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Which freezer brand to buy in 2024
We surveyed freezer owners to find out which brands they would recommend and
which develop the fewest faults over time
Cracked casing, a build-up of ice in a frost-free model, and failure to maintain the correct temperature are some of the most common freezer faults. If you buy from the best brands, you're much less likely to face the hassle of fixing these.
When you're buying a new freezer, it's helpful to know which brands' models are most likely to develop a fault. That’s why this year, in our unique longevity and customer satisfaction survey, we've asked more than 12,115 Which? members and 5,430 members of the public to tell us whether they're happy with their freezer and if they've experienced problems.
Our survey data takes into account which freezers had faults reported and whether they needed to be repaired or replaced as a result.
We've crunched the numbers for the biggest freezer manufacturers – including Hisense, Logik and Samsung – and have calculated a customer score for each, so you know which brands are recommended by owners.
Which models come out on top? Head to our best freezers page to find out.
Freezer brands rated
The table below summarises this year’s results, based on freezers bought in the past seven years. Brands are ranked by their customer score, which reflects whether customers would recommend each brand and their level of satisfaction.
The proportion faulty is the percentage that experienced a fault during the first seven years. The proportion repaired or replaced is the percentage of freezers that were repaired or replaced due to the fault.
Only logged-in Which? members can see which brands came out on top in the table below. If you’re not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.
| Brand | Customer score | Proportion faulty in first seven years | Proportion repaired or replaced due to a fault |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88% | 7% | 4% | |
| 85% | 4% | 2% | |
| 85% | 11% | 6% | |
| 83% | 6% | 3% | |
| 82% | 1% | 1% | |
| 82% | 4% | 3% | |
| 79% | 6% | 1% |
- Table notes: The customer score, proportion faulty and proportion repaired or replaced are based on a survey of 17,545 people who own a freezer, conducted in September 2022.
- The proportion faulty and proportion repaired or replaced is based on freezers bought in the past seven years.
Best vs worst freezer brands
As you can see in our table, there's a big difference between the best and worst freezers, both in terms of the satisfaction score reported by customers and the proportion of appliances that developed faults.
| Best | Worst | |
|---|---|---|
| Customer score | 88% | 64% |
| Proportion faulty in first seven years | 1% | 33% |
| Proportion repaired or replaced due to a fault | 0% | 22% |
Which freezer brand is most reliable?
Freezers should last beyond seven years without any problems, but we've found that for some brands as many as one in five need to be repaired or replaced in that time. If a brand has more than 8% of its freezers repaired or replaced, then none of its models are eligible for our Eco Buy recommendation.
As you can see in the table below, there's a big difference in how reliable the best and worst brands are.
| Brand | Proportion repaired or replaced due to a fault |
|---|---|
| Best brand | 0% |
| Average for all freezers | 5% |
| Worst brand | 22% |
Verdict: freezer brands in depth
We've pulled together our fault data, customer insight and results from our independent freezer tests to give you an in-depth look at each brand.
Only Which? members can log in to view our verdicts on the brands listed below and whether they're worth buying.
If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access to the following freezer brand verdicts:
- Beko
- Bosch
- Fridgemaster
- Lec
- Liebherr
- Logik (Currys)
- Miele
- Neff
- Samsung
- Siemens
Already know which freezer brand you want? Use these links to go straight to our reviews and find your ideal model for each brand:
- AEG freezer reviews
- Beko freezer reviews
- Blomberg freezer reviews
- Bosch freezer reviews
- Bush freezer reviews
- Candy freezer reviews
- Fridgemaster freezer reviews
- Hoover freezer reviews
- Hotpoint freezer reviews
- Ikea freezer reviews
- Indesit freezer reviews
- John Lewis freezer reviews
- Liebherr freezer reviews
- Logik freezer reviews
- Miele freezer reviews
- Neff freezer reviews
- Russell Hobbs freezer reviews
- Samsung freezer reviews
- Zanussi freezer reviews
The three most common freezer faults
1. Build up of ice in frost-free freezer (21% of all faults reported)
This common issue can sometimes be caused by a torn or warped door seal, which lets warm air into the freezer. Replacement seals are widely available and it's a relatively simple problem to fix.
Unfortunately it can also be caused by an issue with a more complex part, such as the defrost heater. Replacing that is much more expensive and requires the help of a professional.
2. Not maintaining temperature (13%)
There are several reasons why a freezer might not be maintaining the correct temperature, with some issues more easily fixed than others.
If your freezer isn't staying cold, there are a few simple checks you can make to try to fix the problem.
First, find the evaporator fan inside the freezer and make sure that nothing is impeding it. If it’s blocked up, move things around and give it space to work. It could even be a build-up of ice preventing it from moving freely.
You should also look at the condenser coils at the back of the appliance. A build-up of dust on these can prevent the freezer from cooling properly. A good clean might help them to work more efficiently, which could remedy the issue.
If those simple checks don’t solve the problem, you’ll have some more complex investigations on your hands. Issues with the compressor, thermostat or refrigerant gas are just some of the areas that could be to blame. Unless you have the tools and the know-how, it’s probably time to call an engineer.
3. Broken or faulty compressor (10%)
Broken condenser coils mean that it's difficult for the freezer to stay cold enough to keep your food safely frozen.
Search Which? Trusted Traders to find an approved trader in your area.
How we calculate the best and worst freezer brands
Which? has a wealth of information on the UK's favourite brands. Every year we ask Which? members to tell us about the home appliances they own – from how likely they would be to recommend a brand, to how reliable the products are once they get them home.
This year 12,115 Which? members and 5,430 members of the public told us about more than 56,697 individual products. We calculate a brand's customer score, fault rate and proportion replaced or repaired based on the results of our annual survey.
Our surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best freezer to buy.
Head to our how we test freezers page to find out more about our lab tests.
This article uses insights from the Which? Connect panel, collected from research activities with our members. Find out how to get involved
