The Best Electric Fireplaces: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)

RBE top pick

Dimplex Revillusion Built-in Electric Firebox

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The Dimplex Revillusion wins on the one thing that matters most in a fireplace - a genuinely believable flame - as long as you can build it into a wall or mantel. If you want a wide, modern look with smart control and no construction, the Touchstone Sideline Elite is the easier, more flexible buy.

Electric fireplaces span three very different jobs: dropping a realistic firebox into a wall or mantel, hanging a wide ribbon of flame like art, or setting a freestanding piece of furniture in a corner. Prices and quality swing wildly across those formats, so we lined up four current models to sort the genuinely convincing from the merely cheap. Two earn a clear buy, one is a stylish maybe, and one is a bargain we think most people should walk past.

RBE top pick

Dimplex

Dimplex Revillusion Built-in Electric Firebox

Buy it

The most convincing electric flame you can buy, if you can build it in.

Best for: Buyers who want the single most realistic flame and are building it into a wall or mantel surround.

$$$$ · flagship

Why we like it

• Realistic flame effect with a mirror-free 'living flame' with randomized embers and a front-lit log set that give it a very realistic look
• Low-glare glass and an edgeless built-in look that disappears into a wall or mantel
• Solidly built firebox aimed at permanent installation

Know before buying

• Expensive, and you still need a framed cavity or a compatible mantel - it is not a plug-and-hang unit
• Heat output is supplemental only, so it will not be a primary heat source for a large open room

Check price on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

Touchstone

Touchstone Sideline Elite Smart 60" Recessed Electric Fireplace

Buy it

A wide, near-frameless linear fireplace with real smart control at a fair price.

Best for: Modern rooms that want a wide, built-in look and app/voice control without framing a full firebox.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Big edge-to-edge flame with multiple flame and media-bed colors, plus included log, crystal, and driftwood sets
• WiFi with app control and voice-assistant support, which is less common at this tier
• Installs recessed or surface-mounted with DIY-friendly instructions, and comes with a manufacturer warranty

Know before buying

• The flame is a stylized linear ribbon rather than a 3D log fire, so it reads modern, not traditional
• Glossy front glass can throw reflections in bright rooms, and heat is supplemental

Check price on Amazon Read our detailed assessment ↓

Real Flame

Real Flame Hollis Electric Fireplace

It depends

A charming freestanding stove-mantel that charges a premium for its looks.

Best for: Traditional-decor buyers who want a plug-in freestanding statement piece and don't need edge-to-edge flame.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Freestanding wood-stove styling with a mantel top - no wall construction, just plug it in and place it
• Infrared heater with multiple flame colors and adjustable brightness
• Sturdy cabinet and a small but respectable 3D log fire

Know before buying

• The firebox is small, so the flame area is modest next to a linear or built-in unit
• The decorative chimney is purely cosmetic, and you pay a premium price mostly for the aesthetic

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We'd skip it

R.W.FLAME

R.W.FLAME 60" Recessed & Wall-Mounted Electric Fireplace

Skip it

Cheap ambient color light, but the realism and longevity aren't there.

Best for: Bargain hunters who mainly want ambient colored light and aren't fussy about realism or long-term durability.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• Very inexpensive for a 60-inch unit, with a huge range of flame and media-bed color options
• Ultra-thin and easy to recess or surface-hang yourself

Know before buying

• The flame effect looks artificial and repetitive up close, and the thin metal-and-plastic build feels cheap
• Some owners report flame LEDs or the heater failing, and support follow-through can be inconsistent

See our pick instead See it at Amazon anyway Read our detailed assessment ↓

How we judged the field

Instead we synthesize maker specifications and aggregated owner reports to figure out which electric fireplaces actually deliver on the promise of a convincing, low-hassle flame. For this category, five things separated the good from the disappointing: flame realism (does it look like fire, or like a screen saver?), format and installation (built-in, wall-mount, or freestanding, and how much work it takes), heat (all of these are supplemental, so the question is how well they take the chill off a room), smart and manual controls, and build quality and longevity as reflected in owner reports over time. We weighted flame realism most heavily, because that’s the whole reason to buy a fireplace you don’t strictly need for heat.

