I’m a senior staff writer covering large kitchen appliances at Wirecutter, as well as a journalist with nearly 20 years of experience writing about food and cooking. I’ve written guides to French-door refrigerators, induction cooktops, and gas and electric ranges. And I also offer advice on how to make the most of large kitchen appliances, including tips on how to avoid cleaning your fridge.

We’ve been evaluating refrigerators since 2013. For this guide, we took the following steps:

• We interviewed repair technicians, appliance-store owners and staff, home cooks, designers, product engineers, and multiple representatives from the brands we cover.
• We traveled to appliance trade shows, and we visited dozens of big-box stores and small showrooms to get hands-on experience with, and a feel for, the quality and sturdiness of our picks.
• To identify whether these fridges had any reliability problems or real-world quirks, we evaluated thousands of owner reviews and reader comments.
• In 2023, we conducted our second reader survey, in which we asked nearly 1,500 homeowners about their refrigerators (among other appliances). This survey built on the insights from our first refrigerator survey (completed in 2021), which polled 5,000-plus readers about fridge performance, reliability, and features.
• In 2023, we hosted a group of paid testers with diverse backgrounds, builds, heights, and mobility levels to discuss, use, and evaluate large appliances at our office in Long Island City, New York.

Shoppers considering a side-by-side fridge are typically seeking a large-capacity refrigerator with a higher-end look and features such as a through-the-door water dispenser or ice maker. The buying decision often involves choosing between a side-by-side refrigerator (also known as a side-mounted freezer style) and a French-door model. Side-by-sides have been available longer than French-door fridges and tend to be a little less expensive.

Side-by-sides are shaped like a wardrobe, with two full-length doors, one for the refrigerator compartment and the other for the freezer. As a result, parts of both the fridge and the freezer are at waist or eye level. (Our group of paid testers confirmed that this orientation is helpful, especially to those who use a wheelchair or have mobility issues, as well as people who are shorter or taller than average.) A refrigerator with half-width, full-height doors is often one of the very few options for some tight kitchen layouts that don’t offer enough room for fully opening a full-size door or pull-out bottom freezer.

The narrow width of the freezer in a side-by-side also lends itself to more shelves and compartments—almost as in a bookshelf. This can make the freezer easier to organize, as you don’t end up stacking as many boxes and bags on top of one another as you would in top- or bottom-style freezers, which are essentially big cavities with a couple of shelves or bins.

“I love my side-by-side,” said Sonia Moghe, who has hand pain and was paid by Wirecutter to test and evaluate kitchen appliances. “I love the freezer. And I like being able to see everything.”

All that said, in our 2023 survey, 67% of side-by-side fridge owners reported being satisfied with their refrigerator, in comparison with 76% of French-door fridge owners. Our research doesn’t show that side-by-side fridges break or fail more often than any other style (this is rare across the board) or are less reliable. Our research does show that many people simply don’t enjoy using them. This is, in fact, the only fridge type for which people consistently remarked that they really disliked the style, rather than the fridge or the brand.

That discontent is likely due to side-by-side models’ narrow fridge and freezer compartments. Side-by-side refrigerators don’t accommodate large sheet pans or casserole dishes, party platters, or pizza boxes. In addition, while a side-by-side might work for two or three people, it “offers no space for a large family,” noted one survey respondent.

We’ve also noticed more complaints about broken shelves and drawers for side-by-sides—perhaps because they're narrow, and people end up cramming things into them. The produce drawers on a side-by-side are located at the bottom of the fridge compartment, which requires you to stoop for ingredients that you may need to reach for often. In contrast, these drawers are waist-high on a French-door model or a bottom-freezer refrigerator—two styles that, according to our surveys, owners like a lot more than side-by-sides.

A side-by-side fridge is also slightly less efficient than French-door or other bottom-freezer styles, according to Energy Star. (Energy efficiency can depend on features: Ice makers and other extras add to energy use, regardless of layout.)

You have to open the full fridge door every time you access a side-by-side, whereas you can open one side on a French-door model, potentially keeping more cold air in the fridge and warm air and humidity out (video). Some side-by-sides, such as our runner-up pick, have a door-in-door feature that can help.

