Who Makes Insignia Refrigerators? (Plus Pros & Cons, Alternatives)

Ryan Womeldorf
by Ryan Womeldorf
Insignia is now widely known for producing some of the best refrigerators on the market at a good price. Their refrigerators have less information available than many competitors like LG, but Best Buy is responsible for producing them. An Insignia fridge is a reliable fridge, so let’s take a look at who produces them and where they are manufactured.

In today’s world, very few homes can get by without a trustworthy refrigerator. Refrigerators are no longer thought of as cold boxes to store your food inside. Kitchen appliances have come a long way, none more so than modern refrigerators. One of these modern refrigerator brands that people have come to love is Insignia.

Insignia is the name of a brand of refrigerators that are only sold by Best Buy. While they are the only distributor of Insignia brand refrigerators, the appliances themselves are made in China. Haier is the Chinese company responsible for making Insignia refrigerators and supplying them to Best Buy. Best Buy then sells them in their stores all over the world.

The fact that Insignia refrigerators are made overseas often raises questions about their quality. In this article, we’ll look at Insignia refrigerators, some of their common issues, and where you can find them.

Are Insignia Refrigerators Any Good?

Insignia refrigerators are one of the highest-rated refrigerators sold at Best Buy. They consistently receive 4-5 star ratings on most of their products. Insignia is also one of the more affordable options for refrigerators. While they aren’t perfect, Insignia has a reputation for not sacrificing quality despite its low price.

What Company Sells Insignia Refrigerators?

Insignia is a brand that was created and is owned by Best Buy. Because Best Buy owns the brand, they also have the sole right to sell Insignia brand refrigerators. To date, Insignia refrigerators aren’t available anywhere outside of Best Buy stores.

If you want an Insignia refrigerator but don’t have access to a Best Buy store, you can also buy one online from their website. You can also purchase them directly off Insignia’s website, and a few select models are available on Amazon. If you don’t have access to any of these stores, you’re only chance of finding an Insignia refrigerator is from a second-hand store or a discount appliance store.

Pros of Insignia Refrigerators

Best Buy advertises Insignia as a low-price, store-brand refrigerator. While it gets excellent ratings and reviews, Insignia might not be for everyone. Let’s look at some of the top reasons people love Insignia refrigerators.

  • They’re one of the most affordable refrigerators on the market.
  • Most models have a variety of options in regards to style and color.
  • They’re very energy-efficient
  • Insignia refrigerators are available in various sizes so that they fit into any kitchen.
  • Best Buy offers free delivery on appliances over $399 in addition to 3-5 year geek squad protection plans.
  • Despite their price, insignia refrigerators hold up well and don’t experience many issues.

Pound for pound, Insignia is one of the top refrigerators available. Brands like Samsung and LG have refrigerator models with more capabilities than Insignia, but they’re also much more expensive. If you’re looking for a safe, affordable refrigerator, Insignia is hard to beat.

Common Problems With Insignia Refrigerators

Now that we’ve looked at all the things Insignia does well let’s examine some of its common problems.

The water dispenser won’t stop dripping

A few drops right after using the water dispenser is perfectly normal and not a reason for alarm. However, if the problem is constant, it would be wise to cash in on your geed squad protection plan.

The refrigerator is constantly running

Refrigerators have to run often, but they shouldn’t have to run non-stop. There’s a good chance that the interior of your fridge is too full or that there isn’t enough air circulation through the interior vents. Another option is that dust or debris has built up around the condenser coils.

There’s ice buildup inside the freezer

You might be thinking that ice is supposed to build up in the freezer, so what’s the problem. While ice is supposed to form in the icebox of your freezer, it isn’t supposed to be anywhere else. Ice builds up because the humidity level is too high inside of it. Humidity levels can rise because you left the freezer door open for too long, or you might have a faulty seal.

The water dispenser doesn’t work at all

It was once thought of as a commodity to have a refrigerator that has a water dispenser. Nowadays, however, it’s rare to see one without it. If your water dispenser isn’t working at all, there are a number of things that could be causing the issue. The water line or water tub might have frozen, your in-line valve might be plugged or closed, or you might have low water pressure.

The refrigerator is warm on the inside

A refrigerator that isn’t cold on the inside will result in spoiled food and a huge mess. The most likely culprit for a warm refrigerator is dirty condenser coils. However, it could also be the condenser fan motor, an overstocked fridge, or a number of other issues.

