Best Smart Grills of 2026: Pellet, Gas, Electric and Griddle Compared

In 2026, the best smart grill for most backyards is the Weber Searwood 600: a Wi-Fi pellet grill that's as good at low-and-slow smoking as it is at high-heat searing. For a balcony or small patio, the compact electric Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is the most sensible choice, while the Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart suits people who prefer the speed of gas.

This comparison covers the grills themselves, not thermometers. It's based on manufacturer specs, independent reviews published in Europe and feedback from verified buyers. If you just want to make a grill you already own "smart," a wireless probe is often enough: our smart meat thermometer guide covers that option.

What exactly is a smart grill?

A smart grill has an electronic controller that connects to a phone app over Wi-Fi, and sometimes over Bluetooth too. What the app can do depends on the type of grill:

• Pellet grill: an auger feeds wood pellets into a fire pot while a fan manages combustion. The app can set the temperature remotely and start a cooking program or a smoke mode. This is the most complete kind of control.
• Fan-assisted charcoal grill (such as the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite): charcoal drops from a hopper and a digital fan holds the set temperature. Here too, you adjust the temperature from your phone.
• Smart electric grill (such as the Ninja Woodfire): an electric heating element, temperature and cooking modes set in the app, and a built-in probe.
• Smart gas grill: the app shows the cook box and probe temperatures and sends alerts, but you still adjust the burners by hand with the knobs. It's monitoring, not control.

How to choose

Fuel and where you'll cook

This comes first, even before connectivity. Pellets and charcoal give the strongest smoky flavor, but they produce smoke and need real outdoor space. Gas heats up fast and burns clean, but you'll need somewhere to store a propane tank. Electric is the easiest option for apartments, as long as your building allows it (see below). Keep in mind that pellet grills need an outlet too: the auger, fan and controller all run on electricity.

Temperature range

A good smart grill should handle both low temperatures (smoking at around 175°F to 230°F, or 80–110°C) and high heat for searing. Traditional pellet grills often top out around 500°F (260°C); the Weber Searwood reaches 600°F (315°C) and the Masterbuilt 545 goes up to 645°F (340°C), which makes a real difference when you're grilling.

Built-in probes

Check how many probes come in the box and how many ports the grill has. One probe is enough for a roast; two or more help as soon as you're cooking several cuts at once.

App and connectivity

Wi-Fi lets you check on your cook from anywhere, as long as your home network reaches the backyard. Bluetooth, where it's offered, works as a short-range backup. Also look at the everyday features: live temperature graphs, doneness alerts, timers, guided recipes and low-pellet alerts.

Size and footprint

A family of four doesn't need an XL model. Large pellet grills are often more than 4 ft (1.2 m) wide with their side shelves, so measure your patio or deck before you buy.

The 6 best smart grills of 2026

1. Weber Searwood 600 — best overall

The Weber Searwood 600 fixes the biggest complaint about pellet grills: weak searing. Its temperature range runs from 175°F to 600°F (80–315°C), and the DirectFlame system exposes food to the flame for real grill marks. According to Weber, it comes up to temperature in 15 minutes or less.

It offers both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and runs on the Weber Connect app: live graphs, doneness alerts and guided recipes. Two probes are included, and they plug into two built-in ports. The grease and ash tray empties from the front. A griddle insert (sold separately) turns it into a flat-top.

• Pros: genuine searing power, dual connectivity, two probes included, optional griddle insert.
• Cons: takes up as much room as a full-size backyard grill, needs an outdoor outlet, premium price tier.
• Best for: anyone who wants one grill for weekend smoking and weeknight grilling.

2. Traeger Woodridge Pro — the easiest pellet grill to live with

Launched in 2024, the Woodridge lineup is Traeger's entry point into smart grilling. The Traeger Woodridge Pro covers 165°F to 500°F (74–260°C) and has two grate levels, a Super Smoke mode for extra smoky flavor and a Keep Warm mode. The color-screen WiFIRE controller works with the Traeger app, which includes a pellet level sensor.

One wired probe is included. The hopper holds about 24 lb (11 kg) of pellets, and a clean-out door makes it quick to switch wood flavors. The EZ-Clean system collects grease and ash in a single container.

• Pros: very easy to use, an app packed with recipes, pellet sensor, large cooking area.
• Cons: tops out at 500°F (260°C), so it doesn't sear as well as the Searwood; only one probe included.
• Best for: smoking and slow-cooking fans who want a grill that's ready to go out of the box.

3. Traeger Ironwood XL — for big gatherings

The Traeger Ironwood XL is built to feed a crowd. Its insulated construction and Smart Combustion technology keep temperatures very steady, even in cool weather. The two-tier adjustable grate gives you roughly 930 sq in (0.6 m²) of cooking space, enough for several roasts or plenty of racks of ribs.

The WiFIRE controller lets you set the temperature, monitor probes, set timers and browse the recipe library in the Traeger app.

• Pros: rock-steady temperatures, very large capacity, a wide range of accessories.
• Cons: very bulky and heavy, high-end price tier, oversized for a couple.
• Best for: large families and people who entertain often.

4. Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart — smart gas

The Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart is a three-burner gas grill with a built-in Wi-Fi digital thermometer. It shows cook box and probe temperatures, and the Weber Connect app sends real-time alerts. A powerful sear burner, an extra-large sear zone, a side burner and LED handle lights round out the package.

One thing to know: the app monitors, but you still control the flame by hand with the knobs. That makes sense for a gas grill, and it's plenty for grilling, which needs someone standing at the grill anyway.

• Pros: fast heat-up, strong searing power, build quality and a long warranty.
• Cons: no remote temperature control, one probe included, limited smoky flavor.
• Best for: gas grillers who want cooking alerts without changing their habits.

5. Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 — app-controlled charcoal

The Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 brings digital convenience to charcoal. QuickStart automatic ignition lights the fire starter at the push of a button, then the DigitalFan holds your chosen temperature anywhere from 250°F to 645°F (120–340°C). Its MiniHopper takes about 6.6 lb (3 kg) of briquettes, for up to 8 hours of cooking without a refill.

Over Wi-Fi, the Masterbuilt app lets you set the temperature, monitor up to four probes and run timers. The cooking area is about 540 sq in (0.35 m²), with cast-iron grates and a warming rack.

• Pros: real charcoal flavor, high heat, midsize footprint, remote control.
• Cons: charcoal smoke and ash to deal with, not suited to most balconies, a newer lineup in Europe.
• Best for: charcoal purists who want the consistency of an electronic controller.

6. Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL — the compact electric

The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is a tabletop electric outdoor grill with seven functions: grill, smoke, air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate and reheat. A small scoop of pellets in the dedicated smoke box adds smoky flavor, with no fire pot burning fuel.

The Ninja Pro Connect app lets you set temperatures from 150°F to 500°F (65–260°C), follow your cook and get notifications. One probe is built in, and a second is available as an accessory. The cooking plate measures about 18 × 11 in (45 × 29 cm).

• Pros: compact, versatile, electric, simple app, the most affordable price tier in this roundup.
• Cons: cooking area sized for four to six people, less intense searing than a flame grill, light but noticeable smoke in smoker mode.
• Best for: balconies, small patios and households that want one versatile appliance.

Comparison table

Browse every model in our smart grills and griddles category.

What about a smart griddle?

An app-controlled flat-top griddle (often called a plancha in Europe) is still very rare among the models sold in Europe. Electric and gas griddles from mainstream brands are set with a thermostat or knobs, with no app. Weber Slate griddles show the surface temperature on a digital display but can't be controlled from a phone. If you want to cook on a flat-top with remote control, you have two realistic options: the Weber Searwood griddle insert, whose temperature you set through Weber Connect, or a regular griddle paired with a wireless meat thermometer for thicker cuts.

Pellet, gas or electric: what works on a balcony?

On a balcony, electric is almost always the safest and most widely accepted option. But several rules may apply, and they vary from city to city and building to building:

• Your lease, condo bylaws or HOA rules may ban grills altogether, or only charcoal and gas. Read them before you buy.
• Local rules (city ordinances, local fire codes, building policies) may restrict smoke and fire hazards.
• Neighbors: even where grills are allowed, one that regularly sends smoke into the windows next door can count as a nuisance. Smoker mode produces smoke, even on an electric grill.

If in doubt, check with your landlord, property manager or HOA. Skip charcoal and pellets on a covered or narrow balcony.

Installation and safety

• Use the grill outdoors only, never under a closed awning or in a garage.
• Keep the clearances listed in the manual from walls, hedges, patio umbrellas and awnings.
• Plug electric and pellet models into a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet; if in doubt, have a licensed electrician check the wiring. Avoid extension cords that aren't rated for outdoor use. Models sold in Europe are built for 230 V; check that the version on your Amazon store is rated for 120 V.
• For gas, check the regulator and hose, leak-test the connections with soapy water and store the propane tank as the manual and your building's rules require.
• Remote monitoring is no substitute for supervision: stay close during high-heat cooks and keep kids and pets away.
• Empty the grease and ash trays regularly to reduce the risk of flare-ups.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying too big: an XL grill burns more fuel and takes longer to heat up.
• Ignoring Wi-Fi coverage in the backyard: check the signal where the grill will sit; you may need a Wi-Fi extender.
• Confusing monitoring with control: on a smart gas grill, the app alerts you but doesn't adjust the flame.
• Using stove pellets: pellets sold as fuel for pellet stoves aren't made for cooking, so use food-grade grilling pellets only.
• Skipping maintenance: a full ash pan throws off combustion and temperature control.

The bottom line

The Weber Searwood 600 is the most complete smart grill of 2026: it smokes, it sears, it connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and it comes with two probes. The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is the best pick for a balcony or a tighter budget, as long as you can live with a smaller cooking area. The Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart suits anyone who's sticking with gas. Dedicated smokers will prefer the Traeger Woodridge Pro, big hosts the Ironwood XL, and charcoal purists the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545. To outfit the rest of your yard, see our smart yard guide.