Traeger Pro 575 vs Traeger Tailgater
vs
Quick take: The Traeger Tailgater costs $100 less; the Traeger Pro 575 offers more cooking space (575 vs 300 sq in); the Traeger Pro 575 reaches a higher max temp (500 vs 450°F).
| Spec | Traeger Pro 575 | Traeger Tailgater |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$600 | ~$500 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (1,214) | 3.8★ (268) |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Pellet Grill |
| Cooking Area | 575 sq in | 300 sq in |
| Max Temp | 500°F | 450°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Wood Pellets |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Powder-Coated Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 18 lb | 8 lb |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | Yes | No |
| App control | Yes | No |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | Yes | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | 41 x 27 x 53 in | — |
| Weight | 128 lbs | 62 lbs |
| Warranty | 3 years | 7 years |
Pros & cons
Traeger Pro 575
- ✓It's the most accessible entry into the Traeger ecosystem and frequently goes on sale at Home Depot for $400-$560, making it a great value buy
- ✓The D2 controller and single meat probe make hands-off ribs and chicken genuinely easy for a complete beginner
- ✓WiFIRE app control means you can start, monitor, and shut down the grill from the couch or the store
- ✓575 sq in fits about five racks of ribs or four chickens - enough for most families without being huge
- ✓Quick 15-minute startup and reliable auto-ignition get you cooking fast on weeknights
- ✓It's lightweight at 128 lbs with all-terrain wheels, so one person can reposition it on the patio
- ✓Smoke flavor at the 180-225°F range is solid for a budget pellet grill, especially with the optional smoke setting
- ✓Parts and accessories are everywhere and the huge owner community means troubleshooting any issue is a quick search away
- ✗Single-wall construction means it struggles to hold temp in cold or windy weather and burns through pellets fast in winter
- ✗It tops out around 450-500°F and has no real sear zone, so steaks come out grilled rather than seared
- ✗The same WiFi drop-off issues as the rest of the lineup plague it - the connection is flaky and the app loses the grill mid-cook
- ✗Only one meat probe is included, which is limiting when you're cooking multiple proteins at once
- ✗Temperature can swing 25-30°F around the set point, more than premium PID grills, so it's less precise for delicate cooks
- ✗The powder-coated steel body and grease management feel cheap, and the bucket-style grease catch is messy to empty
- ✗No pellet-level sensor, so you have to manually check the hopper to avoid running dry on long cooks
- ✗Owners report auger and hot-rod failures after a couple seasons, and the 3-year warranty is shorter than budget rivals offer
Traeger Tailgater
- ✓300 sq in is roughly double what most portable pellet grills offer
- ✓EZ-Fold legs collapse without tools and the body is one-person liftable at 62 lbs
- ✓Covered by Traeger's 7-year non-connected grill warranty, not a short portable-only term
- ✓Uses the same Traeger pellets and porcelain grates as the full-size line
- ✓Simpler controller means fewer of the firmware complaints that dog the WiFIRE models
- ✗Digital Arc controller swings wider than the WiFIRE boards and has no app, alarms or remote monitoring
- ✗8 lb hopper is roughly four hours at smoking temperatures, so it needs babysitting
- ✗Needs a 120V outlet or an inverter — not a charcoal-style grill you can run anywhere
- ✗450°F ceiling and no sear zone
- ✗3.8 out of 5 across 268 reviews on Traeger's store, with auger and igniter complaints recurring