Rational vs. Convotherm:
which combi oven should you choose?
Two German premium brands that look very close on paper. This guide puts the Rational iCombi Pro next to the Convotherm maxx pro on the points that only start to count after the purchase: self-steering, cleaning, service coverage, service life and resale value.
By Jos Menting, JMGT Commercial Kitchen Equipment · Authorised Rational dealer · Published 15 September 2026
In short
This is not a premium-versus-budget comparison like Rational against Unox. Convotherm plays in the same class: closed system, fully automatic cleaning, food recognition. The difference sits in the ecosystem around it. Rational has the densest service network, the longest track record in self-steering cooking and by far the highest resale value. Convotherm is strong if you value the operating concept, or options such as smoking and grilling, and if a good Convotherm service partner operates in your region.
First, honestly: who wrote this?
JMGT is an authorised Rational dealer and does not sell Convotherm. We would rather say that up front than have you find out later. At the same time we meet Convotherm units regularly: in kitchens we fit out completely, in business takeovers and with operators who switch after years. So this comparison is written from a preference, but a reasoned one, and we name honestly where Convotherm is strong.
For the wider market, see our comparison iCombi Pro vs. competitors.
The two brands at a glance
Rational (Landsberg am Lech, Germany) builds cooking systems only: the iCombi Pro, the iCombi Classic, the iVario and the iHexagon. That focus shows in the most developed cooking intelligence on the market and a worldwide service organisation built around a single product category.
Convotherm (Eglfing, Germany) has built combi ovens since the 1970s and belongs to Welbilt, acquired by Italy’s Ali Group in 2022. The current flagship is the maxx pro, with a 10-inch glass touchscreen (easyTouch), fully automatic cleaning via ConvoClean and optional modules for smoking (ConvoSmoke) and grilling (ConvoGrill). Convotherm is therefore part of a group with dozens of brands; Rational is an independent manufacturer with one specialism.
Rational vs. Convotherm: the comparison
| Criterion | Rational iCombi Pro | Convotherm maxx pro |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking intelligence | iCookingSuite: sensor-driven, adjusts time, temperature, humidity and air speed itself; refined over generations | ConvoSense recognises the product and selects the programme; Press&Go for fast routines |
| Operation | Touchscreen built around outcomes: you choose a result, not a setting | 10-inch glass touchscreen (easyTouch), symbol-led; deliberately aimed at short training times |
| Cleaning | iCareSystem AutoDose: fully automatic, self-dosing from cartridges | ConvoClean: fully automatic with four levels and three modes, automatic dosing |
| Distinctive options | iVario and iHexagon as companions within the same operating concept | ConvoSmoke (cold and hot smoking) and ConvoGrill as modules on the unit |
| Service network | Dense network of authorised service partners (including JMGT, with in-house technicians) | Service through the brand network; practical coverage varies strongly by region |
| Service life | Typically 10-15 years; parts available for at least 10 years | Comparably robust, but a smaller refurbishment and parts market |
| Resale value | High; mature used market | Limited used demand |
| Strongest use case | Restaurant, care, catering, hotel: any kitchen that runs on certainty and resale value | Kitchens that prefer the operating concept or specifically want smoking or grilling |
Energy use differs by model and size rather than primarily by brand; see the separate energy comparison. Read the comparison
Self-steering: where the brands really part ways
On a trade show floor both systems promise the same thing: the oven thinks along. The difference lies in proven depth. Rational’s iCookingSuite measures the product in the cooking chamber and adjusts time, temperature, humidity and air speed throughout the process. That concept is generations old and refined with data from hundreds of thousands of kitchens. Convotherm takes a comparable step with ConvoSense and camera-based product recognition, but its library of proven self-steering processes is younger and smaller.
Why it matters: when staffing is tight, self-steering determines how much craft knowledge each preparation requires. The more reliably the oven steers itself, the less a changing team affects quality. How smart equipment helps with staff shortages
To be fair: where Convotherm offers something Rational does not have as standard, it is the modules. ConvoSmoke allows cold and hot smoking in the same unit, and ConvoGrill targets grilling results. If you have a concrete menu plan for that, it is a real argument in Convotherm’s favour.
