I have had both. I did not like the front loader (Kenmore Elite) that I had for 5 years. There was nothing I liked about it. I did not feel that it cleaned well and it certainly did not rinse well. I was so glad to move out of that house and away from that washer. Prior to that I had had Kenmore top loaders. That is what I went back to and I really like my machine. It does have an agitator and I like that very much. My DIL has a top loader without the agitator and does not like it very much. I will never consider another front loader.