At a Glance:
What to Look for in a Refrigerator
Best Affordable Refrigerator Brands
Best Mid-Tier Refrigerator Brands
Best High End Refrigerator Brands
Do you know what the best refrigerator brand is? There are plenty of popular names that come to mind, but just because a fridge is a household name, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good pick for every buy. When you compare fridge brands side-by-side, it’s easier to determine which brand has the features you’re looking for at a price that fits your budget. That’s exactly what we did in thisrefrigerator buying guide, where compare top-rated fridge brands across three classes—so you can make a confident decision when you’re ready to replace or upgrade your current refrigerator. Learn more inside.
Discover the Best Refrigerator Deals
For every budget and food storage need, Fred's Appliance has the perfect rerigerator—explore our full selection!
Shop NowWhat to Look for in a Refrigerator
Whether you’re wondering which is the best refrigerator brand or the best affordable refrigerator brand that keeps costs low, you need to figure out the important basics first. We’ve got you covered.
Determine the Best Refrigerator Budget
The number one priority should be your budget. A realistic refrigerator budget determines the best brand of refrigerator and model you can upgrade to without breaking the bank. Top freezer models are usually the most affordable, followed by bottom freezer fridges. On the other hand, side-by-side, French door, built-in, and counter-depth fridge styles are typically more expensive.
- Entry-level refrigerator prices are typically priced under $1,000.
- Mid-tier refrigerators range in price from $1,000 to $3,000
- Luxury refrigerator brands can cost over well over $5,000 with premium models creeping into the five-figure ball park ($10,000+).
Deciding Which Fridge Style is Best
The next line of business to consider is determining which refrigerator style works with your kitchen decor and fridge location? Here’s are some quick facts about each refrigerator configuration:
Top freezer refrigerators have the widest-swinging doors, so ample clearance is necessary. At the same time, they also usually have the most freezer capacity, and some models even have doors that can be reversed to work with a space’s layout.
Bottom freezer refrigerators are similar to French door fridges in that they place the fresh food compartment at eye level with a freezer drawer below. In most cases, that means a bottom mount refrigerator will work when a kitchen has an island or limited clearance—just be sure to measure the lower area to be sure the freezer is accessible!
French door refrigerators have narrower fridge drawers that reduce traffic jams in the kitchen—but be aware. Most models measure 36” wide, and while there narrower models at 30” wide, a bottom or top freezer model might provide more capacity on the same footprint.
Side by side refrigerators have the narrowest doors of all, but like their French door counterparts, it’s better to go wider with this style, particularly because the freezer space is already quite narrow. But if you like having equal access to the fresh and frozen compartments, this is an ideal option to consider.
Built-in refrigerators are the ultimate luxury in refrigeration, and upgrading to one means a unit that installs virtually flush with cabinets. That results in the most floor space and a better kitchen flow, but that often comes at the expense of storage since integrated refrigerators are taller than freestanding models. An alternative would be a counter depth refrigerator, which slightly protrudes from a countertop yet often costs substantially less than built ins.
Best Affordable Refrigerator Brands
Don’t underestimate the potential of a low-cost refrigerator. With updated standards, buyers can find reliable fridges that don’t break the bank and to what they’re supposed to do—preserve food. Granted, don’t expect upgrades like Wi-Fi compatibility, unique configurations, or exclusive features, but if the solution is a simple, affordable replacement, there are plenty of refrigerators in this class that can do the job. Here are a few of our favorites.
Amana Refrigerators
Amana offers many styles of refrigerators, including top-freezer and bottom-freezer, and side by side options. With a price range from around $500 to $1,500, Amana refrigerators offer a good balance of affordability and variety for first-time purchasers and buyers looking for straightforward food preservation.
✔ We Recommend: Amana® 30in. 18.2 Cu. Ft. Monochromatic Stainless Steel Top Freezer Refrigerator
With so many models on the market, exploring refrigerators under $1,000 is a marathon, so we asked what any other buyer would. Which model offers decent capacity, looks stylish, and comes with features for modern homeowners? For us, the answer is this Amana top freezer refrigerator with a large interior featuring adjustable storage options that allow you to customize the layout to meet your family’s needs. It also features energy-efficient ability, which can help lower your electricity bills. Win-win for budget-savvy families!
⭐Featured Amana ART308FFDM Review:
“Me and my husband bought this fridge for our first house. We were on a tight budget and this fridge fit. Got it home and I love the look. I really love the indentations for handles instead of having a handle that can be bumped and slamming into things.”
Midea Refrigerators
A newcomer on the scene, Midea refrigerators cater to contemporary tastes with refrigerator designs that look chic at lower price tags. It’s one of the best reasonably priced refrigerator brands on the market and one of few from the category that delivers a diverse selection. With models starting at around $700, the Midea fridge lineup is a great option for small-family households, complete with top freezer, bottom mount, side by side, and French door configurations, giving the series an edge-up in variety compared to other brands in the same class.