Another drawback is that it is difficult to find a side-by-side without a through-the-door dispenser for ice and water. (We recommend one exception.) A dispenser takes up a lot of real estate, especially in a half-width freezer, and often needs repairs. It also makes the entire fridge less energy efficient. That said, a dispenser can make it easier for some people to access ice, considering that a side-by-side’s ice maker is generally located at the top of the freezer.

This guide covers freestanding side-by-side fridges. Unlike pricier built-in refrigerators, freestanding fridges have finished sides and can be installed anywhere in the kitchen: in a cabinet cutout, between a counter and the wall, or entirely on their own.

This guide does not cover freestanding counter-depth models, which are shallower and have less capacity. Here, we focus on models measuring 36 inches wide, the most common width. If you need something smaller, we also recommend a few 33-inch versions.

To make our recommendations, we’ve drawn on years of research, including two reader surveys focused on refrigerators. Here are the factors we prioritize most:

Owner satisfaction: Our picks focus on the brands and the models that in our research earned the highest ratings for long-term satisfaction. In our 2023 survey, 75.5% of respondents who owned LG refrigerators were satisfied with their appliance, and 71.1% of GE Appliances owners were satisfied. (No other brand surpassed the 70% mark; Whirlpool came in third, with 69% satisfaction.)

Overall, most fridges, regardless of brand or style, perform reliably: Our 2021 and 2023 surveys showed that while any refrigerator could fail, major problems, such as compressor failures and other cooling issues, are rare.

Layout: The interior storage is similar in most side-by-side fridges. They typically feature two stacked plastic crisper drawers on the bottom and three adjustable glass fridge shelves; we consider anything beyond one or two slots for adjusting shelf height a bonus. Some more expensive models have a third, top drawer for meats, cheeses, or snacks. (In our research, we’ve found that this is one perk that a lot of side-by-side owners wish they had.) Side-by-side fridge doors usually have at least four pockets, some of which accommodate the largest containers of milk or juice; typically, at least three pockets are adjustable. We also take note of small, singular details (a butter keeper in the door, for example) that owners often appreciate.

The freezer compartment of a side-by-side looks like a narrow bookshelf, with a few open shelves, compartments, and door pockets, as well as, typically, an ice maker and a through-the-door dispenser. Any additional flexibility or shelving is a plus.

Most side-by-side refrigerators have glass shelving with slim supports where they meet the compartment walls—this design looks streamlined but tends to feel fragile. We consider any extra stability a plus.

Airflow: Side-by-side refrigerators have a side-mounted freezer. This style cycles cold air from the freezer compartment through the fridge at the top and bottom of the refrigerator (video). Some models, such as our top pick, incorporate design elements that maximize the flow of cool air. We consider this a plus, as airflow issues (at the top of the refrigerator in particular) seem to be a common complaint with side-by-side fridges in our reader surveys and among customer reviews.

A door-in-door feature: Some side-by-side fridges have an exterior panel on one door that pops open to reveal a compartment, typically for beverages or snacks, that you can access without opening the main fridge. Theoretically, a door-in-door compartment may make a fridge more efficient, since you’re likely to open the main door less often (video) as a result. And people find it convenient: In our 2021 survey and research, owners of fridges with a door-in-door feature reported using it more frequently than they had expected.

An even newer style of fridge—sometimes called a quad or a four-door—is a hybrid of side-by-side and French-door styles, with two half-width freezers on the bottom, one of which generally has a broader range of temperature control. We’re just beginning to research these models.

Capacity: Measured in cubic feet, capacity is the amount of fillable space in your fridge and freezer. Our 2021 refrigerator-owner surveys showed that bigger fridges tend to make people happier than smaller models, but happiness levels off above 20 cubic feet (about the size of the average basic top-freezer refrigerator). For this guide, we decided to focus on 36-inch side-by-sides with at least 25 cubic feet of capacity, which our research shows is more than ample for most households; we like models that can offer more than that in an elegant way. (The 33-inch versions we recommend have at least 22 cubic feet of capacity.)

