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Pella and Andersen are both big names in the windows industry. Learn how they compare to find the right brand for your home. Hydraulic Oil Filter Element
Alex Hawkins is an avid writer and researcher specializing in solar, pet insurance and home improvement. When he isn’t surveying homeowners to understand their pain points or speaking with professionals in the industries he covers, Alex can often be found creating videos for his YouTube channel, Analysis with Alex, or attending a heavy metal show.
Dana Getz is a seasoned editor with nearly a decade of experience writing and editing content. She has a background in journalism and worked as a fact-checker for prestigious magazines such as New York and Chicago. She holds a journalism and marketing degree from Northwestern University and has worked across numerous categories within the home services space.
Pella and Andersen both provide quality windows at competitive prices, but one may be better suited for your home depending on your individual style and needs. To save you time during the shopping process, we at the Home Media reviews team researched the best window brands and compared Pella and Andersen on numerous variables. This guide breaks down both companies’ pricing, product lines and other essential information you need to make a decision.
Pella and Andersen both offer high-quality windows. Pella is better for standard vinyl and aluminum windows, while Andersen is ideal for homeowners looking for unique windows, primarily through its white-glove service Renewal by Andersen. Both companies are available nationwide and hold A+ ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Get a quote from Pella
Get a quote from Andersen
*All BBB information is based on the profile for each company’s headquarters location and is accurate as of April 2023.
Pella and Andersen have each been in business for a long time. Pella has nearly 100 years of experience in the windows industry, while Andersen has been around for more than a century.
Founded in 1925 by Peter Kuyper, Pella started as an insect-screen manufacturing company. Kuyper later merged the company with his family’s lumber business and built it into The Pella Corporation, one of the largest window and door manufacturers in the United States.
The Pella Corporation is now a privately held company based in Pella, Iowa. Its products are available nationwide at various showrooms or Pella Design Centers in Lowe’s Home Improvement stores. The company employs more than 7,000 people.
Danish immigrant Hans Andersen founded the Andersen Corporation in 1903. The company is based in Bayport, Minnesota and includes four brands: Andersen Windows, Renewal by Andersen, MQ Luxury Windows and Doors and EMCO Storm and Screen Doors. We recommended Andersen for standard windows, which you can find at one of the company’s showrooms or The Home Depot.
We recommend Renewal by Andersen for unique accent windows. Renewal by Andersen is a fully custom, white-glove windows service with an international network of more than 12,000 employees.
Replacing windows can cost anywhere from $467 to $1,333 depending on the size and type of window, get a quote from a top provider.
Vinyl windows are the cheapest to replace, averaging between $330-$575 per window.
Casement windows generally cost between $527 to $1,200 to replace, get a quote from a top provider.
Pella and Andersen offer similar products with numerous customization options. Below is a breakdown of each provider’s window and door products.
Pella supplies high-quality, eco-friendly windows in vinyl, wood or fiberglass frames. These windows are typically available at big box retailers. The company has eight window lines to match your home’s style and functional needs.
Pella’s common window styles are easy to purchase at major retailers, but the company also offers some unique accent windows, including custom-shaped windows. You can order these windows by setting up a free in-home consultation or visiting one of Pella’s more than 200 showrooms nationwide.
Here are the window options Pella offers:
If you have a specific window type in mind, Andersen most likely creates it. The company offers 35 different window styles, including uniquely shaped windows. It also has a wide variety of exterior and interior colors, glass types, hardware components and grilles, plus its exclusive Truscreen insect screens.
Andersen’s white-glove subsidiary, Renewal by Andersen, is one of the industry’s most high-end window replacement services. The company offers numerous window frame materials, including wood, aluminum cladding and Andersen Fibrex (a blend of 40% wood fiber and 60% thermoplastic polymer). Renewal provides free consultations with its windows specialists, who will work with you to customize your windows to your specific needs and wants.
Renewal by Andersen offers the following window and door products:
The average window replacement project costs $467 to $1,333.* Your total price depends on your project’s specific details, including glass type, home age, insulation and waterproofing features, window location and whether or not you’re installing new construction or replacement windows. Below is a quick overview of Pellla’s and Andersen’s pricing.
*Based on multiple 2021 reports and retailers such as The Home Depot.