✔ We Recommend: Midea® 30 in. 18.7 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
After comparing top rated refrigerator brands, this reasonably priced bottom freezer model stood out to us for several reasons. For one, its elegance and sleek design elevate a kitchen’s look while taking up less space on a 30” profile. It also offers optimal storage with three shelves and two drawers, and adjustable door swing, allowing for maximum placement flexibility.
⭐Featured Midea MRB19B7AST Review:
“Great product for great price. Much better built than many other of its class and much better price.”
Best Mid-Tier Refrigerator Brands
We’re now entering the most popular class of refrigerators, which means we’re dealing with the big names. That’s a good thing, too, since consumer brands aim toward reliability and a satisfying user experience that result in the most bang for the buck. This is also the class where buyers can explore the latest fridge upgrades like door-in-door designs, Wi-Fi connectivity, specialty ice modes, and more. There are plenty of brands to explore, but overall, we like the following manufacturers for their reliability, designs, and desirable features.
GE Refrigerators
While GE refrigerators start at entry-level prices just under $800, most of the brand’s models fall toward the mid-end of the price range. As you might’ve guessed, the lineup caters to every style preference—top freezer, bottom freezer, French door, and side by side—while also delivering an impressive range of capacity between 16 and just under 29 cubic feet of storage. That’s what makes them so great for the standard household where food storage is an essential. GE refrigerators retail between $750 and $2,600, making them an excellent choice for mid-tier budget-conscious households.
✔ We Recommend: GE® 25.1 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Side-By-Side Refrigerator
This large capacity side by side refrigerator is proof you don’t have to spend loads of cash for ample fridge storage. Offering just over 25 cubic feet of storage, this GE refrigerator is spacious and crafty with adjustable shelves, and an integrated ice dispenser. GE provides fresh food capabilities as part of its design. We deem this the best refrigerator under $2000, and with nearly 25,000 reviews, buyers agree!
⭐Featured GE GSS25IYNFS Review:
“This product provides everything I need. I have been wanting a new refrigerator and freezer combination. The additional drawers allow me to store my groceries easily with plenty of room. It gives me the space I need and is designed with function in mind.”
LG Refrigerators
LG has become one of the most popular refrigerator brands, with the highest consumer satisfaction rating in recent years. Delivering innovative designs and advanced functionalities, with full-size LG refrigerators starting around $800 making and deluxe fridges up to $4,500. There’s plenty to explore in this lineup between handy features like the exclusive Door-in-Door design, convertible drawers, and specialty ice modes.
✔ We Recommend: LG 22.0 Cu. Ft. Print Proof Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator
Storage galore! That’s just one of the perks of this LG French door refrigerator and its innovative design featuring a middle freezer drawer that makes organizing frozen items simpler. This stylish fridge also performs like a pro, offering Energy Star-rated operation with powerful features like Door Cooling+ that reduces warm zones in the fridge door.
⭐Featured LG LMXC22626S Review:
“I bought the same model a few years ago and after moving to another state, had to get the same model again, since our original refrigerator worked so well.”
Bosch Refrigerators
In the world of refrigeration, Bosch is truly one of the elite brands that can say they deliver quality products with innovative ideas to keep food fresher longer. Deemed “America’s Most Trusted Refrigerator Brand” in a recent hot winning streak, Bosch refrigerators are just as reliable as they are aesthetically pleasing with designs exclusively in bottom freezer, French door, and built-in layouts. And while the awarded German engineering comes at a steeper price point between $3,000 and $10,000, these fridges are designed with longevity in mind.
✔ We Recommend: Bosch® 500 Series 36 in. 26 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator
Sleek design is the first impression this French door Bosch refrigerator gives, but it’s the lasting impression of its importance that will keep you a fan. It’s the only brand on the market with the FarmFresh System, which uses for exclusive technologies to provide optimum moisture, temperature, and air settings to keep foods fresher up to three times longer. Coupled with 26 cubic feet of capacity and Wi-Fi compatibility, this Bosch 500 Series refrigerator is well worth its weight in gold.
⭐Featured Bosch B36FD50SNS Review:
“The even temperature throughout the fridge is fabulous. The deli drawer holds foods at a perfect temperature for longevity.”
Best High End Refrigerator Brands
It’s easy to take refrigeration for granted, but once you discover the luxury of a premium fridge, there just might not be going back. That’s because refrigerators in this class are all about the experience. Instead of designing a kitchen around a refrigerator, a high-end refrigerator with a panel-ready front gives homeowners the ability to select a refrigerator that works with the space. And your ingredients get the royal treatment too with advanced temperature and moisture technology. Of course, splurging on a refrigerator is a serious step up in price. However, the following brands prove time and time again why they sit at the top of their class.
