Frigidaire Vs Whirlpool Refrigerator (11 Differences Shared!)
The Frigidaire vs. Whirlpool refrigerator debate has become a showdown between two industry giants. With conflicting interests at play, it can be challenging for potential buyers to make a decision.
To assist you in this process, we will delve into the brand overviews and provide a thorough comparison, including everyday problems you may encounter.
Frigidaire refrigerators boast a sleek and modern appearance, offering innovative storage solutions and advanced food preservation technologies. Moreover, they are known for their quiet operation. On the other hand, Whirlpool refrigerators have a more traditional design and excel in efficient cooling, reliability, energy efficiency, spaciousness, and affordability.
While these are the primary differentiating factors between the two brands, there are numerous other aspects to consider. These include aesthetics, cooling capabilities, storage options, food preservation technologies, noise levels, reliability, energy efficiency, capacity, and cost. To facilitate your decision-making process, we will thoroughly compare Frigidaire and Whirlpool refrigerators while shedding light on their common issues.
So, without further ado, let’s explore these two refrigerator brands and their distinguishing features.
Frigidaire Vs Whirlpool Refrigerator Comparison
Frigidaire | Whirlpool | |
1. Appearance | Modern sleeker look with lots of color options | Traditional, minimalistic look with limited color choices |
2. Cooling Technology | Twin Tech and Even Temp | Dual Cooling, Total Coverage, Accu Chill, and Dual Evaporator (slightly superior to Frigidaire) |
3. Storage Conveniences | More intelligent storage conveniences | Reasonably impressive but not as Frigidaire |
4. Food Preservation Technology | Slightly superior, thanks to Optimal Freshness System | Reasonably good but not as Frigidaire |
5. Reliability | Slightly less reliable than Whirlpool | More reliable owing to a high customer satisfaction rate |
6. Capacity | Slightly smaller (11.6 – 27.6 cubic feet) | Marginally bigger (11.6 – 28 cubic feet) |
7. Energy Efficiency | Energy-efficient (Energy Star rated) | Slightly more energy-efficient (Green Choice rated) |
8. Noise Level | Quieter (however, gets noisy with age) | It can be slightly noisy |
9. Cost | Slightly costlier (from $799) | Slightly cheaper (from $549) |
10. Dispenser and Ice Maker | Controlled by one lever | Allows you to hold multiple dispensed cubed |
11. Filtration System Location | At the back (in-door) | In the front (in the freezer compartment) |
Brand Overview
Frigidaire
Frigidaire, also known as Frigidaire Appliance Company, is an American appliance manufacturer founded in 1918 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Currently owned by Electrolux, the company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Frigidaire produces a wide range of home appliances, including refrigerators, washers, dryers, freezers, air conditioners, ovens, dishwashers, and dehumidifiers. They also manufacture air filters and accessories for their appliances. Frigidaire offers various fridge styles, including French door, compact, side-by-side, top freezer, single door, and bottom freezer refrigerators. The price range for Frigidaire refrigerators starts at $799.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool is another American brand with origins dating back to 1911. The company was founded in Benton Harbor, Michigan and is currently headquartered in Benton Charter Township, Michigan, USA. Whirlpool manufactures a wide range of home appliances, including refrigerators, wall ovens, cooktops, microwaves, dishwashers, dryers, washers, water coolers, softeners, heaters, air conditioners, and air purifiers.
Known for its versatile product offerings, Whirlpool has a reputation for producing various home appliances. In the realm of refrigerators, Whirlpool offers French door, under the counter, counter depth, bottom freezer, side by side, and top freezer models. Whirlpool refrigerator prices start at $549.
Frigidaire and Whirlpool Refrigerator Similarities: Frigidaire and Whirlpool share several similarities that can make it challenging to choose between the two brands. Here are some key aspects that contribute to their similarities:
- Fridge Style: Both Frigidaire and Whirlpool offer French door, side-by-side, top freezer, and bottom freezer refrigerator styles.
- LED Lighting: Both brands incorporate LED interior lighting in their refrigerators, enhancing visibility and accessibility within the fridge.
- Storage Conveniences: Frigidaire and Whirlpool prioritize storage convenience by providing features such as pull-out drawers, in-door storage, and adjustable shelves.
- Energy Efficiency: Both brands manufacture energy-efficient refrigerators, although their energy efficiency ratings may differ slightly.
- Crisper Drawer: Frigidaire and Whirlpool utilize humidity-controlled Crisper Drawer technology to maintain the freshness of fruits and vegetables.
- Durability: With proper maintenance, both Frigidaire and Whirlpool refrigerators can last for an average of ten years or more due to the use of high-quality materials.
What Sets Frigidaire and Whirlpool Apart
While there are many similarities between Frigidaire and Whirlpool refrigerators, there are also distinct differences that can help guide your decision-making process. Here are the key factors that differentiate the two brands:
Appearance
Frigidaire refrigerators have a modern and sleek appearance, available in stainless steel finishes and various color options. On the other hand, Whirlpool refrigerators have a more traditional and low-profile look, primarily offered in stainless steel and white finishes.
Winner – Frigidaire (for its elegant and sleek design)
Cooling Technology
Frigidaire is well-known for its Even Temp and Twin Tech cooling technologies. Even Temp ensures consistent temperature levels, resulting in fresher food preservation. Twin Tech promotes consistency not only in the refrigerator section but also in the freezer compartment.
Whirlpool, on the other hand, features Dual Cooling, Total Coverage, Accu Chill, and Dual Evaporator technologies. Dual Cooling helps isolate odors while providing optimal cooling, while Total Coverage ensures maximum cooling throughout the entire refrigerator.
