The refrigerator is one of the appliances that is worth thinking carefully about before spending your money. Unlike other appliances, in fact, it remains switched on continuously, day and night, and its job is not limited to cooling drinks and food: it must maintain constant temperatures, store groceries correctly and do so, if possible, without having too much of an impact on the bill.
It is also a purchase that we expect to last several years, which is why finding yourself dealing with breakdowns, malfunctions or expensive repairs can become quite a problem.
When we choose a new model, however, finding our way among the many brands and different technologies available is not easy. Does a high price really mean higher quality? And will a refrigerator that achieves good results in practical tests also be reliable after years of use? They are different aspects, which do not always coincide and which deserve to be evaluated together.
Just to offer a more complete picture, Altroconsumo has developed its ranking of the best refrigerator brands of 2026, considering both the performance detected in the tests and the problems reported by those who own these appliances and the overall level of satisfaction.
The analysis examines 251 models and provides an interesting comparison between 11 manufacturers on the Italian market.
The best brands of refrigerators according to Altroconsumo
Bosch conquers the top of the Altroconsumo ranking, with 73 points out of 100. The result is particularly interesting because the German brand manages to stand out not so much for a single parameter, but for the overall balance between performance, reliability and consumer satisfaction.
The competition, however, is very tight. In second place we find Haier and LG, both with 72 points, just one less than the first place. Candy follows with 71 points, while Samsung stops at 69. Further back we find Hisense (68), Whirlpool and AEG (67), Hotpoint-Ariston (65), Indesit (64) and Beko (61).
However, the differences between manufacturers are not always marked and also change depending on the aspect taken into consideration. In fact, if Bosch is the overall winner, observing the individual indicators other brands worthy of attention emerge.
Hisense takes the lead for reliability, with 92 points out of 100. A result that indicates a lower incidence of problems among the refrigerators considered in the survey, also taking into account their age and frequency of use. Immediately after we find Bosch, LG and Samsung, all with 89 points, while Haier reaches 87.
However, there is another manufacturer that stands out when we move from consumer experiences to practical tests: Candy obtains the best average in laboratory tests, with 69 points out of 100. Bosch and LG follow with 68 points and Haier with 67.
Candy is also the brand with the highest percentage of refrigerators reaching the excellent quality range: 27% of the models examined exceed the 75 point threshold. Behind it are Haier (25%), Bosch (24%) and LG (17%).
Here is the complete ranking:
@Altroconsumo
The Bosch refrigerator awarded by Altroconsumo
In addition to crowning Bosch as the best brand of 2026, Altroconsumo also highlights a model that achieved particularly interesting results in the comparative tests: the Bosch KIN96VFD0, which won both the Best in Test and Best Buy recognition.
It is a built-in combined refrigerator, approximately 194 cm high, with No Frost technology and a measured capacity of 154 liters for the refrigerator compartment and 40 liters for the freezer. It has an energy class D and a measured annual consumption of 224 kWh. Its score is 75 out of 100, corresponding to the excellent quality range. The price indicated by Altroconsumo is approximately 1,176 euros.
How the Altroconsumo ranking was created
To draw up the ranking, Altroconsumo did not limit itself to comparing the performance of the refrigerators in its laboratories. He cross-referenced the test results with an extensive survey of the experiences of those who use these appliances every day.
251 refrigerators tested between July 2024 and June 2026 were taken into consideration. Added to this data are the ratings collected from consumers in various European countries: overall, the survey used 26,789 ratings on reliability and 27,289 on satisfaction.
The final score assigned to each brand takes into account four elements, with different weights: the results of laboratory tests account for 45%, reliability for 25%, consumer satisfaction for 20% and the percentage of models that achieve excellent quality for the remaining 10%.
Not all manufacturers on the market entered the ranking. To be included, they had to have at least five models tested, be marketed in Italy and have collected at least 50 responses in the survey. This is why, for example, Siemens and Hoover do not appear.