Thermador Refrigerators
In the appliance world, Thermador is more familiar among aspirational culinarians who want cooking appliances with power, power, and more power. While that mean Thermador refrigerators often play supporting role in its family of products, rest assured—these refrigerators are equipped with high-tech features just like their cooking counterparts. The lineup offers multiple styles from built-in models to French door refrigerators and side-by-side fridges. It’s a hefty price tag for one of these refrigerators with prices between $6,000 and up to $13,000, but some of the best quality, features, and designs are part of the package.
✔ We Recommend: Thermador® Masterpiece® 20.8 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator
Shop This Thermador Refrigerator
If you’re looking for the Maserati of refrigerators, this Thermador collection refrigerator is one model worth checking out. Not only is this model an excellent choice in aesthetics with a sleek and modern design, it also offers top-of-the-line features like precise temperature control and exclusive AirFresh Filter that helps to keep the fridge smelling fresh. Engineered with quality materials, Thermador refrigerators such as this model are built to last up to 20 years.
Monogram Refrigerators
The Monogram refrigerator lineup is renowned for its high-end refrigerators with commercial-grade features. Food preservation from the Monogram collection come in various styles including French door builds, built-in models, side-by-side options, and bottom mount refrigerators across a sizes between 36” and 42” to accommodate different household needs. Known for their luxury, Monogram fridges value between $4,000 and $13,000 or more, depending on the model and features.
✔ We Recommend: Monogram® 20.2 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Counter Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
Shop This Monogram Refrigerator
Just because luxury refrigerators follow traditions from professional kitchens doesn’t mean they lack in common trends for the everyday user. For instance, this Monogram smart refrigerator comes with Wi-Fi connectivity, so you always know the status of your food settings. This first-class fridge offers three shelves in the main compartment with two large capacity drawers, and three additional shelves that are adjustable on the door. Plus, six variable temperatures in the mid convertible drawer open up a who new world of storage possibilities from cheeses and deli items to fine wines.
Sub-Zero Refrigerators
Sub-Zero is the elite refrigerator manufacturer with more than 70 years of excellence in the industry. Sub-Zero refrigerators are known for superior performance and reliability, which many appliance experts and users call the best in their class among the best luxury refrigerator brands. Buyers can shop Sub-Zero refrigerators in built-in, side-by-side refrigerators, and French door styles, including select models with the most frige capacity in the industry. Pricing for Sub-Zero refrigerators starts around $7,000 and goes up to $15,000+.
✔ We Recommend: Sub-Zero® PRO 30.4 Cu. Ft. Stainless Frame Built In Side-by-Side Refrigerator
Shop This Sub-Zero Refrigerator
Behold—what we consider the pinnacle of modern refrigeration, the Sub-Zero PRO side by side refrigerator. This model pulls out all the stops, from a NASA-based advanced air purification technology to smart features, and over 30 cubic feet of food storage. No other luxury refrigerator brand offers these features, and with a unique design, this premium refrigerator is a complete package of style and performance well worth the money.
While you start your planning for a new refrigerator, keep in mind patience is key. Do as much research as you possibly can about refrigerators and the best brand for refrigerators for you—make sure you have considered your budget, the style and type of the refrigerator that matches your likes, room, and location, any feature requirements that are a must, capacity needs, etc. If you still need help finding the right refrigerator for your needs, visit us here at Fred’s Appliance! Along with the advice you seek, we offer a wide range of reliable refrigerator brands for every type of household!
Why Trust Fred’s Appliance?
Fred's Appliance is the go-to store for all your appliance needs in the inland Northwest area. Established in 1962, Fred's Appliance has been serving customers for over five decades and counting. With an experienced and knowledgeable staff, Fred's provides a welcoming atmosphere that helps customers find the best product to fit their needs, budget, and lifestyle.
When you shop with Fred's Appliance, you can be sure that you're getting the best brands at the best prices. In our store, you will find a variety of refrigerators, ranges, wall ovens, cooktops, dishwashers, and more. We also carry washers and dryers in both front-load and top-load styles. Not only are we dedicated to providing an unbeatable selection of appliances, but we are equally committed to the local community. We proudly support many charitable organizations throughout Washington, Idaho, and Montana. When you shop at Fred's Appliance, you're not only getting a great product but helping out your neighbors too!
Shop Top Rated Refrigerators at Fred’s Appliance
If you're looking for a great appliance shopping experience, shop refrigerators online or visit one of our showrooms in Washington, Idaho, or Montana to see what a difference buying locally with an experienced retailer makes. Our appliance experts will be happy to help you with your find the best refrigerator brand for your budget. Contact us today and discover the perfect appliance for your home.
Learn More: GE Profile Refrigerators: A Guide