Is an electric cove heater better than an electric baseboard heater? Yes and no, better is in the eye of the home owner. Let's look at it by watts per linear inch, a 71" cove heater puts out 900 watts. That's about 90 square feet for room area. The same size electric baseboard heater puts out 1500 watts which will heat 150 square feet. For heating output per inch the electric baseboard has it won hands down. To match the cove to baseboard you need to look past the square foot coverage.

Both heaters are silent and they work great in a bedroom when sound is a big concern. Some people don't want a heater stuck under the drapes. So the go above the window to same floor space.

The cove heat the objects around it floor, chair, bed, etc. which will heat the air. The baseboard heats the air which heats the objects in the room. The cove heater can be used as a spot heater like over a bed or table. This way you only add a little more heat to the locations that need it. If I was looking to heat a work station I would pick the cover heater every time.