Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert vs Touchstone 80036
The short answer
Touchstone 80036 comes out ahead overall with 7.0/10 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 80036 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 $863.01 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 80036 if: Design-focused buyers who want the most flame, ember and media options in a smart linear fireplace and will pay for looks rather than heat.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert | Touchstone 80036 |
|---|---|---|
| Flame realism & ambiance | 6.0Basic LED flame on a 28.5-inch screen. | 7.2More color and media options than the base Sideline; no hands-on comparison found. |
| Heating performance | 6.51,500 W / 5,118 BTU with a real thermostat; owners say it heats a family room. | 6.5Same 1,500 W / 5,000 BTU heater as the Sideline. |
| 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, true thermostat, timer and 60 color combinations; on par with the Sideline. |
| Reliability & build quality | 5.5Budget build with unpublished warranty; limited owner data, but no failure pattern found. | 6.5Touchstone build; 1-year warranty, with paid extensions available. |
| Safety & indoor air | 6.5ETL and overheat protection are claimed but not verified in the directory. | 6.0ETL per Bob Vila only; not shown on the maker page. |
| Value | 8.5Lowest price in the pool with a thermostat heater. | 5.0Nearly double the Sideline's price for cosmetic upgrades. |
Specifications
| Spec | Costway 28.5" Electric Fireplace Insert | Touchstone 80036 |
|---|---|---|
| Install type | Recessed insert | Recessed or wall-mount linear |
| Width | 28.5 in | 49.75 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 |
| 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 | ETL per Bob Vila only; not stated on Touchstone's page |
| 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 80036
Pros
- 60 flame and bed color combinations
- Log, driftwood and crystal media
- Wi-Fi with Alexa and Google
- Thermostat with constant-on option
- Recessed or wall-mount
Cons
- Premium price for the same heater as the cheaper Sideline
- Touchstone's page names no safety mark
- Limited independent testing
- 1-year warranty
A design-first choice for buyers who want to customize the look and are paying for appearance rather than warmth.
Full Touchstone 80036 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.