Maytag vs Whirlpool: Comparing Two Leading Appliance Brands

Home appliances can be a terrific investment for your home as they can increase your quality of life. It allows you and your family to save time, whether it be cooking, cleaning, or washing laundry. There is no doubt about it that home appliances can make a household run smoothly. But with that said, there are so many different brands out there, and the two biggest manufacturers of kitchen appliances in the United States would be Whirlpool and Maytag.

Chances are, you’re already very familiar with both companies and probably own something from each brand. But how will you choose the best brand if you’re making a large purchase, such as a dishwasher, dryer, refrigerator, or even above that? We believe it’s vital that you make an informed decision when buying home appliances, so here is everything you need to know about these two brands!

Maytag vs. Whirlpool: What's the Difference?

Since these two brands are common household names, what are the differences between Maytag vs. Whirlpool? Well, one difference is the fact that one owns the other. Most consumers don’t even realize the same company owns them; you can say they’re under the same umbrella. Whirlpool acquired Maytag in 2006. While they’re under the same company, are there any differences between the two brands? Technically, yes, there are, so let’s dive into them!

Durability

When it comes to home appliances, both Maytag and Whirlpool are considered extremely reliable, and this extends to their durability. One example would be Maytag vs. Whirlpool washing machines. The Maytag washing machines offer Advanced Vibration Control™ Plus technology, which offers a suspension system and balancing ring to help rebalance any uneven loads. While this doesn’t sound very significant, having an unbalanced load can shorten the life of your washer. What about Whirlpool?

They’re also highly praised for their durability, which can even extend to washers. For instance, the Whirlpool brand will offer stainless steel wash baskets in their machines; this allows for a smooth impeller. Plus, the impellers will help extend the life of your washer, and it will be far less likely to damage your clothes too.

Specific Features

Even though the same company owns Maytag and Whirlpool, they’re still two separate brands. Each of these brands offers a wide variety of different amenities, features, and innovations that is brand specific. It’s just going to vary on the appliance itself. For example, the Maytag washer machines will offer the 16-hour fresh hold feature, as the Whirlpool brand does not. Also, both of these brands will have special features that they share that other brands may not, such as voice activation for washer machines and Steam Clean options.

To sum it up, the differences will be fairly minimal when it comes to breaking down the features between these two brands. While it’s true each of these brands will offer multiple innovative features, it doesn’t entirely make each brand completely different. Consumers may be hard-pressed, as you can’t go wrong with either option if you’re judging based on specific features.

Performance

Everyone knows that it's all about performance when it comes to home and kitchen appliances. This will be one of those make-it-or-break-it choices when shopping for the right appliance. So, in the Whirlpool vs. Maytag debate, which brand performs better? Well, it’s all going to come down to personal preferences. Both of these brands can deliver on their cleaning performance of cleaning.

However, it will fall back on your preferences within the features each of these brings. If you’re looking to save energy, Whirlpool and their energy-efficient options can be great, but if you want to ensure your clothes and dishes are spotless, then the Maytag brand provides extra heat for their models. 

Aesthetics

The overall design of an appliance is going to make an impact on your home. While this shouldn’t be as important as the quality of the product itself, it does help to have an appliance with an excellent design. Maytag is known for their sleek designs, especially when this comes to its stainless steel products. This can give Maytag a leg up, but the designs for Whirlpool can be just as lovely. Overall, this will have to be judged solely based on your personal preference and what you’re looking for.

Value

If you’re shopping for a brand new appliance for your home, you’re going to want to consider the price of it, right? It’s not only just that, but you want to feel confident that it can last for years and won’t put a damper on your energy bill. The vast majority of people will be operating on a budget and will hunt for a brand that can meet the criteria of what’s needed with the budget included. On the bright side would be that both Maytag and Whirlpool offer washers that can give you a lot of value for your money. Since they’re from the same company, you can count on both of these to be feature-rich appliances.

This can include being ENERGY STAR® certified in different shapes, sizes, or whatever is to your liking. Plus, is it the upfront cost that is your concern or the costs that come down the line? The Whirlpool brand tends to have a slightly lower initial cost than Maytag. However, this doesn’t mean that Maytag is at a disadvantage either, as there are plenty of budget-friendly Maytag appliances that you can find. In terms of price and value in the Whirlpool vs. Maytag debate, they have a more comprehensive price range at both ends of the spectrum. This helps in creating more options for a wider array of customers!