Buying a fridge is a highly personal (and complicated) decision, contingent on many things: how much room do you have within your kitchen? How many people do you need to keep fed? What features do you need? However, it's much harder to judge fridges in-store based on their performance. Worry not, we've done this work for you! We've tested over 25 units, and our recommendations for the best refrigerators are based on their temperature uniformity, their produce preservation performance, and how effectively their internal capacity utilizes their footprint.
No matter how good the refrigerators we list below are, the space available in your kitchen may be limited. We've gone in-depth about the size classes available in our article, Refrigerator Sizes: How To Find The Perfect Fit. If you're shopping for a fridge with flush-fit looks, take a look at our recommendations of the best counter-depth fridges. Also note that we've updated our testing methodology to evaluate overall serviceability, with new tests for assessing part availability and authorized service coverage in the USA, so you'll know how easy it is to get your fridge serviced if something goes wrong. If you're interested in learning more about the changes we made, read our changelog.
Quick Look
We've recently started testing refrigerators. We independently purchase each unit from major retailers, just like you, to keep our reviews free from manufacturer influence. Each refrigerator goes through the same tests to measure objective data for metrics like temperature uniformity, produce preservation, and actual storage capacity so you can easily compare the results.
Want to learn more about how we operate? Check out our about us page.
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Best Refrigerator
Everyday Use8.1Temperature Uniformity8.4Produce Preservation9.0Parts Availability8.5See all our test resultsAuthorized Service Coverage9.0The Bosch 800 Series B36CT80SNS is the best refrigerator we've tested. It sits at the apex of Bosch's range and comes equipped with a design feature that's very uncommon amongst consumer-grade fridges outside of boutique brands like Sub-Zero: a dual compressor cooling system with separate evaporators for the fridge and freezer. This effectively means that the fridge and freezer have isolated cooling systems, minimizing odor transference, stabilizing temperature levels, and allowing for differing levels of humidity in the fridge and freezer. It's worth noting that this design is fairly mature, having entered the market in 2019, resulting in a healthy parts supply. Combined with Bosch's robust authorized service network throughout the USA, you won't have to wait long for a repair if something does go wrong.
This design also allows it to maintain high humidity in the fridge compartment, resulting in a longer shelf life for produce stored outside the crisper drawers. Unfortunately, the 800 Series is only sold in counter-depth sizing, which severely limits its internal storage capacity and makes it slightly less suitable for larger families than many other alternatives.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Refrigerator
Everyday Use8.4Temperature Uniformity8.6Produce Preservation8.6Parts Availability6.5See all our test resultsAuthorized Service Coverage9.0The best upper mid-range refrigerator we've tested is the Bosch 500 Series B36FD52SNS. This 36-inch French door refrigerator gives up a few things compared to Bosch's flagship. Unlike the Bosch 800 Series B36CT80SNS, the 500 Series utilizes a simpler single-compressor/single-evaporator cooling system. This doesn't necessarily equate to lesser performance. Temperature consistency is fantastic across the fridge and freezer compartments, and thanks to the 500's well-sealing crisper drawers, any fresh produce stored inside should remain fresh for weeks on end. However, the disadvantage of a single evaporator cooling system is seen in the drier main fridge cabinet: if you run out of room in the drawers, any produce left outside will wilt considerably faster than it would in the 800.
The 500 is also a less mature fridge design than the 800, having been introduced in 2024. As a result, you can be stuck waiting for some parts depending on the nature of whatever hypothetical issue might occur with your fridge. On the upside, it shares Bosch's robust, far-reaching service network. The 500 Series is also the uncontested winner when it comes to interior space, thanks to its standard-depth sizing. There are split shelves for storing tall objects like wine bottles, large produce bins, a full-width deli drawer for meats and cheeses, and two very deep door bins for storing juice or milk cartons. The freezer is a little more utilitarian yet still large and practical, consisting of two pull-out drawers with dividers.
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Best Mid-Range Refrigerator
Everyday Use8.0Temperature Uniformity8.5Produce Preservation8.0Parts Availability7.9See all our test resultsAuthorized Service Coverage7.2The best mid-range fridge we've tested is the Samsung Bespoke RF30BB6200QL. This fridge's dual evaporators lead to excellent temperature uniformity, particularly in the freezer. Since the dedicated evaporator for the refrigerator maintains high humidity, the produce preservation performance is very good. There's a water dispenser that refills a dedicated Autofill pitcher inside the refrigerator; this leaves a lot of space in the fridge, but you can't refill a glass directly from the dispenser. It offers good temperature uniformity in the refrigerator and superb temperature uniformity in the freezer. It produces two types of ice in the freezer and stores them in its large ice tray, although this reduces the freezer's capacity.
There are some downsides to be wary of. It's important to note that while Samsung's network of authorized US service providers is good in major metro areas, it isn't nearly as robust as that of Bosch in more rural states. If you do live in an area with a lower population density, you might find it difficult to find someone to perform a warranty repair on your fridge. On the upside, part availability for this specific model is good for the most part, meaning you won't be stuck waiting for a crucial component on backorder.
