Baxi or Worcester? Two big brands, one big decision. Not really. Worcester is better.
Did you know that last year over 1.6 million boilers were sold in the UK? Bet you didn't.
That’s a lot of boilers and a lot of brands competing to be chosen by you.
So, it’s not such a big surprise that there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to choosing a new model for your home.
If you've been looking at Baxi boiler reviews and Worcester Bosch reviews, but are stuck trying to decide which brand to choose, this article is for you.
Who are Worcester Bosch and Baxi Boilers?
Founded in the UK back in swinging 1962, Worcester Bosch has been leading the way in the British boiler industry for decades, renowned for their high-quality build and excellent aftercare.
In 1992, the company merged with the German-based Bosch group ad for the last 10 years have won the Which? Best Buy Award.
Baxi is another European brand with a long history in the heating industry, with a manufacturing base in Preston, Lancashire.
Baxi offers a wide range of different boiler models including combi, regular and system boilers.
Commonly recognised as a mid-tier brand, they are often seen as an ideal budget-friendly option.
Due to the UK-based manufacturing hub, their availability of parts and aftercare is also superb.
Warranties & Aftercare Comparison
One of Worcester Bosch’s most enticing selling points is the fact that they don’t just offer a warranty but a guarantee.
Is this just marketing fluff?
Not at all.
A guarantee is superior to a warranty since it’s an agreement from the manufacturer that they will attend your property and repair or replace your boiler as soon as possible.
Most other boiler brands offer a typical warranty with their products, this is a contract to investigate the issue, but not an unconditional agreement to repair the boiler free of charge.
When purchased via Heatable, all Worcester Bosch boilers in the Greenstar Range come with a 10-year loooong guarantee.
If you've read any Baxi boiler reviews you'll have noticed that they only offer a 7 year warranty (not a guarantee) on most of their models, this includes their popular Baxi 600.
Bear in mind that the majority of warranties and guarantees are only valid on the condition that serviced annually and by an approved boiler installer.
Check out reviews of some of Baxi's most popular boilers here:
Price-Point Comparison
The boiler price is often the deciding factor for many when it comes to crunch time.
Worcester Bosch is an award winning and market leading brand, so there is no denying it’s a little more expensive than Baxi overall, but it really depends on the model you choose.
For comparison, for the Greenstar 25i by Worcester Bosch you are looking to pay between £800 – £1000 (that's boiler alone, without installation, flue, accessories or anything else), while a Baxi 600 will cost between £700 – £1000.
Worcester Bosch is slightly more expensive, yet you are securing yourself a 10-year guarantee by an award winning boiler brand. Is it really worth saving a few hundred pounds for a shorter warranty period?
It’s also worth noting that the price will vary depending on the supplier you choose.
But remember, Heatable offers a price match guarantee, find out how much a new boiler will cost you today using our boiler calculator tool.
Customer Trustpilot Reviews
Awards from third party consumer organisations such as Which? are incredibly trustworthy, but the honesty of genuine users of the product are unarguably reliable.
Fortunately, Worcester Bosch has some of the best customer reviews on Trustpilot and far ahead of any other boiler manufacturer to date.
Worcester Bosch has gained an incredible number of user reviews. As of February 2021, nearly 20,000 customers left a review.
The average rating of these reviews was 4.7 out of 5 stars, quite fantastic for a brand selling in such large volumes. Agree?
Baxi boilers also have some incredible feedback on the platform. As of February, the brand has over 25,000 reviews on Trustpilot.
The average rating of Baxi’s reviews was 4.5 (almost as good as Worcester, but not quite!), a clear indicator of their products quality and the aftercare offered by their team.
So in terms of customer reviews, the brands perform remarkably similarly.
Size (Dimensions, not power)
Many prospective boiler buyers also have concerns about the size of the boiler - will it fit into the kitchen cupboard?
This is particularly important for those with limited space.
Both the Worcester Bosch Greenstar and the Baxi 600 are considered small boilers.
Yet, Worcester Bosch made a boiler exactly for this common concern - the Worcester Bosch CDi Compact, or Si Compact, designed exactly for small spaces like kitchen cupboards.
Control Options
Both Worcester and Baxi provide their models with conventional, mechanical controls with 24-hour programming and digital controls that allow you to set a 7-day schedule.
Both manufacturers offer the ability to utilise smart thermostats too, such as Hive and Nest, allowing you to control and schedule your boiler from the comfort and convenience of your smartphone.
Baxi also have their own uSense smart room thermostat.
Easily controlled via an accompanying smartphone app, the thermostat has a variety of innovative features including temperature modulation and temperature scheduling.
From the uSense thermostat, you can also activate anti-frost protection during cold weather to protect your boiler from frost and prevent it from freezing during the winter months.
The energy consumption feature also allows you to see how much energy your system is using, allowing you to better understand where efficiencies or use could be improved.
Other Notable Features
Here are some of the best features offered by each of the brands.
Some of Worcester Bosch’s most popular features include:
Installed with the condenseSure siphon, offering boiler frost protection
A-rated boilers - efficiency rating of up to 99.5% when operating at 30% capacity
CDi compact ideal for smaller spaces
Built-in keyless filling link making it easy to refill your system
Low energy pump limits electricity usage
10-year guarantee when purchased through Heatable
Excellent customer service and aftercare
Some of Baxi’s most popular features include:
EasyFill feature, enables you to top up the pressure using a simple button
ErP A-rated boiler for heat
7-year warranty
Excellent customer services and aftercare
Baxi vs Worcester Bosch Boilers: Our Verdict
Although both manufacturers have been around for decades and have amassed thousands of positive customer reviews, we think Worcester Bosch has the advantage.
Why?
Worcester Bosch also offers a 10-year guarantee (not just a warranty) when purchased via Heatable, while Baxi only offers a 7-year warranty as standard.
Worcester also has a brilliant range of boilers, in different power outputs and dimensions, for example, the Greenstar Compact, ideal for kitchen cupboards.
Lastly, the brand has been a Which? Best Buy Award winner for 10 years running, so they’re obviously doing a lot right.
Here’s a summary of why you'll probably want a Worcester:
Which Best Buy Award winner for 10 consecutive years
A 10-Year Guarantee, not just a “warranty”
Readily availability of parts in the UK
Looking to buy a Worcester Bosch?
If you’re aiming to get the best deal on a new boiler, consider getting a quote from us, here’s why:
Gas Safe installation within 24 hours.
Thousands of satisfied customers with an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot, surpassing the market leader.
Which? Trusted Trader: Heatable is proudly recognised as a Which? Trusted Trader.
Price match guarantee: We will match any like-for-like cheaper quote.
Flexible payment options, including interest-free finance*.
Up to 12-year guarantee on selected boilers.
Fixed price guarantee: No hidden costs.
Save your quote and decide later.
Get an instant fixed price on a new boiler, here.
To learn more about boilers, visit our advice section, check out our YouTube channel, or read customer testimonials here.
Heat Happy.
*finance is subject to status and affordability. Terms and conditions apply. Minimum payment terms apply.