Additionally, Whirlpool’s Accu Chill and Dual Evaporator technologies enhance cooling efficiency.
Winner – Whirlpool (for offering a wider range of advanced cooling technologies)
Storage Features
Both Frigidaire and Whirlpool offer various storage conveniences in their refrigerators. Frigidaire provides features such as the Crisp Seal Crisper to maintain the freshness of fruits and vegetables, door-in-door storage for easy access to food items, Custom Flex Temp drawers for temperature-controlled storage, and Gallon Bins for oversized items.
While Whirlpool also includes Gallon Bins and indoor storage options, they are not as flexible or intelligent as Frigidaire’s offerings.
Winner – Frigidaire (for providing more intelligent and flexible storage solutions)
Food Preservation Technology
Both brands take pride in their food preservation technologies, making it difficult to determine a clear winner. Frigidaire’s Optimal Freshness System ensures maximum freshness, ideal for storing perishable items for longer periods.
Frigidaire also incorporates technologies like the Crisper Drawer and Quick Freeze for efficient food preservation. On the other hand, Whirlpool utilizes its signature Crisper Drawer technology and FreshFlow Preserver to keep fruits and vegetables fresh.
Winner – Frigidaire (due to its superior Optimal Freshness System compared to Whirlpool’s FreshFlow)
Refrigerator Reliability
Both Frigidaire and Whirlpool are considered reliable brands. However, according to Wire Cutter, more customers express satisfaction with Whirlpool refrigerators compared to Frigidaire.
While Whirlpool outperforms Frigidaire in terms of customer satisfaction, it is not necessarily the most reliable brand. LG refrigerators have the highest reliability rate, with 57.9% of customers being very satisfied, followed by Samsung with 40.8% satisfaction, slightly better than Whirlpool’s 40.6%.
Although the number of highly satisfied customers with Whirlpool refrigerators exceeds those with Frigidaire, Frigidaire has a higher rate of satisfied customers compared to Whirlpool.
The table below provides a comparison of satisfaction rates among various brands:
Brand | Very Satisfied | Somehow Satisfied | Not Sure | Somehow Dissatisfied | Very Dissatisfied |
LG | 57.9% | 28.8% | 3.3% | 6.7% | 3.0% |
Samsung | 40.8% | 35.6% | 3.1% | 10.9% | 9.6% |
Whirlpool | 40.6% | 35.2% | 7.5% | 13.0% | 3.7% |
GE | 37.0% | 34.8% | 9.4% | 13.4% | 5.5% |
Frigidaire | 27.1% | 38.7% | 10.3% | 17.1% | 6.8% |
Winner – Whirlpool (for having a higher customer satisfaction rate)
Capacity
Frigidaire refrigerators typically offer a capacity ranging from 11.6 to 27.6 cubic feet, while Whirlpool units average between 11.6 and 28 cubic feet. This gives Whirlpool a slight advantage in terms of capacity. Moreover, Whirlpool produces a larger number of high-capacity fridges compared to Frigidaire.
Winner – Whirlpool (for providing more spacious units)
Energy Efficiency
Whirlpool and Frigidaire are renowned for their energy-efficient refrigerators, both being certified to save energy and reduce utility bills.
The distinction lies in their ratings: Frigidaire is Energy Star rated, while Whirlpool is Green Choice rated. This makes Whirlpool slightly more energy efficient than Frigidaire.
Winner – Whirlpool (for its Green Choice rating)
Noise Level
While both brands claim to be among the quietest on the market, Frigidaire refrigerators operate more silently. However, it’s worth noting that Frigidaire fridges may become noisier with age, potentially due to increased workload. In contrast, Whirlpool fridges may have slightly more noise.
Winner – Frigidaire (for quieter operation in optimal conditions)
Cost
Frigidaire refrigerators range in price from $799 to $3,849, while Whirlpool offers models priced between $549 and $4,199. While Whirlpool has both the most expensive and the most affordable options, making it more budget-friendly overall.
Winner – Whirlpool (for having more affordable refrigerator options)
Dispenser and Ice Maker
Frigidaire refrigerators feature an external door dispenser, while the ice maker is located in the freezer. Both components are controlled by a single lever, differentiating it from Whirlpool.
Whirlpool refrigerators have the ice maker and dispenser integrated into the freezer compartments, often capable of accommodating multiple ice cube sizes.
Winner – No winner. It depends on personal preference.
Filtration System Location
There is a clear distinction in the placement of the filtration systems between the two brands. Frigidaire’s Pure Source, Crisp Seal, and Pure Pour connect filtration systems are located at the back, while Whirlpool’s Every Drop filtration system is positioned at the front.
Ultimately, the location of the filtration system does not impact performance, making it a matter of personal preference.
Winner – None, as the filtration system location is subjective.
Problems
Some common issues with Frigidaire refrigerators include non-functional water dispensers, cooling problems, ice maker failures, and increased noise as the refrigerator ages. These problems are more likely to occur after years of use, especially with inadequate maintenance, but they are generally solvable with proper troubleshooting.
Whirlpool units, particularly side-by-side refrigerators, also experience certain issues such as malfunctioning ice makers or water dispensers, water leakage, and failures in cooling or freezing. However, similar to Frigidaire, most of these problems can be resolved with the appropriate guidance.
Is Frigidaire or Whirlpool Refrigerator Better? (My Verdict)
Determining the superior choice between Frigidaire and Whirlpool refrigerators depends on various factors. If you prioritize modernity, quiet operation, advanced food preservation technology, and convenient storage features, Frigidaire is the preferable option over Whirlpool.
On the other hand, if you value reliability, spaciousness, energy efficiency, affordability, and overall performance, Whirlpool is the better choice.