Ice makers, dispensers, and water filtration: Most side-by-sides have a compact ice maker in the freezer compartment, which feeds into the through-the-door dispenser. A few models put the ice maker in the freezer door. Ice makers take up some storage space in either location. (We have recommendations of both styles.) Despite their ubiquity and convenience, ice makers and dispensers are still a primary “point of failure” in a fridge, said Dan Conrad, an appliance reliability and testing expert at the commercial refrigeration company Hussmann. They’re likely to be drippy and noisy, need repairs or costly parts, work poorly, or stop functioning altogether. And they require a water-line connection. Dispensers also tend to look outdated faster—and show wear and tear more quickly—than the rest of a fridge.

Still, all but one of our picks come with a through-the-door dispenser; the vast majority of side-by-side fridges have one. In making our selections, we prioritized models that integrated dispensers most efficiently and attractively, and for which our research didn’t reveal an egregious level of complaints. Unlike some French-door or top-freezer fridges, side-by-sides don’t come with internal water dispensers, which we prefer. (A dispenser, however, may make it easier to access ice, since the ice maker in most side-by-sides is generally located at the top of the freezer.)

Energy efficiency and environmental-friendliness: We focus primarily on fridges that are Energy Star certified. This is an especially important factor for side-by-side models, which are typically less efficient than French-door versions with comparable capacity. (Both styles use more energy than top-freezer fridges.) These models usually have insulation designed to keep more cold air inside the fridge, as well as more sophisticated—and more expensive—components designed to work more efficiently. Compressors, which power the flow of refrigerant through the refrigerator and freezer, rank among the most important of these components. Traditional compressors essentially have just one, high speed. More advanced styles are variable-speed models, which means they can change their speed based on how much cooling your fridge actually needs, whether that’s a little (when you open the fridge to grab a drink) or a lot (when you load it up with still-warm leftovers).

Nearly all new refrigerators use climate-friendly R600a refrigerant, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. If the refrigerant leaks, it’ll have no effect on the ozone layer and a negligible effect on global warming.

Noise: A clear trend in our 2021 and 2023 refrigerator-owner surveys indicated that many fridges are noisy—and it bugs people. Unlike in the French-door category, where we found clear leaders in terms of quietness, we saw no real side-by-side standouts in this regard. But our picks employ designs or components that our research shows are typically a bit quieter, such as variable-speed compressors.

Smart-home technology and Wi-Fi connectivity: Unlike French-door fridges, few side-by-sides come with smart features (only one of our picks is connected). We’d like to see more: Fridges are an ideal appliance to monitor remotely via a smartphone or tablet because they must operate continuously. With a connected fridge, you can get remote alerts if it fails or if a door is ajar (a common problem with side-by-side models), you can change temperature or ice-maker settings, you can get diagnostics to help service technicians diagnose issues remotely, and you can even pair your refrigerator with some types of home-energy efficiency systems.

Before you buy a side-by-side refrigerator, consider the following:

Exact dimensions: Be sure to measure carefully. Every fridge has slightly different dimensions, according to Jessica Petrino Ball, who runs the education program at the appliance retailer AJ Madison. Your fridge must fit in between your cabinets and counters, as well as through the doors and hallways of your home, she said. You should also confirm that your space offers enough room for you to fully open both doors, or you won’t be able to pull out the drawers completely or remove the shelves for cleaning. (Most manufacturers include the measurements in their manuals.)

Installation and service: Before you buy a refrigerator, determine who will install it (especially if you’re hooking up a water line for ice and filtered water) and who will haul away the old one. Also be sure to figure out which local repair companies will be able to service your fridge if it breaks. Many of our 2023 survey respondents noted that they should have learned more about these points before they bought their fridges. Familiarize yourself with your new fridge’s warranty and service plan, as well as any available extended warranties from the brand or the seller.

Water and air filters: With nearly all water- and ice-dispensing systems, you need to change a filter, usually every six months. We haven’t tested the efficacy of the replaceable filters in our refrigerator picks for removing contaminants in drinking water, but they all follow the specs of those we recommend in our household water filtration guide. A few refrigerators, including one of our picks, also have replaceable air filters, which in theory should reduce odors inside the fridge. The filters are an extra yearly expense that many of our 2023 survey respondents said surprised them. (Replacing a filter is still cheaper than regularly buying bottled water or ice, and it’s easier than replacing a box of baking soda every three months.)

