Lowe's Or Best Buy: Which Is The Better Buy For Home Appliances?

When shopping for appliances it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Which brand is best? What are the dimensions you need? Do you want it to be smart home optimized? Then, of course, you want to save as much money as possible in the process. When it comes to appliance purchasing, which is better — Lowe's or Best Buy? Well, that all depends on your needs. The best way to figure it out is to take a look at where each brand excels and how that aligns with your primary needs. Lowe's has a better selection to choose from and is a great choice for homebuyers looking to save money. Best Buy is a better option for those looking for newer tech and smart home options.

Many people tend to think of big-box hardware stores like Lowe's when considering a new range or refrigerator and Best Buy as an electronics or small appliance store. But over the past several years, Best Buy has really upped its game when it comes to selling tech-enhanced appliances. And thanks to a recent Best Buy partnership, shopping at IKEA is about to get easier than ever in select markets. With IKEA products alongside Best Buy electronics and appliances, customers can update almost everything in the room in one stop. You may also get a great deal on its appliances. Meanwhile, Lowe's is still a go-to for finding your new appliance for your kitchen remodels. Generally, Lowe's appliance packages are worth shopping if you want to get great deals on a matching suite. Knowing which is the better buy really comes down to your specific shopping style and criteria.

Lowe's excels at providing the best selection of name-brand appliances (as well as parts, delivery, and service). The focus is on how it can serve its customers best — home renovation. This means you're able to purchase appliance packages for significant savings and any other remodel supplies you need. If you know the best times to shop at Lowe's, like Memorial Day and Labor Day, the appliance deals get even better.

Lowe's offers a free membership where you can earn your way up a tiered system to get more savings and benefits, including free shipping and MyLowe's Money. It also offers delivery to your home with an option to haul off old appliances for an added fee. Lowe's offers a price-match with limited restrictions (such as wholesale, custom products, and auction sites). The return policy, though, is strict when it comes to large appliances — you only have 48 hours after purchase to return your item. Lowe's is the optimum place to purchase your appliances if you appreciate a well-rounded in-store experience, and there are plenty of locations to choose from. This is a huge benefit because its website tends to not be as user-friendly as the Best Buy website.

Best Buy excels when it comes to its online purchases, appealing to a customer that may not need an in-store experience or is only upgrading one appliance. It's also a go-to for shoppers looking to replace older home appliances with modern, tech-heavy, smart home options. Best Buy offers delivery (with a fee of $39.99) and setup of your new appliance as well as disposal of your old one. The Geek Squad is there to support customers with issues or help setting up their smart appliances. Best Buy also has a price-match policy (which is limited to qualified competitors) and a paid yearly membership that can help you save on your new purchase. Its return policy on large appliances is more generous than Lowe's, allowing returns for 15 days on most purchases and up to 60 days if you are a My Best Buy Plus or Total member. There are fewer stores than Lowe's, which makes its online storefront an advantage to tech-savvy customers.

It really comes down to convenience when deciding which is the better buy between Best Buy and Lowe's and what is truly important to you when deciding on a specific appliance. Both stores have great deals, and their willingness to match prices makes either one a safe bet, so the choice may come down to the brand. While Lowe's is more renovation-focused, Best Buy is looking to the future of home technology.