Whirlpool And JennAir Are Sister Brands, So Why Does One Cost So Much More?

Customers who do their homework before purchasing an appliance may discover, if they do enough digging, that certain brands are actually owned by the same corporation. These so-called sister brands may share a parent company, but can be just as different as siblings in real life. This is true of Whirlpool and its luxury sister JennAir, which is designed for premium markets.

Whirlpool Corporation is the parent company of Whirlpool and JennAir brands (along with entry-level Amana, durability-focused Maytag, and high-performance KitchenAid). The Whirlpool brand is designed to have broad, middle-of-the-road appeal, boasting more features than Amana, but a lower price tag than JennAir, which has more options in terms of style and technology.

For one example, shoppers in the market for a 30-inch electric induction range can see the stark differences between the brands. The Whirlpool features five burners, a no-preheat air frying option, and a stainless steel and glass front for $1,688. A 30-inch JennAir induction range definitely looks sleeker with a more elegant build featuring more stainless steel, built-in convection fans, a proving drawer, and what it calls "emotive" controls for a base price of $4,499.

If you're trying to decide between Whirlpool and JennAir, the first thing to fix on is your budget. In a hypothetical situation where both brands are affordable for you (first of all, congrats), style and functionality come into play. How often do you cook and how important are the advanced features and appearance offered by the higher-end JennAir? Any appliance is a big investment, so make sure you're getting real value out of it.

Since Whirlpool appliances are made for a wide audience, one advantage they have is being easier to find in stores with a wider array of service providers. JennAir is offered in fewer stores and only works with selected professionals for authorized installations and repairs, so you may have fewer options near you when you need help.

When it comes to studying online reviews, it helps to bear in mind that those reviews are only a portion of the actual customers for a product. That said, there are a number of reviewers who feel that JennAir is not worth the high price point, and that although the brand is considered luxury, it's too expensive. Complaining customers on Trustpilot mean that it only has a 1.2 out of 5 rating, with people citing issues with durability and service. However, over on Reddit, customers report similar issues for Whirlpool appliances, whose Trustpilot rating is even lower than JennAir's, though the up-front cost is lower. Of course, other reviewers share positive stories about both brands, taking time to highlight customer support helping them solve issues.