Finishes: In our 2023 survey, many fridge owners said they were frustrated with stainless steel finishes—no matter the brand or model. Whether or not a finish is labeled fingerprint-resistant, it’s likely to collect smears, smudges, streaks, or even scratches. As one survey taker put it: “The ‘no fingerprint’ surface is more difficult to keep clean than I imagined. It requires the use of a degreasing cleanser rather than a simple wipe-down.” The majority of our picks come in multiple finishes.

We’ve been recommending versions of the GE GSE25G since 2021.

It’s spacious, and it has an especially adjustable layout. The GSE25G has an ample 25.3 cubic feet of capacity, but its interior layout is where it really shines, as it offers 10 slots for adjusting the height of refrigerator shelves. That’s significantly more than what you get from other side-by-sides we considered, most of which have shelves that adjust to only two or three levels. Owner reviews of the GSE25G frequently laud this level of flexibility, which is rare across all styles of fridges: “All the shelves are adjustable and easy to change,” one person wrote.

The GSE25G also has five deep pockets in the fridge door—many models have only four—including a covered shelf for storing butter or anything else you want to protect from odors. (Many owners of side-by-side fridges without a butter compartment told us that they really missed it.) As with the refrigerator shelves, you get 10 slots for adjusting the height of four of the door pockets.

The freezer is nicely organized, too. It has four large compartments, plus a fifth on top of the ice maker. This design puts the ice maker closer to eye level, whereas many side-by-sides place it at the very top of the freezer compartment. A deep, two-level wire basket at the bottom of the freezer is nice for tall or oddly shaped items such as a frozen turkey. The freezer door has four pockets, in contrast to many side-by-sides with through-the-door dispensers, which have just three; as a result, you have more room to stash frequently grabbed items like frozen pops or peas.

It’s noticeably sturdy. Owner reviews cite the “sturdiness” of the GSE25G repeatedly. Its shelf supports are thick and built into the walls of the fridge, so they shouldn’t break off or fall out easily, which is helpful if your family is less than gentle when putting away groceries.

It has a well-designed through-the-door dispenser for filtered water and ice. Nearly all side-by-side refrigerators have a through-the-door dispenser for filtered water and ice. The GSE25G’s version generates crushed and cubed ice. The ice maker is compact, yet it makes plenty of ice, around 4.5 pounds per day, and the ice bin is fully covered, so it should absorb fewer odors. Because the bin isn’t located at the top of the freezer, pulling out the drawer to scoop out larger quantities of ice is also slightly easier. (This fridge uses a GE XWFE water filter.)

It has a clever digital display panel. The desired and actual temperatures for both the freezer and the refrigerator are displayed at the top of the through-the-door ice and water dispenser on a panel, which allows you to adjust the settings or monitor any issues without opening a door. (Our upgrade pick has the same setup.) This panel is also where you can reset the door-ajar alarm or turn off the flush-mounted LED lights, both of which are common settings on fridges in this price range but nice nonetheless.

The GSE25G has a good system for managing airflow. Side-by-side refrigerators cycle cold air from the freezer compartment to the fridge. The GSE25G has a large protective tunnel covering the air vents at the top of the fridge and at the bottom of the freezer. This is designed to funnel cold air around the fridge to help prevent items from freezing in the refrigerator, a common complaint with side-by-sides. The tunnel also helps to prevent groceries from blocking the flow from the vents.

It’s very efficient for a side-by-side. The GSE25G is the Energy Star–certified version of a long-standing side-by-side model that we’ve been recommending since at least 2021. The fridge has a variable-speed compressor, which cools more efficiently than a traditional compressor, and vacuum insulation panels, which are more effective at keeping cold air in and warm air out than traditional forms of insulation. Energy Star estimates that this fridge will use 646 kWh of energy per year, less than all but one of our picks. Also, energy-efficient components are often a bit less noisy; several owner reviews mention that the GSE25G is fairly quiet.

The company has a strong customer-service track record. GE Appliances ranked high for customer service in both our 2021 and 2023 surveys. It has its own repair fleet in most of the United States, which may have something to do with those favorable customer-service reviews; also, the company provides a phone number for repairs, as opposed to an online form. In our 2023 survey, about 71% of GE Appliances fridge owners said they were satisfied with their appliances. This model has a standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty.