Like all appliances, Insignia has its fair share of problems to be on the lookout for. It’s important to remember, though, that high-priced, popular brands are just as likely to experience issues as cheaper brands like Insignia.

Best-Selling and Most Reliable Insignia Fridge Models

We now know what’s great about Insignia refrigerators and what could go wrong if you buy one. If you’re still considering buying one, let’s look at the best-selling and most reliable Insignia fridge models.

Insignia™ – 25.4 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator with Water Dispenser – Stainless steel

This refrigerator is one of Insignia’s more expensive options, but it’s also one of their bigger ones. It has tons of space for storing your food and drinks and includes a water and ice dispenser that’s loaded with options.

Insignia™ – 18.1 Cu. Ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator

This refrigerator comes in either black or white and is the perfect size for a smaller kitchen or apartment. With more than 2100 reviews, this is one of Insignia’s most reviewed and top-rated models. It’s definitely not the flashiest refrigerator, but it’s got a lot of interior space for its size and is highly affordable. This model doesn’t have an icemaker, but it does have the upper freezer that many people love.

3. Insignia™ – 18 CU. Ft. Top Mount Refrigerator

This model features the same space-saving concept as the above one but with a few improvements. It doesn’t have handles that make for a sleeker design, and it also has newer technology and mechanization. It’s also available in stainless steel, which is quickly becoming the color of choice in most kitchens in the U.S.

Is Insignia the Same as Frigidaire?

Many people don’t understand the world of kitchen appliances and who makes them. Different refrigerator brands often look very similar because everyone wants to make the style that’s popular. While Insignia and Frigidaire refrigerators appear very similar, they’re made by completely different companies.

Insignia fridges are made by the Chinese company Haier, and Electrolux, a European company, makes frigidaire. They look similar because appliance makers want to make refrigerators that appeal to the public. Frigidaire and Insignia might use similar components and products, but totally unrelated entities make them.

Insignia Alternatives: Which Fridge Brands are More Reliable?

Insignia refrigerators are a solid option, but they might not be the best option for you. If you’re looking for some of the other top options on the market, you’ve got plenty of options. Here are some of the most reliable refrigerators that don’t bear the Insignia name.

1. LG

By now, everyone knows and recognizes the LG name. It’s been one of the most popular and reliable refrigerator brands for decades, and with good reason. They offer tons of refrigerator styles, sizes, and options and have some of the most high-tech refrigerators available.

2. GE

General Electric is another timeless brand when it comes to refrigerators. Not only do they offer some of the most reliable refrigerators, but they also have some of the most efficient. Like Insignia, it’s hard to go wrong when you buy a GE refrigerator.

3. Magic Chef

Magic Chef isn’t quite as well-known as GE or LG, but they’re just as reliable when it comes to refrigerators. Magic Chef makes great refrigerators for tight spaces if you’re looking for something fancy, long-lasting, and reliable.

Insignia Refrigerator vs. Other Brands: Price Comparison

We’ve been hearing this entire article about how affordable Insignia refrigerators are. Let’s see how they stack up against the competition in terms of pricing.

Refrigerator Size and StyleInsignia LGGeneral ElectricSamsung
18.1 cu. Ft. top-freezer$599 – $679$799 – $999 $799 – $999$999 – $1099
26.6 cu. Ft. French-door refrigerator$1499$1,999$1,999 – $2,399$1,999
21 cu. Ft. top freezer$779$999 – $1,499$1,049$1,199
26 cu. Ft. side by side fridge$1,299$1,499 – $1,699$1,599$1,599
20 cu. Ft French-door with water dispenser$1,699$1,899$1,799 – $1,999$1,999

As you can see, Insignia is tough to beat when it comes to affordability. These prices are based on prices from stores like Best Buy, Lowes, Home Depot, and other appliance stores.

While Insignia doesn’t always have as many bells and whistles as other top brands, they always have the best price. Whether or not you choose to purchase an Insignia refrigerator will depend on your budget, desires, and how important it is to have a name-brand appliance. If you’re willing to settle for a store-brand refrigerator, it’s going to be hard to beat an Insignia.

Ryan Womeldorf
Ryan Womeldorf

Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. He loves to blog about construction, plumbing, and other home topics. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan.

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