The Luxury Refrigerator Alternative That's Over $6,000 Cheaper And Just As Effective

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Thermador's built-in refrigerators are widely considered the crème de la crème as far as luxury kitchen appliances go. The company offers fridges with modular column units, customizable panel-ready exteriors, stainless steel interiors, integrated cameras, Wi-Fi connection and much more, However, as one of the most prestigious names in luxury appliances, they also carry the price tag to match. Depending on the specific features you want most, you could end up paying thousands to get a Thermador model in your home — with a top of the line single refrigerator column coming in at over $9,000.  

While spending that much on a Thermador might be a bigger financial decision than, say, buying an overpriced refrigerator from Costco, with tariffs increasing the prices of appliances, it could be worth thinking twice or even finding a cheaper alternative. If you find that a Thermador exceeds your budget, consider a Frigidaire alternative without the same luxury bells and whistles. For about $3,000, you can buy a relatively comparable Frigidaire 19 foot single-door refrigerator column from Amazon.

Buying the Frigidaire Professional 19-cubic-foot single-door refrigerator allows you to still enjoy a stainless steel finish — that resists fingerprints — as well as bright LED lighting, humidity-controlled crispers, an internal water dispenser, and auto-closing doors. With that said, it is not nearly as flashy as Thermador's lineup, but for most households it can cover daily essentials without feeling bare-bones.

Of course, there are trade-offs to consider. Most importantly, Frigidaire's column is strictly fresh storage as there is no freezer in the unit, and if you want the matching freezer column, the pair runs closer to $8,000. You'll also have to forgo luxury add-ons like Wi-Fi connectivity, an interior camera, and customizable cabinetry panels. And while many owners praise its spacious layout and clean design, others note occasional hiccups like noise, small shelf sizes, over-cooling in some areas, or quirks with the water dispenser. 

Still, the math is hard to ignore. Even Frigidaire's pricier fridge-plus-freezer combo prices out at several thousand dollars below Thermador's flagship sets. That's money back in your pocket — enough to fund a serious kitchen remodel upgrade, or other new appliances. With that said, custom kitchen upgrades could turn out to be a waste of money, so keep this in mind when deciding how much you want to invest in the area.