Based on our findings, Pella’s windows cost $300 to $4,000 each, depending on your selected materials and design options. For example, one of Pella’s Impervia double-hung fiberglass windows could cost $350, while something from its Reserve wooden window line could cost more than $1,000.
Andersen’s pricing averages $500 to $2,000 per window. One of its standard vinyl windows may cost around $500, while a custom accent window from Renewal by Andersen can easily surpass $1,000.
Check out some of the major benefits and drawbacks of both providers below.
Pella and Andersen are both considered reputable companies within the windows industry. However, both have received mixed customer reviews. Read about our findings below.
Pella isn’t accredited by the BBB but has an A+ rating for its headquarters location. (Some companies opt not to receive BBB accreditation as it requires fees). The company has multiple BBB profiles for its various locations, and some have higher customer scores than others.
Critical reviews mention unresponsive customer service and difficult communication. Positive reviews mention Pella’s reasonable pricing and effective, easy-to-use windows.
We reached out to Pella about the negative reviews but did not receive a response.
Below is a sample of the reviews we analyzed:
“Pella windows is the best window company [I’ve] found when looking to replace old windows or purchase for new construction. Their pricing is extremely reasonable[,] and their customer service met all the needs encountered along the way! This company is what [I] was looking for[,] and I will definitely use them again!” —Matt C. via BBB
“The gentleman who installed the windows were very accommodating, considering the demolition and our seven dogs. They were friendly and helpful, they explained everything about the windows[,] and because they completely cleaned up after the install, [the] only difference was the new windows. The windows are beautiful, such a positive change from the original, single-pane, aluminum [windows] we had. No drafts and no condensation, easy to operate and easy to clean, and maybe the best investments I have made in my home. I would absolutely do this again, and I wish I could have done it sooner.” —Wendell via BBB
“It appears Pella’s customer service is attempting to automate communications via general text and email messaging and losing sight of [the] benefits of personal interactions and accountability. At this point[,] we are not certain if this project will ever be done[,] given no one appears to be reachable by phone, other than a voicemail box, if it not already full. And no one seems interested in calling back. I feel bad for the screen installer[,] given the expectation by management. Customer Support[,] as others have noted[,] is a complete failure.” —Robert S. via BBB
“In March, I called Pella because my $4,000 front door was peeling apart. Pella advised me it would send service out to view the problem. I would have to pay $150 for a service call. I didn’t hesitate to make the payment. Two gentlemen from their service department came and took photos and measured the doors. They said the door needs to be replaced. Okay. They would have someone from Pella call me. Today is June 20, 2022[,] and no one has called me back. I have spoken to their customer service, parts and service. They all tell me they will call back. Needless to say[,] they haven’t called.” —Anthony D. via BBB
Andersen’s headquarters location has an A+ rating from the BBB and no accreditation. Like Pella, it has multiple BBB profiles, each with varying ratings. Renewal by Andersen is accredited by the BBB and has an A + rating for its headquarters.
Many positive reviews noted Andersen’s quality customer service and thorough installation process. Negative reviews mention high pricing and confusion about how the company’s warranties work.
We reached out to Andersen about the negative reviews but did not receive a response.
Here are some of the customer reviews we analyzed during our research:
“I have received outstanding customer service and am completely satisfied with the product. Everyone we’ve worked with has been professional, courteous and knowledgeable. I’d give the highest rating to everyone we’ve worked with.” —David K. via BBB
“The whole process was easy, from the no-pressure sale to the installation. I couldn’t have asked for a better team than Joe and Cole to install my windows. They powered through the two coldest days of the year. Everything was done right! Very professional, friendly[,] and they knew their stuff! I could feel the heat difference the next day. Very happy with my decision. I highly recommend Renewal By Anderson. The best windows at the best price. Thank you!” —Lynne S. via BBB
“[The] warranty for storm door is only for [the] original owner. [They] are not transferrable to new owners of the house. [Even] if in the mortgage all warrant[ies] were transferred to new homeowners. [T]errible [customer] service. [S]tuck with leaking doors.” —Brittany B. via BBB
“I purchased 30 thousand dollars worth of windows from Anderson everything, great I get damage to one screen[,] and again they want to charge me for the screen seems greedy and petty after I already purchased $30,000 worth of [their] merchandise so much for that local feeling the[y] continue to push.” —Heath S. via BBB
Here’s how and when you can contact each window installer’s customer service reps.