If realism is the point, this is the one. The Revillusion uses a mirror-free projection with a randomized ember bed and a hand-finished, front-lit log set, and it is built to look like the most believable flame of the four. Low-glare glass and an edgeless, built-in profile help it read as a real firebox rather than a TV playing a fire video. It is a solidly built firebox. The catches are real, though: it sits at the top of the price range, it’s supplemental heat only, and it’s not plug-and-hang - you need a framed cavity or a compatible mantel to drop it into. If you’re renovating or building a feature wall and want the flame to sell the illusion, it’s worth every penny.

This is the pick for most people. The Sideline Elite gives you a wide, near-frameless ribbon of flame with several flame and media-bed colors plus included log, crystal, and driftwood sets, and it installs either recessed into the wall or surface-mounted - no firebox framing required. What sets it apart at this price is genuine smart control: WiFi with an app, plus Alexa and Google voice commands, which many pricier units still skip. The flame is a stylized linear effect rather than a 3D log fire, so it suits a modern room more than a traditional one, and the glossy glass can pick up reflections in bright light. Heat is supplemental. But for a flexible, good-looking, well-supported wall fireplace, it’s hard to beat.

The Hollis is the charmer of the group: a freestanding stove-style unit with a mantel top that you simply plug in and set in a corner - no wall work at all. It runs an infrared heater, offers multiple flame colors, and has a sturdy cabinet with a small but respectable 3D log fire. Whether it’s right for you comes down to expectations and budget. The firebox is small, so the flame area can’t compete with a linear or built-in unit, and the decorative chimney is purely cosmetic. It also carries a premium price for what is mostly an aesthetic, furniture-first piece. For the right traditional room, it’s lovely; for maximum flame-per-dollar, it isn’t the value play.

On paper, the R.W.FLAME is tempting: a 60-inch wall fireplace for a fraction of the price of the Touchstone, with many flame and media colors and an ultra-thin body that recesses or hangs easily. In practice, it’s where the corners show. The flame effect looks artificial and repetitive up close, the thin metal-and-plastic construction feels cheap, and some owners report flame LEDs or the heater giving out, with inconsistent support when they do. It’s fine as a source of inexpensive ambient color light, but as an actual fireplace you’ll enjoy looking at for years, it’s a hard recommendation to make. For not much more money, the step up in flame quality, controls, and support is worth it.

Dimplex Revillusion vs Touchstone Sideline Elite: which should you buy?

These two are the strongest in the group, and they answer different questions. The Revillusion wins decisively on flame realism and the feeling of a genuine firebox - but only if you’re willing to build it into a wall or mantel and pay a flagship price. The Sideline Elite trades some realism for enormous practicality: it’s a wide, modern flame you can hang yourself, it costs meaningfully less, and it adds WiFi, app, and voice control the Revillusion firebox doesn’t have. If you’re doing a construction or renovation project and want the most convincing fire, choose the Revillusion. If you want a striking, flexible, smart fireplace without framing a cavity - which is most buyers - the Sideline Elite is the better all-rounder.

What to look for

• Match the format to your space. Built-in fireboxes look best but need a cavity or mantel; wall-mount linear units are the easiest retrofit; freestanding stoves need zero construction.
• Judge the flame, not the spec sheet. Mirror-free, front-lit log effects (like the Revillusion) look far more realistic than flat LED ribbons - look closely at demo footage.
• Treat heat as a bonus. Plug-in units are generally limited to about 1,500 W (roughly 5,000 BTU); size your heat expectations to a single room, not a whole home.
• Check controls. Decide whether you want just a remote, or WiFi with app and voice; smart control is worth having if you want app or voice use.
• Weigh build and support. Heavier, name-brand units with real warranties tend to outlast ultra-cheap ones; scan owner reports for LED and heater failures.
• Confirm install needs. Verify recess depth, clearances, and whether you want plug-in or an optional hardwire connection before you buy.

Our final take

There’s no single best electric fireplace - there’s the best one for how you plan to install it. For the most convincing flame, the Dimplex Revillusion is the standout, provided you can build it in and stomach the price. For nearly everyone else, the Touchstone Sideline Elite is the smarter buy: a wide, modern, smart-controlled flame that goes up without construction. The Real Flame Hollis is a stylish, no-install option if you love the stove look and accept paying for aesthetics. And the budget R.W.FLAME is the one we’d skip - it delivers cheap colored light, but the realism and durability just aren’t there. Buy for the flame you’ll actually want to look at, and let the format follow your room.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Dimplex Revillusion Built-in Electric Firebox vs Touchstone Sideline Elite Smart 60" Recessed Electric Fireplace.

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