Service, service life and resale value: where the bill lands
You buy a combi oven for 10 to 15 years. Over that period the purchase price is not the heaviest factor; what matters is what happens when the unit falters on a busy Friday. Rational works with a dense network of authorised service partners; JMGT handles that service with its own technicians. With Convotherm, service runs through the brand network and practical coverage varies strongly by region. Ask concretely, before buying, who attends the unit near you and with what response time.
Then there is resale value. A mature market exists for refurbished Rational units; far less so for used Convotherm. Trade a Rational in after seven years and you demonstrably get something back for it.
From our workshop
We refurbish Rational units in our own workshop every week. What we most often see on trade-ins of other premium brands is not a worn-out machine, but years of missed maintenance because no one nearby knew the brand. On a Convotherm we came across in a kitchen in the Achterhoek, the owner had relied for three years on an external engineer unfamiliar with the unit; as a result the cleaning ran on the wrong setting for years. That is not a brand fault, but it is exactly why we tell operators to weigh the service network in their own region as heavily as the spec sheets.
Which brand suits which kitchen?
Choose Convotherm if you prefer working with the easyTouch operating concept, if smoking or grilling in the same unit is a concrete menu requirement, and if a capable Convotherm service partner demonstrably operates in your region.
Choose Rational if uptime, self-steering cooking and resale value weigh heavier; if you have to deliver consistent quality with changing staff; and if you want a service partner nearby who knows the unit down to component level.
The third route: a fully inspected and tested refurbished Rational. It sits closer in investment to a new premium combi oven than many expect, with Rational cooking quality and the service network included. See the current used stock
Frequently asked questions
Is Convotherm a good combi oven?
Yes. Convotherm builds genuine premium combi ovens in Eglfing, Germany. The maxx pro line has a closed system, a 10-inch touchscreen (easyTouch), fully automatic cleaning via ConvoClean and, with ConvoSense, camera-based food recognition. Technically it sits in the same class as Rational. The difference lies mainly in the density of the service network and in resale value, not in build quality.
What is the biggest difference between an iCombi Pro and a Convotherm maxx pro?
The depth of self-steering and the ecosystem around it. Both brands measure the product and adjust: Rational with the iCookingSuite, Convotherm with ConvoSense and Press&Go. Rational has been doing this for generations longer and holds the largest library of proven processes, plus a denser network of service partners. Convotherm counters with a distinctive operating concept and two useful options: ConvoSmoke (smoking) and ConvoGrill.
Who owns Convotherm?
Convotherm belongs to Welbilt, which was acquired by Italy's Ali Group in 2022. The brand is therefore part of a large group with many brands, while Rational is an independent, listed manufacturer that builds cooking systems only. That partly explains the difference in focus: at Rational, the combi oven is the entire business.
How does service work for Convotherm?
Convotherm service runs through the brand's own network. JMGT does not carry out repairs on brands other than Rational; that is a deliberate choice, we only service what we know down to component level. For Rational we are an authorised dealer and handle service with our own technicians. So check service coverage in your region before you decide, not at the first breakdown.
Which brand holds its value better?
Rational, by a distance. A mature market exists for refurbished Rational units: sought after, well suited to refurbishment, and with parts the brand keeps available for at least 10 years. Demand for used Convotherm units is considerably smaller. If you plan to trade in or resell in six to eight years, Rational demonstrably retains more value.
Is a refurbished Rational an alternative to a new Convotherm?
Often yes. A fully inspected and tested refurbished iCombi sits closer in investment to a new premium combi oven than many operators expect, while you gain Rational cooking quality, the service network and the resale value. Request both options in one quote and compare them side by side.
Next step
Have a Convotherm quote on the table and want to know what a Rational does in the same situation? Send us your kitchen type and volumes; we will cost new and refurbished honestly side by side.