It’s available in three finishes. The GSE25G comes in white, black, and fingerprint-resistant stainless steel.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The interior looks less sophisticated in comparison with the designs of our other picks. The sturdy shelf supports stick out more than those in other models, and so does its protective air column. You can remove the air column if it really bothers you, though doing so isn’t recommended. If you’re more design-focused, consider our runner-up.
• The fridge has only two drawers. A third drawer isn’t common, even on more expensive models. If you want one, consider our upgrade pick.
• It has wire baskets, rather than drawers, at the bottom of the freezer. But that’s common at this price, and baskets may better accommodate oddly shaped items or bags of frozen vegetables.

If you need a 33-inch side-by-side fridge, we recommend the GE GSE23G. Its fridge compartment is identical to that of our pick, but it has a smaller freezer, by about 3 cubic feet. This Energy Star–certified model is more efficient than our pick, as it uses an estimated 615 kWh of energy per year versus 646 kWh per year.

The 36-inch GE GSS25G is an older version of the GSE25G and is not Energy Star certified. You can often find this model deeply discounted, so much so that its price would offset the efficiency cost savings over its lifetime for most owners. Note, however, that the GSS25G is one of the least-efficient side-by-sides in this guide, as it consumes an estimated 708 kWh of energy per year. Aside from its less-complex mechanical components and insulation, the GSS25G is identical in look and feel to the GSE25G and has thousands of rock-solid owner reviews. It also comes in one additional finish: slate.

The GSS23G is the 33-inch version of the GSS25G. It has a smaller freezer and is a little more efficient, too.

The 36-inch GSS25I and the 33-inch GSS23I are similar to all of the above but have a few extras. Most notably, both models come with a hidden door hinge and a third drawer for snacks, meats, and cheeses. (Our upgrade pick is the only other fridge we recommend that has a third drawer.) But the GSS25I and GSS23I also rank among the least-efficient side-by-sides in this guide: The GSS25I, for one, uses an estimated 704 kWh of energy per year.

If our top pick is unavailable, if you prefer a different brand, or if you want a sleek design with all the bells and whistles, consider the LG LRSDS2706S. It has the same basic layout as our pick from GE Appliances but offers a little more capacity, a slightly smaller footprint, a greater focus on aesthetics, and a few other key differences. And LG has high rates of owner satisfaction in our surveys.

It uses space more wisely than our top pick. The LRSDS2706S has a somewhat smaller footprint than the GSE25G, as well as a bit more capacity, at 27 cubic feet versus 25.3 cubic feet.

It has a more attractive interior than our top pick, plus a distinctive exterior. This fridge’s sleek interior has essentially the same layout as in our top pick, but the back wall features a metal panel instead of white plastic. Its adjustable shelves are slimmer and more angular, as are the door pockets. The freezer has two drawers, in contrast to the wire basket of our top pick (our upgrade pick has drawers, too).

This model has built-in pocket handles, which separate the exterior into quadrants and give it the look of a French-door (or four-door) refrigerator. Though its handle-free design may make it easier to fit into a corner or tight space and perhaps easier to clean, it may also be harder for some people to use. The LRSDS2706S comes in three finishes, all fingerprint-resistant: stainless steel, black stainless steel, and matte black stainless steel.

Its shelves are less user-friendly than those of our pick. Many owners complain that just one fridge shelf is adjustable, and only by a couple of inches. Owners also frequently mention that the fridge door has four pockets instead of five and lacks a butter keeper. In addition, the glass shelves appear to be less sturdy than those of our top pick, and we’ve seen complaints of them breaking.

Its crisper-drawer handles are almost at floor level. This design forces you to reach all the way down to access your fruits and vegetables, which could be a dealbreaker for anyone who has mobility issues or trouble stooping.

It has a door-in-door feature. The exterior panel on the upper-right fridge door pops open, allowing you to quickly access whatever is stored inside—typically beverages or snacks—without needing to open the entire fridge compartment. In our 2021 survey, those respondents who owned a fridge with a door-in-door feature said they used it a lot more than they had expected to.

It has two ice makers. The LRSDS2706S has an ice maker in its door that makes cubes and crushed ice, as well as another in its freezer, which makes large spheres. In our surveys, respondents said they loved the spheres, but some owners noted that the ice took a long time to make and occasionally came out malformed or carrying odors from the freezer.

