Best Heaters of 2023

Categories: Heaters & Chillers, Buyer's Guide, Best Of

Last updated: Jun 15, 2023

Most Popular Aquarium Heater

Winning by a landslide, the German-made BRS Titanium Heater Element is the most popular heater on our website. Manufactured by Schego, we sourced this heater to be the best possible quality heating element on the market. When paired with redundant temperature controllers, you can achieve a safe heating solution that is far more reliable than any standard glass aquarium heater.

Most Popular Heater Controller

Ink Bird Wifi Heater Controller

By using a separate temperature controller, you gain the benefit of being able to replace only the component that fails which is most often the controller itself - heating elements will last much longer in most scenarios. The Ink Bird has earned a reputation as being reliable and can send push notifications right on your phone when temperatures rise or fall out of range.

Best Heater on a Budget

Eheim Jager Heaters

The tried and true Eheim Jager has long been favored as one of the best AIO glass aquarium heaters by both freshwater and saltwater hobbyists alike. It's made of durable Pyrex glass, is easy to set, and can be calibrated to compensate for temperature variances.

Most Reliable Heater

BRS Titanium Heating Element

Boasting a 3-year manufacturer warranty, there really no wonder why the BRS Titanium Heater Element is your favorite. The titanium material is virtually unbreakable and when paired with a redundant control solution, you can set up a very reliable system that will drastically reduce the likelihood of a heater-related catastrophe.

Best Low Profile Heater

AquaEl Ultra Heater

A favorite among nano tank and all-in-one tank owners, the AquaEL Ultra Heater has a very unique flat profile making it easy to fit in tight places. It's also made of durable plastic so it's resistant to breakage. It features an easy-to-read LED temperature indicator, overheat protection, and a one-touch control system for quick and easy setup.

Best for Redundancy

Ink Bird Wifi Heater Controller

While the ability to send you notifications on your phone is valuable, what makes the Ink Bird especially reliable is the dual temperature probes and dual heating element control with dual relays. The smart controller compares readings from both temperature probes and should those readings drift beyond a 5° disparity, the controller will alert you. The dual relay means you can be confident the power to your heating elements can be switched off, even if one of the relays fails. By using two separate heating elements, you can protect yourself against failed heating elements and reduce the chances of dramatic temperature shifts caused by heater failure.

Best New Heater Technology

Innovative Marine Helio PTC Smart Heaters

Positive Temperature Coefficient or PTC is a new heater technology from Innovative Marine that takes a unique approach to controlling the heating element. Using a ceramic chip, the elements are set to a predetermined maximum temperature which prevents the element from overheating and causing dangerous temperatures in your aquarium. This also allows for much more compact titanium heating elements that pair nicely with the included magnetic cradles.