Howdy. I'm looking to change from real wood to a vent free gas insert log set. Looking around, I see prices vary greatly from few hundred to $1000+. Any recommendations or insights on brands, functions, etc greatly appreciated. I'm looking for an 18" vent free set with remote that looks as natural/realistic as possible.

We don't spend a lot on "real" and vent-free forces the installer to place the logs "just so" for best burn/venting vs real appearance. So ... good luck and ALWAYS have flue damper cracked if not full open. From Reader's Digest of old to current studies, the vapors are not healthy for human, pet nor plant.

When I was more of DIY, I installed a Home Depot (Whoop!) kit = Emberglow 18 "vent free" 2013 and after one happy year, began manual starting problems, replaced the thermo, regulator, etc. and had hair-burning events. When it wasn't a good friend during the famous Texas Feb deep freeze, it was headed to the trash.

2021 a local pro installed unvented Empire-18" 32k BTU/h in this 1980 mtl.cone fireplace. It did not need AC power to light the burners. An important selling feature, since there was no AC most times during the deep freeze. A toggle switch got its burners to light from the pilot thermopile spark, always ... remotes & thermostat options on hand.
Gave away all my carry-to-fill 7/10gal propane tanks, weighing 55/70# full then signed up for an always-full via truck 100gal tank for just this fire. I can lift weights inside, away from the foul weather.
Knock on wood: about to light the pilot again for the season & thus far, living the dream

Thanks, TGI! Good info there. I may need to rethink ventless...I need to do more homework. I mainly just want to keep the chill out of a large family room during cold weather. I'll be looking into vented as well, but I read they use about twice as much gas so I may need to bet a bigger or second propane tank. I'm about past the DIY stage, so I might just have someone who knows what they're doing do the install.

Out of curiosity, why change from the real wood burning fireplace?

Hoping other will chime in and that I am not hijacking the OPs thread.
Ours a retro metal cone fireplace w/only a screen sooo

• when younger, I might have to attend to it setting off the smoke alarms at 3am!! when the fire heat wasn't enough to exit the cold chimney or winds above prevent good "draw"
• firewood stored got fireants, hard to get some seasons, not all that falls in the woods is an ideal fuel
• hot coals in ashes to dump another chore in horrible weather and caution not to set a fire at dump site in yard
• getting older, easier to haul propane tanks for refill
• older still, best to have a truck filled tank piping gas directly inside to fire
• we have had outdoor fires using dropped limbs from our woods, even in the Weber grill, ala the neighbors as well and that scratches the old itch enough w/less bother

The design trend has been

• Direct vent gas/propane inside w/glass doors OR no fire
• Electric fires for the rich that have propane/gas generators inside
• Wood or gas fires on the Rear Porch
• Fire pits wood less common
• Gas/propane pits/tables on the porch, less common

BTW wood burn fires cost more due to the chimney most times vs gas/propane, DirectVent
+ fireplaces made a big comeback in new house designs after that Feb deep freeze w/no power