The through-the-door ice maker (video) is slim compared with many others, but it doesn’t make as much ice as the one in our top pick, generating only about 2 pounds per day versus 4.5 pounds in a day. A 24-hour booster setting increases production by about 3 pounds. In general, ice makers and dispensers are prone to breakdowns, and this level of complexity probably doesn’t help. But at least if one ice maker breaks, you have another.

The dispenser uses the LG LT1000P water filter. It also has a UV light that LG claims will eliminate bacteria on the dispenser nozzle, but we haven’t verified its effectiveness.

It’s efficient. The LRSDS2706S is Energy Star certified, though it isn’t as efficient as our top pick. Energy Star estimates that this fridge will use 694 kWh of energy per year. It has a linear compressor (video), which cools more efficiently and quietly than a traditional compressor, and the fridge is well insulated and designed to better retain cold air. It also has a system to blast cool air around the door when it’s open, to keep things chilled.

It’s smart in useful ways. The Wi-Fi–connected LRSDS2706S syncs to LG’s ThinQ app, so you can receive push notifications (such as when a door is left open), monitor and change settings, or run diagnostics.

Owner satisfaction is high. In our 2021 and 2023 surveys of several thousand appliance owners, LG fridges ranked at the top for customer satisfaction. People really seem to like them.

Its warranty is a bit better than most. LG’s warranty covers the LRSDS2706S for one year and the compressor and cooling system for five years. The warranty also covers parts, but not labor, for the compressor and cooling system for an additional five years, which is rare.

The 28-cubic-foot LG LRSWS2806S is a new model with specs we appreciate, but it hasn’t been available long enough for us to fully evaluate it. This model is similar in look and layout to our runner-up pick, the LRSDS2706S, but it doesn’t offer remote-monitoring capabilities, and it has just one ice maker (for cubes), which is located in the freezer; this model’s through-the-door dispenser is for filtered water only, not ice. This streamlined design allows for more storage space in the freezer. In addition, the fridge uses less energy than our other picks—an estimated 682 kWh of energy per year, according to Energy Star—and it has fewer components that are likely to fail.

The GE Profile PSE25KYH has everything we like about our top pick—impressive flexibility, sturdy shelving—and adds higher-end features and functionality that make it even more convenient and pleasant to use.

It has noticeably nice shelves. The PSE25KYH, which has an ample 25.3 cubic feet of capacity, features fridge shelves with a thick edge meant to catch spills. The fridge-door pockets are sturdier than those of our top pick and have protected sides. A partially retractable sliding shelf accommodates wine bottles, drink pitchers, or other tall items standing upright. In the freezer, you get three drawers instead of wire baskets.

It has a rare third fridge drawer. In the refrigerator compartment, this model has a third drawer, which is designed to keep items such as snacks, cold cuts, and cheeses tidy and within reach. Our research shows that many owners of side-by-sides with only two drawers miss having a third one.

It has a conveniently located control panel with a few helpful settings not found on our other picks. Similar to our top pick, this fridge has a control panel that’s located externally, above the through-the-door dispenser for ice and water. In addition, however, the PSE25KYH’s panel has some extra settings, including one that can rapidly cool the refrigerator after you’ve stocked it with warm groceries or hot leftovers, and another that increases ice production from about 4.5 pounds per day, the same as our top pick, to more than 6 pounds in a day.

We wish it had smart capabilities. GE Appliances supports Wi-Fi connectivity for remote monitoring or receiving diagnostics on other styles of its fridges, French-door models included, but not yet on side-by-sides. At this price, it would be nice if connectivity were included.

Compared with our top pick, this model has a more sophisticated look, inside and out. The PSE25KYH’s door hinge is hidden, and the color of the in-door dispenser more closely matches the finish of the fridge for a seamless look. This model also has flush-mounted LED lighting inside both the refrigerator and the freezer, which helps illuminate all corners of the appliance and makes everything within look a little more appealing. Our research shows that owners seem to like GE Appliances models with ample LED lighting.

But it comes in only one finish. The PSE25KYH is available in fingerprint-resistant stainless steel.