Pella offers customer service via email and phone from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST Monday through Friday. The company is closed on Sundays but offers phone service on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST. Pella also offers text message support from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST Monday through Friday. Pella has a separate phone line and online chat for storm doors; it doesn’t offer online chat for its other products.
Andersen’s customer service is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST. The company has separate phone lines for potential customers, current customers, storm doors and Renewal by Andersen.
Andersen and Pella offer varying warranties depending on the product.
Pella offers various limited warranties based on the window line and model. For example, Pella’s wood windows in its Reserve, Architect and Lifestyle Series include a nontransferable limited lifetime and two-year labor warranty. Its Impervia fiberglass windows have a transferable 10-Year limited warranty on hardware components and workmanship, plus a 20-year limited warranty on glass. Check Pella’s website to see which warranties are included with which products.
Andersen also offers various warranties based on the window line and product. For example, its 400 Series and 200 Series windows and doors include a 20-year limited warranty on glass and a 10-year limited warranty on other components. Andersen states that most of its warranties include its Owner-2-Owner lifetime warranty, which allows you to transfer your window’s warranty to a new homeowner. Visit Andersen’s website to learn which warranties are included with each of its products.
Pella and Andersen are both reputable and knowledgeable window and door providers. We recommend Pella if you want affordable, effective standard windows. The company has more standard-sized options than many other windows companies, including wood, vinyl and fiberglass materials with energy-efficient glass. You can find its products at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores across the United States.
Though Andersen also offers quality standard windows, the company stands out for the massive selection of 35+ windows it offers through its subsidiary Renewal by Andersen . It also offers numerous customization options to match your budget and style.
We recommend getting at least three quotes from window installers to compare product selection, pricing and warranty coverage. Use our tool below to get free quotes quickly.
No, Andersen windows at The Home Depot are not lower quality. The company manufactures these windows to fulfill standard sizes and styles.
Any new replacement window will increase your home’s value, but if you want the most bang for your buck, search for windows with energy-efficient features, transferable warranties and high-quality materials such as aluminum or wood.
Like any other quality window brand, Pella’s windows last 15 to 30 years.
We researched and ranked dozens of window brands and companies based on a comprehensive rating system. Our research process includes in-depth market analysis, reading customer reviews, and speaking with industry experts to understand each company’s products, services and installation processes. We then use our detailed scoring system to assign each company a rating out of 5 stars based on the following 100-point scale: Cost and financing (30 points): We assign points based on the cost of window products and services, with companies earning the most points for offering affordable options for $350 or less. Companies receive additional points for providing additional financing options, like loans. Types of windows (18 points): Companies earn points in this category for offering multiple types of windows, such as casement, single- or double-hung, picture, awning, bay, sliding, garden and custom shaped windows. Reputation and experience (15 points): We assess window brands based on years of experience and weigh reputation based on the company’s rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Companies receive additional points for holding BBB accreditation. Extra features (12 points): Window brands that provide additional features, such as hardware customization, multiple glass options, an Energy-Star certification or a tilt-in sash, receive points in this category. Warranty coverage (10 points): Window companies that include manufacturer and workmanship warranties earn full points in this category. Other services (9 points): We also assess window companies based on additional services offered. Companies can earn points for also installing interior or exterior doors and offering additional services like roofing and siding. Customer support (6 points): To assess customer support, we research each company’s communication methods. Window brands earn points for offering free quotes, 24/7 customer service, and other forms of support such as online and text chat.
Alex Hawkins is an avid writer and researcher specializing in solar, pet insurance and home improvement. When he isn’t surveying homeowners to understand their pain points or speaking with professionals in the industries he covers, Alex can often be found creating videos for his YouTube channel, Analysis with Alex, or attending a heavy metal show.
Dana Getz is a seasoned editor with nearly a decade of experience writing and editing content. She has a background in journalism and worked as a fact-checker for prestigious magazines such as New York and Chicago. She holds a journalism and marketing degree from Northwestern University and has worked across numerous categories within the home services space.
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