Grills, however, has some very spacious grills, both for square and cubic inches.
That means more burgers and more briskets. Additionally, they offer models with three tiers of cooking surface, allowing you to smoke more food at once.
It’s a great way to increase cooking capacity without expanding the footprint.
I love how Z Grill has taken the hard-core smokers into consideration, with all that space under the lid. Giving them the Win this category.
3- Wi-Fi And/Or Smartphone App
Pitboss provides users with Wi-Fi capabilities that allow them to monitor your brisket from anywhere with a cell or internet connection.
You can adjust the temperature, change cook times, and monitor the internal meat temperature all from your smart device! Meanwhile, Z grill does not have an app or web connectivity.
Both brands provide reliable options for smoking enthusiasts, but the ability to stay connected is what really pulls pit boss ahead of the competition in today’s tech-savvy world.
4- Clean Out
When deciding between the two grills, Z Grills and Pit Boss, it is important to consider which is easier to clean.
With Z Grills, the grease tray can easily be slid out from beneath to be cleaned and then put back in with little effort.
Even if you have a large collection of sauces, seasonings, and fats collected on the grates as your food cooks, a quick wipe down with a damp cloth is usually enough to get them looking good as new.
However, this isn’t always the case with Pit Boss.
As both ceramic briquettes and stainless steel tubes need to be removed before cleaning – many times, this can be necessary after each use – it can become quite time-consuming without the right tools and procedures.
Ultimately, Z Grills appears to provide more convenience when it comes to cleaning up after grilling.
5- History & Performance
Z Grills and Pit Boss are two of the leading brands in the grilling industry, offering a selection of grills and other outdoor cooking equipment.
Z Grills offers an array of pellet grills, electric smokers, charcoal grills, and even portable BBQs, while Pit Boss boasts electric pellet grills and smokers that use hardwoods as well as natural flavoring.
With their respective tech innovations, such as automatic auger feeders for precise temperature control, time-saving digital controls, modern safety features, and more.
Both companies have successfully stayed ahead of the competition with reliable performance year after year.
6- Price
Both Z Grills and Pit Boss compete in the lower-end wood pellet grill market, offering models for low-budget customers.
While their prices are cheaper than many other brands, the quality of craftsmanship is top rate.
The entry-level models from both brands often have inexpensive price tags, but those willing to invest more can find bigger grills with added features and more luxurious flourishes.
Regardless of which brand you choose, outdoor cooking and food smoking can be enjoyed at either an accessible or slightly elevated cost.
Note that both these brands provide great discounts on many of their products from time to time.
7- Temperature Regulation
Temperature regulation is of the utmost importance when choosing between a smoker and a grill.
Precise temperature accuracies can provide easier results and meals that you can proudly show off each time. Depending on the technology used, certain brands may perform better than others.
Z Grills are an example of reliable temperature regulation thanks to their PID (proportional-integral-derivative) controllers, known for their precise readings.
This means that when making a decision on which brand to purchase from, Z Grills would be the better pick.
However, some Pit Boss units offer a larger temperature range; thus making them suitable for certain recipes where large variations are necessary.
So consider your own cooks thoroughly before making such a commitment to a model choice!
8- Construction
Pit Boss products are renowned for being more sturdy and long-lasting than Z Grills goods because they are constructed with more heavy-duty materials and since they are built in the United States.
The former is also much simpler to clean, and the insulated features of the latter offer superior resistance to heat, particularly during the colder months.
Pit Boss units are also available in a wider range of sizes than Z Grills.
9- Smoking Vs. Grilling
Pit Boss’s products can be used in a variety of settings.
They feature a larger temperature control range, which enables them to be used for grilling at high temperatures as well as roasting at low temperatures, and they may be put to numerous applications.
Only high-quality wood-fired smoking can be expected from products manufactured by Z Grills.
10- Warranty & Service
You may find both of these manufacturers’ wares at both virtual and physical retail outlets.
Z Grills have a 3-year warranty that promises to fix or replace broken appliances. Pit Boss, on the other hand, includes a 5-year warranty that covers manufacturing flaws, poor craftsmanship, and faulty parts.
In contrast to Z Grills, replacement control boards and WiFi antennas may be purchased independently from Pit Boss and be easily installed.
You can keep your Pit Boss working smoothly for years to come without worrying about repairing any broken parts.
11- Technology
Digital control boards are included in some of the newest releases from both businesses’ respective product lines.
You may take complete command of your barbecues by downloading the SmokeIT app and adding the Pit Boss Legacy WiFi and Bluetooth Control Board to your already-owned Pit Boss devices.
This will allow you to take use of the latest features offered by the Pit Boss brand.
Overall Winner: Z Grills Vs Pit Boss
My choice for the overall winner is Z Grills, and I say this without intending to imply that the other brand is a “loser.”
The Pit Boss has a lot of positive qualities, but the value that comes with each Z Grills pellet grill is extremely difficult to surpass.
Pit Boss Grills Vs. Z Grills – The Top Wood Pellet Smokers Reviewed
| Z Grills 700D4E – $629 | PIT BOSS NAVIGATOR 1100 – $999 |
| 697 – square inches of cooking surface | 2 Meat probes |
| 20–pound hopper capacity | 1100 – square inches of cooking surface |
| Hopper Clean-Out | 32–pound hopper capacity |
| Temperature range from 180° to 450°F | Pellet door clean-out |
| PID Controller | Temperature range from 180° to 500°F |
| 2 Meat Probes | Digital control board |
| Porcelain-coated steel grates | Large pellet view window |
| Rain Cover Included | Porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grates |
| 3 Year Warranty and 30 Day returns | Custom-fitting PB1150G grill cover included |
The following is a comparison of the top-performing products offered by these two brands, with consideration given to aspects such as cost, performance, level of popularity, and adaptability:
Pit Boss Sportsman 1100
If you’re looking for an all-in-one smoker grill, the Pit Boss Sportsman 1100 is a great option.
This powerful machine has a large hopper capacity and is designed to provide maximum fuel efficiency.
The easy operation of the control panels allows you to set up the perfect conditions for any type of cooking style.
So if you’re someone who cooks a large variety of outdoor meals, this Pit Boss Smoker Grill is definitely worth considering.
Z Grills Master 700 E
The Z Grills Master 700 E is the way to go when it comes to grilling.
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, this premium grill has you covered with dial-in digital control and LED-readout capabilities.
Enjoy precision cooking with 18 preset temperature settings that you can adjust in 5° intervals.
You’ll have the flexibility to cook both low and slow or quickly dial up the heat.
Also boasting a stainless steel design as well as dual fans for convection cooking, the Z Grills Master 700 E is the ideal tool to craft your tasty creations.
Final Verdict
Kudos to Z Grills and Pit Boss for making pellet grilling accessible to a wider audience.
Even though we are huge fans of luxury goods, we are thrilled to see that competitors are lowering their pricing without sacrificing the quality of the product or service.
Which of these six fantastic grills caught your attention the most?
To assist you in continuing your exploration of new flavors, we have a lot more information on pellet grills and grilling with pellets.
You can search or browse the site to get reviews, vital tools, and helpful tips and tactics for saving dinner.
Also, remember to stock up on some of the best pellets for smoking, as pellets are the primary fuel source for all pellet grills.
We want to thank you for reading because, without you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we love, which is to share with the world our enthusiasm for outstanding grilling and smoking.