I previously had a cheap plastic holder and it was awful. The holder was so lightweight it wouldn't stay when removing a towel. This one is heavy and really well made. It stays in place while removing a towel. The side bar keeps the roll from unraveling and hanging over the holder. It also helps to keep the roll in place while removing a paper towel. It is large so it holds oversized paper towel rolls perfectly without being too tight to unroll. The matte black finish is so pretty and matches my kitchen perfectly. I am so happy with this paper towel holder. It is exactly how I had hoped it would be.