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Best Budget Refrigerator
Everyday Use7.7Temperature Uniformity7.7Produce Preservation7.7Parts Availability7.9See all our test resultsAuthorized Service Coverage8.8The best budget refrigerator we've tested is the GE GTS22KGNRWW. You'll generally find top freezer designs in the budget space, with few features. This GE fridge is no exception, but it performs remarkably well. It excels at produce preservation; its well-sealing crisper drawers keep moisture in and prevent produce from wilting for well over a week. Temperature uniformity in the fridge and freezer is good, especially considering this fridge uses an older fixed-speed compressor design. With such a simple, well-established design, it should come as no surprise that spare parts supply is generally reliable. Combined with GE's robust service network, it won't take long to get the fridge up and running if something does go wrong.
It offers good capacity for a 33-inch wide fridge, though its lack of split shelving may make it difficult to fit taller items in the refrigerator compartment. There's a lot of capacity in the freezer, even with its high-capacity ice tray in place. If you don't have the space for this 33-inch GE fridge, consider the 30-inch Frigidaire FFTR1835VW. This model offers better temperature uniformity in the refrigerator and freezer, and has a larger ice tray. However, you give up some capacity with this narrower fridge, and produce preservation performance isn't quite as good because the crisper drawers don't seal as well.
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Best Cheap Refrigerator
Check out the Frigidaire FFTR1425VW if you're looking for a cheap and basic option. There's no getting around the fact that this 28-inch top freezer fridge isn't really suited for a household of more than two people, especially if you cook frequently. Still, it offers solid overall performance in most respects: temperatures are consistent in both the freezer and fridge cabinets, except for the fridge's lower door bins. The FFTR1425VW's single-evaporator cooling system and poorly sealed crisper drawers do, unfortunately, contribute to a dry environment inside the fridge cabinet, meaning that produce with a high water content, like lettuce or celery, will wilt fairly quickly.
On the upside, the fridge does maximize its small footprint, with a sliding deli drawer for keeping smaller items out of the way, and reasonably spacious door bins. That said, freezer space is very limited, especially with the ice maker installed. Its simple, well-established design is a boon from a serviceability standpoint, with a healthy supply of spare parts. Frigidaire's network of authorized service providers is also very strong, making it easy to get in touch with a technician to make warranty repairs.
Notable Mentions
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Bosch 100 Series B36FD10ENS:
The Bosch 100 Series B36FD10ENS has an identical internal layout to the Bosch 500 Series B36FD52SNS, offering the same high capacity at a significantly lower cost. Unfortunately, the produce drawer doesn't seal nearly as well, resulting in significantly poorer produce preservation performance, and the 100 Series delivers inferior temperature uniformity in the fridge.
See our review -
GE Profile PGE29BYTFS:
The GE Profile PGE29BYTFS has a faster, higher-capacity ice maker than the Bosch 500 Series B36FD52SNS. Its separate pull-out drawer maintains food items at a different temperature from the fridge, increasing flexibility, though this makes the freezer shorter and reduces its capacity. It doesn't offer the same outstanding produce preservation performance as the Bosch however.
See our review -
Café CGE29DP2TS1:
The Café CGE29DP2TS1 is a very good alternative to the Bosch 800 Series B36CT80SNS, featuring a standard-depth design with more room, a separate temperature-controlled pull-out drawer, and an auto-filling water pitcher. That said, its freezer temperature uniformity lags slightly behind that of the 800.
See our review -
Samsung Bespoke RF24BB6600QL:
The Samsung Bespoke RF24BB6600QL is essentially a counter-depth variant of the Samsung Bespoke RF30BB6200QL. It's worth considering if you appreciate the features and layout of the latter but prefer a more flush fit in your kitchen and can afford the reduced capacity.
See our review -
Maytag MRFF4236RZ:
The Maytag MRFF4236RZ is a 36-inch standard-depth French door fridge with few frills, but good overall temperature uniformity and produce preservation performance. Compared to the more feature-rich Samsung Bespoke RF30BB6200QL, it's lacking capacity in its fridge and freezer cabinets.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jan 26, 2026:
We replaced the Bosch 500 Series B36FD52SNS with the Bosch 800 Series B36CT80SNS as 'Best Refrigerator' pick due to superior produce preservation performance; we also recategorized the Bosch 500 Series B36FD52SNS as 'Best Upper Mid-Range Refrigerator' pick. We removed KitchenAid KRSC703HPS from our recommendations due to current availability and added the Frigidaire FFTR1425VW as the new 'Best Cheap Refrigerator' pick.
Dec 15, 2025:
We've ensured all main picks are still available and are the best option for users. We've also made minor adjustments to the article's text to clarify information about product details.
Nov 11, 2025:
Minor in-text adjustments to further clarify product details. Added the Samsung Bespoke RF24BB6600QL, Maytag MRFF4236RZ, and Hisense HRM260N6TSE to Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
We offer our recommendations for the best refrigerators based on our testing. Your requirements may differ due to the space available for your fridge, your budget, and your needs, so please look at all our refrigerator reviews below. These appliances are available with a wide range of features, prices, sizes, and designs, so you can find the best fridge to meet your needs.