Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert vs Touchstone 80004
The short answer
Touchstone 80004 comes out ahead overall with 7.2/10 against 6.5/10 for the Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert. Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert is stronger on safety & indoor air and value. Touchstone 80004 is stronger on flame realism & ambiance, installation & fit, controls & features and reliability & build quality. At current verified prices, the Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert costs about $413.01 less.
- Choose the Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert if: Budget DIYers building a simple surround or media-wall niche who want a thermostat-controlled heater for under $150.
- Choose the Touchstone 80004 if: Modern living rooms where you want a slim 50-inch linear fireplace on or in the wall, controlled by app or voice.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert | Touchstone 80004 |
|---|---|---|
| Flame realism & ambiance | 6.0Basic LED flame on a 28.5-inch screen. | 7.0Attractive linear look; some owners say the flames look unrealistic. |
| Heating performance | 6.51,500 W / 5,118 BTU with a real thermostat; owners say it heats a family room. | 6.51,500 W / 5,000 BTU with thermostat; Reviewed says it won't heat a large space. |
| Installation & fit | 6.5Light and shallow; Bob Vila says recessed only, despite Amazon's 'freestanding' title. | 8.3Recessed or wall-mount at 5.5 in deep; plug-in or hardwire. |
| Controls & features | 7.0Thermostat, timer, brightness and remote. | 8.5App, voice, thermostat and remote; the remote is reported finicky. |
| Reliability & build quality | 5.5Budget build with unpublished warranty; limited owner data, but no failure pattern found. | 6.5Established brand with phone support; 1-year warranty. |
| Safety & indoor air | 6.5ETL and overheat protection are claimed but not verified in the directory. | 6.0Overheat protection is stated, but no safety mark is shown on the maker page. |
| Value | 8.5Lowest price in the pool with a thermostat heater. | 7.5$549 for a smart 50-inch unit. |
Specifications
| Spec | Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert | Touchstone 80004 |
|---|---|---|
| Install type | Recessed insert | Recessed or wall-mount linear |
| Width | 28.5 in | 50.38 in |
| Depth | 5.7 in | 5.5 in |
| Max heater power | 1,500 W | 1,500 W |
| Heat output (rated) | 5,118 BTU/h | 5,000 BTU/h |
| Manufacturer-claimed heating area | — | 400 sq ft |
| Heater type | Fan-forced | Fan-forced coil |
| Adjustable thermostat | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi / app / voice control | No | Yes |
| Safety listing | ETL claimed (Bob Vila, retailer listings); not found in Intertek directory search | — |
| Warranty | — | 1 years |
Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert
Pros
- Budget price
- True 62–82°F thermostat
- 8-hour timer and remote
- Honest BTU figures
- Light at 27.5 lb
Cons
- Basic flame
- Limited independent and owner evidence
- Some owners say listed dimensions are overstated
- Safety certification claims are from the seller side
- Recessed installation only
A sensible low-cost way to add a heated fire feature to a built-in space, with modest expectations on looks.
Full Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert review →Touchstone 80004
Pros
- Only 5.5 in deep
- Recessed or wall-mount, plug-in or hardwired
- Wi-Fi with Alexa and Google
- Thermostat, three flame colors, 10-color ember bed
- Recommended by three outlets
Cons
- Some owners find the flames unrealistic
- Remote can be finicky
- Won't heat a large space
- No safety mark shown on the maker's page
- 1-year warranty
A good-looking, well-featured linear unit for modern rooms where control and install flexibility matter more than raw heat.
Full Touchstone 80004 review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Electric Fireplaces of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.