If you want a side-by-side without a through-the-door water dispenser or internal ice maker, consider the affordable Whirlpool WRS315SNHM.

It’s spacious, especially in the freezer. The WRS315SNHM has 25 cubic feet of capacity—plenty of room. Because it doesn’t have an ice maker, this model offers the most freezer space of all of our picks, at 10 cubic feet, and the entire freezer-door panel is available for storage pockets because it has no dispenser taking up room.

It’s basic, but that’s fair for the price. This model doesn’t offer a lot of flexibility in adjusting the heights of its fridge shelves, but it does have five pockets in the fridge door, including a covered compartment for butter. The WRS315SNHM gives you four settings for adjusting the fridge temperature and a short slider bar for adjusting the temperature of the freezer, instead of precise digital controls for both compartments as on our other picks. And a covered LED bulb illuminates the interior instead of flush-mounted LED lights, which do a better job of lighting a fridge’s contents.

It doesn’t have an in-door dispenser for filtered water or ice. But considering how often our research indicates that dispensers and ice makers fail, this omission is okay. The WRS315SNHM is likely to be quieter, too, as those components are often the noisiest.

It’s very efficient. The WRS315SNHM isn’t Energy Star certified, but it uses the least energy per year of all our picks by far, in part because it has so few components. Energy Star estimates that this fridge uses 574 kWh of energy per year.

It looks sleek. Without an in-door dispenser for water and ice to contend with, this model has a seamless exterior—it also has hidden door hinges, which is nice at this price—and is less likely to look dated or to show age. It comes in three finishes: white, black, and stainless steel.

It’s generally stress-free. Refrigerators from Whirlpool fare well in our research for owner satisfaction, just not as well as our other picks. These models usually have fewer frills, which may be why our surveys have revealed that owners tend to feel less strongly about them: Owners may not love these models, but they rarely hate them, either.

Its warranty is solid, and Whirlpool is a long-standing brand made in North America. That generally equates to a larger pool of service technicians, easier access to replacement parts, and wide availability. Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerators come with a one-year warranty for parts and labor. The company also covers parts and labor for up to five years if manufacturer defects are found in the compressor or cooling system.

If you need a 33-inch side-by-side fridge, we recommend the Whirlpool WRS312SNHM. This model is identical to our 36-inch also-great pick, the WRS315SNHM, in that it doesn’t have an ice maker or a through-the-door dispenser, but it has a smaller freezer, down by about 3 cubic feet. It is Energy Star certified and more efficient than our also-great pick, consuming an estimated 528 kWh of energy per year.

The 36-inch Whirlpool WRS315SDHM is essentially the same as the WRS315SNHM, but it has an ice maker and a through-the-door dispenser for water and ice. It has slightly less freezer capacity and isn’t quite as efficient. Whirlpool also sells a 33-inch version.

Whirlpool also makes more expensive fridges with additional upgrades, including the WRS555SIHZ and the WRS588FIHZ, both of which have features we appreciate. The WRS555SIHZ has a third drawer in the fridge compartment and a caddy for canned drinks in the door. The WRS588FIHZ has a third drawer—it’s up higher, which is nice—and its in-door dispenser doles out water by the ounce, cup, or liter, which is useful if you frequently cook from recipes or need specific measurements for taking medication. (In our research, we’ve come across side-by-side owners who wished for this functionality.) But neither of these models is as energy efficient as the other Whirlpool fridges we recommend.

If you want a fridge that looks cutting-edge and doesn’t have an in-door dispenser for water and ice: You might like the Samsung Bespoke RS28CB76. It doesn’t include a through-the-door dispenser for water and ice—rare for a side-by-side—but you can opt for an ice maker, water dispenser, or built-in refillable pitcher inside its freezer compartment instead. Like all the models in the Bespoke line, the RS28CB76 looks sleek and modern, particularly with a glass finish.

Our surveys show that other older Samsung refrigerators have a higher proportion of ice-maker complaints in comparison with models from other brands, and they also fall at the lower end of customer satisfaction. But according to our 2023 survey, nearly 65% of Samsung fridge owners still really like their fridges, and ice machines and water dispensers tend to be problematic with all fridges—especially when they are in the door.

This article was edited by Ingrid Skjong and Courtney Schley.